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Tuesday, January 28, 2020

What you can do about weak bones (osteoporosis/osteopaenia)

How come he's got such strong bones?
"Two Auckland clinical researchers say there is no scientific evidence to support the use of Vitamin D and calcium supplements for osteoporosis, and yet doctors continue to prescribe them, and academics and advocacy groups promote them. Auckland University Associate Professors Andrew Grey and Mark Bolland have just had a paper published in the British Medical Journal.
In it, they say that 32 out of 38 clinical trials of calcium and/or Vitamin D reported no health benefit in the use of the supplements for managing osteoporosis, in fact, they can cause harm. Andrew Grey discusses their research."
__________________________
Gary:
For me, reports like these are vindication for what I have been saying over and over again for the last 10 years but far too late with much unnecessary harm done to countless people: 

Here's the podcast which is well worth listening to:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201766312



However, I was deeply disappointed that the specialist being interviewed, Andrew Grey, had little in the way of alternatives for listeners who have concerns about their bone health, other than to take bisphosphonate drugs!  He should have informed listeners that there are thousands of lawsuits before the US courts right now, alleging irreparable harm from taking these drugs.  
http://blog.garymoller.com/search/label/fosamax-lawsuits

In my opinion, this class of drug has horrific side effects and should be reserved for bone cancer and little or nothing else.
It's not satisfactory to leave people high and dry, especially when there are very healthy things that one can do to build and maintain strong bones regardless of age.  
The usual and most undesirable progression of osteoporosis

Here is what I recommend, but first some obvious and very commonsense statements and reasoning:

Taking more calcium does not build stronger bones!


In fact, increasing one's calcium intake may actually make bones weaker and drive the processes of arteriosclerosis.  
I have also warned continuously of the dangers of megadosing with vitamin D and written many articles on the subject but these warnings have been largely ignored:
http://blog.garymoller.com/2012/12/widespread-over-dosing-patients-with.html

Too much Vitamin D drives calcium out of the bones and into the blood where it causes havoc with health


The mistakes being made by clinicians, including doctors and nutritionists is this:

If a little is good for you, then a whole lot more is even better!


You do not have to be in possession of a university degree to understand that this kind of reasoning is deeply flawed.
Let's concentrate this article on calcium.

Every nutrient has a "Goldilocks zone" - not too much and not too little.  This even applies to water.  Did you know that more people die from drinking too much water during sporting events than drinking too little?  Calcium is not an exception to the Goldilocks rule of nutrition.
I have now tested the nutritional status of more than a thousand New Zealanders.  I can tell you that at least 80% of these people benefit from having less total dietary calcium - not more.
Example of excess tissue calcium (Ca), leading to extreme fatigue, joint and muscle pain, weight gain and arthritis.

Think of yourself as being like a beautiful flowering pot plant that is becoming diseased and wilted from months of neglect.  What do you do to restore that plant to flowering beauty?


  • Do you swamp it with a month's worth of water, then leave it for a month?
  • Do you give it a year's worth of fertiliser in one hit?


Of course not!  This is what a wise gardener does:


  • She carefully re-pots the plant in fresh compost and potting mix.
  • She adds a carefully balanced fertiliser and replenishes this each week.
  • She keeps the soil moist with gentle watering each day.
  • She places it in the sun and out of the wind.
  • She sings to it!

 Do the same to yourself.


Questions for which the answers are so obvious as to be ridiculous to ask them in the first place:

"If the main ingredient in a cake is flour, then do you make a better cake by doubling the amount of flour, while not proportionally increasing all the other ingredients?"

Of course not - you will end up with a horrible mess!

"If the main ingredient of concrete is sand, then do you make stronger concrete by throwing in whole lot more sand?"

Of course not - your construction will collapse!

The way to make a better cake or stronger concrete is to ensure the ingredients are of the highest quality and perfectly measured according to the recipes.

"If New Zealand has one of the highest dietary intakes of calcium in the world, then how come it also has one of the highest rates of osteoporosis?"

I will not even bother to answer that last question.  But I challenge you to ask your doctor or nutritionist to explain that one!

My partner, Alofa, is Samoan.  If you look at Samoans and Tongans who live in the islands and follow their traditional lifestyles, did you know that they have the strongest bones of any race?  My challenge for you is this:

"Can you identify where the calcium is in their traditional diets?"

You can't:  There is hardly any calcium in the traditional Pacific diets.  On the other hand, their diets are rich in dozens and dozens of minerals (including some calcium), especially minerals like iodine, potassium and phosphorus from reef foods.  Coconut is consumed in every meal.  Coconut is rich in potassium and saturated fats (we are being told by health experts to avoid these fats, which I think is wrong).

Calcium is but one mineral of over 50 that are found in strong healthy bones

The key to building and maintaining strong bones is to supply all the building blocks needed by the body to build healthy bones - not just one or two (in this case calcium and vitamin D).  This means a diet that is nutrient-dense with minerals, vitamins, protein and a wide range of unprocessed fats and oils, including saturated fats.


My recommendations for building and maintaining strong, healthy bones

My Mother, Maisie

Reduce high calcium foods and avoid calcium supplements

This means reading the labels of all the processed foods, looking for added calcium.  You'll be surprised at how much calcium is added to our food.  Such has been the effectiveness of the pro-calcium message that extra calcium sells!  

Obvious foods to avoid are cheese, milk and yoghurt, especially ones that have been calcium-fortified.  Many milk substitutes, such as soy milk, have added calcium.

If you want to have some milk, have the full cream versions (silver top) which also happen to be rich in the fat-soluble vitamins (more about these later).

If you have any doubts about your need to reduce calcium, please order a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis here:


https://www.garymoller.com/product-page/htma-comprehensive-test-nz-clients-only

This test uses the same technology as on the Mars Rover for assaying Mars rock and soil.  It is very accurate and a gold mine of nutritional and health information.


Take no more than 1-2,000 IU of natural Vitamin D3 per day

This applies if you are not out in the sun that day.  Ensure the vitamin is D3 and not D2.  In most cases, unless testing says otherwise, 1,000 IU per day of vitamin D is usually sufficient.  It is not the big dose that works the health magic, it's being consistent with small amounts on a daily basis over a long time that makes a healthy difference.

Review any medication you are taking

Many drugs, especially those for asthma, inflammation, pain, reflux, heart problems and blood pressure may drive osteoporosis as if it were on steroids!  

Talk to your doctor.  Do you really have to be taking this, or that drug?  By the way, if you deal with the root causes of ill health and not merely symptoms, then there are very few medical conditions and drugs that require medication for life.  But don't just stop taking your medication - talk to your doctor first - ensure your health and safety are covered.

Generously salt your food with a multi-mineral salt

If you go back and look at the hair tissue chart above, you will see that this person is very low in cellular sodium (Na) and potassium (K).  For the majority of people I have tested, they actually need more salt - not less.  The low salt message for preventing high blood pressure simply does not apply to them.  The majority of people tested.

Having said this, we must make a distinction between refined salt which is pure sodium chloride (NaCl) and the salt that civilisation was built upon - natural multi-mineral salt that contains as many as 80 different minerals of which sodium is but one.  These minerals are essential for building strong bones and health in general.  Symptoms of a low salt intake include; fatigue, low blood pressure, confusion, muscle weakness and osteoporosis.

Unless you have a hair tissue test showing the opposite, there is about an 80% probability that you will benefit from increasing your intake of natural multi-mineral salt.

There are a number of multi-mineral salts on the market, such as pink Himalayan salt.  Reduce refined salt by avoiding commercial salted foods, including fast foods, then be generous with the natural multi-mineral salt.

Ensure there is a variety of protein in each main meal

Bone is more than calcium and a whole lot of other minerals.  You need protein for strong bones.  

You can't store protein like you can store fat and sugar.  If you do not have enough coming through your diet right then for tissue repair, hormones, growth and so on, you will have to scavenge from lean tissue which means you'll end up getting weaker - not stronger as time passes.

Please ensure you have a wide variety of protein from sources such as poultry, fish, red meat, organ meat, whole grains, beans and nuts.  
You can fortify your diet with delicious protein smoothies which are ideal for vegetarians:

Get into making delicious, nutritious bone broth soups

This is very obvious advice that you can't thank Grandma for.  Here's an article which explains it well:

Eat two fresh eggs daily

Eggs are a real superfood.  Ignore what has been said in the past about eggs and cholesterol.  You can eat at least 4 eggs a day and be healthier for doing so.

Eggs are rich in everything you need to be healthy and vigorous.  In particular, they are rich in the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K).  You will realise that all of these are essential for building healthy bones as well as for beautiful hair skin and nails - even good eyesight!

Make your goal to have 2 eggs per day but on one condition and that it that the yolk is always runny.  Don't damage all those delicate nutrients found in the yolk by over-heating them!

Ensure there are a wide range of fats and oils in your diet

Yes!  As I have been saying: Bones are complex and made up of a lot more than calcium alone.  Your body needs a rich supply of a whole 

Be sparing with refined carbohydrates, especially simple sugars


Take a high-quality nutrition supplement that is rich in the fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins


Ensure your diet is rich in antioxidants


Exercise daily

This can include walking, gardening and dancing.

Other than these, there is one exercise to do each day: this is the "Lift and Press".




Illustrations from Gary Moller's book, "Back Pain - a guide to treatment and exercise"
You do not need heavy weights which can be as simple as a couple of plastic milk bottles with water or sand in them.  Lift from the ground, smoothly reaching to a stretch above the head.  Lower slowly and repeat ten times.  Do this once a day in combination with other exercises such as walking and you have done sufficient to stimulate bone strengthening - so long as your diet is proving all the ingredients your bone cells need to build that new bone!

Got the idea?  Simple really and no drugs required.

Additional reading

"The Calcium Lie", by Dr Robert Thompson.  I have a few copies left of Dr Thompson's book left for $35 delivered free within New Zealand.  This book explains it all and is full of helpful dietary advice.  It is an engaging and easy read.  Email me if you want a copygary@garymoller.com Get in quick if you want one.



 About this website 
The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Wednesday, September 04, 2019

More about the "Athlete Heart"

Press release:

Triathlete fiance of Hewitt suffers heart attack

French triathlete Laurent Vidal, fiance of Kiwi competitor Andrea Hewitt, is in hospital after suffering a heart attack during training.

Vidal felt chest pain during swimming training before suffering from cardiac arrest.
He was revived after a few minutes and regained consciousness before being flown to a Montpellier hospital.
He is in an induced coma for at least 48 hours.

Hewitt said she was "shocked and so worried", in a tweet posted this morning.

Vidal was sixth at the ITU World Series grand final in London last year and finished 10th in New Plymouth last month.
_____________________________
Gary:

While we do not know the exact circumstances of Laurent Vidal's health problems and my wishes go out to him and his family for a speedy and full recovery, this unfortunate incident further highlights the growing evidence that intense and exhausting exercise may be more damaging to the heart than it is protective. 

 I was deeply saddened, just the other day, when I learned that one of New Zealand's best junior and interprovincial runners of 30 or so years ago, Gary Weston-Webb, died suddenly while at his desk just a few weeks ago.  I was in awe of Gary's running ability when I shifted to Wellington from Dunedin; but I wonder if he ever really noticed me because, when the start gun fired, he was off like a greyhound with me and most of the field left behind eating his dust! Gary is just a few months older than me, which is unsettling.  Again, I do not know much at all about his health; however, his untimely passing further underlines the fact that exercise does not necessarily give one immunity from heart problems.  Too many talented runners and multi-sports athletes who once kicked my butt with great ease are, sadly, no longer with us.  Dr O'Keefe and Co appear to be right: Extreme exercise damages the heart.

Should we all stop doing extreme exercise, like discourage everyone from running or cycling etc more than three times a week and for less than an hour at a time?  My answer to that question is a qualified "No!"

Here is a moving tribute to Gary.  My heartfelt condolences to his family for their terrible loss.



Nutritional balancing: The key to a healthy heart - regardless of age

The good news is that there is a lot that one can do to protect one's heart from harm - be that from lack of exercise, stress, medication, a sugar-laden-nutrient poor diet, or excessive exercise.  The key comes down to getting the right balance between intensity, rest and relaxation - and being completely obsessive about nutritional balancing.  By the way, this does not mean following the food pyramid:  It means testing yourself to identify your nutrient imbalances.  For example: How do you know if you really need more iodine or more magnesium?  Have you ever had these tested?  There are accurate tests available now which can tell you what you need to take - and what not to take. 
Hair Tissue Analysis showing excess calcium relative to magnesium

If, for example; you are magnesium deficient (80% of us are) and, if - at the same time - you have an excessive calcium intake relative to magnesium, it is inevitable that there will be the precipitation of calcium into the soft tissues, including the lining of the arteries (arteriosclerosis).  By the way, a tell-tale sign of this process is red cheeks during exercise and, later in life, spider veins on the cheeks.

Reverse Arteriosclerosis

The good news about arteriosclerosis - the process of gradually turning to stone - is that it can be reversed: Arteriosclerosis may be intimately linked to getting old, but it ain't really.  However; reversing arteriosclerosis is not easily achieved.  It takes an obsessive devotion to lifestyle changes for the rest of your life and the daily use of dietary supplements to correct nutrient imbalances as identified by nutrient testing.

Protect your heart - Start by getting rid of the guessing!


More reading

I am an obsessive exerciser: At 60 years old I completed 60 km of mountain biking yesterday then another 30 km to the top of Makara Peak and back this morning, followed by a short run.  In a week I'll be competing in the Crazyman Duathlon which is 30 km mountain bike followed by 13 km running - all over the most challenging terrain imaginable.  Of course, I'll be fighting to win my category.  This is all in preparation for the World Mountain Bike Championships in Norway in August this year.  It is my intention to win the 60+ age group.   I reckon I am in with a chance because as one gets older, winning has little to do with who was the fastest: It comes down to who is the best at managing health and injury issues.  I reckon I have those nailed.

According to Dr O'Keefe, I am damaging my heart.  I am quite confident that I am not because, if I was, I would surely be feeling a lot worse instead of feeling a lot better.  Over the last 10 years, I have taken a number of measures that protect my body from the damaging effects of extreme exercise.  It has worked and I have the evidence from the testing and from the performances on the race track.  

Now, none of this would ever have seemed even remotely possible just 10 years ago when I felt like a burned-out athlete with quickly evolving heart problems. 

Winning has little to do with who was the fastest:  It comes down to who is the best at managing health and injury issues 

If you have any concerns about your heart and health in general, but appear to be in quite good health or even excellent health, the first thing to do to is to order a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis and consultation with me, then take things from there.

Here is the link to the right packages to order:

New Zealand based clients

International clients

Thursday, November 17, 2016

More warnings about lead poisoning dangers - adults and children (Updated 24/09/14)

Although it is many years since we got rid of lead in our petrol and there is stricter control of lead in everything from cosmetics to house paint, the problem, in my opinion, is still wreaking widespread havoc on health.




About this website 
The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Heartburn drugs increase risk of kidney failure

"People who use proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have a 20 percent to 50 percent higher risk of chronic kidney disease compared with nonusers, said lead author Dr. Morgan Grams, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
The study was published Jan. 11 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
The study doesn't establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the drugs and chronic kidney disease. However, Grams said, "We found there was an increasing risk associated with an increasing dose. That suggests that perhaps this observed effect is real."
Proton pump inhibitors were used by more than 15 million Americans in 2013, according to background notes.
But as many as 70 percent of these prescriptions have been handed out inappropriately, and 25 percent of long-term users could stop taking the medication without suffering increased heartburn or acid reflux, the study authors said.
Use of the prescription heartburn drugs already has been linked to short-term kidney problems such as acute kidney injury and an inflammatory kidney disease called acute interstitial nephritis, Grams said.
Newer studies now show a link between the drugs and chronic kidney disease, in which the kidneys lose their ability to filter blood effectively.
Over time, chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure, forcing someone to undergo regular dialysis and possibly a kidney transplant, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health."
If you have heartburn problems my advice is to consult a natural health practitioner who does not deal in drugs.  Heartburn has several possible causes.  These heartburn drugs treat the symptoms and not the underlying or root causes.  These fester on and the condition worsens even while there may be no or less worrying symptoms.  The absence of symptoms does not always mean the absence of disease.


 About this website 
The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Sunday, December 06, 2015

Myra Moller 3rd in first round of Aussie Mountain Biking Nationals

COOK ISLAND COURAGE

Posted by mtba, December 4, 2015

The Cook Islands.
The South Pacific archipelago nation lies southwest of Tahiti. Of its 15 islands, the largest is Rarotonga.
And it’s’ here where one mountain bike rider has begun her journey to improve not only herself as a rider, but the well being of her countrymen and women.
Myra Timena-Moller, is participating in every round of the 2015/16 Subaru National Mountain Bike Series.
At the first round in Mt Taylor – Victoria, the 31 year old New Zealand native finished on the podium, taking home bronze behind Jenni King and Karen Hill in the Elite Women’s XCO.
ElitewomenXC(Photo – Jaime Black)
Full article here


 About this website 
The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Imported berries and risk of contracting hepatitis C



I would not be surprised if everyone in New Zealand is aware of the crisis striking at the heart of the NZ berry industry over hepatitis C contaminated berries imported from China which have made some people very ill.


We sell Sujon Blackcurrant powder which is grown and processed in Nelson, New Zealand.

Here is a most reassuring statement from Sujon:








"All the Blackcurrants Sujon use to process Blackcurrant Powder are grown in New Zealand and our frozen Blackcurrants sold in Supermarkets are also NZ grown". 


My advice to readers is this:  "enjoy!"


 About this website 
The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Wednesday, December 02, 2015

How stress can end up depressing your sex hormones (updated 2/12/15)





One of the unwanted side effects of chronic stress, including constant athletic over-training and competition, is impotence, loss of sex drive and few sperm, most of which are not good swimmers.  I'm not an expert on the matter but I will do my best to explain the basics of what is going on and what to do about it.

http://www.garymoller.com/single-post/2017/01/02/How-stress-including-excessive-exercise-can-end-up-depressing-your-hormones-including-your-sex-drive




About this website 
The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Common body detoxification symptoms

Go here for the latest article about common body detoxification symptoms

http://www.garymoller.com/#!Common-Body-Detoxification-Symptoms/c1k7g/5761bcb40cf29542aa297f17



body detoxification
liver
detox
nausea


About this website 
The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.
Candida and Fungal Infections? Gary Moller recommends you explore this programme: Click Here!

Monday, November 23, 2015

Dr Chris Shade on Mercury Toxicity and the mercury challenge test

In this audio, Chris Kresser talks with Dr. Chris Shade, an expert in the environmental and analytical chemistry of mercury, about how we get exposed to mercury, the affect it can have on our bodies, what determines sensitivity to mercury, and the right (and wrong) way to test for mercury toxicity.

While they do get a bit over the top, technically, for many listeners I urge you to listen in.  In particular I want you to take note of Dr Shade's views on the mercury challenge test.  This test is still popular with many doctors and naturopaths.  It is true that close to 100% of those people who undergo the mercury challenge test will prove to be positive for mercury toxicity.  As Dr Shade and Chris Kresser agree; a test that is positive with just about everyone must be taken with great skepticism.  Gosh - many people have then gone and spent thousands of dollars on removing amalgam fillings and chemical chelation!  In some cases this was unnecessary.  A more gentle and less costly approach usually suffices.

 2013 Dec;9(4):318-25. doi: 10.1007/s13181-013-0350-7.

Recommendations for provoked challenge urine testing.

Abstract

"Urine mobilization test," "challenge test," and "provoked urine test" are all terms used to describe the administration of a chelating agent to a person prior to collection of their urine to test for metals. There is no standard, validated challenge test. Despite recommendations by professional and government organizations against the use of provoked urine testing, the tests are still commonly used and recommended by some practitioners. Challenge testing utilizes a variety of chelating agents, including dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), dimercaptopropanesulfonate (DMPS), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The agents are given by a variety of routes of administration, doses used are inconsistent, and urine collection procedures vary. Additional problems with challenge tests include comparison of results to inappropriate reference ranges and creatinine correction of urine obtained within hours of chelator administration. Human volunteer studies demonstrate that mercury is detected in the urine of most people even in the absence of known exposure or chelator administration, and that urinary mercury excretion rises after administration of a chelator, regardless of exposure history and in an unpredictable fashion. Studies also demonstrate that challenge testing fails to reveal a "body burden" of mercury due to remote exposure. Chelating agents have been associated with adverse reactions. Current evidence does not support the use of DMPS, DMSA, or other chelation challenge tests for the diagnosis of metal toxicity. Since there are no established reference ranges for provoked urine samples in healthy subjects, no reliable evidence to support a diagnostic value for the tests, and potential harm, these tests should not be utilized.
PMID:
 
24113861
 
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 
PMCID:
 
PMC3846974
 

A more accurate test that I am very familiar with, and have thousands of comparative test results as guidance, is the ICL Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis.  This test is very accurate, using the same technology as used by the Mars River, Curiosity, to measure mars soil and rock minerals.  If mistakes are made it is not the test that's the problem; but the person interpreting it that is going wrong.

If you have been told you have mercury in your system (Hey - we all do - but it varies how much!), my recommendation is the ICL Hair tissue minerals analysis, followed by gentle chelation, if warranted, using special nutrients such as Algotene, while avoiding any form of chemical chelation which may do more harm that good.

Listen on!






About this website 
The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Epstein-Barr Virus (Glandular Fever) and its impact on health

I have been considering doing a PHD though Massey University about the impact of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) on health.

It is an epidemic and appears to be getting worse with each new generation

This epidemic has become increasingly apparent to me as I have worked my way through more than a few thousand hair tissue mineral analyses (HTMA).  I have discovered that there is a consistent pattern on the HTMA for people who have had past or current afflictions of the active form of EBV, known as glandular fever.  This pattern also explains the extraordinarily wide range of chronic health issues that people who have had glandular fever present with.  Everything from depression, anxiety, extreme fatigue to arthritis and thyroid diseases.  Almost every modern health issue can be linked, in part, to the chronic effects of glandular fever.

Move over Stephen Hawking: I have the new Theory of Everything!


Here is an excellent overview of the impact of EBV on health:

http://goop.com/the-medical-medium-and-whats-potentially-at-the-root-of-medical-mysteries/

If you suspect your health has been adversely affected by EBV, the first action is to arrange a HTMA and consultation with me and then go from there, according to the findings.  The HTMA will show the patterns of subtle liver dysfunction and other knock-on effects of EBV, depending on its severity - of course!  By the way, most of what we are talking about will not show on standard blood tests.

Dealing with the chronic effects of EBV is not simple, partly because there is no "cure" and there is no "one size - fits all" solution; however, there is much that can be done.

Write to me here if you want to explore this more.



 About this website 
The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.