GaryMoller.com - Health, Fitness - Naturally!

The inconvenient truth about osteoporosis

2012-01-26T21:06:00.000+13:00

Statement:
Osteoporosis is caused by a lack of calcium in the diet.

Of course that's right? It must be because that's what the experts have been telling us for the last 30 years. Or is it?

Question:
Name one country that has one of the highest rates of osteoporosis on the planet?
Answer:
New Zealand

Question:

Physical labour, no sunscreen and a wonderful
wholefoods diet = Strong Samoan bones.

Name one country that has one of the highest dietary intakes of calcium?
Answer:
New Zealand - the land of the cow. A land that is awash with calcium.

Question:
If flour is the main ingredient in your cake recipe, will you get a better cake by adding more flour?
Answer:
No - you will get a mess of a cake that nobody will eat.

Question:
If sand is the main ingredient of concrete, will adding more sand give you stronger concrete?
Answer:
No - you will get a crumbling structure and probably be prosecuted.

Question:

My Brother-in-law, Ioasa, flexing his guns during a
break while cycling around Savaii and Upolo.

If calcium is the main ingredient of bone, will adding more calcium make for stronger bones?
Answer:
No - you will get weaker bones and other problems such as fatigue, low thyroid, fibromyalgia, arthritis, insomnia, dry skin, heart attack, dementia and stroke - to name a few.

Question:
Which race, it is said, has the highest bone density on the planet?
Answer:
The Polynesian - the Samoans and Tongans to be specific.

Question:

My favourite Samoan dish - Lu'au - taro leaves
soaked and baked in coconut oil - fatty acids galore!

Can you identify the calcium in the traditional Polynesian diet?
Answer:
Hmmm .... Where is the calcium? I can find lots and lots of the "dreadful" saturated fats (coconut oil), lots of phosphorus and protein (reef fish and other creatures) and lots of minerals from vegetables grown in rich volcanic soil - plus seaweed - but not much calcium at all! Oh - and there's lots and lots and lots of sunshine (vitamin D)! No hats and no sunscreen. And often no shirts.

Question:
If its not calcium, then what is the secret for keeping bones strong?
Answer:
A diet that is actually quite low in calcium and higher in trace minerals, including magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus - over 80 minerals in total - plus small amounts of quality protein 3-4 times a day and plenty of exposure of the body to pure sunshine!

Oh - and a little daily exercise such as short brisk walk and some upper body exercise. Or - doing the grocery shopping without a car, hanging the washing, mowing the lawns with a hand mower, gardening or wrestling the kids.

These, when combined in balance are the perfect recipe for making very strong bones.

Oh - Avoid megadoses of synthetic vitamin D that many Drs are enthusiastically dishing out nowadays! Same problem as too much calcium - Too much vitamin D and you get the opposite result, including fibromyalgia and fatigue.

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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.

Our environment is increasingly becoming contaminated with toxic elements such as uranium, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, lead and aluminium

2012-01-22T17:41:00.000+13:00

Our environment is increasingly becoming contaminated with toxic elements such as uranium, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, lead and aluminium. Even "clean, green New Zealand" is really a dirty place when you look closely enough. Please have a listen to the interview that follows:


HTMA from a man who works the land - Arsenic from treated timber posts, aluminium from fertiliser. The high Fe, Mn and Cr may be mostly due to the use of welding and cutting torches. The elevated Na and K are due to stress responses - hardly surprising!

While I may not agree with everything the interviewer and interviewee are saying, they are spot-on with regards to their concerns about the ever-increasing contamination of our environment with toxins like mercury and aluminium and the potential threats to mammals, including Human Beings. I do share their concerns about the use of aluminium deodorants, especially about the armpits and breasts by women. Its just not a good idea.

While it does make sense to get rid of your aluminium cookware and to switch to non-toxic deodorants, I urge you not to panic. Unless you work in a toxic environment such as an engineering workshop, or on the farm, the chances are you are okay. We all react differently to exposure to toxins. Some of us accumulate them while others excrete them as fast as they are being absorbed. It comes down to our nutritional status (or lack of!) and the health of our eliminative organs (liver, kidneys) as to how efficiently our bodies can handle toxins and excrete them.

The Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is the best test available for determining if you are apt to accumulate toxins such as mercury - and to determine if there is a build-up of anything undesirable and what to do about - other than to blindly panic!

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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.

Achilles tendon pain and swelling training for the Oxfam Trailwalker

2012-01-18T16:34:00.000+13:00

Over-engineered shoes with high heel-counter
that digs into the Achilles tendon when
stepping downhill, or into depressions. Fine
for flat running - terrible for running or walking
over rough terrain.

Hi Gary,
I am training for my first Oxfam challenge but am having a lot of trouble with my left archilles. I have read previous posts where you have suggested it may be the smaller muscles around the tendon but am finding discomfort at touching the tendon and swelling after walking on it.

I am currently travelling around south east Asia and should probably be walking a little less but I took it very easy before my trip and it still didn't seem to heal. It gets worse the more I walk and sometime goes so tight that I have to stop I pain and give it a few minutes. Is there something I can do to strap or support it as the oxfam teailwalker is only a few months away.

I have been to a physio but he was only massaging it and then strapping it which he advised me to leave on for 24 hours and it wasn't helping only while the strapping was on.

Thank you for any advice you can give.

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Gary:
There has been an upsurge in Achilles tendon injuries in the last year. In fact last year was a record for me. There are a number of causes but there is one causation that stands out above all else: Footwear. But why now?

I think the problem is in the shoe design which has high, hard heel counters (refer photo above). Running shoes are designed in places like California where their idea of off-road is a manicured track - nothing like the rough stuff you find in New Zealand! The real damage happens when walking or running down very steep slopes or stepping into depressions like pot holes where the foot is forced into extreme plantar flexion while the Achilles tendon has to snap taught. This causes a guillotine chopping of the Achilles tendon. This action can be repeated a thousand times during an hour or so of walking or running.

It is therefore hardly a surprise that Achilles tendon injuries are on the increase in New Zealand.

Check to see if your most tender spot on the Achilles fits with where your shoes bite into the tendon. If this appears to be the case then it is best to biff your shoes and get a new pair that has a low-cut heel counter. If you can't bear to do this, you could resort to partly cutting away the heel counter of your $220 pair of shoes!

Please take time to read the string of articles about Achilles tendon injuries here.

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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.

About salt replacement during marathon training

2012-01-18T16:00:00.000+13:00

Gary sweating like crazy while cycling around
Upolo, Samoa

Hi Gary

Sorry for the late reply - i actually had replied to your email about potential Adrenal Fatigue (I'm training for the gold coast marathon, and it's summer time in Qld, i had been suffering from dehydration) ....

I had a good read of your website like you suggested. Some great info. One thing that really stood out was the Pink Salt.

All i can say is, WOW - what a difference.

That 1st week using it, was my biggest volume week in many months.

And the next week, This week, looks set to be a bigger volume week again - Should easily hit 7hrs. (It's now Sunday - last day of week, and 6hrs 20min done for the week, 2hrs done Saturday and will knock out 1hr today for weekly total of 7hrs 20min) And this week had a massive Heat Wave from Sun - Wed.

No issue with dehydration at all. Loving it.

The Hair analysis is a great idea - esp when things are not going according to plan. I have a few clients like that. (alcohol normally.....)

I still cannot get over how well the Pink Salt has effected me - It makes perfect sense too.

You're a life saver

Regards

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Gary:
Thanks for the feedback - always appreciated.

One thing this email highlights is the solutions to many health and training issues are often ridiculously simple and often very obvious. In this case the leading cause of this runner's dehydration and exhaustion was lack of salt. Runners need heaps of salt and one of the worst things they can do is follow a low salt dietary regime. But not just any salt.

Avoid refined salt which has only NaCl plus a little iodine in it. Go for the salt that civilisations were built upon the trade of - pink salt which contains at least 80 different minerals, including NaCl.

Public health sound bytes such as "cut the salt" are not always right. In fact this health byte has got it terribly wrong and have done so for the last 20 years and caused so many health problems such as chronic fatigue, confusion, blood pressure problems, osteoporosis, thyroid and adrenal disorders and heart disease. The new health byte should be:

"Cut the refined salt - Increase the pink salt!"

To date, I have seen no health problems with consuming pink Himalyan salt daily at the base rate of about one rounded teaspoon per day - more if you are doing heavy exercise and sweating a lot. All I have seen is health benefits including better sporting performance.

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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.

Evil Mr Sunshine

2012-01-13T08:53:00.000+13:00

What's the skin cancer rate among New Zealand Polynesians? I could not find any figures so asked my dermatologist. In his opinion the rate was negligible - no more than 1/50th that for Caucasians.

So, why do we force children of darker-skinned races to "slip-slop-slap!" when they go to school? Are we not harming their health? In my opinion we are.

Here in the Southern Hemisphere it is mid summer and the dire warnings about the sun are once again being broadcast from the parapets.

But I have a problem with these "one-size fits-all" sound-byte health warnings. When it comes to sun exposure we must take account of skin type. A dark-skinned person may need up to 50 times the sun exposure of a fair person in order to stay healthy. So, the sun health messages that apply to "white" New Zealand may be doing enormous harm to our darker-skinned citizens.

When going out in the sun, the degree of protection needed is dependent on skin type. So, my fair-skinned niece, Jasmin, takes considerable care not to get burned; whereas my brown-skinned son, Alama, can play all day in the sun without as much as a hat. Both will be getting their vitamin D from different degrees of exposure to the sun.

You'll love this video:

Yet another example of big business pushing health products that may be harmful. Our very own Cancer Society has been captured. Far from being an advocate on our behalf, it comes across as being an advocate for the "cancer industry". One of its main sources of income is from the sale of sunscreen products. In my opinion, this compromises its advocacy role.

So, let's get this right: Stay out of the sun and slap all of these chemicals over your body to hopefully prevent one form of cancer. But, in so doing, you are increasing your risk of dozens of other forms of cancer, including breast, prostate, ovarian and bowel cancer, as well as many, many other diseases.

Not getting out in the sun risks developing vitamin D deficiency. Up to 90% of the population now have low to deficient levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for health for people of all ages, including children who the cancer industry spends a lot of effort targeting (It preys on parental fears for the safety of their child).

Here’s a list of diseases that are caused or made worse by vitamin D deficiencies.• Acute lower respiratory infection• Anaphylaxis• Anemia• Anxiety• Arthritis• Asthma• Atherosclerosis• Autism• Autoimmune diseases• Bipolar disorder• Brain damage• Breast-tissue density• Chronic fatigue• Chronic pain• Cognitive ability• Colds• Craniotabes• C-reactive protein levels• Crohn’s disease• Cystic fibrosis• Dental caries (cavities)• Depression• Diabetes• Dyslexia• Eczema• Epilepsy• Falls• Fibromyalgia• Flu• Fractures• Headache• Hearing loss• Heart disease• Heart failure• High cholesterol• HIV/AIDS• Hypertension• Immune system dysfunction• Infertility• Inflammation• Inflammatory bowel disease• Insomnia• Intermittent claudication• Kidney disease• Leprosy• Leukemia• Low-back pain• Low birth weight• Lupus• Macular degeneration• Melanoma• Meningitis (bacterial)• Metabolic Syndrome• Migraines• Multiple sclerosis (MS)• Muscle strength (low)• Myeloma• Myopathy• Myopia• Necrotizing fasciitis• Neuroblastoma• Neuropathy• Nonspecific muscle pain• Nursing home risk• Obesity• Osteomalacia• Osteoporosis• Parasites• Parkinson’s disease• Periodontal disease• Peripheral artery disease• Pneumonia• Polycystic ovary disease• Pre-eclampsia• Psoriasis• Retinoblastoma• Rickets• Schizophrenia• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)• Sepsis• Septicemia• Stroke• TuberculosisSource: Dr. Mercola

Of course, we must be sensible and be careful not to burn when going out in the sun. So, get outdoors and enjoy the health benefits of sunshine!

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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.

Running on empty - why athletes eventually run out of gas

2012-01-10T12:56:00.000+13:00

Alastair Leslie in the lead (Rod Dixon in 3rd)

Why is it that athletes seem to have only about ten years of peak performance in them after which the slow decline begins?

If an athlete starts training hard at 16, he or she will peak and then decline from their late 20's. If they start at 30, they will peak 10 years later. Think of athletes like Jack Foster and John Campbell as examples of this rule of ten years. Once hard training begins there is a window of opportunity of roughly 10 years during which performance improves after which it levels off and then begins a gradual decline.

While some of this decline is due to the inexorable processes of ageing, this is not entirely the case as is indicated by the extraordinary careers of late starters such as Foster and Campbell.

I (Gary Moller) am evidence of there being more at play than ageing alone because I well and truly peaked at about 30 years and then began a painful decline into oblivion. In recent years I have had a dramatic resurgence in performance that has me shaving at least 20 minutes off typical two hour cycling times (My last age group race was won in just over 2hrs 20 min). If athletic decline is all due to ageing, I should be getting slower - not faster.

Let me explain what I think happens as athletes get older by referring to the case of former national level runner, Alastair Leslie (Alastair has given permission for his personal information to be used in writing this article).

Alastair winning comfortably ahead of
Liam Healey

At 16 years of age, Alastair Leslie was one of New Zealand's most promising middle distance track athletes. Coached by legendary coach, Arthur Lydiard, Alastair turned out a number of impressive performances between 1975 and 1990:

100m - 11.6s
400m - 50.5s
500m - 1:51.07
1500m - 3:44.60
Mile - 4:02.28
5,000m - 14.11
Half marathon - 1hr 7minutes.

Alastair with his coach,
Arthur Lydiard

He had several races with John Walker, Rod Dixon and other international stars of the 80's before beginning the inevitable slow decline. Now 52 years old, Alastair is feeling distinctly tired -"burned out" - and struggling to exercise enjoyably and meaningfully.

On first appearances Alastair comes across as a remarkably fit and healthy looking man with a body to kill for. However, he has noted tell-tale signs that all is not 100% - things such as not handling stress quite as well as he might have in the past; insomnia; dry, thin skin and early signs of skin cancer; reducing exercise capacity; and fatigue.

Let's look at Alastair's Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) to identify several nutrition factors, other than ageing, that may be contributing to his "Tired Athlete" condition.

What we see with Alastair's HTMA (right) is typical of what we see in tired athletes - that he really is running on empty - most nutrients are precariously low - They should all be within the "Reference Range" and preferably on the higher than lower side.

The low magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) may compromise muscle and nerve function, the low sodium (Na) and potassium (K) are indicative of poor adrenal function and possibly blood pressure problems. Low copper (Cu) relative to zinc (Zn) and low manganese (Mn) may lead to weak connective tissue, predisposing him to joint, muscle and ligament problems. These may also lead to an unhealthy cholesterol profile. The high chromium (Cr) to manganese may lead to problems with insulin resistance and blood sugar regulation.

Training with Keith Livingstone, author of
the book, "Healthy, Intelligent Training"
Circa 1980

Also of considerable interest is the presence of mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) in his system. Again, this is a common finding in all people nowadays due to the increasing contamination of our environment and food chain through the indiscriminate use of chemicals and the burning of fossil fuels - mostly coal. Mercury, in this case, is probably due to eating canned tuna most days. Lead contamination may be from many sources, including stripping off old paint during home renovations.

Lead and mercury bind with many nutritional elements such as zinc, iron, calcium, selenium and magnesium rendering them unavailable for biological use. Mercury's effect on selenium (Se) and zinc, for example, interferes with their role of protecting skin cells from UV damage and preventing chronic inflammation that may be the precursor to many cancers, including breast and prostate cancer.

Contamination by toxic elements such as arsenic (As), mercury and lead may be a greater factor in the causation of many cancers than some authorities may be prepared to admit. Most men in New Zealand and Australia have arsenic in their systems from working with treated timber and this may explain soaring rates of prostate cancer.

Canned tuna is heavily promoted to young women as a means of healthy wieght management. Unknown to them, the mercury in this fish species may be setting them up for skin cancer and other health problems due to the mercury wiping out zinc, selenium and iron. This may help explain why the "Sun Smart" campaign to prevent skin cancer is a failure (In my opinion). Cancer rates are soaring, rather than declining and its not all to do with an ageing population.

Alastair's HTMA profile is generally indicative of trends towards depression and fatigue. It is impossible to not feel this way (tired and depressed) when running on empty. This HTMA pattern of depletion is the rule in high performance athletes and may be more of a factor in athletes who participate in sports such as rugby where concussion is a high risk factor. Take note of this John Kirwan! No manner of exercise programme, self-talk, day-planning or medication is going to make all that much difference to how one feels when there are powerful biochemical imbalances and deficiencies, including the presence of toxic elements in many cases.

Alastair in winning form

Having said this; Alastair is not depressed. However, there is a pattern in his HTMA profile which indicates that he may not take a big hit well if one were to happen - A big hit such as a financial or family crisis, physical trauma or an infection. It makes sense to take pre-emptive action by nudging his nutrient profile into the "Reference Range"

We can conclude from the evidence in his HTMA that a good deal of what may be attributed to inevitable ageing is actually somewhat controllable.

So, what's Alastair doing about all of this now? It is still early days but he is well on the way to restoring his health and regaining his running "mojo". Dietary changes are being made, including avoiding tuna. He is taking a number of vitamins and minerals to restore healthy levels and balance as per the HTMA above. He is also taking nutrients that help to neutralise toxins such as mercury and which assist the body with safely excreting

them. This process of restoring health and fitness is a slow one and will continue over a number of years. The journey has begin and, with Alastair's permission, we will post the occasional update of his journey.

As an aside; Alastair owns "BodyShape Fitness Studio", in Tawa, Wellington, for the last 15 years and recently re-directed his passion for running towards coaching athletes. He currently coaches several provincial and national secondary school champions. He is using the principles of coaching that he has learnt from many of the best coaches and athletes New Zealand has produced. If you want to learn more about his coaching services, you can email him here.

Thanks Alastair for allowing us to share your story.

Postscript:

A message from Wayne who is several years ahead of Alastair.

"There is life after burnout: You get up in the morning and climb steeply for 1400 vertical metres with a pack on your back for a four day trip"

Wayne is an inspiration to others. He was weighed down for many years with chronic fatigue. When he contacted me several years ago, he too, was running on empty. To his credit, Wayne has to be the most persistent and inquiring person I have ever dealt with and he has the spectacular results to show!

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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.

Comments about "A study on the mineral depletion of the foods available to us as a nation"

2012-01-05T15:11:00.001+13:00

Our backyard vegetable plot in Central Wellington.
Rhubarb, brocolli, zuchini, cucumber, spinach,
beans, beans and more beans!
We are expecting a bumper crop this summer.
Note the rotting seaweed.

Rick of Rick's Running sent me this document "A study on the mineral depletion of the foods available to us as a nation over the period 1940 to 1991"which shows how the mineral content of vegetables in the UK has plunged over that period. Looks shocking, while hardly surprising.

Here's an article from the Guardian which explains the study well and includes responses from the food industry.

Hair Tissue Analysis indicating a diet that has been
seriously deficient of minerals.

I am not at all surprised with the findings because they sit comfortably with the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis reports of which I have completed hundreds. These reports consistently show that our modern diets are falling terribly short when it comes to supplying nutrients other than calcium (in gross excess in most cases). This is most apparent in vegetarians who do not have the benefit of concentrated nutrients from animal sources.

The source of the problem is this:

The faster the rate of production/growth, the lower the concentration of nutrients.
Modern fruit and vegetables have been selectively bred to produce more sugar and less bitter nutrients.
Soil is continuously over-cultivated by the use of pesticides and herbicides, perilously depleting minerals.
What is replaced is only what makes plants grow fast; nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertiliser (NPK) and loads and loads of lime (calcium). Humans need over a hundred different minerals to thrive.

The solutions are to:

Unhealthy products such as tobacco and alcohol like to
associate with "healthy" activities. Note the irony of
the slogan for this nutrient-poor product!

Grow your own vegetables in your back yards as much as you can, composting all your organic materials and adding sources of minerals such as seaweed. Kill any bugs with your fingers, rather than smothering your plants with pesticides (Press-gang your kids into this job - wee fingers are perfect for the job!).
Buy the rest from organic sources, if you can afford it.
Avoid processed foods, especially breakfast cereals, including the ones that claim to make you strong and healthy.
Eat fresh meat, milk and eggs from free range sources - not from factory farms where the animals are raised on a combination of grains, antibiotics and hormones.
Take supplementary vitamins and minerals. Best guided by an annual Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis.

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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.

Correcting foot pronation (collapsing arches) with corrective exercise

2012-01-05T12:05:00.001+13:00

With 90,000 Youtube views and climbing, this is one of the most popular and controversial video topics I have ever produced. Pronating feet is probably the most common biomechanic fault we ever get to see.

Treatment invariably consists of the fitting of expensive orthotics, some costing over $900 a pair (including consultations). In my opinion, 90% of orthotics are unnecessary, don't work and create more problems than they fix by restricting natural foot mechanics, causing "clumping" running styles and transferring the shock and, therefore the problem, further up the legs.

The long term solution lies in improving the balance of strength between the intrinsic foot muscles and the muscles of the lower leg - as well as posture. This process takes a long time and involves breaking very old habits such as standing and sitting with one or both feet splayed out like a duck.

My only concession to orthotics principles is the fitting of a flexible heat-moulded inner sole which allows normal foot movement while giving some support when the weak foot bottoms out at the peak of the foot strike. Interestingly, this kind of innersole is mostly unavailable in shoe shops nowadays - other than my website. Their disappearing off the retail market coincides with the widespread introduction of "strategic partnerships" between sports shoe companies, retailers and professional foot clinics. Here's an example of this.

So, you go to a shoe shop, they get you to trot on a treadmill, tell you that your feet pronate and recommend you consult a particular foot specialist who will fit orthotics, paid in part, by ACC or another insurer. If you are seeing a foot specialist, you will be directed to a particular retailer to get suitable shoes to go with your brand new "clumpers". The retailer no longer stocks self-help products such as heat-moulded inner-soles. This is how it seems to work nowadays, does nothing to improve foot health, other than giving temporary relief, while contributing to blow-outs in health-care and insurance costs.

To my surprise this e-book and video has attracted considerable criticism from some professional quarters. Despite this, I have not had to modify anything said and demonstrated. This is because the criticism, to date, has no credible basis and can only be seen as attempts to protect a lucrative meal ticket for the foot industry. A meal ticket which I think has been abused as a therapy.

Text

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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.

Long Runs - Long Rides and their effect on fat and carbohydrate metabolism

2011-12-23T18:58:00.002+13:00

Hi Gary,

Thanks for your time. I recieved your e-mail address from your website after reading Keith Livingstones book on Lydiards principles. Am so very happy to be able to ask you a question

In the book Lydiard principle recommends doing long runs with no carbs. I'm a cyclist trying to use his principles, and on the bike a long equivalent ride would be 5hrs or so. Would you recommend going this long also without carbs? Can only manage 3.5hrs at the moment but am working on it.

All other areas look as though they can transfer across ok :)

Many thanks Gary, take good care Clarence

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Gary:

Clarence, rather than muddle about trying to explain what can be quite confusing; especially since what we are saying seems to run counter to "mainstream" advice, I decided to ask the author of the book, Dr Keith Livingstone, to do the honours of providing the answer.

As an aside; Keith and his twin brother, Colin, were born in Kenya and raised in New Zealand. In their 20's Keith and Colin were more like rockets than runners. While I can claim to have done some training runs with Keith, I saw mostly his rear end while he set about innocently wasting me! Keith was one of the most promising 5 and 10km runners during the 70's but he chose study over running which was a good decision - I guess. Keith is a bit of a bright spark and he knows his exercise physiology back to front, especially as it applies to running and cycling.

For a little more about Keith, the Author of HIT, please go here.

Just one further comment from me: What Keith explains below may appear to be running contrary to what most mainstream nutritionists and exercise physiologists tend to advise - like loading up on carbs here, there and every-where. I think the root cause of this dissonance in advice is because the food industry has captured academia and the media: Research that sets out to prove the benefits of hi-carbs gets the funding and the ones that produce findings in support of carbs gets all of the publicity. The rest get buried - if they ever get off the ground in the first place. Over 70% of academic studies never see the light of day and fewer than 10% of these ever get published in a peer reviewed journal and then only a few of these get into the popular press - and this is after the funding bias in favour of carbs has done the first weeding out! You see; the food industry want you to buy highly priced super-processed foods (if you can call this food!) that are made from super-cheap stuff like soy, corn and wheat extracts. There is no money to be made by trying to sell you a corn cob. The money is in taking that raw 10 cent corn cob and converting it into several sports gels and selling them to you for 2-5 bucks each. Got the idea?

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Keith:
In my book Healthy Intelligent Training, I advised runners that they SHOULD NOT try to do their long runs by running the last few kilometers by sucking on carbohydrate gel sachets, etc.

Why would I say this? Surely that heavy-legged, wooden feeling we get as the last of the accessible carbohydrate stores gets used up isn't desireable, is it? Well, in a circular way, yes- it’s extremely desirable. There’s really no better way I know of to get the body to switch its attention to conserving glycogen (stored muscle sugars in endless chains of glucose molecules) than by taking that tank to ‘empty’ a few weeks in a row in long efforts until the body then says “But hey- I can MAKE more of this stuff by stripping down fatty acids into glucose by another route!”

(“Triglycerides”, which are often represented as “bad fats” by people who should study and think more, can be considered “Three -glucoses”. With a twist of a bit of each end, and a ‘yank’ between each section, done in the machinery of the slow twitch fibers’ mitochondria, in each of those fatty acid molecules there are a few potential high-energy glucose molecules once they've been cleaved off and re-badged.)

A body trained this way on the Lydiard principles will soon adapt, and the “heavy-legged, wooden feeling” doesn’t occur at all in long runs over two and a half hours any more. In fact, one starts to move along at very good high-aerobic speeds on a mixed-fuel of carbs and fats, just about as efficiently as on carbs alone. This leaves decent stores of muscle glycogen that can be accessed late into a long aerobic race like the marathon, or late into a competitive ride, without the need for “gu-gels”, etc. If you train to get super-efficient on dual-fuels, and hop into a race , you can always “top up” within the race for a superlative result (maybe a big negative split!). However- practice it once or twice outside a race just so that you don’t have any surprises on race day!

So if we can find a way to ‘train’ the body over a number of weeks in incremental steps to strip down the nearly endless supplies of free fatty acids floating around, and re-badge the ‘triglycerides’ that make up a high proportion of accessible fats within the muscle cells into glucose for higher-power output, then we’re using the metabolic portion of the slow twitch fibers to supply ready fuel for our fast twitch fibers that supply the power necessary to move anyone at much faster than 4m20s Km speed.(8.5 mph for a runner).

On long runs, we should make an effort to stay hydrated , because glucose needs a fair bit of water around it to get into the system. The way to get things going when running is something like a 3.5 hour run with the first 90 minutes at slow jogging pace, and then do a normal 2 hour run on top of that, and see how good you feel at the end.

On long bike rides, the trick is to never go off the small front ring on a road bike, and ‘spin’ for as long as possible at low intensities, with the heart rate quite low, near only 65% intensity on the Karvonen Heart Rate scale. (Gary explain this.. it’s in the book- I’m going to bed). (Gary’s advice: Read the book!)

On other rides through the week that have different purposes to the fat utilisation purpose of the long ride, naturally enough we go at sustained intensities that are higher, to our level of training and tolerance.http://hitsystem.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/book3.jpg

The great, and very very big Miguel Indurain, one of the few multiple winners of the Tour de France, gave Lance Armstrong this low-intensity tip as more or less his ‘secret’ to conserving muscle glycogen. On the big front ring, we can push higher speeds for sure, but it’s done by utilising higher power output that tips the scales towards more fast twitch fibre use, and thereby ripping through glycogen stores. Since we do much the same amount of nett work for a given distance, whether we do it with high speed and high power, or whether we take it a little steadier, the small front ring and lower heart rate will make sure you’re using slow twitch more, thereby stripping down those triglycerides and free fatty acids in the mitochondrial energy factories without touching your glycogen stores much.

As a rule of thumb, the more strength or power required to turn the pedal, the more the likelihood you’re recruiting fast twitch and using glycogen, and vice-versa with respect to the far more aerobically efficient and fuel-efficient slow twitch fibers.

So if your ego can handle fat weekend warriors with spare tyres passing you on the waterfront, start there, but also be prepared for the odd granny to go past. Then you’re really doing it well, and after your fatty acid metabolism kicks in, you’ll find you can go a very long way without the need for carbs.

HOWEVER- always have some carbs on hand just in case your system isn’t quite right one day and you ’bonk’ thirty kilometers from home! I’d also suggest eating every couple of hours after about 5 hours if you do longer rides; toasted sandwiches of cheese, ham, and tomato were perfect fuel for me when I did a few all-day charity rides several years ago, as well as a water-pack with grape juice (alkali, full of potassium) diluted by about 1:3 with water. Fruit juices such as apple or grape are alkali (= good!), whereas orange juice is too acidic and can muck up your stomach quite badly. Any fruit drink should be diluted to roughly 6g sugars/liter (6% w/v), or less on hot days.

Keith Livingstone

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Does the Mirena contraceptive have anything to do with my degenerating Achilles tendons??

2011-12-21T14:20:00.000+13:00

"Hi Gary,

Former elite athlete with depressed copper levels
associated with Mirena (progesterone) contraceptive,
consequently suffering severe back and sacroiliac
pain, including lumbar spondylolisthesis.

I have a theory to put to you. I have had a Mirena for 5 years, started running 4 years ago and for the entire period have suffered achilles tendonopathy that just wouldn't respond to the normal treatment.

Near the end of the 5 year term the tendonopathy disappeared completely and inexplicably. Recently I have had the Mirena replaced and guess what - the achilles pain is returning.

If the plan is to remove the Mirena I'd have to find another treatment for menorrhagia.

What do you think?"

"K"

________________
Gary:

Example of a young woman with elevated copper
associated with oestrogen contraceptive use,
consequently suffering tendon, ligament damage
and stress fractures.

There is definitely a link between the use of contraceptives such as Mirena and tendon and ligament disorders.

I have now completed hundreds of Hair Tissue Mineral Analyses and can now dig out examples of just about any health condition you can think of. Menstrual and connective tissue disorders are among the most common. Let me explain why:

Adequate amounts of zinc and copper are needed in the body for the normal production of elastin and collagen, which are the primary components of tendons and ligaments, including the spinal discs. Copper, specifically, is necessary for the cross-linking of proteins that give strength and integrity to these structures. Zinc is required for the body to synthesize protein, therefore, an imbalance between copper and zinc can lead to tendon, ligament and structural abnormalities.

Copper and zinc regulate the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Oestrogen is closely associated with copper; when the level of one rises, so does the other. Zinc is associated with progesterone; the levels of these two rise in tandem. Hence the use of copper in intrauterine contraceptive devices.

An imbalance between the hormones Oestrogen and progesterone, as well as zinc, copper and other nutritional factors, is likely to be the chief culprit contributing to menstrual problems including painful, heavy bleeding (menorrhagia).

If a woman has a high tissue copper level, her flow may be prolonged and heavy. If a woman has dominant zinc levels, she may have a light and short menstrual flow, and her breasts may become extremely tender. Too much copper, on the other hand, can also stop menstruating. Women with eating disorders typically stop menstruating. High tissue copper levels are typically found in women suffering anorexia and bulemia.

Copper is an antagonist of iron. Women with high tissue copper levels typically have low iron. Iron supplementation may temporarily raise iron levels but the problem of low iron will persist for as long as copper remains elevated.

The liver regulates copper levels. Men and women with elevated tissue copper levels often have a history of liver stress, typically a severe viral infection such as hepatitis, glandular fever or a severe case of influenza. Women with heavy bleeding and other menstrual disorders may find relief with various combinations of contraceptives; but this is not remedying the underlying causes which could be a combination of factors, including poor liver function.

You might be wondering; "how come my medical specialists have never mentioned any of this to me?" Well, they should have studied this in great detail as medical students. Sadly, there is little interest in these matters in clinical situations with treatments well and truly entrenched in applying extremely expensive and often invasive patented treatments. Basic elements and vitamins, such as zinc, magnesium and vitamin C, can not be patented. They are ubiquitous and they are cheap. There is no money to be made from prescribing them.

The health problems that you have described are very common, affecting countless thousands of women in New Zealand, let alone elsewhere. These problems may be attributed to the near universal use of contraceptives, both uterine and oral, and from increasingly early ages when natural hormone levels are surging and attempting to find their natural, healthy levels.

Women are the unwitting subjects of an uncontrolled experiment

on the grandest of scales

The next step in finding a healthy, life-long solution is to identify the underlying drivers of your tendon degeneration and heavy periods. You can do this with a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis which I can arrange for you and then run you through the options for correcting any imbalances that show up.

For further reading about the relationship between hormones, minerals, ligaments and contraceptives - and female athletes, please go here.

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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.

What causes spider veins and how can I prevent them?

2011-12-20T10:02:00.000+13:00

Ankle spider veins

"The shorts have been out over the last 6 odd weeks and I have noticed what I think must be spider veins on my thighs mainly.

My Mum had varicose veins below her knees and they are definitely not that although I do have dark thick veins around my shins that poke out a bit. The spider?? veins haven't caused me any discomfort and seem to come and go today you would hardly notice them. The look isn't great but I just wanted to check they weren't a sign of something I should be aware of??

Thank you for a year of steadily improving health, it is marvellous being a year oldre and feeling better."

Anon

______________________________

Gary:

HTMA recently taken for "Anon"

When viewing the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) we can detect the suspected causes of spider veins. Please refer to the chart (right) when reading the following.

When there is an excess of calcium relative to magnesium there will be a slow process of deposition of the excess calcium in the soft tissues, including the arteries and veins. This process may be accelerated when there is an imbalance between copper and zinc (a balance is necessary for strong collagen and, therefore, strong blood vessel walls) and where there is the presence of even tiny amounts of heavy metals - arsenic and mercury in this case. A lack of co-factors such as pyridoxine (B6) may also be present.

Toxic elements such as arsenic and mercury increase oxidative stress and bind with nutritional elements such as magnesium, zinc and selenium, rendering them unavailable. The blood vessel walls are the first in line for the damage wreaked by these toxins.

A person's mineral imbalances, including the presence of toxic elements, may be inherited from their mother; but not their father. This is inherited - not genetic.

Rakaia River, New Zealand

Spider veins are the first evidence of hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis). If unchecked, this may lead to poor circulation to the limbs, high blood pressure, impotence, dementia, heart attack and stroke. Being very tiny, the capillaries are easily damaged and blocked, becoming like the stagnant branches of a braided South Island river such as the Rakaia.

This early damage is usually seen about the ankles and behind the knees and thighs. Once a spider vein is formed, there is probably no going back - the ones you can see are there for good. What you see just below the skin is also happening throughout the body - muscles, brain, heart, liver, etc. The most important thing now is to prevent this process continuing and effecting more vessels, including the large ones such as the aorta.

There is no reason why this process of slowly turning to stone can not be reversed and flow improved through blood vessels that are still functioning. Please read the articles here about reversing arteriosclerosis.

Prevention and reversal of this calcification process is a gradual exercise of balancing the nutrients in the HTMA and eliminating any hint of toxins in the body. This involves modest dietary modifications, supplementation with a combination of vitamins and minerals, including adding antioxidants such as mixed beta carotenoids, selenium, vitamin E and vitamin C. Each case is different and guided by their HTMA report.

_______________________________________

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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.

Is sea salt really good for you?

2011-12-05T08:44:00.001+13:00

Lorraine Moller: In need of a long, cold
drink - and a little salt - following her Bronze Medal
performance in the Barcelona Olympic
Marathon.

Hi Gary,
I cut right back on salt intake quite a few years ago thinking it was more healthy, but now I'm starting to think this might be wrong!

I've read of a few runners who overcame Adrenal gland burnout by taking SEA SALT!

Could my low Max Heart Rate and feeling weak and dizzy when I stand up quickly be caused by not taking enough salt! Is sea salt really good for you?

As a distance runner following Lydiards base training I must be sweating out buckets of salt and trace
minerals.

Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks Rick
______________________________
Gary:
Good questions, Rick.
Read this article here.
Humans have salt receptors on their tongues. Its because without salt, we die. Salt helped found civilisations when it was traded for cloth and grains. Roman soldiers were paid in salt which was then used to purchase goods (hence the word "salary").

The problem is that we have adulterated salt by refining it to be just one salt - sodium chloride (NaCl). Natural salt consists of 80 or more different mineral salts with NaCl being the principal one. On its own, NaCl may be considered detrimental to health by causing imbalances between itself and the other salts that are found inside the healthy cell. Refined NaCl salt is what is added during modern food processing.

Pink Himalayan salt is at least 240 million years old. It is what remains of the Primordial Ocean, the ocean from which creatures emerged to colonise the land. Our cells have a salt make-up that is remarkably similar to the primordial ocean. Our tissue salt make-up is quite different to the salt content of the oceans of today. I find this most fascinating - that we have managed to retain, more or less, the salt make-up of the oceans within which higher life evolved many millions of years ago.

For this reason, I encourage the consumption of Pink Himalayan Salt and the avoidance of all other salt. If pink salt is not available then Celtic salt is a good alternative.

There are three fluid compartments inside the body: These are the blood, the water surrounding the cells ("extracellular matrix") and the water inside the cells ("intracellular matrix"). Your trillion or so cells are like individual plants bathed in a hydroponic mix (extracellar matrix), with the nutrients and water (blood) supplied by millions of pipes (blood vessels). The most important compartment, if there is one, is the intracellular matrix where the complex biochemistry of life happens.

Water follows the salt in the body. How much water is in a compartment depends on how much or how little is needed to ensure the near perfect concentration of the complex salt solution necessary to maintain life. If there is an excess of NaCl relative to other salts, then the body will attempt to dump this excess NaCl through the kidneys and via sweating. This will result in dehydration in all three fluid compartments, especially in the intracellular matrix.

Water and nutrients are actively transported across the semi-impervious cell membranes by there being a greater concentration of sodium on the outside relative to the potassium on the inside. If this mechanism is unable to function well due to a mineral deficiency or excess then the processes that nourish and cleanse the cells begins to faulter. The cell may become dehydrated and metabolic toxins will begin to accumulate in the intra and extracellular compartments. Paradoxically, the extracellular matrix may become bloated with excess water. These may be felt and seen as:

Oedema or bloating, often apparent as swelling of the feet and hands. In skinny people, look for the tell-tale indentation from the elastic of ankle socks towards the end of the day.
Heavy, tired legs.
Feeling faint when standing up quickly.
Low blood pressure.
High blood pressure.
Slow, unresponsive pulse
Difficulty getting up to maximum heart rate.
Confusion, poor memory, anxiety.
Fibromyalgia and polymyalgia.
Adrenal fatigue.
Poor healing.
Prone to infections.
Physical and mental burn-out.

All of the above are very common in athletes and signals the beginning of the end of their competitive career. Few competitive athletes avoid the symptoms above ("burn-out").

The solution is to take about one rounded teaspoon per day of pink salt. If doing a lot of sweating, then more salt needs to be taken. Add it liberally to food. You also need to take in a little protein about every 2-4 hours of waking. This can be any form including a protein smoothie drink. The adrenals need salt and protein in order to do their job which includes regulating blood pressure.

Feeling light-headed?
Feeling faint upon arising is the cue to take three-four grains of coarse Himalayan Salt. Just toss them into the mouth and wash down with a large glass of water. If you get a nauseous feeling you need to drink more water. Have something to eat, including a little protein.

If you are depleted in minerals it can take many months, if not years, to fully replenish and balance levels and it may be necessary to give extra amounts of minerals such as magnesium, zinc and selenium. It may also be necessary to supplement with nutrients such as pyridoxine which assists in the balancing of minerals including sodium and potassium as well as promoting red blood cell production, nerve function and balancing various hormones.

Just what is needed and how best to go about replenishing and balancing these is complex and best guided by the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) and repeated the test every 6-12 months. I recommend that all athletes use this test to guide their nutrition and to avoid burn-out.

_______________________________________

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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. Please give me your support by subscribing to my free email updates. Please shop at my Online Store. Please encourage your family and friends to do the same. While we may not always be able to compete with the big operators on price, we aim to more than compensate through personal service!

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I have just launched the new www.GaryMoller.com

2011-10-26T10:50:00.000+13:00

I have just launched the new www.GaryMoller.com to replace this one.

www.garymoller.com

My new website operates on the most up to date web platform, giving you faster loading, better search functions and new blog articles. Convenient payment options now include secure DPS credit card and Paypal.

The new blog is deliberately decommercialised to ensure readers are not put off by having the impression they are reading "infomercials". I am also inviting a number of recognised experts to contribute regular articles to the blog.

This older site's URL is now http://blog.garymoller.com/ and it will remain active as the source of over 2,000 articles which I have written in the past.

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How can I lower my high arches?

2011-09-30T14:59:00.000+13:00

Hi Gary,
I came across your pdf for correcting collapsing arches online...I have the opposite problem..very high arches..approx 22mm.It is almost impossible to find shoes other than Moszkitos sandals. with arch support of 19mm..nevertheless..it is never quite enough.

I have seen doctors..no one offers hope for changing my arches myself..I believe with the proper exercise I could lower my arches justenough to be comfortable in “regular” shoes..can you give me any direction with this?

Thank you very much for your time,

Wendy
_______________________________
Gary:
Wendy, I come across this problem now and then especially in people who do a lot of exercise such as running. When questioned they usually report their shoe size being less than it was in their early 20's, indicating that there has been a slow shortening of the tendons of the feet.

Typically, the toes will appear bunched up, sometimes called "Hammer Toes" and the arch is unusually high. The foot is typically inflexible.

The bunching and tightening appears to be due to the tendons and ligaments becoming short and tight causing the feet to become short and tight. Wearing high heels may make matters worse.

I suspect there are a couple of things going on:

Shortening of the tendons and ligaments. Similar to Dupuytren disease.
Shortening of the muscles in the feet and calf regions.

The cause of the shortening of the tendons and ligaments is what I associate with extreme and unrelenting stress, both physical and psychological. This may include stress on body systems from accumulation of toxic elements such as arsenic, lead and mercury. Sources of these toxins include treated timber, pesticides, fungicides, exhaust fumes, some red lipsticks, firing guns, eating tuna and amalgam fillings.

These stressors rapidly deplete the body of essential vitamins and minerals that are needed for the formation of healthy collagen.

These same stressors may increase muscle tension and shortening.

The first step to restoring healthy collagen is to determine if there are any toxins such as lead within the body and to find out if there are any imbalances of vitamins and minerals that may be contributing to muscle tension and poor collagen. I often suspect chronic iodine deficiency which is most severe in vegetarians. Blood tests, while useful, are insufficient. The most useful and comprehensive tool is the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis which can be ordered through me.

In conjunction with working out your vitamin and mineral balances and then correcting these you can make an immediate start with the following:

Commence a daily routine of stretching the feet and calf muscles. This must include sitting back on your heels Japanese-style.
Get a firm once-weekly massage of the feet and legs.
Avoid high heel shoes.
Walk barefoot on grass and preferably on sand at every opportunity.
Identify all the stressors in your life and eliminate or minimise these one at a time.

Thank you for writing in about this interesting topic. Readers are invited to contribute with their ideas and advice by posting comments below this article.

_______________________________________

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Food Safety Bill may kill off farm gate sales

2011-09-08T18:37:00.001+12:00

Food Bill 160 appears to be creating Draconian laws to outlaw something that is not a problem. While there is some opposition, this Bill may sneak through to become law without adequate public debate. In the USA food co-ops have been subjected to armed raids. It looks to me like we are heading down the same path. We need to be careful. The farmer's market and farm gate sales may become things of the past and we will be dependent on the big producers. We may also lose access to many natural vitamins and minerals.

Please read this article, please pass it on to your friends and, if you are in Wellington, join the rally on 17th Sept.

And what do you think? Please place your comments below.

There will be a peaceful walk across Wellington to raise awareness of New Zealand Governement Food Bill 160-2. I am not trying to make this a protest in the traditional sense, but more a lowkey event to help raise awareness through the distribution of information regarding the Food Bill, so in turn people can make an informed decision for themselves.

Will start in Newtown @ 11am on Saturday 17th September, meeting at the playground on the corner of Constable St & Riddiford St (which is on the main road right in the middle of Newtown). This will help broadcast messages before we start, being such a busy intersection. Our route will then take us all the way down the main road until the Basin Reserve, then a left across country until we hit Cuba St, then down hill until Manners St where we can turn left and trek across to Willis St and then smooth sailing down onto Lambton Quay then the final stretch to The Hive. This will conclude our beautiful stroll, at which point a high energy organic picnic will be available for devouring!!

If the weather on Saturday doesnt look conjusive to walking across the city, I will setup somewhere on Cuba Street (possibly somewhere near the centre, close to the Health Food Store) and raise the banners and hand out information, for a couple of hours.

No stress, no expectation. More info to come....

Kia Kaha

------------------------------ BILL KEY INFO

In regards to where Food Bill 160-2 is right now:

'It has finished its select committee hearings and waiting for its second reading. No sign of it on order paper so hopefully won't get its second reading before elexction'

(source: Sue Kedgley, Green Party)

Main problems with the Food Bill

- It turns a human right (to grow food and share it) into a government-authorised privilege that can be revoked by the Governor-General.

- It makes it illegal to distribute “food” without authorisation, and it defines “food” in such a way that it includes nutrients, seeds, natural medicines, essential minerals and drinks (including water).

- It will push up mainstream food prices by subjecting producers to red tape and registration costs. Food prices are already rising due to increased energy costs and commodity speculation, while effective disposable incomes are falling.

- Growing food for distribution must be authorised, even for “cottage industries”, and such authorisation can be denied.

- Under the Food Bill, Food Safety Officers can enter premises without a warrant using all equipment they deem necessary, including guns (Clause 265 – 1). Police can be Food Safety Officers, and so can members of the private sector, as at Clause 243. So Monsanto employees can raid premises like houses or marae without a warrant, backed up by armed police.

- The Government has created this bill to keep in line with its World Trade Organisation obligations under an international scheme called Codex Alimentarius (“Food Book”). So it has to pass this bill in one form or another.

- There are problems with Codex also. Codex will place severe restrictions on the content of vitamins, minerals and therapeutic compounds in food, drinks and supplements etc. The Food Bill means that non-complying producers can be shut down easily – thus it paves the way for the legal enforcement of Codex food regulations.

(source: nzfoodsecurity.org)

------------------------------ LINKS

Food Bill

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2010/0160/latest/DLM3435700.html?search=ts_bill_food+bill_resel&p=1&sr=1

Excellent IndymediaNZ coverage

http://www.indymedia.org.nz/article/79826/urgent-call-action-food-bill-160-2-2010

More useful info

http://nzfoodsecurity.org/

First real semi-mainstream coverage on bfm, Sep 1

http://95bfm.com/assets/sm/201333/3/rosieonthefoodbill.mp3

Similar news from abroad

http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=36097

Current online petition

http://www.petitiononline.co.nz/petition/oppose-the-new-zealand-government-food-bill-160-2/1301

NZ legislative process

http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/AboutParl/HowPWorks/FactSheets/6/1/5/00HOOOCPubResAboutFactSheetsProcess1-Parliament-Brief-The-legislative.htm

http://www.petitiononline.co.nz/petition/oppose-the-new-zealand-government-food-bill-160-2/1301

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=216150228440498

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The truth about vitamin water and sports drinks

2011-08-22T09:25:00.001+12:00

Vitamin water and most sports drinks that are promoted by leading sports people are setting kids up for rotten teeth, obesity and diabetes - all in the name of improving health and sports performance! This devious marketing tactic reminds me of the tobacco industry around 1990 when it once sponsored sports such as triathlon and duathlon.

Chronic high sugar intake is detrimental to sports performance because it sets the athlete up for bouts of hypoglycaemia, or sugar crashes.

By the way, fructose is not bad for you when taken in moderation and in balance with other sugars and natural solids - such as in whole fruit. The problem with fructose nowadays is we can get far too much on its own if consuming processed foods, including sugar drinks with nothing else with it other than a few token vitamins and a good dose of toxic colouring agents.

"Eat the whole fruit, nothing but the fruit so help me God"

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More Wellington Snow than ever!

2011-08-16T14:14:00.002+12:00

I had to take the van in for a service, so there was only one way home and that was on the bike in a very round about way - Slip-sliding up to Karori, over Makara Peak and then onto Hawkins Hill. Snow, snow and more snow the whole way!

It was hard work and there were a few minor slide-outs but no damage done.

What a great way to start the day in Wellington City! Here's the link to the rest of the photos.

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Snow in Wellington August 2011

2011-08-15T12:12:00.000+12:00

We have never seen anything like this in over 40 years (living memory). As I type the snow still falls. It is beautiful. At the same time it is a sobering reminder of global warming: Put more energy in the pot and you get more swirling of the contents. Globally, this means more and more extremes in weather.

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More about reversing arteriosclerosis

2011-08-15T09:33:00.003+12:00

Dear Gary,

Read your last mail subject ... with great excitement how did you do this as we are all told it is irreversible?
I have suffered with this condition since my mid 40s. I am now 67 still moving about but with restrictions.
Are you willing to share the knowledge because I would like to live something like a normal life as would many others with this condition?
"I"
_______________________________
Gary:
"I" is referring to this article about reversing arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis is the process of increasing stiffness of the arterial walls, principally through calcifying. This is a dynamic process that can go either way. If there is an excess of calcium in circulation in the presence of inflammation, this may drive the process of laying down of calcium deposits in the arterial walls and elsewhere - but not the bones. This process can be reversed if inflammation is eliminated and the concentration of free calcium relative to other minerals is reduced.

Arteriosclerosis is a process that builds over decades, perhaps beginning within your first ten years of life, eventually presenting as an intractable disease (Poor circulation, high blood pressure, heart problems, stroke, dementia, arthritis). These conditions are not really the cause - they are the result - the cause is inflammation and calcification. Drugs that reduce blood pressure and calm the heart may be necessary to rescue a precarious situation; but they do not address the underlying causes - they merely rescue and quell the symptoms. The underlying causes continue to wreak their damage with the inevitability that the drugs will no longer be able to keep the lid screwed tight - something, somewhere in the body will blow with catastrophic consequences.

The key to health success is to identify the underlying drivers of disease and then to reduce and, hopefully, eliminate them altogether.

Treat the causes of disease - not the symptoms

The first step to take is to get a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis completed and to go through the report with me. This test helps us see what is going on inside your cells and to compare your profile with that of healthy populations and people with similar health conditions. Armed with this information, we then commence a programme of diet, supplements and lifestyle changes with the purpose of gradually nudging you towards the profiles of healthy populations. The Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis will need to be repeated every 6-12 months to guide the programme. Its actually quite a simple process but it does takes a huge amount of patience and persistence.

Reversing a process that may have been percolating away for decades can not be reversed overnight.

Yes! Success requires persistence and time - as well as being prepared to spend some money. In addition to dietary changes each hair analysis costs about $220-$240 and there will be some supplements to take and these will amount to about $4-6 per day for as long as you can see and feel you are heading in the right direction.

A final point to make: Getting from poor health to good health is not a steady upwards climb; but more a series of lifts, dips and plateaus. There may be times that you go backwards. We all go through highs and lows of energy. Right now, during the depths of winter, most of us tend to be less well than at other times of the year. Some people describe it as being like walking up a very steep sand dune: Five steps up, four down, three up, five down, five up, two down and on and on and on it goes. Hard work but well worth the effort over the long run. No matter how long it takes, you will eventually make it to the top.

But what happens when you make it to the top? Well, the cynic says there is only one way from there and that's down! I like to be more positive: The challenge is to stay on top, if there ever is an actual "top". The idea is to die healthy - a long time from now!

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ALERT FDA Studying Link Between Bisphosphonates, Esophageal Cancer

2011-08-05T14:37:00.000+12:00

From Medscape Medical News > Alerts, Approvals and Safety Changes > Medscape Alerts

Authors and Disclosures

Robert Lowes

Posted: 07/21/2011

July 21, 2011 — The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to review conflicting studies on whether oral bisphosphonates prescribed for osteoporosis are linked to an increased risk for esophageal cancer, the agency announced today.

The FDA stressed that it has not concluded that this class of medications increases the risk for esophageal cancer, and that it believes their ability to lower the risk for serious fractures in patients with osteoporosis outweighs their known potential risks. Esophogeal cancer, the agency noted, is rare, particularly among women.

Caveats aside, the FDA faces the challenge of making sense of studies that come to different conclusions about a possible association between oral bisphosphonates such as alendronate (Fosamax, Merck) and ibandronate (Boniva, Genentech) and esophogeal cancer. The 2 largest studies under review relied on the UK General Practice Research Database.

One study published last August reported no increase in the cancer risk. The other study, which appeared a month later, found that the risk for esophogeal cancer doubled among patients who had 10 or more prescriptions for bisphosphonates or who had taken them for more than 3 years, according to the FDA.

Other researchers who delved into different patient databases have reported either no increased risk or a lower risk for esophogeal cancer.

While the FDA continues its investigation, the agency is advising physicians to instruct patients to carefully follow the directions for taking oral bisphosphonates, as esophagitis and other esophageal events have been reported for patients using the drugs incorrectly. Esophagitis and esophageal irritation are potential precursors of cancer.

Patients should be told to take their bisphosphonate with a full glass of water first thing in the morning after they wake up. They should not eat or drink anything or lie down for at least 30 to 60 minutes afterward, according to the FDA. Reclining after taking the drug can cause it to wash back up the esophagus.

The FDA also is telling physicians that there are not enough scientific data at this time to justify endoscopic screenings of patients who are taking oral bisphosphonates without any symptoms of esophageal problems.

More information about today's FDA announcement is available on the agency's Web site.

To report adverse events related to oral bisphosphonates, contact MedWatch, the FDA's safety information and adverse event reporting program, by telephone at 1-800-FDA-1088, by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, online athttp://www.fda.gov/medwatch, or by mail to MedWatch, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20852-9787.

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Gary:
I have been running a personal campaign about these dangerous and ineffective drugs for several years now.

Here is the link to most of the articles I have written recently on the topic of bisphosphonates.

Despite the growing body of evidence that they do not prevent osteoporosis (they actually increase risk of fracture - would you believe it!) and have horrendous side effects, they still get prescribed with gay abandon. These drugs are not lollies - they are harmful drugs which are so corrosive that the person taking them must not lie down for half an hour or so, lest they burn out their oesophagus.

My advice is this when taking any medicines:

If in Doubt - Leave it Out!

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About this website

People with Crohns can improve their well being by a self disciplined experimental approach to their diet

2011-08-01T17:26:00.001+12:00

I have been working with Caroline for several years and have born witness to her steady improvement in health, despite suffering from the inflammatory disease of the digestive tract called Crohn's. Here is what she has written to assist other people with this condition.
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I was reading you have a medical student on your blog doing a study of what people with Crohns disease should eat. Seeing I have my disease well managed I thought I am in an excellent position to offer suggestions. You might want to forward these.
People with digestive problems often think the solution will be more fibre ( and I came across Docters who thought this too) but I have found I have to be very careful with some fibre as it can irritate.... Eg bran is a huge no, no for me. I generally try to avoid too much of anything that could be scratchy if not chewed properly. Things like broccoli and kumara are great for digestion. Aloe Vera added to water and sipped during the day is good.

Although it is sounds trendy I think going mostly gluten free has been beneficial for me. Gluten can be an irritant and people with Crohns disease need to avoid irritants.

Careful observation of diet is essential for someone with this disease. It's necessary to fiddle around with placement of foods within the day to see what agrees when and if some foods agree at all. Eg salad at lunch time does not agree with me for some reason ..... So I have heaps of greens etc in the evening. Bananas don't agree with me at all..... But apples do!!!! Protein powders don't work for me, they upset my tummy, but I can eat as much meat, fish, eggs etc as I like with no ill effects at any time of the day. Lots of people eat fruit and cereal with yoghurt for breakfast. I did too but it was upsetting my tummy wickedly. Toast and egg agrees with me for breakfast. It's just a matter of observing, trialing and solving the complex puzzle of what can be eaten easily..... by YOU.

Takeaways and processed foods are totally out, stay away from additives and preservatives..... which means people have to be willing to have self discipline to exist with the disease, drug free. Pure, wholesome food is the way to go.
As said, supplements are necessary because of malabsorption and most doctors don't consider this at all. After working with Gary my health is much, much better because I am now getting all the nutrients I need. Getting all the nutrients you need JUST from a balanced diet as is often touted by SOME people opposed to supplements, is not that easy if you have Crohns.

One thing that is never considered but is significant. I have had very nasty, unusual to reactions to drugs taken orally and I wonder if this is because my gut is more porous. The drug salazopyrine, that many people with Crohns are treated with had actually played havoc with my upper back muscles to the extent I was nauseous from pain. This is a very unusual but documented side effect of the drug. You just have to search hard to find that particular information about salazopyrine. No salazopyrine.... No pain.

Also, if you really do need antibiotics and they are upsetting your gut hugely as can be the case, get off those ones straight away and ask your GP to research an alternative that won't cause grief. It can be done..... They do exist.

An active life style is important. It keeps the food moving through your body. BUT I have found I have to listen to my body very carefully and rest when I get tired. The results of getting too tired can be a little more serious for someone with Crohns.

I have found it is fatal to my days good digestion to get stuck sitting down in the afternoon eg in a meeting or whatever.

One thing that might surprise some people is that I can eat spicy food with no ill effect. But studies have found one of the spices and I think off hand it's tumeric, is beneficial to those with Crohns. It has an anti inflammatory effect.

It is hard to say if I have been lucky and have not been dealt a very bad case of Crohns disease or if my life style has limited the extent of the disease. I am sure of one thing. I do believe that people with Crohns can improve their well being by a self disciplined experimental approach to their diet. They need to ask questions about every thing that passes through their lips and take responsibility for their health, rather than put blind trust in other people.

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About this website

Low Salt Diet Found to Increase Mortality

2011-08-01T14:48:00.000+12:00

by Jeffrey Dach MD

The Low Salt Diet Revisited

A recent study on the effect of a low salt diet made headlines, finding that a low salt diet increases mortality for patients with congestive heart failure.(1-6) The study concluded there was not enough evidence to advise a low-salt diet for the rest of us. They doubted a low salt diet would benefit the population.(6) In this article we will re-examine the low salt diet, clear away the confusion, and make recommendations about salt intake, hypertension, and health.
http://jeffreydach.com/2011/07/22/low-salt-diet-found-to-increase-mortality-by-jeffrey-dach-md.aspx
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Gary:
Thanks you Dr Dach for such a comprehensive review of the evidence and for backing up what I have been saying for several years now - salt is good for you! (So long as it is the right kind).

I have more than quadrupled my intake of salt over recent years, after a decade or two of trying to restrict intake. This increase has been principally through the use of Himalayan Sea Salt which most closely replicates the mineral makeup found in the healthy human being. Despite this big increase in salt intake my blood pressure is a healthy 100/70 and I feel great.

Here is what I have written most recently on the subject of water consumption and salt.

And here about low salt diets.

And about reversing cardiovascular disease.

Please help get the word out by passing this article onto others, thanks.

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About this website

Anxiety, depression, migraines, heavy periods and their link with copper toxicity explained

2011-07-19T15:07:00.005+12:00

"Have suffered severe anxiety (panic disorder), depression and iron deficiency, as well as daily headaches and monthly migraines. Take antidepressants - mood and anxiety have improved now.

Had a hysterectomy, iron is improved. I still suffer headaches daily - especially lately though for a while they were much improved. "
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Gary:

It is common to find women who have Premenstrual Syndrome to have elevated tissue copper levels on the hair tissue mineral analysis (refer image left). Many women on oral and copper IUD contraceptives have elevated copper levels. Copper and zinc regulate the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone. An imbalance between copper, zinc, as well as the hormones, estrogen and progesterone are likely to be the chief culprits contributing to menstrual problems, including heavy bleeding.

Symptoms of elevated copper echo PMS: Devastating frontal headaches, depression, fatigue, constipation, emotional volatility, weight gain and food cravings. The symptoms vary depending on the severity of copper toxicity.

Contraceptive use, a severe viral infection, severe stress and disordered eating (anorexia, bulemia) may be causes of elevated copper, as can wearing of copper bracelets. Females may first suffer from copper toxicity with the onset of puberty when the female hormones surge. Copper toxicity may persist for many years and well after the causation has long gone.

Copper is an elemental antagonist of iron. If copper is elevated then iron will tend to be low. Iron supplementation is usually a fruitless therapy for as long as copper levels are elevated.

While a hysterectomy may relieve the symptoms of heavy bleeding, pain and fatigue, it does not address the underlying drivers of menstrual discomfort which may be elevated copper. If copper is elevated then the damage will continue, albeit with less obvious symptoms. The same can be said for the use of antidepressants to treat the symptoms of copper induced depression.

Copper is an antagonist of potassium. If copper is high, then potassium will tend to be low (Refer chart upper left). Low tissue potassium is associated with anxiety and panic attacks.

Long term relief from migraines, panic attacks, depression and menstrual abnormalities can be found without resorting to powerful medications or surgery. Relief by natural means is not overnight and requires a lot of determination. Begin your journey by determining if there are any abnormalities with elements like copper, sodium and zinc and then setting about methodically correcting these. This is done with a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis and making what changes are necessary to nutrition, lifestyle and taking dietary supplements.

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About this website

Evidence that there may be less doping during this Tour de France

2011-07-18T15:31:00.001+12:00

Source: Zorzoli & Rossi, 2010; Zorzoli 2011

'So, what are you looking at?

The green blocks show abnormal samples where reticulocyte percentage is HIGHER than normal - either 2 to 2.4% (light green) or above 2.4 to 5% (dark green). Remember that a higher reticulocyte % means more immature blood cells, suggesting EPO use or blood removal. So quite clearly, in 2001 and 2002, you had a high percentage of samples that suggest EPO use - between 9% and 11% of all samples, and 80 to 90% of suspicious samples. No surprise there - this was the era of EPO use.

Then comes the introduction of the urine test for EPO in 2002, which I've shown with a blue line. Suddenly, things change - now, you see much larger pink bars. The pink represents LOWER than normal reticulocyte percentage - either 0 to 0.2% (dark) or 0.2 to 0.4% (light)

So clearly, the EPO test changed things - from 2003 to 2007, between 6% and 10% of samples had low reticulocyte %, and these tests make up 80 to 90% of the abnormal test results. Remember, this suggests blood doping, and a shift in practice after the EPO test was introduced.'

Science of Sport Full article here.....

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About this website

Drink more water Please! (Updated)

2011-07-17T21:16:00.001+12:00

When reading this article, please also refer to

my most recent article about "Low Salt Diets" and ill health

Drink, drink, drink!

That's the message we hear time and time again from the sports fitness industry and the commercial interests that have a vested interest in promoting the sales of bottled water and sports drinks. They tell us that the key to health and longevity is to drink more water, but is this really true?

The problem is, when dealing with people face-to-face about their health is I just can not see a connection between how much water one drinks and health. The opposite might be the case: The more water one drinks, the more likely there are chronic health issues like lack of energy, weight gain, weak bones, aching joints and muscles and so on. How could this be? The following is some informed, healthy speculation:

The answer may be to do with distortion of the delicate salt balance within each cell. There are 12 "Cell Salts" found inside the cell (Referred to as the "salts of Schussler"): Sodium phosphate, sodium, sulphate, sodium chloride, potassium phosphate, potassium sulphate, potassium chloride, calcium phosphate, calcium sulphate, calcium fluoride, iron phosphate and silicon dioxide.

Too little of any of these salts, or an imbalance, and the health of the cell is compromised and this shows as failing energy and eventual ill health of all descriptions.

The modern diet lacks most of these salts while supplying enormous amounts of sodium chloride. Tissue salts are lost daily through the urine, sweat and the shedding of skin and hair. If one drinks lots of water, especially if it is distilled, precious tissue salts are flushed out of the system. Some medications, like blood pressure diuretics, accelerate this loss of tissue salts.

Water Follows Salt

If there is insufficient of any of the 12 tissue salts in the cells, the cell reduces its water content to maintain as near a healthy salt electrolyte balance as it can in these less than perfect circumstances. If there is anexcess of any of the 12 salts in relation to the others, the excess is discarded while those in short supply are retained to ensure the correct concentration is retained within the cells. This explains why the percentage hydration of the body tends to decline with age: The desperate attempts of the body to maintain a viable salt balance.

The graphs associated with this article are of people of differing age, gender, fitness and health. These are the results of "bioelectrical impedance analysis" (BIA) which allows us to work out the ratios of fat, muscle, bone and water in the body. With age, the percent water in the cells tends to decline from a healthy 60+% to 50% or even lower. But this need not be the inevitable result of ageing, as these charts indicate. Tissue dehydration is more closely associated with a diet that is deficient in the tissue salts, inactivity and ill health than age. Incidentally, all of the people graphed with tissue water 60% or greater have undergone a course of tissue salt therapy.

The answer, to me, is to have a diet that is rich in salts, as opposed to industrially processed foods that tend to be soaked in sodium chloride alone. This pretty much equates to the traditional diets of native societies as one would find in places like Samoa and Okinawa prior to the destructive influence of Western food processing. For most of us, a course in supplementing tissue salts would appear to be warranted, especially as we get older. Get this right and the water issue pretty much takes care of itself.

So, how much water should one drink to be healthy? The answer is different for each person because so much depends on size (volume), metabolism, temperature, humidity, type of activity, duration and so on. A general of thumb is to drink sufficient water daily to be peeing 3-6 times a day while not having to get up in the middle of the night due to a bursting bladder.

Footnote:

You can now easily monitor subtle changes in body composition (And therefore your overall state of health) and you can do this at home. All you need is a body composition analyser - The

Salter 9106. These personal weighing scales with body composition analysis technology costs less than $100. They are remarkably accurate and consistent and use a technology that cost almost $5,000 for just a few years ago. Such is the progress of technology. You can purchase the Salter 9106 from my online store here at a significant discount. Or you can search for them in a store near you (Salter is an international brand). You need the 9106 model which is the machine I use and which my results database is collected from.

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About this website

More about Reversing Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Quality of Life

2011-07-14T11:41:00.003+12:00

Far from being anti-doctor, I am all for them - with some reservations about specific treatments, as you would gather when reading my articles. Anyway, I went to see my Dr, a long time acquaintance who completed the same University of Otago sports medicine course I went through. It was several years since I last saw him - That was for a gashed forearm following an "unplanned dismount" off my bicycle!

It was time for a cardiovascular health check to see how the blood tests, etc matched with my Hair Tissue Mineral Analyses and general good health.

Please read what follows in conjunction with this article about reversing cardiovascular disease.

I suggest that you read it first then come back to this one

(there is a link back to here at the end of the the article).

My doctor is very good at telling me where I am while not necessarily the best at telling me how I got there. So, where am I right now health-wise?

I now have records of blood cholesterol, blood sugar, body composition and blood pressure stretching back as far as 25 years.

During those years up until 5 years ago:

Blood pressure gradually crept upwards to about 130/90 and sometimes higher despite an increasingly low salt diet.
Cholesterol trended to unhealthy ratios despite an increasingly low cholesterol diet.
Muscle declined and fatness increased to about 16-17%.
And, of course, my general well-being and athletic performance did a steady dive!

Over the last five years I have progressively resorted to:

Liberally salting my food with Himalayan Salt.
I am currently eating up to six eggs every day (We have a friend with free range chickens), I eat the fat on meat, use butter and drink full cream milk daily (All in relative moderation and combined with physical activity).
I use dietary supplements daily as per the guidance from repeated Hair Tissue Mineral Analyses.

My latest medical tests as compared to 2002/3:

Body composition has body fat now at ~10% while muscle has increased by about 3kg.
Blood pressure in the Dr's surgery was 100/60 (A bit low in my opinion).
Blood sugar 5.0 (was 5.1)
Total Cholesterol is 5.8 (was 5.3)
Triglycerides 0.7 (was 0.9)
HDL Cholesterol 1.49 (was 1.07)
LDL Cholesterol 4.1 (was 3.9)
Chol/HDL ratio 4.0 (was 5.0)

Let me explain what these figures mean:

Blood sugar, insulin and body composition

As we get older, it is usual for insulin resistance to increase. This may show as the blood sugar levels creeping upwards. What this means is we get poor at using fats and sugars. Insulin resistance is regarded as one of the best measures of biological ageing as compared to chronological ageing. This process of gradual decline shows as:

Increasingly fluctuating energy levels,
Reducing physical endurance,
Food cravings,
Gaining fat, no matter what, about the hips and waist,
Increasing difficulty getting rid of belly and hip fat and
Loss of muscle and loss of strength.
Insulin resistance may lead to Type II Diabetes.

In my case, this trend of biological ageing has been reversed:

Blood sugar is a steady 5.0 despite being older,
I have increased muscle without a single visit to the gym,
Body fat has dropped and is very low for age and gender and
The time I can go on a bike without the need for sustenance has stretched from 2.5 hours to a remarkable 4+ hours.
Muscle power has increased dramatically.

Blood Pressure

As we get older, our arteries tend to become hardened, brittle and inflexible due to oxidative damage, calcium deposits and progressive clogging with fatty plaque. These processes are present in at least 80% of the population, beginning from a very early age and will ultimately result in diseases such as:

Heart attack,
Stroke,
Impotence,
Diseases of dementia and
Arthritis.

This gradual process of declining circulatory health will show in the early stages as increasing blood pressure, decreasing maximum heart rate during extreme effort, decreasing physical performance, impotence, joint pain, cramping and brain fog. The usual calculation for this if 220 beats per minute minus your age, so at 58 years, my maximum heart rate should be about 162. The sooner the causes of this gradual decline are identified and corrected, the better your chances of success.

Here's the circulation facts for me:

Blood pressure is now120/80 or less,
Libido is at about where it was during my 20's,
Maximum heart rate is an impressive 180+ beats per minute and
I am riding "A" Grade in cyclocross racing which is just about as intense a cardiovascular sport you can get (There are "A", "B" and "C" Grades and the "A" is generously populated by some of the best in NZ).

Cholesterol

Total cholesterol has increased. This is healthy because cholesterols are the building blocks for cells and hormones. Too little cholesterol and health fails terribly. High cholesterol is healthy - so long as your body is turning it over fast and so long as the ratios between cholesterols are "healthy". Let me explain:
Triglyceride at 0.7 is very healthy and well below the threshold of 1.7.
HDL Cholesterol has increased to 1.49. HDL is the protective form of Cholesterol and is now well above the threshold for healthy (>1)
LDL Cholesterol (the "unhealthy" one) has increased from 3.9 to 4.1; but this is offset by lower Triglycerides and higher HDL as follows:
The Cholesterol/HDL ratio (this is the important one) has improved from 5.0 to 4.0 (4.0 or lower is considered healthy).

According to my doctor, I am now in the bottom 5% of the population, for age and gender, for cardiovascular risk.

This is despite all of the extra salt, protein and fatty cholesterol that I have been eating over the last five years. I will qualify this by saying that I have been generally very careful about choosing fresh, natural foods, home cooking, not over-indulging and exercising.

How did I get to where I am now?

Annual Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis. This test has removed most of the guessing about what to eat and what supplements to take. When repeated, it tells us where the action has been and what changes to make. I could not have achieved what I have without this test. (If you want my help with improving your health, you will probably need to get one of these tests completed and be prepared to repeat it annually).
Quality and targeted supplementation. The key to supplementation is small amounts, often and for a long time.

Small amounts, often and for a long time

Going back to traditional foods and home cooking. As a general rule of thumb: If it comes in a packet, has a long shelf life and needs minimal preparation, then leave it out - its not really food. We seldom eat out and purchase raw food which is then prepared and cooked from scratch. We grow vegetables and purchase from local farmers' markets.
Exercise is less than what I used to do and only as and when I feel like it. I choose to ride a bike for now because it is gentle on joints (Depending on the dismounts!).
I am constantly seeking ways to reduce stress in my life. This includes taking every opportunity to chill out on the balcony in natural light. I now work from an office/clinic at home, employ nobody and we keep do not waste anything, including energy (Meaning we do not have to work long hours to pay for waste). We take holidays at every opportunity with the theme of getting outdoors, into nature and exploring.
I expose my body to sunlight. We are not meant to be cave dwellers. Sunlight is actually good for you. My skin health has surprisingly improved since doing this and the sun is definitely invigorating and a wonderful antidepressant.

We are Creatures of the Light - Not of the Night

In summary:

It is possible to reverse the processes of cardiovascular disease; but it takes time, a lot of patience, some money and scientific testing to guide you on your journey.

It is inevitable that our bodies will gradually fall into states of disrepair and eventually fail at which point our toes point upwards and we die. For many people, this process of sad decline is well in hand by 30 years and gaining momentum. Medically, the only hope is to last out the rest of life well preserved by an expensive concoction of toxic drugs! But this is hardly my idea of living and more like waving the white flag of surrender.

Death is more certain than being born and even more certain than paying taxes

It is a sobering fact that every person in human history eventually died. This rather depressing inevitability does not mean that we should give up on trying to stay healthy as we age. To the contrary, Life is throwing each and every one of us the challenge to see how long we can keep the wheels of our cellular machinery screwed on tight and well lubed. Of course, this is one plan that is doomed to fail from the very beginning! Before the beginning, in fact.

The Grand Plan is to die healthy - one morning to wake up dead!

I, for one, am enjoying this, the most vain of challenges. You are welcome to tag along with me if you feel up to it!

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About this website

My Big Toe is very sore, sometimes swollen

2011-07-09T19:50:00.001+12:00

"Could you help me please, My big toe is very sore, sometimes swollen and has very limited movement.

This has developed over the last couple of years and has now got to the stage I can not play 9 holes of golf.

I have have been to my specialist and he recommends surgery to fuse the toe bones together I'm not happy about this, have you a solution.

I had a number of heart attacks... and on the usual heart medication."

Anonymous

Medications as follows

Asperin 100mg

Dilitiazem 120mg twice day

Metaprolol suffocate 47.5 mg

Simavistin 80 mg

Omeprazole 40mg

Oxybutynin chloride 5 mg

Male, late 50's. Worked as a tiler up till about 10 years ago.

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Gary:

The big toe is your "canary in the coal mine" and is your early warning that not all is well elsewhere in your body.

In this case, the medications being taken for several years must be highly suspect. The Simvastatin and Oxybutynin are both known to cause joint pain, swelling. While drugs must undergo rigorous safety trials before release, I am not aware of any requirements that there be similar testing of the safety of mixing these very same drugs. Each drug comes with its own set of side effects and the potential complications when these are mixed can be mind boggling. In my opinion, prescribing six different medications is hazardous to health. I accept that there is a good reason for prescribing each of the above; but this is an example of one drug leading to another: Omeprazole is prescribed to offset the digestion upsets of an earlier medication, as is oxybutynin. This kind of progressive prescribing, while justified by the prescriber, is a slippery slope downhill, leading to further health problems such as the sore toe. Chopping the toe may give relief to the current pain; but does not deal with whatever may be going on inside. What will be next? The other big toe? The ankle? Liver problems? Kidney? You need to go back to your doctor and discuss the possibility that your sore toe is being caused by one or more medications. I really do think you need to stop the suspect drugs. See what your doctor has to say.

Lead is present in many
materials used by tradesmen.
Lead damages arteries,
bones and joints.

Please read these articles about statins. You will gather that I do not have much time for this class of drugs.

Please read these articles about "sore toe" of which there are over 30. Massage and manipulation of the sore toe is an option; but not before the cause of the pain and swelling is first identified and then rectified. You could start taking some of the supplements recommended in these articles - supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin. While you search for the underlying causes.

Tradesmen who work with solvents, chalk, paint and timber are exposed to many toxic substances, such as lead, cadmium and arsenic, that build up in the body, wreaking metabolic havoc over the decades. Years after exposure to these toxins has ceased, they remain in the body, rusting away the insides. These toxic elements may contribute to conditions like heart disease, arthritis and even Parkinsons to name a few.

Good health, including resolution of the toe pain, getting up at night for a pee and so on, is not found through drugs and surgery, although these may be necessary for short term relief and survival. The key to good health for life comes from identifying all of the underlying biochemical drivers that are leading to a progressive breakdown in health. This is done with a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis and then acting on the results and recommendations.

This article about arteriosclerosis is a good example of how good health is achieved by use of the Hair Analysis programme. The Hair Tissue Analysis is not a substitute for medication that has already been prescribed; but it does help people chart a course to good health. As health improves one of the wonderful benefits is being able to progressively reduce, or cease medications - but those are decisions to be made between you and your doctor!

The first action is to order a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis and then get going!

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About this website

We are off to explore Tonga from 20th July for two weeks - So order what you need now!

2011-07-08T08:38:00.001+12:00

Vanuatu: Our hosts' kitchen

Dinner is served

If you need anything at all from us, including from our online store, get it now because we are off to the kingdom of Tonga from 20th July for two weeks. Our office will be closed and this website running on auto drive.

Here's some holiday pics from Vanuatu.

This time we are exploring Tonga. This is the latest stage of our grand plan to cycle around at least the main island of every Pacific Islands nation. So far, we have done Samoa, Vanuatu and Fiji. We've also done Bali. Its been a great way to get around these islands, to meet the locals and partake of their hospitality. At the same time, each of these adventures has been hot, hard yakka, along with the occasional tummy bug bringing about major weight loss!

Basic living. Delicious food.

Alama and the village chief

Our eleven year old son, Alama, will be riding his own bike for the first time, rather than being towed behind me which is a welcomed relief I can tell you! We have chosen Tonga because it is quite flat and a relatively small island, so Alama should cope with the distances and terrain - or so we hope!

Next year it will be Niue.

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About this website

Why do your hands go purple when they are cold?

2011-07-04T20:50:00.000+12:00

Have a look at my hands in this video which was made in 2007. I was seriously zinc deficient and it sure did show. Despite being indoors with heating on, my hands have a distinctly purple look about them. Coincidentally, the skin on the back of my hands was fragile and easily skinned and very, very slow to heal.

Now, have a look at the same hairy hand, today four years later and four years older, outside in freezing weather while the rest of me is bundled up in a fat down ski jacket. If ever my hands should go purple it is in these conditions. While there is still some discoloration it is nothing like before. I have also noted far less tendency to damage the skin and it heals much faster.

I put this improvement down to getting the balance between zinc and copper about right but this has taken several years of trying and still a work in progress. Zinc and copper are critical for the regulation of many important functions in the body, including fluid flow and collagen synthesis. If there is a zinc deficiency, tissues will tear, rather than stretch. This is why zinc deficiency is the cause of stretch marks, slow growth, poor healing and ulcerations. One characteristic of zinc deficiency is the purple appearance that develops and is most apparent under the eyes and in the skin of the hands and feet. This purple appearance will show as purple scars and purple stretch marks where there is an absolute deficiency of zinc.

People, such as athletes, who do hard physical exercise need bucket loads of zinc. Years of "excessive-compulsive" exercise explains my zinc deficiency. Zinc is in high demand whenever there is tissue damage, be it from injury or just hard exercise. Zinc deficiency causes a loss of smell and taste and explains the often marked loss of appetite in patients following a severe physical injury or major surgery when zinc reserves are severely stressed.

Merely replacing zinc by way of a supplement may yield less than pleasing results. This is because there are many other factors at play. For example, there may be a lack of pyridoxine and/or molybdenum which will prevent the proper utilisation of zinc. Even the tiniest amounts of lead and mercury interfere with zinc metabolism and excess copper will drive zinc out of the cells. The best way to determine your nutrient requirements, including zinc is to get a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis completed and use it to guide your diet and supplementation. Here is a good place to start to get an idea of the power of the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis.

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About this website

Cardiovascular Disease (Arteriosclerosis) Reversed - Here is the evidence!

2011-06-29T10:00:00.005+12:00

The Author (58 yrs) back on his bike.
Strong heart, strong circulation.

Evidence of magnesium malabsorptivity and adrenal fatigue.

By age 50, my blood pressure was all over the place and I was consulting a cardiologist about an irregular pulse. I was tired - damn tired! In addition, my left knee was getting worse, two operations later. On my 50th birthday my partner, Alofa, gave me a surf kayak. She knew it and I got the message - my legs had had enough, I was tired and it was time for sit-down past-times. Arthritis and cardiovascular disease were starting to rear their ugly heads in less than subtle ways. If this was how I felt at fifty, how was I going to feel at sixty? Seventy? Eighty? I did not like the imagery going through my head.

Evidence of calcium (Ca) excretion: Ca in hair sample has doubled,
despite adoption of a low calcium diet! Mg now being absorbed.
Getting worse before getting better: Metabolism has
deteriorated from "Slow 3"to "Slow 4".

It was time for some serious intervention! Several years on, I can report brilliant success.

Please read this article about cholesterol and cardiovascular disease in conjunction with what I have written below.

Slowing turning to stone
The principal driver of cardiovascular disease - leading to ailments like heart attack, stroke, loss of circulation to limbs, impotence, declining eyesight and dementia - is calcium deposition into soft tissues - including the blood vessels - aided by chronic inflammation (More about inflammation in a future article).

Ca has skyrocketed to an astonishing 215 from an original of 40 despite low
Ca diet! Major Ca dump is occurring from soft tissues. Blood pressure
has normalised. Brain works better. Aerobic capacity and
endurance have improved to where they were about 20 years ago.

This process of gradual calcification happens over decades and affects at least 80% of the New Zealand population. It sneaks up on us. This leads to a number of ageing-related health issues, including osteoporosis, gall stones, weight gain, thyroid disorders arthritis and arteriosclerosis. We are going to focus on arteriosclerosis in this article.

My Hair Tissue Mineral Analyses, which now cover several years, show how I reversed this most unwanted process of gradually turning to stone.

Calcium dump from soft tissues continues, though at a lower level.
Mercury also continues to be excreted via the hair cells. Sense of
well-being continues to improve, as do measure of cardiovascular
health. Athletic performances defy age.

Arteriosclerosis is the deposition of calcium in the walls of the arterial blood vessels of the body. This causes a gradual loss of flexibility and scarring of the blood vessels. there is a progressive die-off of the tiniest of blood vessels (arterioles) and this may be seen as purple spider veins on the cheeks, chin, legs and ankles. As this process of arterial calcification and tiny blood vessel die-off progresses, there is a gradual increase in blood pressure and a steady reduction of blood flow to the limb and organs, including the brain. When your optometrist looks into the rear of your eyes, one of the things she is assessing is the health of the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina: Arteriosclerosis causes a progressive die-off of these tiny vessels. Arteriosclerosis explains why cardiovascular related ailments are the leading causes of disability and death in New Zealand.

Calcium dump continues. Magnesium (Mg) by supplementation is being
absorbed into the organs (Compare Mg levels with the first chart).
Mercury (Hg) continues to be excreted, but at much lower levels.
Health and athlete performance continue to improve, despite now
being several years older.

Arteriosclerosis happens when there is an imbalance of calcium circulating in the body relative to quite a number of nutrients, including magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper, zinc, phosphorus, selenium and various other nutrients including pyridoxine and vitamin D.

Toxins such as mercury and lead, even in the tiniest amounts, may interfere with calcium metabolism, leading to calcium deposition in unwanted places like the joints and blood vessels. High calcium plus toxic elements gives you a double whammy of calcium deposition.

Excess Calcium = Premature Ageing
If circulating calcium can not be properly utilised inside the cells, such as for bone, muscle and nerve function, it will end up precipitating into the spaces between the cells of the soft tissues, causing them to be clogged by chalk. This chalkiness may contribute to transparent dry skin, fine wrinkles, brittle nails, lifeless hair and unsightly spider veins. Deposition in joints drives arthritis. Because excess calcium affects thyroid function, the affected person may feel very tired, suffer cold hands and feet, sleep restlessly and gain weight about the hips and waist. Libido may be poor to non-existent.

Reversing arteriosclerosis
Everything I have been taught, to date, is that the processes of arteriosclerosis are progressive and irreversible: All that can be done is to mask or alleviate the symptoms with drugs and surgery. This is a bleak point of view: Dementia, impotence, stroke, heart attack, arthritis - inevitable? We now know that this process of calcification can be halted and even reversed. But it does take time and a whole lot of effort.

Please refer to the charts above: These document the commencement and the ongoing process of my body mobilising and then dumping excess calcium from my soft tissues over several years. During this period, I have repeated the Hair Tissue Mineral Analyses about once a year to guide me as to what I should be doing with my diet and supplementation.

The first chart hints of the imbalances that drive the the process of calcium deposition into the soft tissues. Dietary and supplement measures were then put in place to reverse this process and this appears in the next chart as improvements in the uptake of Mg and other minerals and an associated dump of excess calcium commencing. The third chart show this dumping gather astonishing pace, while the fourth and fifth charts show that the calcium dump has peaked and is now in decline but still continuing to this day.

The process of "detoxification" can bring about periods of discomfort when it may be that you feel you are going backwards. In my case, when I look at the big picture of progress overall, since 2007, the gains have been absolutely amazing! I feel half my age and the stop watch does not lie - My athletic performance is at least as good as it was during my 30's. Incidentally, I am carrying more muscle than I did back then which is unusual because muscle is lost as we get older - and this despite no longer working out in a gym.

Here are some of the things I have noticed have improved since 50 years:

Libido
A good measure of general health, including circulation is libido which, for me, is at least as good as it was decades ago; but that's as much detail as you're going to get out of me!

Cholesterol
I have been keeping an eye on my cholesterol for over 20 years and it has been steadily creeping up, even despite being on a cholesterol lowering diet. For the first time ever, cholesterol levels have started to trend down. And this is despite my quadrupling my intake of fats and proteins during the same period!

Skin Kerastoses
I used to visit the dermatologist about once every two years to get precancerous skin kerastoses burned off - there has been no need for the last five years because they have all dropped off or faded away!

Joint Arthritis

My left knee is close to 100% pain free and functional which is miraculous. It should be getting worse at my age - not better. I am able to ride a bike and run competitively without discomfort or limitation.

Blood Pressure
My blood pressure at 50 years was all over the place, often above 150/90 and at times less than 100/60. It is now consistently about 120/80 and I can fell the difference.

Pulse
I did consult a cardiologist about ten years ago regarding an excessively low pulse and irregular rhythm. At one point, my peak pulse in a lab stress test was 109 beats per minute! Normal maximum pulse is 220- Your Age, so I was in trouble back then. Both these issues have completely resolved in line with what is indicated in the Hair Tissue Analysis Reports; but the real proof is the regaining of my sporting Mojo in quite spectacular fashion. My peak heart rate during exercise is now slightly over 180 beats per minute which is excellent for my age and there are very few veteran male athletes in New Zealand who can outdo me on the cardiovascular stamina front.

The Challenge Ahead
This exercise of improving and maintaining good health is never finished because the natural processes of ageing dictate that one's physiology must eventually fall into terminal disrepair, resulting in death. The challenge is to keep the wheels of the machinery of life bolted on tight and turning despite the ravages of time and life itself. Of course, this exercise of staying healthy gets more difficult as time passes. Depressing as it might be to think about these matters, I actually find it to be a fascinating challenge.

My goal is to die healthy, quickly and with a smile. Hopefully I will wake up one morning only to discover I am dead. Hopefully that is many years away!

Please read this article about cholesterol and cardiovascular disease in conjunction with what I have written above.

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About this website

Is monthly administration of 50,000iu Ergocalciferol (Vitamin D) safe and effective?

2011-06-27T21:28:00.000+12:00

I am starting to see an interesting trend in people seeking my assistance: Diffuse muscle and joint pain and excessive fatigue that appears to be connected with pharmaceutical doses of vitamin D, exclusively delivered in the form of Ergocalciferol. So, what's going on here?

First, a little background:
About 70% of fair skinned people and 90% of dark skinned people in the Developed World are vitamin D deficient. This is the consequence of entire populations being terrorised of the sun which is our main source of this essential nutrient. The backup used to be via our diets but this vitamin is barely present any more - remove the natural fats (and replace them with processed ones) and with these healthy fats goes the fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E & K).

Low vitamin D is a leading factor in winter flu and infections, depression, fatigue, obesity, heart disease, several neurological diseases, autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis and hormonal imbalances. Vitamin D may prevent anywhere from 50% to nearly 80% of all cancers - at least 30 different kinds of cancer to date and the list is growing.

Natural vitamin D is dirt cheap and can not be patented. It costs about $14 per month to supply an adult with a healthy intake of natural vitamin D. It works out to be even cheaper for children.

Until very recently, there has been no interest at all by medical practitioners and drugs companies in encouraging vitamin D deficient people to prevent or remedy this deficiency. Why?

Because there is no money at all to be made via encouraging sunbathing, or taking a cheap-as vitamin D supplement.

However: things are quickly changing. The prescription-only vitamin D medications are now coming onto the market. Doctors are now prescribing massive doses of vitamin D left, right and center. In New Zealand, it is Ergocalciferol. So, what's brought this about?

Medicine is Big Business

Money:
There's a lot of money to be made from now on by prescribing pharmaceutical doses of vitamin D by way of tablets or injection. These are at doses that are so high no other health professional would ever be able to get away with.

Capturing the market by prescribing at potencies no other health professional can get away with

Normal doses of vitamin D are from 1-4,000 iu per day. What doctors are taking upon themselves to prescribe ranges from 50,000 to 3000,000 iu, either monthly or once or twice a year. These are truly astonishing doses of a single vitamin. One group of Australian researchers have even experimented with giving elderly women 500,000 iu in a single dose! Astonishing! (Incidentally, these unfortunate women ended up suffering 27% more fractures - not less). I wonder how many died, btw.

Would you ever consider taking your entire month's worth of vitamin C in a single dose, let alone a year's worth?

Think about it for a moment: Isn't there a kind of madness about giving a person a tsunami's worth of a single nutrient? Is this healthy? I think not. But things are going to get a lot, lot worse.

The Gold Rush is on within the pharmaceutical industries to develop patented analogues of natural vitamin D.

Patented Vitamin D - The next Great Pharmaceutical Gold Rush

As the patented drugs industry versions of vitamin D come rolling off the production lines, over the few years, we will see the marketing machines winding up big time, similar to what we see for seasonal flu vaccines and cholesterol medicines. Patented vitamin D is about to become a huge gold mine for drugs companies and doctors - After all, what other drug is there that 70-90% of the population desperately need?

So long as we are kept in the dark and the vitamin is kept out of our food

As an aside: If vitamin D is so critical for health (Of that I am in agreement), then why does it appear that it is only adults who are getting the prescribing attentions of doctors? Is it because a patented form of vitamin D suitable for children has yet to be developed?

Human Nutrition:
The human body likes a steady dribble of ALL nutrients, in natural balance and from a wide variety of natural sources. Vitamin D is no exception and needs many co-factors such as protein, cholesterol and magnesium to be properly absorbed and put to good use. The healthiest way to supply any nutrient is with small doses, often and with plenty of everything else. This gives each cell the ability to pick and choose the nutrients it needs, at that moment, as they circulate.

Healthy Nutrition: Small Amounts - Often!

Cellular nutrient needs change constantly from one moment to the next. If a megadose of a nutrient, such as 50,000iu or more of vitamin D is forced into the circulation this will cause massive nutrient imbalances and enormous stress on the body's physiology as it struggles to deal with this unwanted influx.

What we are describing is getting very close to over dosage of vitamin D. Here is an official description of what too much vitamin D can do....

Over dosage

http://www.drugs.com/pro/vitamin-d-ergocalciferol.html

The effects of administered vitamin D can persist for two or more months after cessation of treatment.

Hypervitaminosis D is characterized by:

Hypercalcemia with anorexia, nausea, weakness, weight loss, vague aches and stiffness, constipation, mental retardation, anemia, and mild acidosis.
Impairment of kidney function with polyuria, nocturia, polydipsia, hypercalciuria, reversible azotemia, hypertension, nephrocalcinosis, generalized vascular calcification, or irreversible renal insufficiency which may result in death.
Widespread calcification of the soft tissues, including the heart, blood vessels, renal tubules, and lungs. Bone demineralization (osteoporosis) in adults occurs concomitantly.
Decline in the average rate of linear growth and increased mineralization of bones in infants and children (dwarfism).

This is not good, if you ask me, especially when over 80% of the people I do a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis on already have evidence of excessive circulating calcium. Repeated, huge doses of vitamin D risks pushing these people who are already in a rather fragile state over the brink and into poor health.

These horrific ailments, including death, that are associated with excessive vitamin D, are at the end of a long continuum from being healthy to being dead. What we have, long before being dead, is heightened fatigue, aches and pains - excess calcium depositing in the soft tissues, including the arteries, kidneys, muscles and joints. This seems very much like the complaints that people are coming in to see me following their visit to the doctor and the subsequent mega-shots of vitamin D.

My Advice:

If your doctor advises you to take supplementary vitamin D, insist on a prescription of natural vitamin D that has you ingesting 2-4,000 iu per day during winter and no more than 2,000 iu per day during summer - and none on the days that get sun on your bare body.
Do not take mega doses of any nutrient, including vitamin D, unless there is a strong case with urgency and this is monitored by regular testing.
If your doctor is unable to give you a suitable prescription of low dose natural vitamin D, then get some natural vitamin D from me - its cheap and there's even some that is suitable for infants!

I have written many articles about vitamin D. Please follow the labels below this article. Enjoy the reading and please pass this article onto your friends and loved ones - thanks.

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About this website

The Vaccine Debate: Report of the Health Select Committee's Inquiry into "How to improve immunisation completion rates" in New Zealand

2011-06-22T19:36:00.000+12:00

Gary:

Before you read the letter that follows, you might like to read these articles listed here that outline my views on the issues surrounding vaccinations.

http://blog.garymoller.com/search/label/vaccination

While I may be opposed to giving otherwise healthy children the Flu vaccine, I am in favour of giving them a tetanus vaccine - but not to an infant, that's for sure!

The vaccine debate has polarised into two opposing camps - those vehemently pro-vaccine and those who are equally vehemently opposed. There is no middle ground left. Both of these opposing sides are wrong as far as I am concerned.

Both camps are far too emotionally involved and entrenched to be able to make the right decisions - Decisions that are in the best interests of the children.

I feel for the tens of thousands of parents who are the confused meat in the sandwich of this fight and who may end up with no choice at the end of the day, other than compulsory vaccination for just about every bug under the sun.

_____________________________________________

Katherine Smith, editor

The New Zealand Journal of Natural Medicine

PO Box 44-128

Point Chevalier

Auckland 1246

Dear Friends,

On March 24, 2011, the Report of the Health Select Committee's Inquiry into "How to improve [increase] immunisation [vaccination] completion rates" in New Zealand which was published on the parliamentary website. The government has 90 days (from March 24) to respond to the report. The government's response to this report is due on June 22.

The full report is posted at this link:

http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/BADCF722-D377-4451-8602-1E00938BFC74/188894/DBSCH_SCR_5060_Inquiryintohowtoimprovecompletionra.pdf

The Health Select Committee (under the leadership of Dr Paul Hutchison) has produced a report that recommends raising the targeted vaccination completion rate to 95% for NZ children aged 0-4. It also proposes a target be set for 11 year olds.

The report also recommends that the government make children's enrollment at school and early childhood centres dependent on parents producing proof of their children's vaccination status and – even more ominously – suggests that government direct the Ministry of Health to consider linking "existing parental benefits" to vaccination. (See Page 6 of the Report.)

If the government accepts the recommendations in the report, it appears that parents will be forced to choose whether their child has no vaccinations – or all vaccinations on the schedule – in order to be able to supply the documentation necessary to enroll their child in a school or early childhood education centre. Eligibility for the 20 Hours Free Early Childhood Education may also be restricted to children who have had all recommended vaccinations (or whose parents have decided against vaccination) according to Page 33 of the Report. Christians (and others) who decide against MMR vaccination because of the use of cells derived from aborted foetal tissue in its production* (or for any other reason) could be particularly badly affected if the government adopts these sort of discriminatory policies.

Clear Conflict of Interest

The recommendations to link ECE 20 hours free funding to vaccination come from Dr Nikki Turner, who works for the Immunisation Advisory Centre. IMAC claims to be "a local source of independent, factual information including benefits and risks regarding immunisation, and vaccine-preventable disease." http://www.immune.org.nz/?t=561

However its site discloses that it receives funding from the Ministry of Health... and also that “Private industry offers some minimal funding for special projects…” (See: http://www.immune.org.nz/?t=1021 ) The site used to have a page that displayed the logos of five major vaccine companies that the organisation acknowledged as sponsors, but it was removed after it was publicised.

A cursory look at IMAC's website shows that the organisation, far from being "independent" is vociferously pro-vaccine and much of the information on their website downplays the risks of vaccines to the point of being factually inaccurate. (See below for examples.)

Despite Dr Nikki Turner's working for an organisation that has even acknowledged its vaccine company funding, the Report of the Health Select Committee has recommended adopting her recommendations when "where there is a clear evidence base for doing so within the resources available."

Vaccines: Far from "Benign"

It is important to realise that vaccination is not a benign health promoting procedure but a medical intervention that puts a healthy recipient at risk of side effects, including death. There is an on-line memorial to babies, children and adults who have suffered serious side effects or died following vaccination at the following link:

http://www.nvic.org/Vaccine-Memorial/Search-Memorial.aspx

In fact, new research now correlates increased numbers of vaccinations in the first year of life with increased infant mortality.

http://het.sagepub.com/content/early/2011/05/04/0960327111407644

This underlines the importance of parents (and everyone else) being able to make a free and fully informed choice about vaccination.

The Report of the Health Select Commitee on vaccination rates represents a significant attack on parents' rights to make health care decisions for their children.

We are in an election year; if you disagree with the recommendations in the report, please act NOW to let all political parties know that you find this unacceptable.

Please forward this message widely and visit the website www.noforcedvaccines.org as soon as you can for more information and for ideas on how you can help with the campaign to resist the erosion of human rights threatened by this Report. There is a template letter that you can email to politicians and email addresses on the Resources page of the site. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Katherine Smith

[1] For example, the page for parents about measles on IMAC's site states:

"Can the MMR vaccine cause autism? NO. Extensive research shows there is no evidence that MMR vaccine causes autism – or any other behavioral or neurological disorder." [Original emphasis] http://www.immune.org.nz/?T=977

This statement is untrue. There is considerable evidence that the MMR can cause regressive autism (and other forms of brain damage) in some children, as the authors of one study acknowledged.

“These results show that primary pediatric MMR vaccination in children is associated with a marked Increase in serious neurological disorders in comparison to DTwcP vaccination. The increase is statistically significant for cerebellar ataxia, autism, mental retardation and permanent brain damage following primary pediatric MMR vaccination in comparison to DTwcP vaccination. The results are remarkable considering that DTwcP vaccination has been found by the scientific and medical communities to be responsible for permanent neurological sequalae in children.” [emphasis added]

http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Society/documents/2003/05/20/MMRresearch.pdf

(NB: DTwcP is a vaccine containing antigens from Diptheria, Tetanus and Pertussis. The “wc” indicates that the pertussis component is a “whole cell” pertussis vaccine i.e. that it contains whole, killed pertussis bacteria.)

Another example from IMAC's website:

"Is the [pneumococcal] vaccine safe? No serious reactions have been associated with pneumococcal vaccines."

http://www.immune.org.nz/?T=864

However, the manufacturer's datasheet on Medsafe's website states:

"As with other paediatric vaccines, there have been spontaneous reports of apnoea in temporal association with the administration of Prevenar..."

http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/p/prevenarinj.htm

As a parent, I would consider apnoea (temporary cessation of breathing) in a young baby after vaccination to a very serious reaction, wouldn't you?

IMAC obviously disagrees. (The pneumococcal vaccine on the NZ vaccination schedule "Prevenar", is manufactured by Wyeth, one of IMAC's sponsors according to the page – since removed – that was on the organisation's website in 2010.)

(Links from the IMAC website are as accessed in 2010)

http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/m/MMRIIinj.pdf

http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/p/Priorixvac.pdf

http://www.rtl.org/prolife_issues/LifeNotes/pdf/Vaccines.pdf

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About this website

Moller Brothers 4th in Australasian Multisports Championships Open Teams Race

2011-06-21T15:34:00.001+12:00

Gordon Moller on fire!

Yes, we came fourth in the Australasian Multisports Championships held in a very wet Rotorua over Queen's Birthday Weekend. We were delighted for two reasons:

As brothers (Bruce, Gordon and Gary) our family was selected over 50 years ago by our parents Maisie and Gordon Moller.
Our team members are all over 50 years of age. By far the oldest in the team; but still competitive.

The performance of the day has to be awarded to Gordon who flew around the running course at a blistering pace. It could be said that Bruce and I put in solid performances. I could have had a better day, starting the 30 km mountain bike leg by sliding out on the first corner and spraining my right ankle in the process! Wrong tyre selection for the conditions.

So, why are the Moller Bros appearing to defy the inevitable ravages of ageing? Many say it must be in the genes. I scoff at that suggestion. The answer lies in smart training and applying good nutrition science. This is explained in many of the articles that are posted on this Blog.

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About this website

Use of the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis for detection of infection in the body

2011-06-20T19:13:00.000+12:00

Cu (copper) and Fe (iron) are more or less in balance.

My quest for good health has been guided by hair tissue mineral analyses (HTMA) which have been repeated at about once yearly intervals over the last five years. Each time the HTMA is repeated their cumulative value increases. Take the detection of infection for example.

The body has many ingenious methods for combating infection. In the case of parasitic and bacterial infection, one defense mechanism is to deprive the invader of life-giving iron (Fe). Without Fe, these creatures can not thrive and multiply with their usual vigour. Consequently weakened by this deprivation, the body is better able to win the battle, or at least, contain it.

Fe has risen significantly relative to Cu, indicating a
possible chronic infection in the body.

The body does this by sequestering as much circulating Fe as it can inside the cells, rendering it unavailable to invading organisms. This increased sequestering of iron in the cells may be experienced as chronic fatigue (Often referred to as "infectious anaemia"). Giving a person with infectious anaemia an iron supplement is the wrong thing to do unless the source of the infection is first eliminated (Then the need for an iron supplement is also eliminated!). When iron is deposited into the joint tissues, this may be experienced as joint pain, including rheumatoid arthritis. This explains why this kind of arthritis often follows an infection.

Fe is again in balance with Cu several months following
treatment for a dental abscess.

This is seen on the HTMA as high Fe relative to copper (Cu). Normal Cu levels must be restored in order for the body to use this stored iron.

If you look at my HTMA of August 2009 and compare with the next just a few months later, there is significant increase in cellular Fe relative to Cu. Having eliminated the possibility of a parasitic infection, my attention turned to the next highest possibility: dental abscess. I consulted my brother, a dentist, and sure enough - he found the tell-tale signs of an abscess deep alongside a molar. Digging deep, a stinky reservoir of puss was released!

A few months later, I produced a career best in a mountain bike race over 40km. I put this down, in part, to the release of oxygen delivering Fe back into the circulation, giving me a welcomed energy boost. Refer to the third HTMA above which indicates that there is no longer an ongoing infection in my body. I feel damn good!

If you are seeking healthy solutions for a chronic health problem, or simply looking for ways to improve health in general, or to boost athletic performance, please go here to order a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis.

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About this website

Low salt diets are not good for your blood pressure - or your health!

2011-06-19T19:42:00.000+12:00

Gary Moller: Adrenal exhaustion, poor thyroid function, sodium
retention with bouts of high and low blood pressure despite being
on restricted sodium diet for years.

It was around about 30 years ago that a well-intentioned committee of cardiovascular experts formulated a public campaign urging us all to save our hearts by reducing our salt intake. This was on the premise that salt (sodium) was a significant driver of high blood pressure (hypertension). We now know this was wrong advice that was of benefit to just a small number of people, while being detrimental to the health of the majority.

Gary Moller: Sodium intake is now at least fourfold higher. Sodium
levels have dropped to healthy. Adrenal and thyroid function
significantly improved. Blood pressure is very stable.

Sodium depletion can lead to a number of ailments that are far, far too common nowadays: fatigue, high and low blood pressure, osteoporosis, dementia, fibromyalgia and polymyalgia. Fluid retention.

Far from being a poison, sodium is one of the most essential and abundant minerals found in the body. It has many functions within the body, including the regulation of water within and outside of the cells. It is essential for healthy adrenal function, especially in times of stress. Poor adrenal function impacts on thyroid function.

It is more than a coincidence that there has been an explosion of thyroid disease over the last 30 years.

Example of harm done by low salt diet: Highly depleted
sodium and potassium, elevated calcium, indicating
severe adrenal fatigue and under active thyroid.

It also happens that, in removing the salt shaker from the table, we have also removed the only reliable source of dietary iodine. Iodine deficiency is associated with thyroid diseases as well as breast cancer.

I dutifully followed the salt restriction advice of the heart experts while living life in the fast lane, building a business, growing a young family and spending my free time running frantically about the countryside in my designer underwear (running club uniform). In hindsight, it should hardly be a surprise that I was totally burned out by my 40's and definitely carbonised by 50 years.

The first two charts to the left show my cellular mineral makeup several years ago after decades of being on a low salt diet and then earlier this year after about three years of at least quadrupling my salt intake. Needless to say, I am in excellent health nowadays.

The third chart is an example of chronic exhaustion, significant fluid retention, muscle and joint pain associated with a low salt diet. In such cases, the treatment is to place the person on a water pill (diuretic), a thyroid hormone pill, pain killers and possibly an anti-depressant (Depression, hurting and feeling damn tired are one and the same when you come to think of it!). Of course these treatments are useless if the underlying drivers that we can see in the chart above are not brought into line, starting with increasing her dietary sodium.

When we are talking about salt, I do not refer to refined salt. Refined salt is pure sodium chloride (NaCl). While NaCl is essential for health, it can be called a poison if administered purely on its own. The original salt of the trade that civilisation was built upon was pink salt, such as Himalayan Sea Salt. Unrefined pink salt has about 170 different minerals in it, including sodium, potassium and magnesium. You need these other trace minerals alongside the NaCl. When you set about increasing your salt intake, first purchase some of the various forms of Himalayan Sea Salt here while choosing low salt foods (low in refined NaCl). Liberally salt your food with Himalayan salt while restricting all refined sources of salt.

The best time to take extra Himalayan salt is first thing in the morning with breakfast, then at about 10am and another lot at about 3pm. Why at these times of the day? Because the adrenals need salt to produce cortisol and it is at these times of day that cortisol production typically falls, leading to fatigue.

How long may it take to correct a chronic deficiency in salt? Well, it took me about five years to get where I am nowadays and there is still room for improvement. With nutritional re-balancing, I recommend that you go slow; take your time, rather than going for big hits. Health problems associated with sodium imbalances, such as low thyroid and adrenal fatigue, are complex glandular issues that require time for healing and rebuilding. Salt intake alone is not the answer. There may need to be a deliberate programme to aid the restoration of adrenal and thyroid function. So take your time. Please be patient. Contact me if you feel you need assistance.

And a final observation of that well-intentioned committee of heart experts who came up with the low salt health message: They illustrate beautifully the folly of blinkered single issue health advice - Being unable to see beyond the heart, they failed to see the Human with all of his and her complexity. While blood pressures may well drop in the sodium deprived lab rat, this health advice has unwittingly produced millions of very tired and unwell people worldwide! The only beneficiaries of this misguided health advice are the drugs industry and those who dispense their wares.

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About this website

About drug interactions and debilitating joint pain

2011-06-15T09:23:00.000+12:00

I am 63 -- female & very active (cardio & lift moderate to light weights). In the past year I have noticed more debilitating pain in my right knee & shoulder & lower back. X-rays show osteoarthritis & degenerative disc in lower back. I am also on levothyroxine for hypothyroid & zoloft for depression (& once monthly Boniva).
Which of your products is best for me & will not interact with my prescription meds (or cause weight gain!)? I will await your answer.
_____________________________
Gary:
There are several issues going on here that need to be addressed. Simply taking a supplement on its own for joint pain will have disappointing results.

Thyroid
When the thyroid is functioning poorly, there is a loss of calcium from the bone and this tends to be deposited into the soft tissues, including the joints. This shows up as progressive loss of bone density, arthritis, including spurring of the joint margins, muscle pain, fatigue and the calcification of the blood vessels (arteriosclerosis). There is always an adrenal fatigue component which impacts directly on thyroid function. Prescribing a thyroid medication may partially alleviate matters but not entirely because the other glandular factors are being ignored. Thyroid problems are often preceded by events of significant stress and poor eating.

Zoloft

Taken for depression, Zoloft may give some relief during the first month after which any benefits to mood are mostly lost due to habituation. From thereon, the drug is taken just to be able to continue to function during the day, let alone to feel "good". Due to its messy effects on nerve neurotransmitters the user may suffer increasing fatigue, joint and muscle pain and blood pressure may fluctuate wildly.

Depression is closely associated with adrenal fatigue and associated thyroid dysfunction. Medicating for depression does not address these underlying drivers.

Boniva

Boniva is a bisphosphonate drug that I consider to be one of the most awful drugs that are commonly prescribed. It works by killing off healthy bone. It is so toxic that it can only be taken once a month and the person may not lie down after taking the drug otherwise it will burn out the oesophagus! In my opinion, these drugs should be banned. How a doctor can continue to prescribe these drugs when there is so much evidence of serious harm, is beyond me.

Notice how slick drugs marketers use uplifting names for these poisons to lull people into a false sense of safety and security: Boniva Bon = good or well and iva = uplifting.

User Reviews of Boniva Prepare to be shocked.
I have written about 30 articles about these drugs in a effort to get the warnings out to the public. Please go here and read more about bisphosphonates.

What to do:

Stop taking the Boniva immediately. This can be done safely with the only side effects of doing so being feeling much better.
Do not stop taking the other two without first consulting your doctor. If your Dr is not supportive of a staged withdrawal, first of the depression drug and then the thyroid medication (given you have not had your thyroid removed or irradiated), then consider finding another doctor.
While you are at it you might like to amuse yourself by testing the knowledge of your health professional.
Please read these articles about adrenal fatigue.
Commence an adrenal and thyroid support programme by first doing this assessment then emailing me your scores. We will then take things from there. An adrenal and thyroid support programme will not interfere with your current medication but will prepare you for a safe withdrawal from them later on.

Be prepared for this process of recovery of health to be a long journey in terms of years, rather than months. But do not despair - begin your journey with one step, then the next and the next..... The sooner you start, the sooner you get there, no matter the distance.

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Does compression clothing really work?

2011-06-14T23:46:00.000+12:00

"What is your view on compression clothing (ie- skins), is there any scientific proof that they actually improve recovery and performance or is it just a great way to get people to spend waaaaay too much money on a pair of tights??"
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Gary:

I have never used "compression tights" , partly because I can't see the need, personally.

When a muscle relaxes, it engorges with arterial blood which nourishes the muscles. When the muscle contracts this pool of blood is forced via the veins back to the heart.

At rest, all blood flow is driven by contractions of the heart. As the muscles begin to contract, their action takes on more and more of the job of pumping blood back to the heart. Presumably, when exercising at maximum aerobic capacity, about half of all your circulation through the exercising muscles is being driven by the muscle pump effect. When there is perfect balance between the heart and the muscles, this is when the athlete in in the "zone".

If an athlete is suffering from adrenal exhaustion (Possibly the majority are: Since 80% of the general population may have degrees of adrenal fatigue, we can assume athletes are about the same, if not worse!), then one of the unwanted symptoms is pooling of blood in the limbs due to blood vessel flaccidity. This appears as distended veins in the feet, calves, hands and arms, as well as feeling light-headed when standing up and even heart palpitations.

It is possible that an athlete with flaccid blood vessels may feel some benefits from wearing compression clothing because the compression clothing may counter the tendency of the blood vessels to distend. This clothing may be beneficial for an exhausted athlete during long haul travel, reducing the risk of deep vein thrombosis.

However; this is treating the symptoms and not the causes (Adrenal Fatigue).

If a healthy athlete with toned blood vessels was to wear compression clothing would there be a benefit? I think not and there may even be a negative effect. This is because the veins and muscles must be allowed to fill with blood while relaxed so the blood can then be expelled towards the heart during the next muscle contraction. If there is an external pressure, such as from compression tights, then the volume of blood within the muscle body may be less than if there was no external compression at all. This may cause an overall reduction of blood flow at high effort.

While there may appear to be a majority of research in favour of compression tights this does not necessarily mean all that much: We must bear in mind that the majority of this research was probably motivated and therefore unduly influenced by the desire to prove the benefits of these tights, such is the pervasive influence of commercial funding into our universities nowadays. It is a fact that at least 70% of all research never sees the light of day, referred to as "filing cabinet studies". What gets published in mainstream media of that remaining 30% is less than 10% and these are the best of the few studies that are mostly favourable, given that the makers of these products are also heavy advertisers within sporting publications and sporting events. Directly and indirectly, they have an unpleasant influence on editorial decisions about the content of these commercial publications.

As I have learned the hard way, articles that contain advice that conflicts with the products of advertisers will be rejected. For example, advice to drink tap water during training in preference to sugar sports drinks, does not sit comfortably within a sports magazine that has full page advertising for a sports drink! It is even worse if I suggest how to make your own electrolyte drink for just a few cents! Nor does it work to suggest that children run about the fields barefoot when the main advertiser is for sports shoes!

In conclusion about compression clothing: If it is a cold day, wear warm tights. If you are doing a long haul flight then compression tights might reduce risk of blood clots. If you have flaccid veins, then you are better off spending your money on an adrenal fatigue recovery programme while undertaking a review of your training programme and lifestyle! (Email me if you want help with these).

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