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	The Ultimate Guide to Cellular Longevity: NAD+, Methylation, and Senolytics	Darrell Miller	9/10/26
	Unlocking Your Cellular Vitality: Understanding the Role of Mitochondria in Energy and Aging	Darrell Miller	9/9/26
	What Happens to Our Bodies in Space?	Darrell Miller	6/20/17
	The Awesome Foursome: Coenzyme Q10, D-Ribose, L-Carnitine, and Magnesium	Darrell Miller	5/18/07
	D-Ribose Powder Benefits!	Darrell Miller	4/10/07
	The Power Plant of the Amazon	Darrell Miller	3/2/07
	Home on the Range	Darrell Miller	6/13/05
	Allergy Alleviation	Darrell Miller	6/10/05
	Full Spectrum Arjuna & Arjuna CardioComfort	Darrell Miller	6/2/05

Date: September 10, 2026 10:57 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: The Ultimate Guide to Cellular Longevity: NAD+, Methylation, and Senolytics

Introduction: Understanding Cellular Aging and Energy Decline

Cellular aging is characterized by interconnected biological disruptions known as the hallmarks of aging. These encompass genomic instability, epigenetic alterations, mitochondrial decay, loss of proteostasis, and cellular senescence. Rather than operating as isolated occurrences, these phenomena establish a self-reinforcing degenerative cycle: declining cellular power generation impairs enzymatic genetic repair, promoting the accumulation of damaged cells that enter irreversible growth arrest and poison surrounding healthy tissues. Mitigating cellular aging requires examining how microscopic bioenergetic pathways deteriorate and evaluating how targeted nutritional and biochemical interventions can restore cellular homeostasis.

The Role of Mitochondria and ATP Production

A youthful cell functions like an efficient municipal power grid, dynamically matching energetic demands with immediate ATP output. However, as biological aging progresses, mitochondrial efficiency declines. The electron transport chain becomes structurally leaky, inadvertently shedding electrons that react with ambient molecular oxygen to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). While regulated levels of ROS participate in vital intracellular signaling, chronic excess induces widespread oxidative stress.

Mitochondria are exceptionally vulnerable to this oxidative burden because they carry their own circular genetic material, known as mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Unlike nuclear DNA, mtDNA lacks the protective shielding of histone proteins and possesses rudimentary repair systems. As a result, mtDNA sustains cumulative oxidative damage, encoding increasingly defective electron transport chain proteins. This dynamic generates a bioenergetic deficit: degraded mitochondria synthesize progressively less ATP while emitting greater volumes of damaging free radicals. Deprived of optimal ATP reserves, cells lack the energy necessary to drive vital enzymatic repair cascades, accelerating structural degeneration and functional exhaustion.

How Cellular Senescence Accelerates the Aging Process

Senescent cells, colloquially known as "zombie cells," enter a state of permanent growth arrest while actively resisting programmed cell death (apoptosis). Over time, these cells accumulate within adipose depots, skeletal muscle, the vascular endothelium, and major organs, largely because immune surveillance and clearance pathways simultaneously lose functional efficiency.

The systemic danger of senescent cells stems from their secretome. Rather than remaining biologically inert, senescent cells develop a hyperactive secretory state termed the Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP). The SASP is a destructive mixture of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, extracellular matrix-degrading matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and reactive oxygen species.

Through this toxic secretome, even a small burden of senescent cells can impair whole-tissue architecture. SASP factors degrade surrounding structural proteins, induce insulin resistance in neighboring metabolic cells, and biochemically force adjacent healthy cells into secondary senescence. This persistent paracrine signaling fuels chronic, sterile, low-grade systemic inflammation, termed "inflammaging," which accelerates systemic tissue degeneration and elevates susceptibility to degenerative age-related pathologies.

Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) and the NAD+ Salvage Pathway

The Biochemistry of NAD+ Depletion Over Time

The primary enzymatic driver of age-related NAD+ destruction is CD38, a membrane-bound glycohydrolase expressed on immune cells that is upregulated in response to chronic SASP exposure. Concurrently, lifelong genotoxic damage causes persistent activation of Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1), an enzyme that cleaves the glycosidic bonds of NAD+ to assemble branched poly(ADP-ribose) chains at DNA lesion sites. Because PARP-1 consumes NAD+ without directly recycling the molecule, chronic DNA damage depletes intracellular NAD+ pools, impairing bioenergetics and limiting sirtuin activity.

How NR Efficiently Boosts Cellular NAD+ Levels

The salvage pathway recycles the breakdown product nicotinamide (NAM), which is released whenever NAD+-consuming enzymes execute their functions. Under normal conditions, cells convert free nicotinamide into nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) via the rate-limiting enzyme nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), after which NMN adenylyltransferases (NMNAT1–3) complete the conversion into NAD+. However, NAMPT expression declines with advancing age, chronic inflammation, and metabolic stress, limiting the recycling capacity of the cell.

Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) is a naturally occurring pyridine nucleoside that bypasses this enzymatic bottleneck. Upon cellular entry via equilibrative nucleoside transporters, NR is directly phosphorylated into NMN by nicotinamide riboside kinases (NRK1 and NRK2) using a single molecule of ATP. Because the NRK pathway remains intact and robust across the lifespan, NR provides an efficient alternative entry point into the NAD+ salvage cascade.

Clinical evaluations in humans confirm the safety, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics of oral NR supplementation. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials reveal that oral NR chloride produces dose-dependent increases in steady-state whole blood NAD+ concentrations. Dosing regimens of 100 mg, 300 mg, and 1,000 mg daily elevate blood NAD+ levels by approximately 22%, 51%, and up to 142%, respectively, within two weeks of administration, maintaining these elevations throughout continuous use. High-resolution metabolomic analyses also demonstrate parallel elevations in nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide (NAAD), establishing it as a reliable biomarker of active intracellular NAD+ synthesis without hepatic or systemic toxicity.

Sirtuin Activation and DNA Repair Mechanisms

In the nucleus, SIRT1 coordinates defense against cellular decline. When activated by restored NAD+ levels, SIRT1 deacetylates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1a), the master transcriptional coactivator of mitochondrial biogenesis. This deacetylation stimulates mitochondrial replication and assembly, expanding functional respiratory capacity. Concurrently, SIRT1 deacetylates the p65 subunit of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), suppressing the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In the mitochondria, SIRT3 utilizes NAD+ to deacetylate metabolic enzymes and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), enhancing the organelle's capacity to neutralize reactive oxygen species.

At the same time, cellular NAD+ levels directly regulate genomic integrity through PARP-1. When genotoxic stress or oxidative damage induces single- or double-strand DNA breaks, PARP-1 binds to the damaged termini using its zinc-finger domains. Bound PARP-1 hydrolyzes NAD+ to synthesize extensive, negatively charged poly(ADP-ribose) polymers on itself and adjacent histones. This modification relaxes chromatin architecture and establishes an electrostatic scaffold that recruits base excision repair and homologous recombination complexes.

Recent discoveries demonstrate close crosstalk between sirtuins and PARP-1 during DNA repair. PARP-1 recruits SIRT1 to double-strand breaks, where SIRT1 deacetylates the chromatin-remodeling ATPase BRG1 to displace nucleosomes and facilitate homologous recombination. However, because PARP-1 and SIRT1 draw from the same intracellular NAD+ pool, severe NAD+ depletion forces a biological compromise: PARP-1 consumes the scarce remaining cofactor to address DNA damage, leaving sirtuins deactivated. Restoring NAD+ via NR prevents this deficit, enabling concurrent genomic repair and sirtuin-mediated metabolic defense.

Quercetin: A Powerful Senolytic and mTOR Regulator

Clearing Senescent "Zombie" Cells from Tissues

Quercetin is a polyphenolic flavonoid found in capers, red onions, apples, and the flower buds of Sophora japonica. Beyond its classical antioxidant properties, quercetin functions as a senolytic compound that exerts multi-target inhibitory effects across the SCAP network. By inhibiting the upstream PI3K/Akt survival axis and downregulating anti-apoptotic defenses, quercetin disrupts the signaling that protects senescent cells from intrinsic apoptosis. Deprived of these survival signals, senescent cells undergo programmed cell death.

Preclinical studies demonstrate that senolytic protocols utilizing quercetin - often combined with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib - reduce senescent cell burden across multiple tissues. This targeted clearance lowers circulating SASP factors, attenuates tissue fibrosis, restores endothelial reactivity, and improves functional health span. By removing senescent cells, quercetin mitigates the primary driver of chronic, low-grade inflammaging.

Modulating the mTOR Pathway for Optimal Autophagy

Autophagy is an intracellular degradation system that packages damaged organelles, misfolded protein aggregates, and biological debris into double-membraned autophagosomes for lysosomal degradation and recycling. A specialized branch of this pathway, mitophagy, selectively targets and clears damaged mitochondria. In modern metabolic conditions characterized by continuous caloric intake, mTORC1 can remain persistently active. This persistent signaling suppresses autophagy, causing damaged organelles and toxic aggregates to accumulate within tissues.

Quercetin functions as a natural modulator of mTOR signaling. By inhibiting upstream PI3K/Akt signaling and activating intracellular energy sensors, quercetin attenuates overactive mTORC1, mimicking the metabolic effects of caloric restriction. This down-regulation relieves inhibition on the ULK1 autophagy initiation complex, stimulating both general autophagy and mitophagy. As autophagy proceeds, cells clear protein aggregates and eliminate damaged mitochondria, supporting cellular longevity and proteostasis.

Enhancing Absorption: Phytosomes and Dietary Fats

To address these pharmacokinetic limitations, advanced delivery systems such as phytosomes were engineered. A phytosome is a 100% food-grade molecular complex where individual polyphenolic molecules are bound to dietary phospholipids, typically sunflower-derived phosphatidylcholine. Unlike a classical liposome - which encapsulates water-soluble compounds inside an aqueous core enclosed by a lipid bilayer - a phytosome forms an amphiphilic complex at the molecular level.

The polar head of the phosphatidylcholine molecule forms hydrogen bonds with the hydroxyl groups of the quercetin molecule, while its lipophilic fatty acid tails extend outward. This structural arrangement shields the polar regions of the flavonoid, creating a lipid-compatible complex that integrates smoothly into the intestinal mucosa.

The Importance of Methylation in Healthy Aging

Vitamin B-Complex and Choline as Essential Methyl Donors

At the center of this pathway sits S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), the universal methyl donor in human biology. When a methyltransferase enzyme transfers a methyl group from SAM to an acceptor molecule, SAM is converted into S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). SAH functions as a potent competitive inhibitor of intracellular methyltransferases. To maintain functional methylation, SAH is rapidly hydrolyzed into homocysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid that must be remethylated or cleared through transsulfuration.

Homocysteine clearance proceeds through two distinct remethylation pathways. The primary route operates across most tissues via the enzyme methionine synthase, which requires vitamin B12 in its active methylcobalamin form. Methionine synthase transfers a methyl group from 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF, the active form of folate) to homocysteine, regenerating methionine. The ongoing production of 5-MTHF depends on the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), which utilizes riboflavin (vitamin B2) as a cofactor.

Alternatively, excess homocysteine can be routed into the transsulfuration pathway by vitamin B6 (as pyridoxal-5'-phosphate) to synthesize cystathionine, cysteine, and ultimately the antioxidant glutathione.

A secondary remethylation pathway, active predominantly in hepatic and renal tissues, bypasses folate entirely. In this route, dietary choline is oxidized to betaine (trimethylglycine or TMG). The enzyme betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT) then transfers a methyl group from betaine directly to homocysteine, yielding methionine and dimethylglycine.

When dietary intake of active B-vitamins or choline is insufficient, or when genetic variations like MTHFR polymorphisms reduce pathway flux, the methylation cycle slows. Homocysteine accumulates in circulation, promoting vascular and neurological inflammation, while SAM reserves decline, restricting cellular methylation capacity.

Understanding DNA Methylation and Epigenetic Health

Under physiological conditions, DNA methylation maintains genomic stability and coordinates transcription. Methylation of promoter regions condenses chromatin, repressing transposable elements and silencing genes inappropriate for a given cell type. Conversely, hypomethylated promoters maintain an open chromatin state, allowing transcription factors to bind and initiate gene expression.

During biological aging, this epigenetic landscape undergoes progressive dysregulation, a phenomenon termed "epigenetic drift". Aging cells experience global hypomethylation alongside focal hypermethylation of specific gene promoters. Global loss of methyl tags destabilizes the genome, activating retrotransposons and pro-inflammatory pathways. Simultaneously, hypermethylation at targeted promoter sites silences critical tumor suppressor genes and DNA repair complexes.

This systematic change in DNA methylation patterns is consistent across populations, allowing researchers to develop molecular "epigenetic clocks". Algorithms such as the Horvath clock, PhenoAge, and GrimAge quantify biological age by profiling the methylation status of specific CpG sites across the genome. These clocks assess whether individuals are aging faster or slower than their chronological years. Ensuring a steady supply of methyl donors and preventing unnecessary SAM depletion supports DNMT activity, maintaining epigenetic patterns and genomic stability.

How the Methylation Cycle Impacts Energy and Cognitive Focus

A major consumer of methyl reserves is the endogenous synthesis of creatine. Approximately 40% of all SAM-derived methyl groups in the human body are utilized by guanidinoacetate N-methyltransferase (GAMT) in the liver to synthesize creatine. Creatine then translocates to the brain and skeletal muscle, where it is phosphorylated into phosphocreatine.

Phosphocreatine functions as a rapid energy buffer, donating a high-energy phosphate group to regenerate ADP into ATP in milliseconds during demanding physical or cognitive tasks. When methyl donor availability falls, endogenous creatine synthesis drops, depleting phosphocreatine reserves and increasing susceptibility to neuromuscular and cognitive fatigue.

Methylation is equally central to central nervous system architecture. SAM provides methyl groups to convert phosphatidylethanolamine into phosphatidylcholine, the predominant phospholipid comprising neuronal cell membranes and the myelin sheaths that insulate axons. Intact myelin preserves rapid action potential conduction throughout the nervous system.

Furthermore, free choline derived from this pathway is the direct precursor to acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter required for attention, working memory, and learning.

The methylation cycle also governs monoamine neurotransmitter metabolism. SAM is required for the synthesis of adrenaline (epinephrine) from noradrenaline, while catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) relies on SAM to degrade dopamine and norepinephrine within the prefrontal cortex. Sluggish methylation disrupts this balance, contributing to cognitive fatigue, mood variability, and impaired mental performance.

Building a Comprehensive Longevity Protocol

Synergizing NR, Quercetin, and Methylated B-Vitamins

This synergy is grounded in the direct biochemical intersection between the NAD+ salvage pathway and the methylation cycle. When high-dose NR is supplemented to boost systemic NAD+, sirtuins and PARP enzymes consume the newly synthesized cofactor, generating substantial quantities of free nicotinamide (NAM). This intracellular nicotinamide faces two primary metabolic fates: it can be Recycled back into NAD+ through the NAMPT-dependent salvage loop, or it can be cleared via methylation.

When the influx of nicotinamide exceeds salvage recycling capacity, the excess is cleared to avoid feedback inhibition of sirtuin enzymes. To accomplish this, the enzyme nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) transfers a methyl group from SAM directly onto nicotinamide, forming 1-methylnicotinamide (1-MNA/MNAM), which is subsequently excreted in urine.

Prolonged, high-dose precursor administration without nutritional methyl support can elevate NNMT flux, depleting intracellular SAM reserves. As methyl groups are consumed clearing nicotinamide, the cellular SAM-to-SAH ratio falls, which can elevate circulating homocysteine and reduce methyl availability for DNA methylation and neurotransmitter synthesis.

Co-administering a fully methylated B-complex alongside choline or betaine addresses this potential bottleneck. Providing active methyl donors (such as 5-MTHF, methylcobalamin, and betaine) maintains the one-carbon donor pool. Even during increased NNMT activity, SAM pools remain stable, protecting DNA methylation fidelity and maintaining homocysteine within safe parameters.

Quercetin reinforces this protocol through complementary mechanisms. By clearing senescent cells and reducing SASP-mediated inflammation, quercetin downregulates CD38, the primary enzyme responsible for age-related NAD+ degradation. Suppressing CD38 prevents unnecessary breakdown of newly synthesized NAD+, enhancing the efficiency of NR supplementation.

Furthermore, while NR provides the NAD+ necessary to activate SIRT1-driven mitochondrial biogenesis, quercetin concurrently modulates mTORC1 to stimulate autophagy. This coordinated action ensures that newly generated mitochondria operate in an environment cleared of proteotoxic cellular debris.

The Crucial Role of Magnesium Glycinate and Zinc in Cellular Function

Magnesium serves as an obligatory cofactor in over 300 enzymatic reactions, primarily through its interaction with ATP. In biological systems, ATP exists predominantly as a chelate with a divalent magnesium ion, forming biologically active Mg2+ -ATP.

Every enzymatic reaction that synthesizes, transfers, or consumes cellular energy - including the enzymes of the NAD+ salvage pathway (NRK and NMNAT) and DNA polymerases - strictly requires Mg2+ -ATP as its substrate. Magnesium deficiency impairs these phosphorylation reactions, reducing the cellular utilization of NAD+ precursors.

Additionally, magnesium is an essential cofactor for the enzymes that activate dietary B-vitamins into their active forms. Supplying magnesium as magnesium glycinate provides high gastrointestinal bioavailability, minimal laxative effect, and yields glycine to support inhibitory neurotransmission and restful sleep.

Zinc serves as a vital structural component for more than 3,000 human transcription factors and enzymatic proteins. Its most prominent structural role in longevity occurs within zinc-finger motifs. These are specialized protein conformations stabilized by a zinc ion coordinated to cysteine and histidine residues.

The DNA damage sensor PARP-1 utilizes three zinc-finger domains to identify, track, and physically bind to single- and double-strand DNA breaks. Without adequate intracellular zinc, PARP-1 cannot properly assemble or dock onto damaged chromosomes, impairing DNA repair and increasing genomic instability.

Zinc is also an obligatory structural component of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD or SOD1), the primary cytosolic antioxidant enzyme that dismutates superoxide radicals into hydrogen peroxide, protecting mitochondrial membranes and nuclear DNA from premature senescence.

Integrating Prebiotics (like Acacia and Inulin) for Gut-Derived Longevity Markers

The gut epithelium consists of a single-cell monolayer sealed by tight junction proteins, including zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin, and claudins. When this physical barrier is disrupted by poor dietary fiber intake or dysbiosis, gut permeability increases.

This allows lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, to enter the portal and systemic circulation. The resulting "metabolic endotoxemia" activates Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on immune cells, inducing NF-kB and systemic pro-inflammatory cytokine production. This persistent gut-derived inflammation exacerbates the SASP, accelerates tissue senescence, upregulates CD38, and drains systemic NAD+ reserves.

These short-chain fatty acids, particularly butyrate, exert direct protective effects on systemic longevity. Butyrate provides the primary metabolic fuel for colonic epithelial cells, supplying more than 70% of their baseline energy needs and supporting mitochondrial function within colonocytes.

Furthermore, SCFAs upregulate the expression of epithelial tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1), restoring intestinal barrier integrity and preventing the translocation of inflammatory LPS into systemic circulation.

Systemically absorbed butyrate also functions as an endogenous histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, suppressing pro-inflammatory gene expression and supporting regulatory T cell (T_reg) development. Reducing metabolic endotoxemia dampens systemic inflammation, protecting vascular function and preventing premature NAD+ depletion.

Conclusion: The Integrated Cellular Longevity Matrix

Quercetin Phytosome clears senescent cells and modulates mTORC1, stimulating autophagy while dampening the inflammatory SASP cascade that accelerates CD38-mediated NAD+ destruction.

Methylated B-vitamins, active folate, and choline replenish SAM reserves, balancing the methyl requirements of NNMT-mediated nicotinamide clearance, preserving epigenetic DNA methylation, and maintaining neurotransmitter production.

Magnesium glycinate and zinc provide the structural and catalytic foundation required for ATP utilization, B-vitamin activation, and PARP-1 zinc-finger DNA repair docking.

Finally, prebiotic fibers generate short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, reinforcing the intestinal barrier and preventing metabolic endotoxemia from fueling systemic inflammation.

By coordinating energy replenishment, cellular waste clearance, epigenetic maintenance, and the suppression of systemic inflammation, this unified approach directly addresses the underlying drivers of cellular aging to support long-term physiological vitality.

--
Content Put together by Darrell Miller CEO of VitaNet LLC

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=6650)

Date: September 09, 2026 05:22 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Unlocking Your Cellular Vitality: Understanding the Role of Mitochondria in Energy and Aging

Introduction: Understanding Cellular Aging and Energy Decline

Most people think aging is something that happens strictly on the outside - fine lines around the eyes, stiff joints, or gray hairs. In reality, aging begins at a microscopic scale inside your cells, the microscopic building blocks that make up every tissue, muscle, and organ in your body.

Every single day, your body relies on roughly 30 trillion cells working in unison. When your cells are young and resilient, they operate like a well-oiled machine: they repair minor damage instantly, clear away waste, and produce abundant energy. But over time, two fundamental biological shifts take place:

1. Your cellular power plants start slowing down, reducing the steady flow of energy your body needs to thrive.
2. Damaged cells refuse to recycle themselves, lingering behind and creating biological friction for healthy neighbors.

The Role of Mitochondria and ATP Production

Often called the "powerhouses" of the cell, mitochondria function like miniature power stations. A single cell can house hundreds or even thousands of them, especially energy-hungry cells like those in your heart, brain, and skeletal muscles.

The Body’s Energy Currency: What is ATP?

Think of ATP as your body’s universal energy currency:

• Every heartbeat "spends" ATP.
• Every thought, muscle contraction, and cellular repair job requires a steady supply of ATP coins.
• In the folds of the inner mitochondrial membrane (the cristae pictured above), microscopic protein motors called ATP synthase act like tiny hydroelectric turbines, churning out billions of ATP molecules every second.

Why Cellular Energy Production Declines with Age

Much like an engine produces exhaust fumes while burning fuel, mitochondria produce reactive byproducts known as free radicals (reactive oxygen species). Over decades, these "exhaust fumes" slowly damage the inner machinery of the mitochondria:

• Mitochondrial DNA Damage: Unlike other parts of the cell, mitochondria possess their own distinct DNA, which sits right next to where the oxidative "exhaust" is released. Because this DNA lacks the robust defense systems of your main cellular nucleus, it accumulates wear and tear faster.
• Leaky, Less Efficient Turbines: Damaged mitochondria struggle to produce ATP at full capacity. Instead of generating clean energy, they burn fuel inefficiently and generate even more oxidative stress.
• Reduced Mitochondrial Number: As damaged mitochondria break down faster than the cell can replace them, the total number of working power generators inside each cell drops.

How Cellular Senescence Accelerates the Aging Process

In a healthy body, normal cells follow a strict lifecycle: they divide, perform their jobs, and when they incur significant damage or reach the end of their useful lifespan, they undergo a tidy self-destruction process called apoptosis (programmed cell death). Your immune system then clears away the debris, making room for fresh, vibrant cells.

Cellular senescence happens when this cleanup process fails.

The "Zombie Cell" Phenomenon

The cell enters a permanent state of dormancy:

• It permanently stops dividing.
• Crucially, it refuses to die.

Why Zombie Cells Are So Damaging: The Bad Apple Effect

This cocktail is packed with pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and tissue-degrading enzymes. Picture one spoiled apple sitting in a fruit basket: the ethylene gas it emits quickly causes the healthy apples surrounding it to rot.

In the same way, the toxic secretions from zombie cells:

1. Spread the Damage: They trigger inflammation and induce premature senescence in healthy neighboring cells.
2. Break Down Healthy Tissue: The enzymes degrade the extracellular matrix (the collagen and elastin scaffolds that keep skin firm and arteries flexible).
3. Exhaust the Immune System: Your immune cells are dispatched to manage the constant, low-grade alarm signals, gradually wearing out your natural defense network.

The Vicious Cycle of Cellular Aging

What This Means for Everyday Health

• Exercise Stimulates New Power Plants: High-intensity intervals and resistance training trigger a process called mitochondrial biogenesis - prompting your cells to build brand-new, clean-burning mitochondria.
• Fasting & Caloric Balance Trigger Autophagy: Periods between meals signal cells to clean house, breaking down dysfunctional proteins and clearing away debris.
• Targeted Micronutrients & Antioxidants: Supporting key cellular cofactors (such as NAD+, CoQ10, and polyphenols) helps shield mitochondrial membranes from oxidative strain and supports the body's natural cellular renewal pathways.

Summary:

Aging is fundamentally a microscopic process occurring inside the body's trillions of cells, which naturally become less resilient over time. Central to this decline are the mitochondria, the tiny structures that function as the cell's "power plants" to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the universal chemical currency for everyday energy. While young mitochondria are abundant and pristine, decades of producing ATP generate oxidative stress through byproducts called free radicals, which eventually wear down and damage mitochondrial DNA and machinery. This damage results in fewer, less efficient power generators, lowering total cellular energy output, which individuals experience as real-world physical fatigue and mental fog.

Aging is further accelerated by cellular senescence, a condition where damaged cells stop dividing but, instead of naturally self-destructing like healthy ones, linger behind as dormant "zombie cells." These senescent cells secrete a pro-inflammatory chemical mixture known as the Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP), which functions like a "bad apple" by poisoning healthy neighboring cells and tissues, creating a state of chronic biological pollution termed "inflammaging." Mitochondrial decay and senescence feed into one another in a vicious cycle that directly drives overall aging. However, longevity science highlights that healthy lifestyle habits, including regular exercise and periods of fasting, can support continued vitality by encouraging the development of new mitochondria and the clearing of this toxic cellular clutter.

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=6649)

Date: June 20, 2017 11:14 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: What Happens to Our Bodies in Space?

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=4858)

Date: May 18, 2007 01:06 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: The Awesome Foursome: Coenzyme Q10, D-Ribose, L-Carnitine, and Magnesium

--
Protect the Heart with D-Ribose, Coenzyme Q10, L-Carnitine, and Magnesium at Vitanet ®, LLC

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=1539)

Date: April 10, 2007 11:57 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: D-Ribose Powder Benefits!

(https://vitanetonline.com:443/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=1&Message_ID=1510)

Date: March 02, 2007 11:34 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: The Power Plant of the Amazon

Enzymatic Therapy Amazon Herbs

It may surprise most Americans to know that rainforest plants are the original source for one-fourth of the chemotherapy medications used today. Plants offer a plethora of beneficial compounds, and rainforests contain a superabundance of beneficial plants.

In fact, plant medicines are the most widely used medicines of all types in the world. Over eighty-five percent of the world’s population uses plant and herbal medicines as their primary medicines. That’s 5.1 billion (5,100,000,000) people worldwide! While Americans overwhelmingly use synthetically manufactured pharmaceuticals to cure their ills, the vast majority of Earth’s inhabitants use healing plant medicines instead.

One of the most powerful healing rainforest plant medicines is cat’s claw, or Uncaria tomentosa. This high climbing woody vine grows at the base of tall trees in the Peruvian rainforest. The plant’s claw-shaped thorns latch onto the trees and spiral further upward, nourished by the lush rainforest environment. For over 2,000 years, the Ashaninka, a tribal people of the Peruvian rainforest, have used the root of U. tomentosa to treat illnesses in the tribe, including asthma, bladder infections, infected wounds, arthritis, bone pain, bowel inflammation, and cancer.

Q. I’ve heard about cat’s claw, but what does it do and how do I know which one is right for me?

Cat’s claw might be one of the most confusing (and most effective!) nutritional supplements available in health food stores today. One reason that it’s so confusing is there are so many kinds of cat’s claw supplements-there are cat’s claw leaves, cat’s claw bark, and even cat’s claw twigs. While each of these supplements claim to help the immune system, it is the root of Uncaria tomentosa that is proven to impart the true cat’s claw health benefits.

Scientists, who have extensively studied every part of the plant, discovered that extracts made from selected cat’s claw roots possess the healing power to treat and prevent diseases like cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcers and degenerative diseases. In addition, it demonstrates anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-microbial benefits.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that not all Uncaria tomentosa roots actually contain healing properties.

Healers in the Ashaninka tribe attribute the healing properties in cat’s claw to the “good spirits” that live in the plant’s roots. The Ashaninka healers, or sancoshi, are able to actually “see” the good spirits hidden inside the root of the plant before they harvest them.

Some cat’s claw plant roots have the good spirits. Some don’t. If the good spirits are mixed with any cat’s claw root without good spirits, the healing power is lost. While there are no apparent differences in the plants or the roots to the untrained eye, only certain cat’s claw roots possess the power to heal. And, for a very long time, only the Ashaninka tribal healer seemed to be able to identify them. They call the good spirit cat’s claw Saventaro, or “powerful plant”.

However, scientists who were given cat’s claw roots by the Ashaninka to study in the laboratory discovered that they could “see” the good spirits, too! Using high performance liquid chromatography, or HPLC, a laboratory process that identifies various chemical compounds, the good spirits of cat’s claw roots were revealed to be important medicinal compounds called pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids (POAs). Research has learned that POAs provide powerful benefits for the human immune response.

Q. Why are good spirits, or POA’s, good for the immune system?

Cat’s claw POAs work to keep us healthy by directly interacting with white blood cells, the backbone of our immune system. Our white blood cells are the disease fighting cells of the human body. These highly specialized cells fight diseases we catch, such as colds and flu, as well as diseases that start within our own cells, such as cancer and autoimmune diseases. There are many kinds of white blood cells; each has a specific job to do in fighting diseases.

Certain POAs help white blood cells called macrophages work faster. The macrophages’ job is to engulf and digest foreign material. This means that macrophages can ingest m ore bacteria and disease causing microbes when they are exposed to POAs. The scientists also discovered that POA cat’s claw extract increases the production of a chemical protein called interleukin that is secreted by macrophages. This macrophage-secreted interleukin (IL-1) has important immune enhancing properties. IL-1 alerts resting white blood cells and spurs them into action. It also helps make other biochemicals that are essential to an activated immune system.

POAs also help B cells. B cells are white blood cells that make antibodies that kill germs. Each B cell is programmed to make one specific antibody that is effective against one specific germ (such as a bacteria, virus, or fungus). When scientists looked at the number of B cells after they were exposed to POA cat’s claw root extract, they found that the B cells had increased significantly, resulting in an increased supply of antibodies. And perhaps most importantly as they relate to cancer, the POAs in cat’s claw root extract help increase the number of T cells, the true soldiers of the immune system. There are many different kinds of these white blood cells, including Helper T cells, Suppressor T cells, and Killer T cells. Increased Helper, Suppressor, and Killer T-cells can more effectively destroy cancer cells. Increasing the number of circulating T-cells is very important in a disease like AIDS as well.

Q. Can cat’s claw and other plants in the rainforest really cure diseases? Isn’t that just folklore?

It’s folk use and modern science combined-plants have long been known for their ability to kill cancer cells. In fact, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has identified over 3000 plant extracts that can kill cancer cells. More than 70 percent of these plants are found only in the rainforest.

Q. What is it about the rainforest that gives plants like cat’s claw these cancer killing compounds?

Most of the time when we talk about rainforests, we’re talking about the tropical rainforests. While other forests, like the old-growth temperate forests of the Pacific Northwest, also have high rainfalls and tall trees, the tropical rainforests located near the equator are where most plant medicines come from.

The Amazon rainforest in South America is the world’s largest, covering an area about two-thirds the size of the continental United States. Depending on the elevation and distance to the equator the Amazon rainforest receives between 160 and 400 inches of rain per year. The rain is spread pretty evenly from January to December-it’s always the rainy season-and the temperatures remain between 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit all year.

This fertile environment continually recycles itself. When leaves fall from the trees, flowers wilt, and animals die in the rainforest-all of the nutrients are Recycled back into the roots of the trees and plants. Because the rainforest reuses almost everything that falls to the ground, the plant growth is amazingly rich in alkaloids and other medicinal compounds. Researchers think these compounds and alkaloids, like POAs, protect the plants from illness and insect attacks. These are the very same compounds that protect us from disease.

Q. When the Ashaninka harvest the cat’s claw roots, does it impact the rest of the plant?

No. The Ashaninka work intelligently to keep rainforest cat’s claw plants perpetually healthy. The Ashaninka employ responsible and innovative harvesting techniques to keep the plants alive and tribal members healthy. Individual cat’s claw plants are never completely harvested. Only one third of the lateral roots are collected at any one time to allow re-growth by the remaining root. Once a plant’s lateral roots have been partially harvested, that plant is left to regenerate, and no more root is harvested from it for 10 years.

Q. Why are the Ashaninka willing to share their cat’s claw?

They are generous people. The Ashaninka see no benefit in hoarding cat’s claw for themselves alone. They also want to make sure that the plant’s healing properties continue on. As their homelands continue to be destroyed by deforestation, rainforest peoples are also disappearing. There were an estimated ten million tribal and indigenous peoples living in the Amazonian Rainforest in 1510. Today there are less than 200,000.

Since the 1900’s more than 90 indigenous tribes have died out and disappeared. Each time a rainforest medicine man or woman dies without passing their arts on to the next generation, the tribe and the world loses thousands of years of irreplaceable knowledge about medicinal plants. With them, centuries of accumulated knowledge of the medicinal value of rainforest species have been lost.

A good example of the impact of this loss can be seen in cat’s claw. When European explorers began venturing into the Amazon River basin, t hey were skeptical of the stories the Ashaninka people told them of U. tomentosa’s amazing healing powers. But when the explorers became sick with colds, flu, or other illnesses, they harvested cat’s claw root for themselves and gave the plant a try. Sometimes the explorers got better when they used the cat’s claw root, sometimes they stayed the same.

Q. Why didn’t the cat’s claw root help all the explorers?

Because some cat’s claw plant roots have good spirits-POAs-and some cat’s claw plant roots have tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids, or TOAs. While the POAs have very powerful effects in the immune system, the TOAs have different effects in the body, none of which help the immune system cells at all. All U. tomentosa plants look virtually identical, so it’s hard to tell if they have the healing POAs or non-helpful TOAs.

What makes cat’s claw identification even more challenging is the fact that plants with POAs one year will have TOAs the next. Cat’s claw plants seem to change their alkaloid chemotypes at will, an incredibly powerful accomplishment for a plant to possess. Harvesting of cat’s claw roots that contain POAs is very tricky. Unless the person gathering the root extract is an Ashaninka sancoshi. These medicine men know which cat’s claw to use; they can actually “see” the good spirits hidden inside the root. When scientists studying cat’s claw discovered they could “see” presence of TOAs using HPLC technology, they were able to harvest cat’s claw root extracts with POAs that consistently helps people get and stay healthy.

Q. Do some cat’s claw root extract supplements contain TOAs?

Yes they do. And buying those products will only benefit the cat’s claw distributor; they won’t help you stay healthy. When cat’s claw root is harvested from the rainforest, responsible supplement maker examine the root with HPLC to make sure that only POA roots are collected. But, this identification of the chemotypes takes significant time and costs money. For these reasons, many cat’s claw distributors don’t include this important process in their harvesting. The POAs and TOAs are simply just mixed together and sold as a cat’s claw product with no mention of any alkaloid content on the label.

Q. Why should I avoid TOAs?

While the POAs in cat’s claw root extracts have numerous benefits to the immune system, the TOAs have different effects in the body, none helping the immune system cells. Most importantly, however, when POAs and TOAs are mixed together, the TOAs actually work against the POAs. TOAs reduce the capacity of POAs to beneficially modulate the immune system.

Q. How can I be sure the cat’s claw I buy is POA cat’s claw?

Read the label of the cat’s claw root extract product you are considering buying. If it does not clearly state that it is the high POA cat’s claw, then chances are that it’s not.

Q. What do the Ashaninka receive in return for the cat’s claw harvesting?

The Ashaninka and reputable distributors of cat’s claw root extract have established a mutual and ethical relationship. Both groups benefit from the sale of the plant material. Maintaining this relationship is important for both the tribe and the distributors.

The distributors are paying a fair price for the raw material directly to the tribe. No intermediary is involved. This payment covers the raw material itself, a license-fee for the k knowledge of the plant, and a guarantee (from both sides) of a lasting relationship. Payment is also made for the protection of the rainforest. No deforestation is allowed. The area where the cat’s claw materials are processed is also leased and payment is made for this, as well.

This arrangement allows the Ashaninka to make independent decisions in how to spend this income from sale of their cat’s claw plants. They have been able to make improvements in the tribe’s water supply and in their living areas. They are also able to obtain outside medical aid as needed and provide for education of their children.

The partnership with cat’s claw distributors has created a sustainable resource for the Ashaninka. The tribe has been able to not only preserve their rainforest, but also compete financially with unsustainable income sources offered by timber and agricultural firms.

Q. Why is it important to preserve the rainforest?

The most amazing fact about these impressive medicinal plants is the vast number that5 has yet to be discovered. In fact, the rainforest’s abundance is one reason it is home to so many healing plants. Within a four square mile patch of rainforest, you could see 1500 species of flowering plants, 750 species of trees, 125 mammal species, 400 species of birds, 100 reptile species, 60 amphibian species, and 150 different species of butterflies.

Unfortunately, not everyone looks to the rainforest for the same reasons. Many consider its real value in board feet and cultivated acreage. The forces pushing industrial development move quickly; experts estimate that we’re losing over 130 plant, animal, and insect species every day/ That amount to almost 50,000 species a year.

A combination of logging, petroleum interests, cattle grazing operations, and, of course, our own consumer appetites are putting pressure on rainforest resources. The consequences are sobering:

• Rainforests once covered 14% of the earth’s land surface; it’s only 6% today
• The last remaining rainforests could be consumed in less than 40 years.
• Nearly half of the world’s species of plants, animals and microorganisms will be destroyed or severely threatened over the next quarter century due to rainforest deforestation.

By leaving the rainforest intact, however, and harvesting its many nuts, fruits, oil-producing, and medicinal plants, the rainforest has more economic value than if it was cut down for timber or to make grazing land for cattle. If managed properly, the rainforest can provide the world’s need for sustainably harvested natural resources on a perpetual basis. That’s what the Ashaninka are doing with their cat’s claw harvesting.

Conclusion

The discovery of medicinal plants is dependent upon healthy rainforests. When an acre of tropical rainforest is lost due to deforestation, the impact on the number of plant and animal species lost and their possible uses is staggering.

We can all help the development of sustainable rainforest industries. By purchasing renewable and sustainable rainforest products, like POA type cat’s claw root extract, we are keeping rainforests alive and well. By benefiting from the innate wisdom of the Ashaninka people we are keeping ourselves just as alive and well. By honoring the science and the sacred of the world’s rainforests, like my friend the oncology nurse, the massive wealth and diversity will be there for generations to come.

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Date: June 13, 2005 03:52 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Home on the Range

Home on the Range

by Janis Jibrin, RD Energy Times, September 5, 1999

Got chicken? Americans can't seem to get enough of this bird. Last year each of us ate, on average, just about 80 pounds of chicken, a whopping increase over the 49 pounds we each devoured in 1980 and an eight-pound increase from 1995. Part of this food's popularity comes from its lean image as a healthier, less fatty alternative to red meat (don't forget to take the fatty skin off). Chicken's also a cheap protein source: At many popular supermarkets you'll find weekly specials at about a dollar a pound.

But at health food markets, chicken can cost upwards of $1.69 a pound. These birds may be touted as raised in an organic, stress-free environment and on a vegetarian diet, free of antibiotics. For many people, this poultry is a better buy.

The Alternative Chicken

Most of the supermarket chicken you pick up in grocery refrigerated cases are broilers, birds bred to mature in about eight weeks. In comparison, in the '60s, chickens needed 14 weeks to become adult poultry. Conventionally-raised broilers eat grain mixed with whatever's cheapest on the market, such as Recycled cooking oil that's been used to fry fast foods and animal parts.

These birds reside in chicken coops the size of football fields and don't see the light of day until transported to the slaughterhouse. On the other roost, alternatively raised chickens are brought up in a variety of ways (see box), but usually enjoy a more relaxed life and diet.

Chickens on the farm receive antibiotics for two reasons: To fight off the diseases that can run rampant through a crowded chicken coop and to encourage faster growth.

Antibiotics Stimulate Growth

Mark Cook, PhD, professor of animal science at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, explains, "Gut bacteria trigger an immune system assault, which makes chickens a little feverish, suppresses appetite and slows growth. Antibiotics stimulate growth indirectly, by keeping bacteria levels down, and preventing the immune reaction." When birds get sick, they often get dosed with even more antibiotics.

This widespread antibiotic use has come home to roost and may contribute to the growth of bacteria that, frequently exposed to chemicals, have evolved ways to keep from being killed by pharmaceuticals.

This development threatens human health. Bacterial infections that people contract, once easily cured by penicillin or other drugs, are now tougher to eradicate. For instance, campylobactor, a common bacteria found in chicken, and responsible for some food poisonings, now demonstrates signs of resistance to drugs like floroquinolones. A powerful class of antibiotics, floroquinolones used to dependably conquer this infection.

"Floroquinolones are an extremely important class of antibiotics, used to treat many types of infections such as urinary tract infection, a wide variety of gastrointestinal illnesses, pneumonia, almost everything," says Kirt Smith, DVM, PhD, epidemiologist, acute disease epidemiology section, Minnesota Department of Health.

A study by Dr. Smith, published in the New England Journal of Medicine (340, 1999: 1525-32), showed that the percent of floroquinolone-resistant campylobactor appearing in infected people in his state-Minnesota-climbed from a little over 1% in infected people during 1992 to 10.2% in 1998. He and other scientists strongly suspect that the rise is a direct consequence of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) decision to allow floroquinolones in poultry feed beginning in 1995.

Although it was nearly impossible for Dr. Smith to trace the precise origin of campylobactor poisoning, he believes chicken was usually the source-and not just U.S. chicken. Many of the infected people had returned from Mexico and other countries.

"Sales of floroquinolones for poultry use in Mexico has increased dramatically," notes Dr. Smith.

Many alternative chicken producers do not use any antibiotic-laced feed at all. Other farmers adjust the feed to lower gut pH, making it more acidic and lowering chances of bacteria. At the U. of Wisconsin, Dr. Cook is developing antibodies to suppress the immune response to bacteria so chickens won't need antibiotics to spur growth. Buying and dining on chicken raised with little or no antibiotics could beneficially lower your risk of contracting a hardy bacterial infection. Better to catch campylobactor from an antibiotic-free chicken than a conventional chicken, speculates Dr. Cook. "There's less likelihood the bug will be resistant, and a better chance your problem can be cured with antibiotics," he explains.

And, looking beyond your own immediate health risk, buying antibiotic-free chicken makes a small contribution to stopping the spread of antibiotic resistant bugs. A Matter of Taste Conventionally raised chickens get little exercise and live only eight weeks, so they're tender but bland.

"There's not much taste in a modern chicken. Free range or organically grown, older birds usually have more taste," notes Dr. Cook.

The days of barnyard chickens happily clucking and strutting around in picturesque nature have disappeared with the family farm. Today, chickens lead a meager existence. After hatching, baby chicks are tossed into a gigantic hen house that is home to up to 30,000 birds. Their short lives are lived within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) mandated 3/4 square foot per chicken. In that squeeze, birds can catch "chicken influenza," especially in winter when it's too cold to let in much fresh air.

Laying hens don't experience much more of a peaceful existence. These birds live their years with about five other hens, so crowded they can't flap their wings. Cages, suspended in the air, let eggs roll into a holding area. So they don't peck each other, hens are often debeaked, a painful process that can cause infection.

Hens go through natural laying and "dry" cycles. Growers manipulate this cycle by "forced molting," depriving hens of food for four to 14 days to keep them constantly laying. By the end of two years, hens are worn out. Their inactivity weakens their bones enough that electrical stunning, the usual method for knocking chickens out before slaughter, shatters their bones. So some wind up being plucked and boiled alive, according to Mary Finelli, program director for farm animals and public health at the Humane Society of the United States. The meat from these hens, tougher than other birds, was probably in your deli lunch sandwich. It's also used in the school lunch program or may end up in dog food.

"Generally, organically-grown broilers and hens have it better because room to move is part of the organic certification process," says Finelli. Finelli suggests visiting chicken suppliers to find out how chickens are treated. Or, she advocates a Humane Society book listing reliable firms. For a local producer call the society: 202-452-1100. According to a Consumer Report report, some growers force chickens out the last week of their lives to brand them "free range." So free range isn't a prime standard for choosing a decently raised chicken. However, turkeys thrive outdoors, so choosing free-range turkey is often a good idea for better tasting poultry.

In any case, organic is your best bet for chicken without pesticides. Make it your main choice for your 80 pound yearly consumption!

To fight cruel treatment of poultry:

• Forced Molting Ban. Forced molting is shocking hens for more eggs. To support petitions banning forced molting write: Docket Manage-ment Branch, FDA, Dept. Health & Human Serv-ices, 12420 Parklawn Drive, Room 1-23, Rock-ville, MD 20857. Include docket # 98P-0203/CP

• Downed Animal Protection Bill (House Bill 443, Senate Bill S515) spares some animals from the tortuous journey from chicken house to slaughterhouse. Mandates humane euthanization.

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Date: June 10, 2005 05:32 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Allergy Alleviation

Allergy Alleviation by Cal Orey , February 2, 2002

Allergy Alleviation By Cal Orey

Welcome to the stuffed up world of seasonal allergic rhinitis: the wheezing, sneezing "inhalant allergies" that torment 35 million Americans. Adding insult to sinus pain, other allergens attack year-round. Air pollution, dust mites (microscopic gremlins that infest bedding, upholstery and rugs) and animal dander trigger allergies-or other respiratory ailments-in any season. Urban air is full of rubber tire particles, a true blowout for those with latex sensitivity. Altogether, roughly 50 million Americans-about one in five-suffer from some form of allergy, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). Tired of cross-pollinating with plants or being bowled over by dust balls? Vitamins, herbs and other nutrients can help you nip allergy discomfort in the bud.

The Allergy Response

Your immune system triggers an allergic response when it overreacts to otherwise harmless substances or antigens (we're talking dust, pollen and mold).The alarmed immune system then launches a defensive chemical reaction, releasing potent chemicals (antibodies) supposed to destroy the "invaders." The antibodies, called IgE, carry the invading substances to special cells, which zap them with more biochemicals. Among these protective cells are mast cells: they release histamine, the substance that causes swelling and inflammation to the linings of the nose, sinuses and eyelids, resulting in sneezing, upper respiratory congestion and itchy, watery eyes.

Just Blame The Folks

Most allergies are determined by your genes. If your Mom or Dad sneeze and scratch, there's a good chance you will, too. "That is not to say that we directly inherit an allergy to any specific substance. Rather, it seems as if we might inherit some kind of immune system defect or weakness that leaves us more vulnerable to allergies," explain co-authors Glenn S. Rothfeld, MD, and Suzanne LeVert in their book Natural Medicine for Allergies: The Best Alternative Methods for Quick Relief (Rodale). For some people, allergies lurk in food, throwing the immune system into overdrive. "Many natural medicine practitioners believe that a diet high in animal fats will contribute to the development of allergy and asthma, as does a diet high in food additives, such as preservatives and dyes," says Gary McLain, PhD, in his book The Natural Way of Healing: Asthma and Allergies (Dell). Worse, allergies can up the risk of asthma, which afflicts 15 million Americans. Most people afflicted with asthma also suffer allergies: the two are linked, according to the AAAAI. Allergy triggers of asthma include pollen, mold spores and house dust mites. Remember Helen Hunt's asthmatic son in the movie As Good As It Gets? His character endured allergies to dust, and living in New York (and watching his mom date Jack Nicholson) didn't help his immune system. Coughs, ear infections, fevers and visits to hospital emergency rooms curtailed his social life (and limited his close-ups as well). That kind of routine happens in real life, too. (Well, maybe close encounters with Jack N. are not included for most.) But when we breathe substances such as molds, they can induce swelling and inflammation of the bronchial airways which narrow and restrict air flow. This, in turn, causes wheezing and shortness of breath and can trigger an asthma "attack," according to Andrew Engler, MD, who specializes in allergy and asthma in San Mateo, California.

The Nose Knows: Chemical Sensitivities

Imagine a picture-perfect, crisp, clear Saturday morning. You make a final stop on your weekly errand run to the dry cleaner, where you drop off your laundry and spend a moment chatting up the owner. Back in your car, your eyes tear and you feel a bit woozy. Kenneth Bock, MD, and Nellie Sabin, writing in The Road to Immunity: How To Survive and Thrive in a Toxic World (Pocket Books) sense that your reaction could be chemical sensitivity, a difficult to diagnose but, in their opinion, very real malady. (Of course, a clinician can test you for immune responses to certain chemicals.) Reactions to chemicals produce the typical allergic responses: puffy or red-rimmed eyes; swelling; aching or stiff joints and muscles; irritability or dizziness; respiratory inflammations; headaches and the like. Villains include aerosol sprays, tobacco smoke, glues, insecticides and herbicides, household chemicals and fragrances. Identification and avoidance are key, say the authors. Vitamin C, which binds with chemicals, is one of the best nutritional defenses.

Breathing Problems Expand

Americans now freely take lifesaving medicines such as antibiotics and insulin but, in some people, "they have the potential to alter the immune system, which is where allergies begin," says Dr. McLain. (Consult your pharmacist if you have questions about your prescription medication.) We, as a nation, are also eating more chemicals, from the pesticides drenched on plants to the preservatives poured on prepared foods. We're breathing polluted air, which can lead to or exacerbate asthma, and then we choke on Recycled air in sealed buildings. And while a century ago you were likely to have spent much of your time close to home, you can now hop on a supersonic plane and be taken to the other side of the globe within a matter of hours. With travel comes exposure to even more exotic allergens that can drive your immune system to distraction.

The All-Natural Gesundheit

Certain allergy-relief nutrients and herbs can help make life more bearable. Here's how they work: n Vitamin C for the lungs. According to experts, when vitamin C is low, asthma is high. Vitamin C carries the major antioxidant load in the airways and therefore contributes mightily to the health of the lungs. A study in the Annals of Allergy (73(1994):89-96) reported that in seven of 11 clinical trials since 1973, vitamin C supplementation provided "significant improvements" in respiratory function and asthma symptoms. n Vitamin E and carotene to suppress allergic reactions. These antioxidants may also help protect the respiratory tract from caustic pollutants. Vitamin E is reputed to be one of the most important nutrients for antioxidant protection in the lungs. In addition, these two substances decrease production of allergy-related compounds called leukotrienes. n Zinc for the immune system. Research shows that a deficiency in this trace mineral can weaken your immune system, setting you up as a target for allergies and infections. (Some vegetarians may not store sufficient amounts of this mineral and should take supplements.) Zinc comes to the body's rescue by taking part in the production of IgA, the gastrointestinal antibody that lines the digestive tract. "When IgA binds to an allergen, it keeps it from being absorbed into the bloodstream and thus from causing an allergic reaction," report Rothfeld and Levert. Also, zinc protects mucous membranes and helps convert beta carotene to vitamin A, another anti-allergy, immune-boosting nutrient. In a study of 100 participants at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, half took a zinc-based lozenge, while the other half received a dummy preparation. The participants taking zinc experienced a 42% reduction in the duration and severity of their common colds (Annals of Internal Medicine, 7/96). n Quercetin as an antihistamine. A valuable, anti-allergic flavonoid (plant coloring agent that is a powerful antioxidant), quercetin shines as a potent weapon against allergies and asthma. Believed to inhibit histamine release from mast cells and slow the production of other allergy-related compounds, it stabilizes mast cell membranes. Other flavonoid-rich extracts include grape seed, pine bark, green tea and Ginkgo biloba. n Additional helpful nutrients: Vitamin B-12, particularly to combat sensitivity to sulfites (The Nutrition Desk Reference [Keats]); selenium, an antioxidant that breaks down leukotrienes (Clinical Science 77, 1989: 495-500); and magnesium to relax bronchial tissues (Journal of the American Medical Association, 262 [1989]: 1210-3).

Herbal Remedies To The Rescue

n Nettles for hay fever relief. Research at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, showed that 40 of 69 folks suffering from hay fever found moderate to extreme relief from taking freeze-dried stinging nettles (Planta Medica, [1990] 44-47). "It is nontoxic, cheap and preferable to antihistamines, which I think are significantly toxic," reports Andrew Weil, MD, in his book Natural Health, Natural Medicine: A Comprehensive Manual for Wellness and Self-Care (Houghton Mifflin). n Cayenne to reduce inflammation. Cayenne, known as hot red pepper, is rich in capsaicin, a potent flavonoid "counter-irritant" that dilates and soothes inflamed nasal and bronchial tissues, according to experts. A bonus: Cayenne also contains a rich amount of antioxidant vitamin C, which can help enhance your immune system. n Echinacea for allergy prevention. This popular Native American herb provides cold and allergy protection, particularly when you take it before encountering allergens. Studies reveal that echinacea aids your body's tissues and protects you from germs and allergens. In fact, German studies have found it possesses valuable antiviral, antibacterial and immunity-boosting properties.

Make Your World Allergy-Free

For the most effective allergy relief, make sure you stay clear of allergens that wreak allergy havoc. Visit an allergy-savvy health practitioner and get tested to find out which substances rock your respiratory world. Plus, allergy experts recommend: n Banish dust mites: sweep out clutter and have your house power-vacuumed, if necessary; wash bedding and linens in very hot water. n De-pollinate your environment: flip on the air conditioner to sift out pollen (keep its filter and any forced air registers clean); exercise indoors; machine dry, rather than line dry, your clothes. n Buy a home air filter, especially if you experience dust, pollen or pet dander allergies. n Avoid allergy triggers that dog your days: cats and canines (or consider the hairless or shed-less breeds), mold and tobacco smoke. No matter what you do or actions you take, allergies may always remain an annoyance in your life. But attention to the foods you eat, the places where you exercise and the right combination of anti-allergy nutrients can limit your discomfort.

Leveling The Leukotrine Playing Field

On a microscopic level, a series of biochemicals implicated in allergic reactions are leukotrienes, substances that may constrict the bronchial tubes (breathing passages). In some people, consuming the food additive tartrazine can cause severe asthmatic breathing difficulties by boosting leukotrine release. In turn, this can interfere with the body's use of vitamin B-6. The process in which lack of B-6 or "errors" in how your body uses B-6 causes allergic reactions and is complex. According to Michael Murray, ND and Joseph Pizzorno, ND in the revised edition of the Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine (Prima), breathing problems may begin when the metabolism of tryptophan (an amino acid) goes awry: "Tryptophan is converted to serotonin, a compound that, among other things, can cause the airways of asthmatics to constrict...Vitamin B-6 is required for the proper metabolism of tryptophan." Accordingly, a study of vitamin B-6, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, shows that people with compromised breathing may possess less B-6 in their blood than others who breathe normally. When people with asthma were given B-6, their wheezing and asthmatic attacks dropped.

Fat Fix For Allergies

The fat in your diet or supplements can also influence your susceptibility to allergies and asthma linked to allergies. Epidemiologists have found that countries where children eat fish at least four times a month cut their risk of asthma by 67% compared to other parts of the world where they consume fewer fish. Research on omega-3 fatty acids, the kind of fat found in fish, flax and hemp oil, demonstrates that some of these substances can improve breathing. In particular, fatty acids called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can help open up bronchial tubes. Studies in the American Review of Respiratory Disease and the International Archives of Allergy and Applied Immunology show that breathing passageways may not react so negatively to the presence of allergens when you eat more fish or take supplements containing these types of fats. Many of the scientists who study the kinds of fats we eat believe that the increase in allergies and asthma in the US during the twentieth century may be due to both increasing air pollution (which irritates our lungs) plus a simultaneous increase in our consumption of what are called omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-6 oils are contained in most of the vegetable oils Americans eat, including sunflower and peanut oils. While experts believe that we would be better off consuming a diet containing about five times as many omega-6 fatty acids as omega-3s, today we eat about 40 times as much omega-6s. The chemistry of how these fats influence our allergy susceptibility is complex. It begins in our cell membranes which consist mostly of fat. When we consume omega-3 fatty acids, in our diet or in supplements, and these fats enter cell membranes, the change in structure cuts the availability of arachidonic acid, a fatty acid your body can make and which is found in meat, eggs and dairy products. Eventually, it is thought that this change in cellular metabolism and reduction in arachidonic acid forces the body to make less 4-series leukotrienes, substances which are quite prone to provoking allergic inflammation and, instead, produce 5-series leukotrienes, leukotrienes which don't cause nearly as much trouble. This process requires patience. According to Pizzorno and Murray. "It may take as long as one year before the benefits are apparent, as it appears to take time to turn over cellular membranes in favor of the omega-3 fatty acids."

Chinese Medicine Versus Allergies

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views allergies as an imbalance of the liver, says Jason Elias, co-author with Katherine Ketcham of The Five Elements of Self-Healing (Harmony Books). "The average American's (liver) deals with about fourteen pounds of chemicals a year. What would normally be a minor irritant becomes major because the liver can't process them anymore," explains Elias. Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has traditionally been used to fight allergies since this herb battles inflammation as evidenced by Japanese research and a study published in the journal Allergy. Much of this anti-allergy action is thought to proceed from licorice's interaction with a biochemical called cortisol, a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands. Cortisol (along with epinephrine, another adrenal hormone) relaxes the muscles controlling airways. By slowing the liver's breakdown of cortisol, licorice prolongs circulation of this hormone which, in turn, can help breathing passages stay clear. In addition, glycyrrhetinic acid, a compound in licorice, slows the body's manufacture of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, substances which exacerbate allergic inflammatory reactions. Ma Huang (Ephedra sinica) has been employed for thousands of years to aid breathing since chemicals in this plant widen breathing passages.

Homeopathic Remedies for Allergy

Homeopathic treatments consist of highly diluted substances designed to coax the body into healing itself. The effectiveness of homeopathy for hayfever has been demonstrated by research published in Lancet performed at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. There, scientists showed that homeopathically-prepared medicines produced statistically significant improvements in allergy sufferers. The appropriate homeopathic remedy for any illness depends on the personality type of the person suffering an allergy. These treatments are among those recommended by Dana Ullman: n Allium cepa: appropriate for burning nasal discharge that grows worse in warm rooms and improves outdoors. Relieves non-burning tearing from eyes, raw feeling in the nose with tingling sensation and violent sneezing. n Nux vomica: used when feeling irritable and chilled, with daytime fluent nasal discharge and night congestion that grows worse indoors. Also for those sensitive to cold and to being uncovered. n Pulsatilla: best for women and children with daytime nasal discharge and night congestion who are gentle, yielding, mild, impressionable and emotional. Used when congestion is worse in warm rooms, hot weather or while lying down.

Food Allergy Conundrum Food allergies can prove to be the toughest allergies to identify and eliminate. Jason Elias believes that people may develop food sensitivities from eating the same foods too often. "If someone has an allergy, I might say 'Let's get you off dairy for three weeks,'" he says, noting that some people have limited their hay fever problems by ceasing to consume dairy products. Many have also found relief by maintaining a food diary, keeping track of which foods are associated with allergy attacks and then eliminating those foods. So the next time you sneeze, don't just reach for your hanky, think back to the meal that you just ate. Your allergy problem may be sitting in your stomach as well as making you sneeze and stuffing your sinuses. Taking these kinds of anti-allergy preventive measures can provide life-enhancing relief that feels like a godsend. That lets you attain your healthy best.

This article included reporting by Judy Pokras.

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Date: June 02, 2005 10:12 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Full Spectrum Arjuna & Arjuna CardioComfort

Arjuna & Arjuna CardioComfort

Arjuna bark has been used in Ayurvedic herbalism for more than three centuries to support a healthy heart. Today, scientific research is confirming arjuna’s benefits and providing the knowledge that enables development of highly effective arjuna formulations. Planetary Formulas offers you two premier arjuna products, unsurpassed for dependability and efficacy. FULL SPECTRUM ARJUNA combines arjuna bark with arjuna bark extract, for a broad spectrum of beneficial constituents. ARJUNA CARDIOCOMFORT combines arjuna with additional botanicals renowned for supporting cardiovascular health. Both reflect Planetary Formulas’ commitment to herbalism at its best—uniting traditional herbal wisdom with the findings of modern clinical and pharmacological research.

FULL SPECTRUM™ ARJUNA

The arjuna tree (Terminalia arjuna) grows to heights of 60-90 feet throughout India. Its thick, white-to-pinkish gray bark has been used in traditional Ayurvedic herbalism for generations, primarily as a cardiac tonic. Arjuna has been found to help support heart health, to have antioxidant properties similar to vitamin E, and to help maintain cholesterol levels already in the normal range, according to preliminary clinical studies. It has also been found to help maintain healthy phospholipid and triglyceride levels, according to animal research. Arjuna may work by supporting healthy cardiac muscle function and pumping of the heart. These effects are associated with its saponin glycosides, while its flavonoids and oligomeric proanthocyanidins are associated with antioxidant activity and vascular support.

ARJUNA CARDIOCOMFORT™

This broad-range formula combines arjuna bark with additional botanicals, including salvia, hawthorn and guggul. Salvia is the most widely used herb in China for supporting healthy circulation. Hawthorn is the most widely used herb in North America and Europe for supporting a healthy heart. Research suggests that hawthorn increases coronary blood flow, displays antioxidant activity and supports normal heart contraction. Guggul is a traditional Ayurvedic botanical, shown in modern research to support cholesterol levels already in the normal range. Together these botanicals provide a comprehensive herbal approach for supporting a healthy heart.

CLINICALLY DERIVED FORMULAS

FULL SPECTRUM™ ARJUNA and ARJUNA CARDIOCOMFORT were developed by Planetary Formulas’ primary formulator, renowned herbalist and clinician, Michael Tierra, L.Ac., O.M.D., and are used on a daily basis in his clinical practice. This means your customers can be assured of obtaining the benefits they are seeking from an herbal product.

References
Bharani, A. et al. 1995. Int J Cardiol 49(3):191-9. Gupta, R. et al. 2001. J Assoc Physicians India 49:231-5. Munasinghe, T.C. et al. 2001. Phytother Res 15(6):519-23. Shaila, H.P. et al. 1998. Int J Cardiol 67(2):119-24. Printed on Recycled paper LC2087 *The above information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Adhering to the quality control requirements and codes of ethics of: American Herbal Products Association National Nutritional Foods Association

Developed exclusively for Planetary Formulas by world renowned herbalist, acupuncturist, and author Michael Tierra, L.Ac., O.M.D., who has more than 30 years of clinical experience.

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