Archive for Chief Research Geek

Vitamin K – Calcium’s New Sidekick

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I peaked around the corner, waiting for the signal through the darkness.  I tried to keep my breath steady, but my heart raced like I’d just outran the cops.  Or, maybe in anticipation of that being a possibility in the very near future. 

Two quick flashes of light pierced the night.  My signal. 

I darted across the lawn, stopping when I reached the back of the dark gray Camaro parked in the driveway near a white picket fence.  I crouched down beside the blonde who waited there for me – the giver of signals.  She held a finger up to her lips as a reminder to be as quiet and covert as possible, handed me one of the rolls of plastic wrap we’d purchased earlier that day, and motioned for me to move to the side of the car.  We commenced to wrap the entire Camaro in plastic food wrap, tires and all.  Four (very large) rolls of it to be precise.  I won’t get into why, but let’s just say sometimes the ex deserves a little inconvenience. 

I wouldn’t have been able to pull it off so quickly and stealthily without my trusty sidekick.  She was fundamental in the execution of the mission.  There’s no way I could have thrown those rolls of wrap to myself over the top of the car without making too much noise and ultimately finding myself giving an explanation of my actions to man in blue.  She’s my Watson.  Okay, that would make me Sherlock Holmes and that might be a bit of a stretch.  Maybe Lucy and Ethel is a more believable comparison.

The point is, I needed her.  I could have done it without her, but it wouldn’t have been as much fun (not that vandalism is fun boys and girls) and I wouldn’t have been as effective.  Just like any Main Character (MC) you know wouldn’t be anywhere near as effective without their sidekicks.  Because the sidekick plays an integral role and sometimes a role more essential than that of the MC.

Calcium and Vitamin K are much the same way.

First, let’s look at why we need Calcium.

Calcium is the key mineral found in our bones and teeth that, along with other nutrients, builds the hard structure that makes them strong.  Calcium is needed for proper muscle and nerve function, blood clotting, and other body functions.  Functions so vital that our bodies pull Calcium from our bones just to maintain normal blood Calcium levels if we don’t take in enough Calcium in our diets.  And since studies continually demonstrate that most of us don’t get enough Calcium in our diets, supplementing (along with exercising) is a key to reversing the risk of osteoporosis.

So, why does Calcium need Vitamin K?

K vitamins are quite unique. They are widely known for their blood clotting abilities.  However, Vitamin K2 as been extensively recognized as being most advantageous for the body to use Calcium in order to build healthy, strong bones and to reduce Calcium deposits in the arteries. 

You see, Vitamin K triggers certain proteins in the body (such as osteocalcin in the bones, Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) in the arteries and clotting factors in the liver) that are dependent on Vitamin K in order to bond Calcium to the surface of bones, deter Calcium deposits in arteries, and help clot blood.

So, essentially, a lack of Vitamin K (especially a lack of Vitamin K2 ) could result in what is known as the “Calcium Paradox” where too little Calcium isn’t good because it means weak bones  and too much Calcium will build up in the arteries making them stiff and inflexible, which obstructs blood flow to and from the heart.

Rag-Tag Research Geek Recommendation

So clearly, your bone strength depends on more than just Calcium.  It needs a little help from its sidekick, Vitamin K, to help your body move it, absorb it, get it to your bones, and get it out of your blood vessels so that you can have a healthier body and a healthier life.

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Omega 3’s: Key To The Fountain

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The explorers had the fresh, lush green forest encircling them on every side. The rays of the sun shined all the way through the thick treetops above and birds chirped in the distance, seemingly taking the adventurers down the overgrown trail. The front person was Sir Alexander Dewight, and he noticed an opening within the brush up ahead and told the other people to follow behind him. He carried a shotgun for defense with him inside one hand, and inside the opposite hand he held a map so worn out, the smallest amount of wind might make it rip apart. Dangers may be just around any bend, even though the forest looked so beautiful.

“From what I’m observing on the map,” he said, his deep Britain accent easily noticeable, “we ought to be over it.” He moved his head from one side to the next while searching for some kind of entrance to a hidden lair. “It must be around here someplace!”

“What if this entire thing is a ruse Sir Dewight? You know, for thousands of years people have been attempting to locate this place.” It was Henry’s voice unmistakably, the young trainee the university had forced Dewight to take along with him on the expedition.

His face became really serious and it lost all emotion. Dewight focused on Henry when he turned around, elevating his face so his hat’s brim was not covering his serious and darkish eyes.

“My dear boy, you can’t just assume that something doesn’t exist because it has never been found. Look at the researchers that created penicillin or the Wright Brothers when they provided us the gift of flight. It’s not that far from us. Make no mistake. I really feel it. Eventually you’ll start feeling it also and we can give the world everlasting life. The Fountain of Youth is true, Henry-,” as Dewight chatted, his eyeballs expanded wider and wider, “and you are sitting on it!”

Each day, a tiny amount of fear deep down within my soul expands louder and stronger. Every minute that goes by, we all know is a minute nearer to our very own ending. It is the incredible tragedy for being mortal. For years researchers have been looking for anything that will improve the quality of life as we know it and extend it as well. It’s a chance that they have discovered a huge piece of the puzzle.

The culprit is cellular aging. Omega-3’s have proven that they might be the solution. The University of Southern Australia’s researchers performed a study with 33 adults to discover what impacts omega-3’s had on the process. A group took the health supplement for 6 months, the other didn’t. Their results were certainly amazing, showing there might be a very significant relation between consuming omega-3’s and reducing the cellular aging procedure. 

Another HUGE sign that the good guys were omega 3’s, stems from an analysis executed by the Division of Cardiology based in San Francisco General Hospital, which tried to look at the association between heart disease and the fatty acids. Compared to the individuals who didn’t take omega 3’s over the next 5 years (once getting the disease) those who did take them were in a lot better shape. Even though the research workers acknowledge, they don’t yet completely understand the connection (they suspected omega-3’s slowed down a procedure referred to as telomeric aging) they really believed that fatty acid was affiliated with far better overall cardiovascular health.

Everybody wants their Fountain of Youth. We’re all worried on some degree of reaching the “end of the road.” But mother nature has a crazy way of giving us indicators (and the tools) to increase our life spans. Omega 3’s may be the water out of the fountain.

Rag-Tag Research Geek Recommendation

Krill Oil has been found to be one of the best sources of Omega-3 fatty acids. We recommend the anti-inflammatory powerhouse Black Label Krill Oil™ which contains 300mg of Omega-3.

Exercise and Depression

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Emily sat on the edge of the bed, twirling the pill bottle in her hand.  A half-empty bottle of whiskey sat on the nightstand.  As she listened to the sound of the pills rolling around, she thought about all the times she had spent hiding under the duvet on her bed, all the days she just couldn’t bring herself to eat anything, the feeling of being alone – even in a crowd or surrounded by friends.  She just didn’t feel like she could take it anymore.  She opened the bottle, poured the contents into her palm, and washed them down with what was left of the whiskey.  By chance, her friend, Ann, had stopped by that morning to check on Emily.  She found her curled up in her bed ranting and raving.  The empty pill bottle still in her hand.  Ann called an ambulance, and Emily spent two weeks in the hospital.  When she was released, she was sent home with yet another prescription for anti-depressants.  More pills.

 Even in her still fragile state of mind, Emily knew there had to be another answer.  A better way.  She started to research.  She looked for any other way to help her mental state that didn’t include putting herself in a position to take pills again.  What she found was somewhat of a very welcome surprise. 

Exercise.

Over the years, there have been studies suggesting that people who regularly participate in physical activity tend to be in a better mood and are less susceptible to depression or relapsing back into a depressive state.  Exercise is now recognized as a valuable tool for treating those who suffer from depression.

A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows the correlation between the two has been taken to the next level recently.  The findings connect moderate exercise with the prevention of depression in the long term and not just a treatment.  The study evaluated more than 26 years’ worth of research to determine that “even low levels of physical activity (walking and gardening for 20-30 minutes a day) can ward off depression in people of all age groups.” 

What’s happens is this: Exercise releases endorphins – chemicals that work with the receptors in your brain – to reduce your awareness of pain.  Endorphins also initiate a reaction similar to that of morphine.  Meaning, they diminish how much you feel pain.  However, endorphins don’t lend themselves to addiction like a prescription of pills does.

So just what benefits have these studies shown exercise to have?

  • Reduces stress levels
  • Wards off anxiety
  • Boosts self-esteem
  • Improves sleep patterns
  • Strengthens your heart
  • Increases energy levels
  • Lowers blood pressure

There aren’t any particular types of exercises that are proven to be better than others.  As long as the exercise is physically moderate, you’re good to go. And since a social support system is important for someone with depression, exercising with a group or in a class could be helpful.  Exercising with a friend or partner might also help by encouraging an emotional connection. 

So, how do you decide what type of exercise would work best for you?  Regardless of what you choose, most studies recommend 20-30 minutes of moderate activity at least three times a week.  Try choosing one that you are more likely to stick with.  Consider what activities you enjoy doing.  Think about what types of programs would fit your schedule.  Then get it on your calendar and get yourself back to being the person you want to be.  

From the Mouths of Babes

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Melissa sat on the couch, her grandson on her lap and her one-year-old granddaughter in a playpen next to them.  She was sipping on her favorite cup o’ joe when she noticed her four-year-old grandson sniffing around with his nose scrunched up.  He quickly gave reason for his facial expression.  “Nana, sissy pooped her pants.”  Melissa was certain that wasn’t the case, but checked just to satisfy her grandson and hopefully put an end to the sniffing.  She turned to tell him that sissy had indeed not pooped her pants when he pinched his fingers over his nose. “Yuck Nana!  Do you have poop in your mouth?”  Melissa was mortified but somehow relieved at the same time.  At least they weren’t in public and it had come from her grandson and not someone else.

It happens to us all at some point.  Bad breath.  Read more

Top 10 Realistic Reasons to Exercise

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I rolled over with every intention of throwing the alarm across the room, but my arms were too sore to extend across the span from my bed to the nightstand and grab it.  I did manage to use the weight of my hand to slap it into silence – at least for another ten minutes.   What was I thinking?  Scheduling a personal training session with Heidi the hottie, a 25-year-old aerobics instructor/personal trainer/swimsuit model, at 7 o’clock in the morning?  I was clearly losing it.  Okay, in my defense, when I scheduled my first week of sessions with Heidi I wasn’t in my right mind and I hadn’t experienced my first encounter with her.  It was a time when I was still capable of brushing my teeth without laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it.  I had actually kind of liked her – then.    

As I lay there, waiting for the alarm to request it’s second beating of the morning, I asked myself why I was doing this.  Why exactly was I putting myself through this torture?  Then it hit me.  I am not Heidi.  I’m not 25 anymore.  I actually have to work at keeping my health in check.  But if I was going to be honest with myself (and I usually am, even when I don’t want to be) I had to admit that I wasn’t doing this mainly for my health.  No.  There were more selfish, shallow reasons at the root of this self-inflicted torture.  Here is what I came up with.

 I exercise . . . Read more

Energy Fix- Nix the Caffeine

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I stood there, waiting patiently.  Okay, not so patiently.  But I was there and I was waiting.  I needed my caffeine fix.  It had been a very long day.  I hadn’t slept so great the night before and I was getting a little on the edgy side considering there were still three people ahead of me, one of which I was certain didn’t have a clue what a Peppermint Mocha was, much less the difference between espresso and cappuccino.  That’s right, I was judging people in the line at Starbucks.  Further proof, I needed my coffee!  Stat. Read more

How do you like them apples?

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Let’s get one thing straight.  I’m not a fan of clinical settings.  Dentists, hospitals, doctor’s offices.  Not a fan.  So, begrudgingly, I sat down in an empty chair to fill out my paperwork before my yearly checkup.  In the process, I plopped my purse down on the coffee table in front of me, right beside a bowl of apples.  I paused and stared at the fruit quizzically.  They couldn’t possibly be real apples…in a doctor’s office.  Could they?  I reached forward and picked one from the pile.  They were.  I laughed, louder than I realized apparently because the receptionist spoke up. Read more

Zinc – One of Nature’s Tools To Help Us Be Happy?

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“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life” – John Lennon

You always hear about how important Zinc is. Its the engine behind so many different things our bodies do on a daily basis to keep us functioning and healthy. But some new and reexamined research is suggesting that Zinc may be helping to put a smile on our face.  Read more

Meat-Heavy Diets Can Rob You of Your Calcium

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A new study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin shows that high-protein diets can rob your body of calcium, even if you get plenty in your system. In fact, the study further shows that vegetables are a better source of calcium than cow milk because it doesn’t have the same protein that would absorb the calcium that your bones should be getting.

The report specifically focused on the differences in bone density in vegetarians and omnivores and found, perhaps surprisingly, a higher bone density among the vegetarians. Dr. Neil Nedley claims this is further scientific evidence that shows a higher risk of osteoperosis and loss of bone density among people with high meat diets. Past studies have also shown that people who consume too much protein were likely to have the excess protein “leeching” calcium from the bones despite meeting the daily minimum calcium intake.

There are multiple other reasons that meat-heavy diets can lead to weaker bones. Calcium is required to simply neutralize the acids found in meat. Sulfur, which is found in high concentrations in meat, also prevents your body from properly absorbing calcium. High fat content which is found in meat also combines with calcium and is eliminated from the body rather than absorbing the calcium alone.

Researchers cited vegetables as a healthier source of dietary calcium than any animal product. Among the top protein sources are soybeans, greens, lentils, kale, turnip greens, hazelnuts, figs, and leafy greens that also have other beneficial properties like helping you prevent cancer. It is also important for meat eaters to consider adding a calcium daily supplement to your diet to increase your calcium levels and prevent your proteins from making you calcium-deficient.

Weight Lifting Linked to Alzheimer’s Prevention

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It turns out weight lifting is not just great for your muscles, bones, and joints – it’s great for your brain too.

Several new studies show that weight lifting is not just a great way to keep your heart and body healthy, it’s also an important step in preventing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Read more