Chlorella : King of chlorophyll & First Class Detox Agent

I'm not sure how many of you would have known about Chlorella. None of my clients or friends and colleagues heard about chorella, not to mention its' benefits. Today, I will reveal one of the most powerful detoxification agent available to us, to the most toxic living species on the planet earth, Homo Sapiens. Yes, I'm referring to you, me, and all of us breathing every single breath, every single second, while we are still alive.

Just recently, I've recommended most of my clients to add this whole food into their nutrition and diet, but I'm hoping most of them will notice good result after couple of months consuming it. What is chorella anyway? Some of you might have came across this name in 'supplements' in pharmacies or organic outlets, but allow me to share with you some of its' benefits which I believe is very powerful and important. 

Chlorella, is actually a single-celled, water grown algae that consists primarily of a nucleus and a large amount of directly available chlorophyll, a nutrient vital to the health of our bodies. Chlorella, is a whole food, as it is extremely rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, polysaccharides, and a host of other beneficial compounds. Chlorella supports the function of the brain and liver, improves digestion and elimination, helps regenerates the body, detoxifies the body, protects against radiation, relieves inflammation, supports healthy weight loss, enhances the immune system and also accelerates the healing process.

Chlorella get its name from the rich quantity of chlorophyll it possesses. It contains more chlorophyll per gram than any other plant. Chlorophyll is one of the greatest food substances for rejuvenating the blood and cleansing the bowels and other elimination systems such as the liver. Green microalgae are the highest sources of chlorophyll in the plant world. Chlorella has the highest often ranging from 3-5% pure natural chlorophyll.

Detoxification! How many of you done detox in your lifetime? Once a year? One in every 5 years? Once in 30 years? Never??? I've met tons of people who never ever did any form of detox in his or her life before! Shocking! And the person expects to be healthy and disease free? Seriously guys, we are living in a contaminated filthy toxic world. A toxic environment, which we humans, polluted and poisoned ourselves till this very day. 

Chlorella, is considered to be first class detoxifying agent, capable of removing alcohol from the liver or clearing heavy metals, certain pesticides, herbicides and PCBs from the body's tissues. In Japan, interest in chlorella has focused largely on this superfood's ability to remove or neutralize poisonous substances from the body that have accumulated due to environmental pollution and the ingestion of contaminated foods. Go research on Japan's Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear catastrophes in 1945, studies shown that 8g daily of chorella increased the elimination of cadmium, threefold in feces and sevenfold in urine. That is one really powerful chelator and detoxifying ability from this superfood. It is also shown in other studies which helped detoxify lead and uranium as well.

There are other research projects in USA and Europe, which also indicate that chlorella can aid the body in breaking down persistent hydrocarbon and metallic toxins, specifically mercury, cadmium, arsenic, lead DDT and PCBs. Bear in mind, chlorophyll supports the optimum functioning and cleasing of the liver, which is the organ chiefly responsible for the general daily detoxification of the body. Eating too much junk and toxic foods? Your liver is screaming at you, "Stop eating all these shitty foods!". 

For alcohol lovers, check this out. Well, I'm not too sure if I should even reveal this to you, as some of you might use this shitty excuse to continue intoxicating yourself with more booze and liquor. Taking 4-6g of chlorella before consuming alcohol can prevent hangovers 96% of the time, even after a night out of heavy drinking. Sounds awesome? Well, I know what you guys are thinking right now! 

Chlorella can also absorb toxins from the intestines, and combined with its ability to favorably alter the bacterial flora content of the bowels, is able to help relieve chronic constipation and eliminate intestinal gas. This detoxification of heavy metals and other chemical toxins in the blood will take around 3-6 months, depending how much chorella a person is taking, and also how toxic the host body is.

What else this superfood can do and supports our body? Research and studies have shown that chlorella accelerates the recovery of developing immune system cells and restores the population of mature white blood cells. As we understand, white blood cells originate in the bone marrow as stem cells. Studies have also shown that chorella can increase the resistance to viral infections and enhance the ability to kill bacteria. For example, superoxide is a powerful weapon that white blood cell use to 'blast away' bacteria. Given the same number of immune cells, the level of superoxide generated was one and half times higher in mice receiving chlorella extract, thus enchancing the 'killing ability' of those cells.

Another amazinfg property of chlorella called 'Chlorella Growth Factor", which has baffled scientists throughout the world. Chlorella quadruples itself every twenty hours, growing faster then any food crop known to man. Bear in mind, when chlorella is ingested by the human body, it dramatically increases the rate of rebuilding and healing in tissues, multiply the growth rate of the lactobacillus (beneficial bacteria) in the bowel, boosts the immune system, and fights free radical damage. Also, chlorella helps rebuild nerve tissue damage throughout the body and is excellent for treating degenerative brain and nerve disorders. This superfood is used to treat patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

What else? Any of you knows what's RNA? Who loves eating sardines? Well, there is one benefit of consuming sardines where it is rich in longevity-enhancing RNA. But guess what, research from Japan has shown that chlorella pryenoidosa is the highest known food source of RNA.It has 20 times more RNA than sardines do, as chlorella is 10% RNA. There are also other foods rich in RNA such as bee pollen and royal jelly.

Finally, chlorella also contains digestive enzymes chlorophyllase and pepsin, which perform a number of important functions in the body, especially relating to digestion. Containing about 60% pure digestible protein, chlorella is one of the highest protein sources on the planet, far exceeding that of animal products like beef, chicken and fish, which is around 18-35% protein. As chlorella is a whole food, it contains vitamins C and E, all of the B vitamins, amino acids, folic acid, beta carotene, lysine and iodine. It is also very rich in iron and calcium.

Now, you must be asking, how do I consume chlorella and which products to search and buy? Well, as I'm not being paid to give any reviews, my answer would be simple. Don't focus on the brand of the product, instead, look out for 100% raw chlorella powder without any chemicals, preservatives added. For detox program or incorporating this superfood to your daily diet, drop me a comment, I will explain to you on how to use it based on your individual requirement and detox plan.

Endurance exercise linked to heart damage : More proof?

As I was reading the March issue of IDEA fitness journal, I came across another research about endurance exercise linked to heart damage risk. Of course, this is not the 1st study or research which shows that endurance exercise or training is closely linked to increase risk of damaging the heart, thus, heart failure at one point.

I've told many of my friends and colleagues about endurance types of exercises, sports or training, could lead to scarring of the heart muscles, in other words, fibrosis. Recently, couple of world class soccer players suffered heart attack @ cardiac arrest during the game on the pitch. One is fortunate enough to see the light again, but the other Italian player, was not so lucky and died. I'm sure many people would have asked, "Aren't soccer players fit and healthy?" Well, being fit probably yes, but healthy in sense of heart health? I'm not too sure about that depending on the training intensity and frequency as well as other factors which may contribute to the 'ticking timebomb'. 

I remembered talking to a trainer, who is C.S.C.S, about almost half year ago. I asked him, "Why do we see many cases of marathon runners suffered heart attack?" He said, "It's random case, most likely the athelete has underlying heart condition". Well, most personal trainers studied cardiovascular system and fitness, how endurance exercise or training affect the cardiovascular system, range of heart rate levels, how capilarries grow overtime and improved V02MAX after a consistent chronic period of endurance exercises or training. But, the question is, most certified personal trainers have insufficient knowledge and understanding of how endocrine system would affect the autonomic nervous system and the heart, particularly glucocorticoids hormones. Of course, I'm talking about chronic endurance physical stress impacting the hormonal pathway of an individual. Training 10-20km run regularly, participating in trialthon competitions dozen of times yearly, long distance cycling, etc. It doesn't matter what type of training or movement or sports, as long as chronic endurance long duration physical stress, glucocorticoids hormones are pouring out like there is no tomorrow, apart from muscle wasting, the levels of blood clotting factors are elevated (such as fibrinogen) and causing heart muscle scarring and imbalance heart ventricle muscles.

Most people are gearing up to train for marathons and long distance cycling, but do they actually know the affects of the heart and overall health? How many would listen and do their own research? Anyway, let's cut to the chase, and I will share with you and to those who is into endurance exercises or training, below is the latest researches from Australia and Belgium extracted from European Heart Journal 2011. Meanwhile, I also attach an article by European Society of Cardiology which mentioned the problems associated with atrial fibrillation for endurance athletes. A study conducted by Dr Luis Mont from the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Spain.

By Ryan Halvorson

"Several reports have emerged over the past few years linking endurance exercise with heart problems. Most recently, researchers from Australia and Belgium studied 40 trained athletes who were to participate in one of four events. Endurance trialthon, alpine cycling, an ultra trialthon or marathon. The athletes presented with no known heart problems. The researches obtained magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from each athlete 2-3 weeks before the race, 1 hour postrace, and 6-11 days postrace. 

When examining the results, the researchers noted that 1 hour after the race, the athletes right ventricles had changed shape, volume had increased and function had decreased. Fortunately, in most of the subjects heart shape and functions returned to prerace condition after a week. However, the five athletes with the most experience in endurance racing presented with more permanent scarring.

Intense endurance exercise causes acute dsyfunction of the right ventricle, but not the left ventricle. Although short term recovery appears complete, chronic structural changes and reduced right ventricle function are evident in some of the most practiced athletes, the long term clinical significance of which warrants further study."

                                       ----------------------------------------------------

"Three papers presented at this congress by Dr Mont's group reflect the research effort now being directed towards sports cardiology and the prevention and treatment of rhythm disorders.

1.Efficacy of the circumferential pulmonary vein ablation of atrial fibrillation in endurance athletes. CPVA is a recently introduced technique which identifies the signals causing the atrial fibrillation and isolates their source in the pulmonary veins from the left ventricle of the heart. The technique has been successfully used in routine patients with atrial fibrillation and, according to new data presented here in Berlin, is now as effective in AF secondary to endurance sports as in other causes. A series of 182 patients in Dr Mont's Barcelona clinic found that freedom of arrhythmias following CPVA was similar in the sports participants as in the regular patients. Left atrial size and long-standing atrial fibrillation were the only independent predictors for arrhythmia recurrence after the treatment, not sports participation.

2.Deconditioning reverses expression of cardiac fibrosis markers in an animal model of endurance training. A more basic science study from Dr Mont's group in Barcelona also suggests that those with a history of arrhythmias following endurance training may benefit from a period of "deconditioning" following their efforts. The suggestion follows a study in animal models which found that markers of cardiac fibrosis in rats whose treadmill exercise was followed by a period of inactivity returned to control levels. Endurance exercise causes cardiac structural changes, including atrial and right ventricular fibrosis - and this fibrosis may play a role in the development of arrhythmias. Although it has been noted that the athlete's heart regresses after inactivity it is not known if the sport-induced atrial and right ventricular fibrosis also reverses after deconditioning. This study suggests that it does and that a period of inactivity might be of benefit in those with a history of fibrillation.

3.Losartan attenuates heart fibrosis induced by chronic endurance training in an animal model. Just as inactivity after training may inhibit cardiac fibrosis in animal models, a similar study suggests that the anti-hypertensive drug losartan prevents the heart fibrosis induced by endurance exercise. The anti-fibrotic effect of losartan, an angiotensin type-II receptor antagonist, appears to be mediated suppression of angiotensin II-induced proliferation of fibroblasts. Again, markers of fibrosis were reduced by administration of losartan."

-European Heart Journal (2011; doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehr397) 

-European Society of Cardiology, The European Heart House 2035 Route des Colles, B.P. 179 - Les Templiers, Sophia Antipolis F-06903 France

 

Colon Hydrotherapy : Round 2

Just recently, I tried colon hydrotherapy detox in one of the so called 'health and beauty centres' in Kuala Lumpur area. The shop is located in Bangsar, but I will not revealed the name of the shop, as I'm not paid to review and advertise for them. Anyhow, below is my rating and opinion for this health and beauty centre located in Bangsar.

Before I step into this outlet, I thought it appears to be a genuine detox clinic. I did not research about this place previously, but I'm definitely ready for this detox session. When entered the outlet, first thing that hit me, it smells and looks like a beauty centre, then a detox clinic. Next, the lady served me a 'drink', to be precise, a barley boiled drink. GLUTEN! Of course I didn't drink, and I was lead to another room, the colon hydrotherapy room itself. 

I was given instructions on how to prepare myself for the detox procedure, you have to prepare and insert the rectal tube by yourself into your rectum and press the 'green' button and the lady will come in and start the  machine for you. Usual mild discomfort during the whole 30 minutes session, tons of purging and noticeable fecal matter been released and I'm done! The lady told me to wash up and meet me outside her 'office'.

I know she is trying to get me to sign a package (RM1500 for 5 sessions), but I said no, and I have to think about it before making any decision. A so called 'meal replacement beverage' is on the table and she told me to drink it. Guess what. SOY based beverage!! I told her I don't consume soy based foods and drink. She looked confused and clueless. 

In conclusion, I think that the colon hydrotherapy machine in this shop is not bad and acceptable. But, the colon hydrotherapist lady is obviously lack of knowledge about detoxification and toxicity. Perhaps they should change the welcome drink to a different healthier beverage, and the post detox meal replacement drink should not be soy based. Whoever has yet to perform colonic irrigation or colon hydrotherapy before, it is very important to gut and colon health, one of the highly recommended detox program by myself and most detox and health experts. It may not be the best feeling ever during the session, but certainly a great detox for your gut, colon and overall health.Try it out, you will appreciate it, and detoxification is one of the vital pillars of health. 

Mercury: (Part 6)

Lately, someone whom I know, his loved one passed away, suffered from a neurological disease. I was thinking to myself, when I heard the news, I felt down, sad and re-analyze why more and more people is suffering from neurological disorders. Industrialized countries with such advanced technology, with such a low success rates in health and medical treatment? It doesn't make sense. But, with megabucks of $$$ and political power come into picture, hell yes, it does make a whole lot of sense.

Today, I will discuss the connection between neurological diseases/disorders with mercury toxicity. I will not list all neurological diseases, but disorders such as Alzheimer, ALS, and Parkinson will be discussed in this post. Please bear with me, as this will be the last post for mercury topic, but a very important discussion.

The connection between exposure to mercury in its various forms and degenerative diseases of the nervous system is fairly strong. Many of the symptoms of chronic low level mercury exposure closely resemble the neurobehavioral symptoms seen in many neurodegenerative diseases. For example, the asthetic-vegetative syndrome caused by low levels of mercury, is characterized by decreased productivity, loss of memory, loss of self-confidence, depression, fatigue, irritability and many of which  symptoms are also present in the dementias. Also, the studies done on dentists exposed to mercury vapor demonstrated impaired memory recall.

Now, let's talk abit about ALS. Anyone heard about this health condition? It is known as Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis. In ALS, the motor neuron cells in the spinal cord and motor neuron cells of the brain stem are primarily affected. The mystery has always been why these cells are singled out in this disease and why the disease suddenly appears later in life after so many years of normal function. The answer is environmental toxin, or even a combination of toxins.

Human studies of mercury's relation to ALS have not made the same strong connection. For example, a study which examined 33 ALS patients using provocative testing with mercury chelator DMSA, researchers found no difference between ALS patients and controls in either lead or mercury excretion. The nervous system holds on to mercury much tighter than other tissues and organs, and there is some question as to the ability of even chelation drugs, such as DMSA, to remove mercury from the nervous system.

As for typical ALS patients, they had mercury levels two times higher in their kidneys and 17% higher in their liver as well. Bear in mind, mercury also damaes cellular DNA and RNA, two factors founds in ALS. Progressive disruption of the cell's homeostatic mechanisms would necessarily lead to eventually cell death. The connection of mercury poisoning and excitotoxicity is largely linked together.

Next, let's talk abit about Alzheimer's Disease. Most of the people heard about this health condition, but how many people are aware of the causes of this neurological disorder? Autopsy studies of Alzheimer's patients have consistently demonstrated elevated mercury levels in the affected areas of the brain. Likewise, there is a direct correlation between brain levels of mercury and the number of amalgam fillings. To better understand the relationship between mercury toxicity and degenerative diseases of the brain, it is necessary to examine the cellular events that occur with these disorders and relate them to the mechanism of toxicity of mercury.

Anyone heard of Hippocrates? He describes dementias over 2400 years ago in an historical text. Alzheimer's Disease, was discovered by a pathologist named Alois Alzheimer back in 1907. Back then, he discovered that brain changes which associated with dementias (before age 65) are referred to as presenile dementia. But since the first studies of Alzheimer's disease, it was come to realized that both are actually the same disease.

When neuropathologists examine the brains of those dying of Alzherimer's disease, they see numerous darkly staining microscopic bodies referred to as plaques, particularly senile plaques, scattered throughout  the affected parts of the brain.Another microscpic particle, called a neurofibrillary tangle, is of more interest, because its presence does correlate with the severity of the disease. Although sort of twisted around one another like DNA, these bodies are actually failed attempts to make neurotubules, unique structures that make up a vital part of neurons and are concerned with cellular communication and neurochemical transfer.

The process whereby neurotubules are constructed involves some rather complicated brain chemistry. These structures depends on the addition of just the right amount of phosphate units, a process called phosphorylation. In Alzheimer's disease, it is found that excessive phosphorylation is produced. Several other factors can also interfere with the healthy construction of neurotubules, including certain free radicals and lipid peroxidation products, immune complexes, cytokines, excitotoxins and certain toxic metals such as mercury and aluminum.

Studies have shown that blood levels of mercury in Alzheimer's disease patients compared to patients with major depression and to normal people who were used as controls. Blood mercury was found to be two times higher in the Alzheimer patients than in both sets of controls. Mercury levels were three times higher in those with early onset Alzheimer's dementia than in controls.

In addition, eveidence also shown that mercury also alters the cell membrane, significantly interfering with its fucntion. Not only must the membrane regulate fuel and oxygen entry, it also controls numerous neurohormones, information molecules, peptides, neurotransmitters,ion traffic regulation and bio electric functions too. The form of mercury appears to make a lot of difference in terms of the effect of the cell. For example, phenylmercury, the form used in vaccines, is more lipid soluble then either methylmercury or inorganic mercury, making its entry to the brain easier.

Also, phenylmercury is more likely to be stored in subcutaneous and abdominal fat stores, which can be suddenly released with drastic weight loss, thereby redistributing the mercury to the nervous system. This may be especially important in the long term health of people with yo yo diet. Thought of losing 20kg in 30 days period? Not a good idea folks.

The bottom line is that all forms of mercury can significantly disrupt the excitability of the neuron membrane and synaptic information tranmission in the hippocampus of the brain, which not only controls the memory process but also integrates other higher cerebral functions such as fear, love, empathy, logic, and sensory comprehension into meaningful forms.

Because mercury interacts with so many enzymes, it can also disrupt the ability of the mitochondria to produce energy. When a neuron loses its ability to generate adequate energy, it becomes significantly more sensitive to excitotoxic injury and death. Another mitochondrial effect is also gaining attention, the ability of mercury to disrupt the normal regulation of calcium in the neuron. Bear in mind, one of the central features of the excitotoxic mechanism is the elevation of the cellular calcium, which in turn triggers a whole series of destructive processes.

Mitochondria are normally quite efficient in removing excess calcium, but this protective system fails when mercury is present. Keep in mind that because of mercury's almost universal toxicity, several destructive processes occur simultaneously. What happen is, glutamate accumulates outside the neuron as its normal carrier is poisoned. This causes more calcium to enter the cell. Then, mercury interferes with the intracellular calcium regulation sytem, thereby magnifying the excitotoxic effect. Cellular energy is reduced, leading to increased free radical formation and increased sensitivity to excitotoxicity. Mercury also alters the cell membrane, effecting neuron excitability. What happen next? Destructive processes are then triggered, resulting in the death of numerous neurons.

Now, it has been known that inflammation of the brain plays a major role in the development of Alzheimer's but what causes the inflammation? Several possibilities exist, such as chronic viral infections, genetically controlled autoimmunity triggerred by  environmental agents, and elevated free radical generation. Mercury can also trigger antobodies to neural proteins, resulting in a state of chronic inflammation, just as in all other autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Excitotoxicity is the common element that eventually induces the disease.

Once inflammation occurs. special immune cells, called micorglia, are activated and dispersed throughout the brain. Studies have found that mercury tends to accumulate in high concentrations in microglia for long periods of time, even after a single exposure. Defenders of the safety of dental amalgam will counter that this studies were done with methylmercury, and the consumption of fish is the major source of this form of mercury. Remember, methylmercury is also produced from the mercury vapor released from dental amalgams.

Once microglia are activated, especially chronically, they begin to pour out special chemicals called cytokines, which regulate the immune process. In addition, they invoke a powerful inflammatory process that triggers excitotoxicity and its associated generation of large numbers of free radicals. Because the inflammatory process is prolonged, we begin to see all the changes charateristic of Alzheimer's disease. The process also damages the energy production system and increases free-radical production. All of these events can be triggered by low levels of mercury, as well as other toxic metals, such as aluminum.

I know some of you must be asking, if all this is true, then why doesn't everyone eventually develip a degenerative brain disease? In fact, the incidence of all these diseases is increasing significantly, and they are appearing at an earlier average age. But, there are many factors when examining the effects of a toxin on individuals in a population.

Sensitivity to a toxin depends on the host's resistance to the substamce, some people will be very sensitive and others quite resistant to the same quantities of a toxin. Bear in mind, anything that increases free- radical generation will reduce the antioxidant network's efficiency and greatly magnify the toxic effect of mercury or any other toxin.

Most diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, strokes, head injuries, infections, and even aging itself, do just that. Vigorous exercises such as IRONMAN contests and marathons, also greatly increases free radical damage to all tissues of the body and increases the likelihood of heavy metal toxicity.

People with long period of poor nutrition are at much higher risk than the well nourished for developing a neurodegenrative disease following mercury exposure. Nutrition, plays a huge role in protecting the brain from injury, including mercury toxicity. Selenium, alpha lipoic acid, magnesium, zinc, and also antioxidant flavonoids as well as vitamins all help protects us from mercury toxicity.

Next, let's discuss abit about Parkinson disease. Well, Like Alzheimer's and ALS, Parkinson disease is associated with free radical and lipid peroxidation damage to a very restricted part of the brain called substantia nigra and its connection. Like the others, excitotoxicity appears to play a central role in the disease process itself.

Those destined to get Parkinson's disease seem to possess an inherited weakness in their ability to detoxify toxins, both those formed within the body during metabolism and those ingested or inhaled. In a study, researcher's looked at environmental factors such as pesticide exposure, well water drinking, and heavy metal, and solvent, possibly related to Parkinson's disease. They discovered a very strong correlation with pesticide exposure, a finding that has been confirmed repeatedly in other studies. Interestingly, they also found that patients with Parkinson's disease had a significantly higher number of dental amalgam fillings.

Question. Why one person would develop Parkinson's disease and another ALS may depend on a multitude of factors such as associated toxins, nutritional factors, associated viral injuries, genetic sensitivities, biochemical differences, etc.

Mercury, is extremely toxic to numerous organs, tissues, and cells, but especially to the brain. Like lead, the medically acceptable definition for mercury toxicity is constantly being revised by health authorities. Levels that we considered safe ten years ago, are now known to be quite toxic.

In the past, toxicity determinations were based on evaluations of obvious effects. Mercury levels high enough to cause obvious confusion, dementia, or a loss of sensation in the limbs were used to determine safe levels, any level below that needed to cause these effects was considered safe.

Finally, the million dollar question. How can I protect myself? What can I do? Well, first of all, you should limit your exposure as much as possible, avoid amalgam fillings, say no to vaccinations that contains mercury, avoid seafoods or fishes high in mercury, unless your gut flora is optimum health. But I guess you wouldn't have any idea how to know if your gut flora is healthy and balanced right? Lastly, do not stay near a coal burning facility. If you have mercury fillings, and are not pregnant or nursing, you should have them removed by a trained dentist, and not commercial dentist. In other words, look for a knowlegable hollistic dentist who knows about safe removal of amalgam. Ask first, before agree on the removal procedure. The fillings cannot just be removed by any dentist, rather a psecial protocol must be followed by a dentist with the proper equipment and training, and by a nutritionist or physician, trained in proper mercury removal techniques.

As for vaccinations, parents should insist that their children only receive vaccines without thimerosal. Even though I do not recommed any vaccination for children or infants, they least parents can do, is to ensure it is free of this toxic metal. It is also not recommended to keep mercury thermometers around the house, an accidental breakage may cause havoc.

Increased risk of mercury poisoning is associated with several occupations and hobbies. Dentists and people who work in manufacturing of dental amalgam, barometers and thermometers are at increased risks. Also, certain disinfectants contain mercury. Pesticide workers, those who work with wood preservatives, fireworks and explosives, photographers, jewelers, chlorine workers, fur processors, and farmers, all are at risk.

If you have already been exposed to mercury and have elevated tissue levels, special steps must be taken to reduce the toxicity. Even before removal, you must begin taking supplements known to reduce toxicity and improve tissue removal. Before I sign off, I hereby present to you the supplements which are very important in chelation of mercury, and protecting the host from toxicity.

- Selenium

- Alpha Lipoic Acid

- Vitamin E

- NAC

- Vitamins

  Vitamin C, Thiamine, B Vitamins

- Minerals

  Zine, magnesium, manganese

- Flavonoids

  Curcumin, Quercetin

Mercury: (Part 5)

Today, I will reveal and discuss some of the details about how mercury affect childhood and adults. Before we dive into that discussion, I would like to share some of the information which raise a few doubts whether mercury could possibly enter mother's breast milk. I'm sure some of you mum-to-be females who ask yourself this question before, especially the ones who really concern about your breastfeeding infant.

Let's look at one study conducted in Sweden, where mercury levels were examined in Swedish women on a diet high in seafood known to have high mercury content. In this study, it is found that breast milk mercury levels were 20-30% higher than the mother's blood mercury levels. A second part of the study found that inorganic mercury from dental filings existed in the milk in concentrations 40-80% higher than in the mother's blood. What does this tells you? This means that mercury amalgams fillings pose a greater danger then mercury from seafood to the developing child. Total mercury levels correlated with the number of amalgam fillings in the Swedish women, that is the greater the number of fillings, the higher the mercury level, both in mother and in her breast milk.

From the available literature, it is obvious that the major source of mercury in breast milk is from dental amalgams in the mother. Based on this research, it is recommended that young women should avoid having dental amalgam fillings placed before and during pregnancy, and they should avoid having them removed during pregnancy,which will cause sudden elevation in blood and tissue mercury.

What is even more frightening, is mercury levels in the newborn babies were significantly higher when their mothers had dental treatments. babies are significantly more sensitive to mercury toxicity then their mothers. Because the placenta concentrates mercury as it passes into the baby's blood stream, exposure during pregnancy causes significantly higher levels in the baby's blood than in the mother's.

There is abundance of evidence that poor nutrition during the period of brain development can lead to a loss of DNA, reduction in supportive braincells and impaired dendrite formation. The developing brain is more vulnerable than the mature brain to a multitude of toxic insults, including exposure to heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury. Remember, the brain undergoes its most rapid growth during the third trisemester of development and this continues until two years after birth. By four years of age the brain has reached only 80% of its full growth. Many complex processes occur during this critical period. Trillions of synaptic junctions are interconnecting and neural pathways are probing their way to their final destinations.

How about vaccinations? Well, especially in newborns, are another major source of childhood mercury exposure because of the mercury containing thimerosal preservative. Compared to my younger years in childhood (about 30 years ago) and present day, the total amount of vaccinations for childhood and infants are much higher. Cases of autism among kids has never been so high in history of mankind.

Effects of exposure can vary from subtle to major malformations but even minor degrees of maldevelopment can have unacceptable consequences. For instance, a low concentration of mercury has resulted in minor miswiring of your chilkd's brain. Outwardly, the child may seem perfectly normal. This impairment will limit his ability to advance in a very competitive world.

Now, let's discuss about how mercury can affect adults. While young women of child bearing age have been warned not to have dental amalgam fillings because of the effects on the developing baby, there are also evidence that exposure to mercury can reduce fertility itself. In a German study of women who had repeated miscarriages, a direct correlation was found between the load of mercury in the tissues and the number of miscarriages. In this study, 111 women with repeated miscarriages were examined for heavy metal toxicity as well as detailed hormone and immunological  studies. From the findings, it was known that mercury alters the mother's immunity to such an extent that it inteferes with normal immunological tolerance seen during a normal pregnancy. When a woman becomes pregnant, the baby exists within her as if it were part of her own tissues. The mother's immune system is thus altered to prevent her body from automatically rejecting this new entity. This condition is known as immunological tolerance, and mercury appears to significantly alter this process.

Mercury effects on the endocrine system can be significant, especially in cases of chronic exposure. The study which I mentioned, also found that women experiencing primary miscarriages had lower progesterone levels, and higher mercury levels. Studies also shown that mercury directly inhibits progesterone production in the ovary's granulosa cells, and has a profound effect on estradiol as well.

Pregant women with numerous dental amalgam fillings should protect themselves and their babies by taking supplemental antioxidants, especially selenium and alpha lipoic acid. They should also avoid taking megadoses of vitamins to avoid possible toxic effects to the baby. I would say 100 ug of selenium and 25 mg of alpha lipoic acid a day would be an ideal consumption. Adding vitamin E and magnesium would be an added avdantage.

The internal damage caused by mercury exposure is not limited to the nervous system. The immune system can also suffer severe injury. Like the nervous system, the immune system is highly complex and involves many elements, including cellular components, cytokines, special hormones, and antibodies. It is also important to remember that the immune and nervous systems are intimately connected, both directly and indirectly, a connection that is especially important during development.

Low levels of mercury have several significant effects on the immune system. Studies have shown that workers exposed to mercury vapor, the majority with levels below the accepted toxicity limit, demonstrated increased levels of several humoral immune parameters, such as IgG, IgA and IgM. The study found that mercury levels considered to be safe could stimulate jumoral immunity, that is antibodies.

So why is humoral immunity important? Because elevated humoral immunity coupled with T-cell malfunction leads to autoimmunity, a condition where the immune system inadvertently attacks various tissues of the body. There are numerous autoimmune disorders, including hashimoto thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, MS, etc. There is growing evidence that many autoimmune disease do not develop until some environmental trigger activates the process. Another trigger for several autoimmune disorders are related to exposure to low levels of mercury. The amount of mercury released as a vapor from dental amalgam fillings and dissolved into the saliva may be sufficient to trigger a disorder.

The interaction between the immune system and the brain is especially significant during early development. For instance, several special chemicals secreted by macrophages can adversely affect the brain, especially the inmature brain. These powerful chemicals are released in rather high concentrations following prolonged immune stimulation from infections, vaccinations or even exposure to inflammatory chemicals. Mercury, can also initiate an intense inflammatory response in tissues, followed by persistent inflammation. Again, this is critical to our understanding of the relationship to many brain disorders and mercury exposure.

In the next final post, I will discuss abit on how mercury plays a role in neurological disorders as well as how we can protect ourselves from heavy metals toxicity, particularly mercury. Stay tuned.

Mercury: (Part 4)

To whoever still following this mercury topic, it is especially important for parents, future mums and dads, as well as guardians raising babies, the young loved ones. You may find some of the effects of mercury for pregnant mums and young infants to be shocking, but it is better to know it now, then late or never.

Let's start. The development of the brain is a marvelous even that has, as yet, defied our ability to completely understand this God given phonomenon. But, we do know many intriguing things about this process. Basically, the brain must be constructed from a mere three layers of cells that differentiate into numerous types of specialized cells which in turn sprout out into trillions of processes, each moulded into incredible exactness. During this process, the brain makes far too many connections and must remove a large number of them by a process called pruning, just as you would prune a fruit tree. This pruning process is extremely precise and requires a critically timed release of higher concentrations of glutamate. Too much glumate for too long a time and the brain will be overpruned, too little, and the connections will form a mass of confusing signals.

As this delicate moulding process takes place, special enzymes make their appearance in the brain, again in a specifically timed sequence. Mercury, as an enzyme poison, inteferes with this process, causing the brain to be 'miswired'. The process of miswiring can result in anything from mild behavioral and learning problems to major disorders such as autism and other forms of cerebral malfunction. Another way mercury seems to interfere with this process is by altering the careful balance of calcium within the cell.

As you would have realized by now, one of the central processes in brain injuries and degeneration is the formation of free radicals. For example, in Down's syndrome there is a fourfold increase in these destructive particles. One of the ways mercury induces free radical formation is by damaging a cell's mitochondria. Because of this loss of energy producing capacity, the neuron becomes infinitely more susceptible to excitotoxicity injury and death even in the presence of normal levels of the neurotransmitter, glutamate. The cycle continues until the cells begin to die or the dendritic fibers shrink. It is these dendritic fibers that make the trillions of connections in the brain.

Destructions of the dendrites can occur independant of the death of the neuron. This is especially important when considering chronic exposure to very low concentrations of mercury. By removing the mercury and supplying nutrients to the neuron, we may be able to regrow these dendritic spines that are so critical to brain function.

Neurotransmitters, like most other things in the brain, appear in a a set pattern, a sequence which is carefully controlled during brain development but can be disrupted by environmental toxins such as mercury. For example, mercury has been shown to cause a sudden release of acetylcholine in the brain, which can not only interrupt development signals but can be directly neurotoxic.

Medical science generally assumes a substance is safe if it does not cause an obvious abnormality on neurological function or behavior. For example, if a substance does not cause a seizure or loss of movement, it is considered generally safe. Unfortunately, this is very naive and dangerous thinking. The human brain is a very complex structure that can withstand significant injuries with only subtle changes in function, yet even these subtle effects can have a devastating impact on our children's ability to function normally throughout life.

But of special concern is mercury's ability to do two things in the brain. One, it activate the brain's immune system microglia, and another is to poison the glutamate re-uptake system. The amino acid glutamate, is used by the brain as a neurotransmitter, mainly to cause excitation of special brain cells, used for communication between neurons. But, overexciting the brain can be very dangerous, it can lead to seizures, and destruction of brain cells by a process called excitotoxicity.

Mercury is unique among metals in that it can selectively block the glutamate re-uptake system, even when present in incredible small concentrations. When the system is blocked, free glutamate accumulates in the brain's extracellular spaces, triggering excitotoxicity. The glutamate transporter continues to be impaired since mercury stays in the brain for such a long periods of time.

The infant brain is four times more sensitive than the adult brain to excitotoxicity. This is because many of the infant brain's protective systems are inmature and poorly developed. Introduction of mercury during this delicate process can cause glutamate levels to rise too soon or accumulate in high concentrations, resulting in miswiring of the brain. The effects of this miswiring can be subtle or devastating, depending on many conditions, the dose of the mercury, when it was given, and the nutritional status of the body.

Subtle changes may result in minor behavioral problems, such as difficulty with memory and cognition, or a loss of anger control. As a child, these conditions may be classed as attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or one of autism spectrum disorders. In more severe cases, the damage may result in full blown autism or Asperger's syndrome. So future mums and dads, and present parents, do take this seriously.

Acute, high does mercury poisoning in adults is characterized by a localization of the toxin in the occipital lobes of the brain, especially in an area called calcarine cortex, which is part of the brain controlling vision. This may explain the loss of color vision and tunnel vision seen in mercury miners.

Significant but lower accumulation of mercury also occur in other parts of the brain. In children who exposed to high dose mercury, widespread destruction of neurons in the brain accompanied by scarring, but more importantly gorss abnormal development of brain cell layers with isolated clumps of malformed brain cells and disorganization of the cells in the cortex of the brain.

Now, let's look briefly below at how mercury damages cells.

- Inhibits enzyme function, such as mitochondrial enzymes, glutathione reductase 
   and synthease.
- Binds to nucleic acids
- Induces astrocyte swelling
- Inhibits protein synthease
- Inhibits dopamine, seratonin and norepinephrine
- Inhibit cytokine production
- Inhibit glutamate transport proteins
- Increases free radical production
- Encourages lipid peroxidation
- Binds to cell membranes

As I did mentioned before that a close correlation between the number of dental amalgams in a mother's mouth and mercury tissue levels, including brain levels, in her baby. Toxicity to the baby while in the mother's uterus can occur without the mother showing any signs of mercury toxicity.

One obvious question is, if mercury is so toxic to the developing baby, why are any babies born normal? The answer is the same as for adults. Sensitivity to toxicity depends on a number of variables, such as the condition of the antioxidant network, state of general nutrition, presence of natural metal chelators, differences in DNA repair enzymes and biochemical differences as well. Mercury uses a cysteine transport system in the placenta and that neutral amino acids during pregnancy would naturally transfer less mercury to the baby.

How long mercury stays in the body depends on a particular tissue's or organ's ability to flsuh the metal. The half life for the kidney is sixty four days. What this means is for every sixty four day period, half of the mercury in the kidney will be excreted in the urine. For the body as a whole, the half life is fifty four days, and for the brain it is one year.

Check this out. Studies on mercury miners, and those exposed during industrial accidents, indicate that mercury can remain in the brain as long as ten years after a single exposure, but the damage produced by the mercury can last over thirty years! If any of you heard and read about the Minamata exposure, you will know about this incident. Those victims were neurologically impaired when examined after twenty years later.

The form mercury takes in the body can also influence its half life, due to the ways in which the different forms are distributed to bodily systems. The mercury from dental amalgam is inorganic mercury, but it partially converted to methylmercury by bacteria in the mouth. As a result, mercury vapor from dental amalgams is especially toxic to the brain. Once in the brain in its converted state, the mercury half life is suddenly increased.

In next post, I will write about how mercury affect childhood and adults. Stay tuned.