Published June 3, 2011

Closing in on a type-1 diabetes cure

We just celebrated Memorial Day, a time to honor those who have fallen in battle. Like most people, I despise war in all its forms. My heart goes out to those sent to fight and risk their lives, and for those innocents caught in the mayhem. But for all the horrors of war, sometimes it is the mother of invention in medicine. And the terrible injuries of one airman might pave the way for a cure for diabetes in our lifetime.

Tre Profirio went to Afghanistan as a U.S. airman. He returned to the U.S. with bullet-destroyed pancreas. Doctors had to remove what was left of his pancreas. They sent the tissues to a university where, with gentle heat and enzymes, the doctors harvested insulin-producing islet cells. Then they infused these precious cells into his liver where they found a welcoming home. The cells quickly resumed their function, producing insulin with perfect blood sugar control. Of course, they had to take steps to protect the cells from too much stress while they got used to their new home. But his success made international news.

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Published June 2, 2011

This free radical is good for your bones

In the June issue of my newsletter, I introduce you to a new product that scientists at University of Texas Medical School in Houston developed to help your body produce more of a free radical. Now, you may think free radicals are dangerous. But that’s only when you have too many of them. Otherwise, they are absolutely critical for optimal health. And we’re finding that one of the healthiest free radicals is nitric oxide. In fact, a brand new study appeared recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association that details how important nitric oxide is for your bone health.

The researchers followed 243 postmenopausal women. This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study — the best kind. In this study, the researchers had half of the women apply 15 mg of nitroglycerin ointment to their skin every night. The other half applied a placebo ointment. Once you absorb nitroglycerin, your body converts it into nitric oxide.

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Published June 1, 2011

Is meat a bigger threat to your health than hospitals?

You probably already know that overusing antibiotics can cause serious problems. It has produced an epidemic of drug-resistant superbugs in our hospitals. These bacteria are immune to our antibiotics. And they seriously endanger our health. They’re so common in hospitals that simply visiting a loved one there can expose you to these deadly superbugs. But now we may have an even bigger threat.

Did you know that we use far more antibiotics in animals? Over 80% of all antibiotics we use go toward treating animals. So imagine the threat this poses in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Well, you don’t have to imagine it. As new evidence suggests, it’s a very real problem.

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