2 Topics below: L-Arginine & Citrulline - Amazing amino acids to utilize; Wobenzym - healthy replacement for Ibuprofen/Motrin
HEALING QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
Some of the coolest dreams that ever came true, weren't dreams at all, but standards that simply weren't compromised.
~TUT
A CUP OF TEA
~A Zen Story~
Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.
Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.
The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"
"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"
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L-ARGININE & CITRULLINE
THE MANY BENEFITS OF THESE AMINO ACIDS:
Dr. Louis Ignarro – Nobel Prize for Medicine
In 1998, Dr. Louis Ignarro won the Nobel Prize for Medicine, (along with Robert F. Furchgott and Ferid Murad), for his research discoveries showing the powerful ability of nitric oxide (or NO) to improve cardiovascular health and prevent heart disease. His ground-breaking work— the basis for his 2005 best-selling book, NO More Heart Disease— established Dr. Ignarro as perhaps the world’s leading authority on the nutritional approach to cardiac wellness, along with making possible the development of Viagra.
He holds a Ph.D. in pharmacology, is a distinguished professor of pharmacology at UCLA, and is a part-time professor at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Dr. Ignarro has spent more than 30 years as a research scientist; seeking to understand the incredible role that nitric oxide plays in fostering optimal human health. One of his most important discoveries was that antioxidants, which reduce cell damage fromfree radicals, also increase nitric oxide levels by protecting blood vessel walls—which secrete nitric oxide—from damage.
He has received countless awards in addition to his Nobel Prize, including the 2008 Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Heart Association and the 2007 Medal of Merit from the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences. He edits the journal Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry, sits on numerous scientific advisory boards, and travels the world speaking to professional and lay audiences about the incredible power of nitric oxide.
Nitric Oxide Information
NO is one of the simplest molecules in biology, comprised of just two atoms—one atom of nitrogen (N) and one of oxygen (O). Through NO’s structure is simple, nitric oxide is now regarded as the most significant molecule in the body, absolutely crucial to your well-being.
Nitric oxide is a powerful signaling molecule present in the cardiovascular and nervous systems as well as throughout the body. NO penetrates membranes and sends specific messages or biological signals that regulate cellular activity and instruct the body to perform certain functions. NO influences the functioning of virtually every bodily organ, including the lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach, genitals, and, of course, the heart.
Among the many vital duties NO performs is its role as a vasodilator, meaning that it helps control blood flow to every part of the body. NO relaxes and enlarges the blood vessels, ensuring that blood can efficiently nourish the heart. NO also works to prevent the formation of blood clots, which are the trigger for strokes and heart attacks, and it regulates blood pressure.
Another key role of NO is to slow the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaque in the blood vessels. You will recall that plaque is an artery-hardening buildup of cholesterol fats in the coronary arteries that can narrow or even block the arteries, thereby reducing the heart’s blood supply. My research strongly suggests that by capitalizing on its ability to combat atherosclerotic plaque, nitric oxide therapy can help lower cholesterol by synergistically facilitating the actions of commonly prescribed statin drugs like Lipitor and Mevacor. It stands to reason that NO therapy is not only safe when combined with statins, but also enhancing to the drugs’ effects, because one of the important mechanisms of these drugs is to increase and maintain NO production. NO therapy performs the same function, only naturally.
NO is used by the immune system to stave off infectious bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and it even curtails the proliferation of certain types of cancerous cells. In people with moderate to severe diabetes, nitric oxide can prevent many common but serious complications, particularly those associated with impaired blood flow. NO is also crucial to memory function, because the brain used it to store and retrieve long-term memories, as well as to transmit information. We are currently looking into the major role NO may play in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
As an anti-inflammatory, nitric oxide is being studied for its apparent role in reducing the swelling and discomfort of arthritis. NO can also guard against the development of stomach ulcers by maintaining normal blood flow to the mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal system. As neurotransmitter, NO increases blood flow to the genitals, thus playing an important role in normal sexual functioning. My findings in the area led to the development of the prescription drug Viagra. NO is a powerful antioxidant, deactivating so-called oxygen “free radicals” in the body that can contribute to American’s four leading killers” cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
The single biggest NO producing nutrient is the amino acid l-Arginine. The Council for Responsible Nutrition has determined that the amino acid l-Arginine is safe in doses up to 20 grams/day. The April 2008 issue of Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology details this research.
BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE:
The Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston has this to say about l-arginine: "NO (nitric oxide) precursor l-arginine supplementation enhances NO production at sites of venous thrombosis (a clot in a blood vessel). Moreover, l-arginine preserves endothelial vasoreactivity (healthy function of the lining of the blood vessels) and reduces platelet deposition (platelets are cell fragments floating in the bloodstream that are responsible for clots) after thrombolysis in iliac DVT(blood clot removal in the area of the hip). These data suggest that l-arginine may preserve endothelial function after thrombolysis and may reduce the likelihood of postthrombotic syndrome".
Basically, what the researchers are saying is that l-arginine may be beneficial for people who have suffered from a blood clot. As a preventitive, it could reduce the likelihood that a blood clot will form.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON L-ARGININE:
L arginine is an essential amino acid, which means that the body produces it on its own. It is necessary for proper bodily function and carries many benefits; however, the body can become deficient due to injury or various health conditions. Signs that you may need to supplement your diet with L arginine include slow healing of wounds, hair loss, constipation and skin rashes.
2. Give Your Immune System a Boost
L arginine stimulates activity of the thymus gland which in turn produces T-cells. T-cells are like the immune systems soldiers. The more T-cells present in the body, the stronger the immune system can attack disease and heal wounds. The T-cell stimulating effects of L arginine are thought to help slow the growth of tumors and slow diseases which suppress the immune system, such as HIV and AIDS as well as improve healing after burns or injury.
3. Better Blood Flow for a Healthier Heart
L arginine helps in the synthesis of nitric oxide which the body uses to dilate or relax blood vessels. When the blood vessels are relaxed, blood flow increase to the bodily organs, including the brain and heart. L arginine supplements are thought to be helpful for those with blood vessel problems or heart conditions as easier blood flow means prevents overworking of the heart. Some studies have even shown that L arginine can help in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, as it not only lowers blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels, it may also help to lower bad cholesterol.
4. Burn Fat, Build Muscle
L arginine is a popular supplement among bodybuilders, particularly those who want to loose body fat. L arginine improves the balance of nitrogen in the body, allowing the body to covert more protein into muscle. The extra lean muscle mass helps to burn fat, even in inactive states, helping you to decrease your body fat at all hours of the day. Remember that there is no magic pill for weight loss, and that any supplement, when abused, can cause harmful side effects. Never take more L arginine than the manufacturer's recommended dose, and supplement your weight loss program with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
5. Some Help Between the Sheets
Because L arginine stimulates nitric oxide and increases blood flow, it is thought to help with erectile dysfunction, increasing the flow of blood to the genital area as well. Additionally, studies suggest that L arginine may help to increase sperm counts and stimulate sex drive, making it a useful treatment for impotency and infertility.
Website:
http://www.heartinstitutehd.com/
Wobenzym
Natural Anti-Inflammatory
Quick Overview
Wobenzym is an enzyme preparation originally designed in Germany in the 1960s and is a natural anti-inflammatory with many additional health benefits.
Although its original use was primarily to treat osteoarthritis, studies have revealed that Wobenzym lowers C-reactive protein levels (a marker of chronic infection in the body) on average by 30%!
The latest research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, has documented that individuals with high levels of C-reactive protein have up to 6 times the likelihood of a heart attack or strokes as individuals with lower levels.
In addition, Wobenzym acts as a natural and safe alternative to anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen.
Furthermore, some Olympic teams have used Wobenzym to reduce injuries by as much as 50% and to enhance healing after injury. This is partly due to the bioflavonoids ability to prevent the discoloration and local pain associated with traumatic injuries. For these same reasons, leading surgeons now routinely prescribe Wobenzym to prevent bruising and edema and the associated pain for their post-surgical patients.
As more and more uses of Wobenzym are discovered, the list of health problems benefiting from Wobenzym continues to grow and include:
* Reducing the incidence of blood clots, known to be induced by the sudden breakdown of vulnerable plaque.
* Improving feelings of well-being due to its antioxidant effects.
* Reducing the incidence of heart attacks and strokes because of its anti-thrombotic, anti-spasmodic, anti-arrhythmic and cholesterol lowering abilities.
* Helping to resolve many of the molecular features of aging.
* Providing protection from environmental toxins in the air, water and food.
* Treating autoimmune and rheumatic illnesses, such as osteo and rheumatoid arthritis, joint and muscle pain.
* Benefiting viral injection treatments for herpes, cancer and Hepatitis C.
* Lowering inflammation involved in allergies and alleviates the symptoms for the sufferer.
Details
Wobenzym is an enzyme preparation originally designed in Germany in the 1960s and is a natural anti-inflammatory with many additional health benefits. Although its original use was primarily to treat osteoarthritis, studies have revealed that Wobenzym lowers C-reactive protein levels (a marker of chronic infection in the body) on average by 30%! The latest research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, has documented that individuals with high levels of C-reactive protein have up to 6 times the likelihood of a heart attack or strokes as individuals with lower levels. In addition, Wobenzym acts as a natural and safe alternative to anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen. Furthermore, some Olympic teams have used Wobenzym to reduce injuries by as much as 50% and to enhance healing after injury. This is partly due to the bioflavonoids ability to prevent the discoloration and local pain associated with traumatic injuries. For these same reasons, leading surgeons now routinely prescribe Wobenzym to prevent bruising and edema and the associated pain for their post-surgical patients. As more and more uses of Wobenzym are discovered, the list of health problems benefiting from Wobenzym continues to grow and include: * Reducing the incidence of blood clots, known to be induced by the sudden breakdown of vulnerable plaque. * Improving feelings of well-being due to its antioxidant effects. * Reducing the incidence of heart attacks and strokes because of its anti-thrombotic, anti-spasmodic, anti-arrhythmic and cholesterol lowering abilities. * Helping to resolve many of the molecular features of aging. * Providing protection from environmental toxins in the air, water and food. * Treating autoimmune and rheumatic illnesses, such as osteo and rheumatoid arthritis, joint and muscle pain. * Benefiting viral injection treatments for herpes, cancer and Hepatitis C. * Lowering inflammation involved in allergies and alleviates the symptoms for the sufferer.
The use of Wobenzym®N has been effective, but is not limited to the treatment of the following conditions:
sinus infection, traumatic injury, sports injury, arthritic, rheumatic and muscular pains, bacterial, yeast, fungal and viral infection, cardio-vascular obstruction and related ailments, edema, digestive disorders, auto-immune disorders, elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, pelvic inflammatory conditions, herpes simplex infection, common cold and flu.