I am a Canadian PALS

Man loses battle with Lyme disease

2005-10-10T10:06:00.000-06:00

By Jennifer Jefferson - DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

On the Internet, he was known as Dr. Mike even though he wasn't a physician.

Mike Thomas, 48, was a supervisor of water utilities for the city of Tallahassee.

After being diagnosed with amytrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, he became an avid researcher of the disease.

His research led him to China to undergo experimental treatment in December, but he died Wednesday at home of Lyme disease.

In Beijing, Thomas met other patients from around the world who turned to him for information. The BBC even featured him on a show about the experimental treatment he received in China.

On Sunday, he was at his computer reading e-mails from overseas, said Juhan Mixon, Thomas' best friend.

"No one expected it to happen quite as quickly as it did," said Candace McKibben, the pastor who is presiding over the funeral 2 p.m. today at the chapel of Bevis Funeral Home of Tallahassee.

In August 2003, Thomas was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, a fatal condition that causes motor neurons to deteriorate and muscle movement to diminish. Doctors say Thomas and the 30,000 others in the United States who have it usually have three to five years to live.

In the fall of 2004, Thomas couldn't wiggle his toes or raise his right foot. So Mixon helped Thomas raise $30,000 needed to travel to China to get millions of olfactory ensheathing glia cells from second-trimester aborted fetuses inserted into his brain and spinal cord in hopes of stimulating the other cells to work. The procedure is still in the experimental stages.

Thomas and his wife, Kim, went to Beijing Oct. 31, 2004, and returned Dec. 2.

When Thomas came back, he could walk and stand without a brace, Mixon said. He was even able to go back to work. In January, his condition deteriorated, and he was soon diagnosed with Lyme disease.

Ticks transport the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. The symptoms include a skin rash, fever, headache and fatigue, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart and the nervous system.

Thomas was undergoing treatment for the disease, but it was in the late stages when it was diagnosed, Mixon said. Thomas could still walk but had to use a walker.

After extensive research online, Mixon said, Thomas questioned whether he had Lyme disease from the start or whether the diseases were interrelated.

Thomas never found out.

After the China trip, "We were all hopeful that he would get better," Mixon said. "We were hopeful that (if) we could treat the Lyme disease, he would be better."

Full Article

Things that make me go....hmmmm!

The Future Isn’t What It Used To Be....

2005-09-26T15:37:00.000-06:00

The Future Isn’t What It Used To Be
Dr. Robert Gamble
Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon (retired)
Arlington Heights, Illinois

This is what they call “Hope”?

We’ve all gotten used to the idea that certain maladies will be around for a while…like until the Second Coming. Maladies such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis…and many more are expected to be around, in epidemic proportions, longer than we think we will be alive…and anyone who tries to tell us otherwise is looked upon with real skepticism. In fact, when anyone tries to tell us “there’s hope” for such maladies as say, diabetes, we are more likely to believe the person is trying to sell us something…and usually we are right.

But, what’s even worse is the fact that the “hope” we do receive is usually something like the following:

Studies show that people at high risk for type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by losing 5 to 7 percent of their body weight. You can do it by eating healthier and getting 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week. In other words: you don't have to knock yourself out to prevent diabetes. The key is: small steps that lead to big rewards. Learn more about your risk for developing type 2 diabetes and the small steps you can take to delay or prevent the disease and live a long, healthy life.

Of course, this is good advice. No denying it. As a medical doctor, I had to dispense advice like this for years, for diabetes and other conditions. Funny, as good as it is, I NEVER saw anyone become ecstatic, do cartwheels or celebrate because they had just received such counsel. Why? BECAUSE WHAT WE REALLY WANT FROM THE MEDICAL WORLD IS A CURE!

And why not? It just doesn’t seem fair the only real answer to conditions like diabetes or obesity is the “hope” that means we stop eating almost everything we enjoy, sweat till we drop, “pop” prescription pills ‘till we’re bloated, and think positive…forever.

A new future?

So, of course, I was skeptical too when I began to hear the claims associated with glyconutrition. As a long time medical professional and scientist, I know “claims” are easily made… And who ever heard of “glyconutrition” anyway?

In 1999, the Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to Dr. Gunter Blobel for his work in the science of Glycobiology (the biology of glyconutrition). Out of the last eight Nobel Prizes awarded in medicine, four Nobel Prizes have been awarded for discoveries made in this ONE field. Believe it or not, this field (glyconutrition) affects maladies such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease directly. Why? Because, eight sugars have been isolated for their support of the immune system and cell communication.

Additionally, human life cannot be supported without them.

This information got my attention. When a single Nobel Prize is won in medicine, everyone is paying attention. When four of them are won in the SAME field, as in this case involving glyconutrition, the medical world is “on fire” with the news.

As that information made its way through the medical world, other issues made the news too. For decades the American Medical Association, the powerhouse of medical professionals, taught that nutritional supplements were not necessary for good health. But, in June 2002, the AMA admitted that nutritional supplementation was vital to good health and helpful in treating diseases.

Also, the prestigious MIT published its findings. It wrote that these “sugars” were one of ten technologies it believed would change the world in the next decade. Nutritional supplementation was again vital to the conventional medical world…and at the center of the storm was glyconutrition.

But, what really jolted me professionally was this: Until these discoveries, scientists had NO idea how the cells of your body could tell the antibodies of your body you had an infection and that they had to “get on over here” to deal with it. Until these discoveries, scientists had NO idea how the cells of your body told the rest of your body they needed nutrition, oxygen, waste elimination, infections healed…and a thousand and one other necessary functions of every cell. Goodness! We in the scientific world hadn’t known just exactly HOW even aspirin made its way to that nasty headache of yours. We just knew it worked. So, we prescribed it.

Sugar? Say it ain’t so, doc!

But, my attention was riveted to the news that scientists like Dr. Gunter Blobel had discovered what it was that let the cells COMMUNICATE with the other systems of the body. And would you believe it? What he found was amazing. Sugar…SUGAR! (Glyco = Greek for “sugar”) No…not table sugar (else diabetics wouldn’t be so excited over this new-found help for their diabetes). There are over 200 sugars in nature but, eight of them are VITAL to our good health. In fact, eight of them are the glyconutrition “backbone” for helping the body prevent or heal:

auto-immune diseases such as diabetes, psoriasis

overactive immune disorders such as allergies and asthma

under active immune disorders such as cancer, TB, strep

inflammatory disorders such as colitis, ulcers, Fibromyalgia

other conditions such as Alzheimer’s, infertility, heart disease

Suddenly, the medical world was on fire over glyconutrition. The “anecdotal evidence” concerning glyconutrition is mounting rapidly as people are finding conditions which have long grieved them…to be a thing of the past. For so many, the expectation for the future is not a “long, long, road” fraught with impossible dieting, grueling workouts, thousands of dollars of prescriptions, and the need to dream positively. People are getting relief – from diabetes, heart disease, cancer, allergies, and many others - with glyconutrition…and without prescriptions! (Glyconutrition products are NOT prescription items…they’re food.)

Oh yes. I almost forgot. If you go to your doctor and he isn’t aware of glyconutrition, don’t panic. Your poor doctor CANNOT possibly keep up with all of the signs, symptoms, conditions, and their myriads of treatments, chemical make up and complications associated with thousands of maladies and the millions of prescription antidotes for those maladies. I couldn’t as a doctor, and I had several DECADES of experience in the field. “Been there … done that” as they say.

Incidentally, doctors don’t usually find out first what works. They’re just too busy being overwhelmed with the medical conditions they face, day to day. They usually find out like everyone else…They read about it or attend some seminar. Often, the marketplace produces antidotes – or research finds the right treatment, as in this case – long before they do.

But, I can tell you this. Glyconutrition is helping conditions as diverse as diabetes and Alzheimer’s … and a lot of people have hope that these conditions CAN be and are being…overcome…

Suddenly, the future isn’t what it used to be…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About the Author

Dr. Robert Gamble is retired from a very successful medical/surgical career spanning three decades. He is now active in researching medical issues such as glyconutrition… and offers his insights for public benefit.

Read the Original Article

Well it's been a month...

2005-08-13T13:27:00.000-06:00

Well it's been a month...
Since I last posted!

Hot sunny weather is the reason. I've been on the deck enjoying the summer.

Overall...I've been doing well.
Although slower, I'm still able to walk. Speech is more of a struggle to get my point across.
I'm still doing 'physio' and supplementing my diet with glyconutrients.

Last Wednesday (Aug 3rd) I added a new supplement to my daily routine... Cat's Claw (uña de gato)
Cat's Claw is a natural herbal remedy that will help:

stimulate the immune system
relieve pain
reduce inflammation
kill viruses
protect cells
detoxify
fight free radicals
cleanse the blood
cleanse the bowel
lower blood pressure
reduce cholesterol
tone and balance

Hopefully Cat's Claw will give my body the systematic boost it needs ;)

Click Here for more info on Cat's Claw

All is Good!

2005-07-13T19:49:00.000-06:00

I went to the clinic today, and here's the numbers...
My Vital Lung Capacity is at 4298ml or 74% and is only down 3pts from my February visit. (good)
Blood Pressure - 128/80 (good)Heartrate - normal (so I was told)
O2 Sats - 95 (very good)
CO2 - 39 (normal)
Everyone was pleased with my results as they were pretty well identical to my last visit.

So...All is Good!

...Paved with Good Intentions!

2005-06-20T09:48:00.000-06:00

Ok! I hafta admit...
I've been feeling LAZY!

For the last two weeks:

It's been cold and rainy (Calgary has a 'Local State of Emergency' in effect due to the amount of rain we've received).
Our basement flooded.
We opened up the basement wall (to find the leak) and discovered MOLD!
My daily 'Physio' routine seems to be interupted for one reason or another.
My motivation is just plainly put...LOW

Today...

The Sun is shining.
I'm feeling good.
I intend to spend time to catch up on my emails, etc...
Unfortunately, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Common sense would say...

2005-06-04T08:49:00.000-06:00

Egad!
It's been awhile and a busy coupla weeks.

My 'Best Friend' came to Calgary last weekend for a visit.
We had a nice time just 'Hangin Out'. It's so comforting, when you don't see someone for a long time and you can just sit back, relax and watch a movie.
Not a word needed to be spoken - There was no uncomfortable silence.
It was like we had met for coffee the day before and 'caught up' then...
It's the sign of TRUE FRIENDSHIP.
(Love ya Thorpe!)

Our cat ran away last week.
We've checked the Humane Society...No luck!
We have alot of coyotes in the area. I have a feeling 'nature' has played a part in his disappearence.
My sons believe 'Kozmo' went to live with someone elses family...

My Holistic Therapist(Bart) came over on Wednesday with a *New* (massage) table.
WOW!!!
The table was modified to have 60 Power Plates and some sort of resonating speakers built into it.
The theory behind it is... "Vibration is a very powerful force. It can be referred do as a Titan, a powerful guiding force that controls the universe. Most people do not realize the power behind vibration. You can think of vibration as the very starting point of the universe. Depending on the type of vibration is the type of universe that is created. It is the same with the reality that we experience. Most people do not understand that it is there body that determines everything that happens to them in their life. Vibration is the instigator to every experience you go through. Vibration also determines how you perceive and react to the experience. When you change your vibration, you change your reality. I mean your entire reality; your experience of what life has to offer. That's right I said “Everything will change! It will be a whole new World!” (taken from www.coryland.ca)

i.e. Increase your bodies natural vibration level - Improve your ability to heal.

It's for those with an open mind and willing to try something new...

My Physio-Therapy continues to go well (5 days a week for 1.5 hours).
Everday I seem to maintain and/or improve on my flexibility and various strength exercises.
The challenge for me, is finding new exercises to target new muscle groups I've overlooked.
Aside from my change diet (supplementation), Physio has been the biggest factor in maintaining my motorskills.

Common sense would say...'Obviously! Excercise is good for anyone in normal health.'

Being diagnosed with ALS is different...

Know-Nothing Bush Blocking Stem Cell Miracles

2005-05-27T15:03:00.000-06:00

Published on Friday, May 27, 2005 by The Progressive
by Matthew Rothschild

When the House on Wednesday took the rare step of defying Bush's wishes and passed a bill that would expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, Bush responded with his typical obtuseness. Though the bill would allow research only on frozen embryos that otherwise would be destroyed as medical waste, Bush got on his hobbyhorse.
"This bill would take us across a critical ethical line by creating new incentives for the ongoing destruction of emerging human life," he said.

He also used the phrase "respect for human life in all its stages."

And he placed on an equal level the "emerging human life" of the embryo created in the lab and the human life of an already living, breathing human being who is suffering from a terrible disease.

"Real human lives are involved--both the lives of those with diseases that might find cures from this research, and the lives of the embryos that will be destroyed in the process," he said.

By putting it that way, he tries to neutralize the argument that his anti-science approach is not cruel to those living, breathing human beings who are suffering today from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Lou Gehrig's disease, juvenile diabetes, or a host of other diseases and conditions that could be cured by embryonic stem cell research.

But he didn't really put them on an equal plane. He privileged the embryo. That's why he surrounded himself with families that used frozen embryos to have babies.

He didn't have victims of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Lou Gehrig's disease, or diabetes to the East Room of the White House for his announcement. And lucky for him. He'd have been heckled off the stage.

That Bush's press conference was a bone to the religious right there should be no doubt.

Bush twice singled out a group called Nightlight Christian Adoptions for praise. Its website (nightlight.org/about_us.asp.) says it strives to "bring glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." One of its goals is "to share God's love by . . . recognizing and advocating the personhood of pre-born children."

Bush said "there is no such thing as a spare embryo." But even Nightlight Christian Adoptions is hard-pressed to make that claim. On its website, it says it is "helping some of the more than 400,000 frozen embryos realize their ultimate purpose--life." But are there really 400,000 women who want to carry those embryos to term? To date, Nightlight Christian Adoptions has managed to bring all of 81 embryos into this world as babies.

Bush and the Christian right are fetishizing fertilization. It doesn't matter to them whether that fertilization happens in the lab or during sex. The minute fertilization occurs, they essentially grant that embryo personhood and all the protections that come with it.

This fetish leads them to be against all abortion, and against all embryonic stem cell research.

Even when frozen embryos left over in the fridge at the artificial insemination clinic would otherwise be thrown away.

Or even when, as in South Korea, scientists make an embroyonic clone that will never be implanted in a woman's uterus and thus never become a human being.

Korean scientists figured out how to take the nucleus from a patient's skin cell and implant it in an egg donated by a woman after the nucleus from that egg cell was removed. Then the patient's nucleus reproduces in the egg to make the embryonic clone.

It's against the law in South Korea to implant a cloned embryo into a woman's uterus, so the issue of whether the embryo would turn into a human being should be moot.

This breakthrough offers the possibility of extraordinary advances. Cells from the cloned embryo could eventually be transplanted back into the original patient, thus greatly reducing the risk of rejection.

The promise of therapeutic cloning is now upon us, but not here in the United States.

The chairman of Bush's Bioethics Council, Dr. Leon Kass, is against it, in part because it "exploits women as egg donors not for their own benefit."

But what if you're the wife of a man who has Lou Gehrig's disease or what if you're the niece of a woman who has Parkinson's? And what if, by donating your egg, you could save your husband's or your aunt's life?

Who is Dr. Kass to say that you are being exploited?

And who is George Bush to stand in the way?

That is paternalism of the cruelest order.

Read the Original Article

Amen BRUTHA!!!

Famous Birthdays Today

2005-05-19T13:46:00.000-06:00

Singer Grace Jones born 1952
Rocker Joey Ramone born 1951
Musician Pete Townshend born 1945
Screenwriter Nora Ephron born 1941
News Anchor Jim Lehrer born 1934
Me born 1964

My horoscope for May 19, 2005

Happy Birthday: This year is all about finding yourself and your creative niche. It's about doing something that will raise your self-esteem and bring you confidence. It's about travel, getting together with people from your past and recognizing your options and your possibilities. Your numbers are 17, 19, 23, 39, 44, 48

I'm 41 and still goin' strong.

Happy Birthday to me...

6 Month Update...

2005-05-12T19:09:00.000-06:00

Well it's been 6 months since I started this Blog and supplementing my diet with Glyconutrients.
I went to the clinic yesterday, and here's the numbers.
My Vital Lung Capacity is at 4400ml or 76% and remains unchanged from my February visit. (good)
Blood Pressure - 125/76 (good)
Heartrate - 93 (slightly elevated due to HOT looking nurse (hehe))
O2 Sats - 97 (very good)
CO2 - 40 (normal)
Weight - 162lbs (down 4lbs from March)

The doctor's were pleased with my results as they were pretty well identical to my February visit and yet this time, both doctors seemed (to me) to be pushing for me to get a Feeding Tube and/or medication(s).
I can get meds for laughing, crying, muscle cramps, excess saliva, headaches, muscle aches and the list goes on...
I think the doctor's wanna Poison me rather than fix me!
I said NO! to everything offered.

On that note...
I've been reading an awful lot about Lyme disease and ALS being connected in alot of cases and with some of the (US)ALS Drug Trials involving antibiotics used to treat Lyme disease...hmmm
So I had a Lyme test (ELISA) done a couple of weeks ago and it came back negative...D'oh!
I'm not looking to change my diagnosis from ALS to Lyme disease.
I've accepted that.
I'm more curious about a possible connection between the two diseases.
When I spoke to my neurologist yesterday, he's gonna refer me to an 'Infectious Disease Specialist'.
His thoughts were "I'm not an (Lyme Disease) expert and I can't offer you anything to cure you of ALS...so let's refer you to a specialist and explore this further."

Overall I'd hafta say...Physically, Emotionally, and Spiritually, I'm doing very well.
I'm still doing 'physio' 5x a week and have started adding weights to the routine.
When I first started doing these exercises, I would/could do 10-15 reps of each exercise and 'physio' would last about 30mins.
Now I'm doin' 100-200 reps (depending on the exercise) and I can go for 1.5-2 hours.
With the weights, it'll certainly add a more of a challenge (hmmm...I'm thinkin' 6 pack abs and buns of steel).
Emotionally I'm feeling good and lookin' forward to the two weeks of summer that Calgary has.

Glyconutrients...
While certain muscle groups (speech and walking mostly) have deteriorated due to my condition...
I hafta remind myself that:

Aside from one '24 hour Flu', I haven't been sick since October (not even a minor cough/cold).
My leg strength and overall stamina have improved in the last month or two.
I'm completely Med FREE.
I feel good.

Also...
I was surfin' the net the other day...
And found something that me look at this disease in a WHOLE new way.
Maybe a cure for ALS is as simple to find as looking no further than the name.

ALS – Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is from the Greek language meaning...

"A" means no or negative.
"Myo" refers to muscle, and
"Trophic" means nourishment

i.e. "No muscle nourishment."
When a muscle has no nourishment, it "atrophies" or wastes away.
"Lateral" identifies the areas in a person's spinal cord where portions of the nerve cells that signal and control the muscles are located. As this area degenerates it leads to scarring or hardening ("sclerosis") in the region

ALS is a NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE

A neurodegenerative disease is a disorder caused by the deterioration of certain nerve cells (neurons). Changes in these cells cause them to function abnormally, eventually bringing about their death.

A CELL is the basic microscopic unit of all living beings. The cell produces energy and uses it to build all the substances necessary for its life. Some living organisms exist only as a single cell. This is the case for bacteria, as well as certain animals and plants. An average sized man contains from 60 to 100 trillion cells. Cells nourish themselves, produce energy, exchange information with their neighbors, multiply, and eventually die when their time has come.

Glycontrition is about cellular nutrition.
ALS is about cellular(muscle) malnutrition.

Simplistic...Yes, my theory is just that.
Effective Treatment...Only time will tell.

I'm going to continue Mega-Dosing the Glyconutrients and continue this journey.
It's just so crazy, it may work!

Oye Como Va!!!

2005-05-03T13:57:00.000-06:00

Had a rough weekend...
Very tired and very emotional all weekend long.
For the first time since my diagnosis, I really didn't want to get outta bed...damn!

Today...Things are lookin' up.
Slept well and woke up feelin' completely refreshed.
To top things off...
Our cleaning lady (Tara) informed me that my favorite band of ALL TIME is coming to town!
Santana is in Calgary on Sept 24th.
I've seen Carlos Santana 3 times in concert and been a fan of his since I was a teenager in the 70's.

Oye Como Va ( mi ritmo? Bueno pa gozar, mulata.) roughly translated means...
Hear it, how it goes... my rhythm
Good to enjoy, mulata
Hear it, how it goes... my rhythm
Good to enjoy, mulata

It will be good and I will enjoy!

Death Begins in the Colon

2005-04-27T09:52:00.000-06:00

Good health starts at your bottom...Mike

The following independent article was taken from BioTech News.

In the Special Report, Death Begins in the Colon, we documented the fact that many of today's serious ill-health conditions - particularly a number of chronic degenerative, physically debilitating and/or life-threatening conditions such as cancer, arthritis, heart disease, and more - often begin in the digestive and eliminative tracts of the human body.

Every physician should realize that the intestinal toxemias are the most important primary and contributing causes of many disorders and diseases of the human body.

Dr. Anthony Bassler Gastroenterologist

As we documented in Death Begins in the Colon when the eliminative system of the human body is not in top-notch working order, particularly if it has become sluggish or clogged, it cannot properly process and eliminate food wastes and toxins. Medical science now acknowledges that up to 85% or more of all adult Americans suffer from some form of intestinal stasis (i.e. constipation, sluggish bowels, etc. - Ed.) This virtually guarantees toxic build-up in the colon which, over time, inevitably results in one or more forms of serious illness or chronic degenerative disease.

Intestinal stasis sooner or later causes the wastes and toxic by-products from the foods we eat to build up to such an extent that they start to become putrefactive (To put it crudely, the stuff starts to rot - Ed.). In turn, this putrefactive build-up in the colon becomes a veritable breeding ground, encouraging the rapid growth of huge colonies of toxin-producing, disease causing bacteria.

When the digestive and eliminative systems are not properly working to rid the body of this accumulating putrefactive build-up in the colon, the resulting toxins are then absorbed from the colon into the bloodstream, and are carried back into every part of the body. This process of self-poisoning is known as "auto-intoxication". In a nutshell, because of intestinal stasis, the body ends up chronically poisoning itself with its own wastes and toxins instead of carrying out its designed purpose of eliminating them.

The process of continued self-poisoning inevitably results in a dramatically weakened immune system, which can lead directly to such common ill-health conditions as chronic fatigue and body weakness, nervousness, depression and mood swings, skin disruptions such as acne and eczema, ulcers and other gastro-intestinal disorders, headaches, arthritic joints, swelling of hands and feet, chronic allergies, bronchial problems, cardio-vascular irregularities (arrythmias, high blood pressure, etc.), pathological changes in the breasts, premature senility, epilepsy, and many other serious and debilitating problems.

In Death Begins in the Colon we documented how the regular intake of dietary fiber can do much to dramatically speed up the "transit time" of food moving through your bowels as well as increase the number of bowel movements you have each day. A decent amount of dietary fiber taken on a daily basis can help you to overcome the problem of intestinal stasis and protect yourself from the severe illnesses that can result from the untreated buildup of putrefactive waste, bacteria and toxins in the colon.

Therefore, once again, we want to strongly emphasize our recommendation that you should be using a good, all-natural dietary fiber supplement on a regular daily basis in order to help your body do its job of protecting itself from the multitude of ill-health conditions that current medical research now documents can develop as a direct result of intestinal stasis....

Whereas most food factors, including vitamins, suffer only minor or no demonstrable harm from heat preparation in the kitchen or factory, enzymes are completely destroyed by manufacturing or culinary operations. Enzymes can withstand no cooking, boiling, frying, roasting, stewing, broiling or pasteurizing. Cookery destroys them to the extent of - no 99% but 100%!

Dr. Edward Howell Is Your Body Demanding Food Enzymes?

Because today's modern diet includes huge amounts of hard-to-digest high-protein foods, as well as numerous enzyme deficient foods, our digestive organs are constantly overworking themselves in an attempt to digest the foods we eat. Unfortunately, by the time we have reached middle age, our digestive organs have become so overtaxed and exhausted they can no longer carry the load.

Over time, this results in the gradual accumulation - and impaction - of partially digested food in the bowel. Most adult Americans don't know it, but by middle age many of them are carrying around as much as 20 pounds or more of this putrefactive, undigested food in their bowels! Which, of course, is an ideal breeding ground for the toxin-generating, disease-causing bacteria mentioned earlier in this report.

You see, in order for the body to digest food completely and effectively, there must be a sufficient quantity of enzymes available. As little as a century ago, when our society was basically agrarian and people still ate plenty of organically grown raw fruits and vegetables as a way of life, incomplete digestion was virtually unknown as a medical problem. That's because organically grown raw fruits and vegetables contain huge amounts of their own active food enzymes.

These natural enzymes, which are found in all raw foods, begin digesting food the moment it is put into the mouth and is chewed. After the food is swallowed, enzymes continue predigesting the food while it is being held in the upper (cardiac) portion of the stomach (it is held there for an hour or so before it moves to the lower (pyloric) portion (in a sense, we really have two stomachs with two separate and distinct functions) -Ed.), breaking the food down into its most simple state, and releasing the vital nutrients from the food so that our bodies can assimilate and use those nutrients to maintain peak health.

However, today, because of modern agricultural practices which employ a myriad of herbicides, pesticides, synthetic chemicals, etc. and because the soil throughout America's vast farmland has been leached of much of its vital mineral content, even our raw foods are almost grossly lacking in the important quantities of enzymes necessary for proper food digestion.

What's more, if the food you eat has been heated to 118 degrees F. or higher, it really doesn't matter much whether it was organically grown or not, because any enzymes in that food have been totally and completely destroyed. Considering the fact that cooked and heat-processed foods now make up the predominant part of the average American diet, this means that the vast majority of what we eat these days is completely devoid of the vital enzymes that are absolutely essential to the digestive process.

Because of this, the human body ends up severely overtaxing itself in order to produce enough of its own enzymes to aid in the process of digestion. According to Dr. Edward Howell, America's foremost medical expert on the role of enzymes in digestion and human health, the human body even goes so far as to shift from producing vital metabolic enzymes to producing digestive enzymes, in order to make up for the enzyme deficiencies in the foods we eat.

This works fine for a while - the body in its youth can often handle this problem to a sufficient enough extent to get by without ill effect. But by the time middle age rolls around, the overworked pancreas and other digestive organs can no longer produce sufficient quantities of either the crucial metabolic enzymes or the essential digestive enzymes. In a sense, the body's enzyme "bank account" becomes so severely overdrawn that the body itself begins to break down prematurely. Too many enzyme withdrawals, and not enough enzyme deposits quickly begin to take a terrible toll, resulting in a dangerous threefold health threat.

ENZYME (Probiotic) SUPPLEMENTS: THE SIMPLE, ALL NATURAL SOLUTION TO PUTTING FOOD ENZYMES BACK INTO YOUR DIET.

The length of one's life is inversely proportional to the rate of exhaustion of the enzyme potential of an organism. But the increased use of food enzymes promotes a decreased rate of exhaustion of the enzyme potential, and thus, results in a longer, healthier and more vital life.

Dr. Edward Howell, Enzyme Nutrition

Thanks to the pioneering work of medical researchers and biochemists like Dr. Edward Howell, enzymes are now finally beginning to be recognized as the premier element in human health and well-being. Vitamins, minerals and trace elements have long been known to be essential to human health and longevity, but what has only been discovered in the past 50 years or so is the fact that without enzymes, the human body simply cannot utilize vitamins, minerals, trace elements and other nutrients. Enzymes are the body's nutritional delivery system. Without them in sufficient quantities, nutrients simply cannot be effectively delivered where needed in the human body.

NOTE: Enzymes (Probiotics) deteriorate when stored. If you buy enzyme tablets with an expiration date of over six months, they are a fraud!

Original Article

I'm so FULL of Sh*t...

2005-04-21T12:58:00.000-06:00

Well, at least, I was...

It's been a weird week.
One word - Constipated!
Cindi (my PT) has been sick, so my physio-therapy has been lacking lately.
Lack of 'physio' puts a real strain on my system (believe it or not) and walking about can be a challenge it seems.
My emotions have been all over the place.
My ability to speak has taken a major turn for the worse!
I'm finding I'm having trouble saying anything without a series of Uuumms between each syllable and/or word. As an example..."I um need uuum to umumum go uum um to the washumumumumroom."
Without Andrea around to translate...Verbal conversations with me are next to impossible.
My Speech Therapist calls the 'um' sound a "pre-cursive syllable" and it happens because my tongue is trying to prepare for the next sound.
I call it "Damned Frustrating"!!!

Looking at the positive...
I haven't used my wheelchair in 2 weeks.
Cindi is back on Monday.
I have a friend coming over tomorrow to perform an ancient aboriginal Shaman ritual to help me rid myself of the negative emotions. (I hafta keep reminding myself..."Don't worry, it only seems kinky the first time.")
It'll be hard to put my foot in my mouth, without the ability to speak (I'm sure I'll find a way to do it.).
And...
My morning constitutional today was very successful!
I ain't so FULL of Sh*t...Anymore. (My wife would tell you differently)

A challenge is never without it's rewards.

5 Month Update...

2005-04-15T11:00:00.000-06:00

Well it's been 5 months since starting Glyconutritional Supplementation.
Since Nov 11th 2004...
I've learned how to spell 'Supplementation' properly. :)
My overall abilities (speech, walking/balance)have declined.
I've lost approximately 16lbs (down to 166 from 182 in Nov).
My blood pressure is normal (116/75 to 120/80) and my O2Sats are 95 (above normal).
Aside from last weeks 24 hour intestinal bug...Since starting Glyconutrients, I haven't even been close to getting the flu, a cold, or anything similar. Not even the sniffles!
My Physio-Therapy continues to go well. Where I was able to do 25 reps of a certain exercise - Now 75-100reps is the target/limit of that same exercise.

No matter the setback...I celebrate my victories (however small they may appear).
I still feel good overall and...
I will be patient and persistant in my challenge to get my life/health back.

The Next Time You Take Your Meds...

2005-04-15T09:54:00.000-06:00

Remember this article!!!
I found this article today on my usual morning "Google" search for 'ALS/Lou Gehrig's' news.
It's pretty obvious which parts (of the article) I find most disturbing.

Start-ups work on rare diseases
By SABINE VOLLMER

The Triangle has always been a hot spot for unprofitable drug research and development -- but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Indeed, start-ups, as young companies are called, are the best hope for people in need of drugs that treat rare diseases.

Large pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer tend to focus on potential blockbusters, drugs that generate more than $1 billion in annual sales, and ignore experimental drugs for diseases affecting a small number of patients.

That's why companies such as Metabolon, Icagen and Parion Sciences are needed.

Metabolon, a biotech company in Durham, is conducting research into Lou Gehrig's disease, which it says affects about 30,000 people in the United States.

Parion Sciences, a Durham drug development company, focuses on treatments for cystic fibrosis. The company says about 35,000 Americans suffer from the disease.

And Icagen, another Durham drug development company, is working on a drug for sickle cell disease, which it says affects about 100,000 in the United States.

Few if any drugs are on the market to treat these diseases. Still, a corner on the market doesn't mean huge revenues. But that's not a problem for the start-ups.

"Small companies are not so hungry for billion-dollar revenue," said Kay Wagoner, Icagen's chief executive. "For them, $50 million or $100 million in revenue is good."

The National Institutes of Health estimate that about 20 million Americans are affected by about 6,000 rare diseases.

Government incentives exist to research rare diseases, which are defined by the Orphan Drug Act as those affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans. Treatments, also known as orphan drugs, can be developed with the help of grants from the institute or nonprofit support groups. Also, orphan drugs tend to pass regulatory review faster, and once they're approved, they are protected from competition for several years.

Still, only 26 orphan drugs came to market in the past three years, institute records show.

Being able to justify expenses for research and development remains key.

The sickle cell treatment is Icagen's most advanced drug. Outside the United States, the drug targets more than 4 million Africans suffering from the disease. The company, which employs 75, has six other experimental drugs in its development pipeline.

Parion, which employs 10, is eyeing the $20 billion worldwide market for a chronic bronchitis drug, said Ross Johnson, the company's chief executive. Cystic fibrosis and chronic bronchitis have similar symptoms.

Metabolon, which employs 22, is financing its research of Lou Gehrig's disease with institute grants. So far the company has received three, each worth $100,000 to $200,000.

John Ryals, chief executive of Metabolon, expects to attract about $2 million worth of grants for the work.

"We'll take this as far as we can," Ryals said. Then he hopes to sell the rights to use the information.

So far, Metabolon has raised about $9 million in venture capital. The money supports research in other neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

"We couldn't justify putting our own money into this," Ryals said about the Lou Gehrig's research. "It's not a large enough population."
Read the Original Article

Tell that to my children!!!

Wisdom from Where We Don't Always Expect It:

2005-04-13T14:39:00.000-06:00

Some people understand life better, And they call some of these people "retarded"...

At the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry.

The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back......every one of them. One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story...
Why? Because deep down we know this one thing:

What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.

If you pass this on, we may be able to change our hearts as well as someone else's.
"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle."

Weekly Update...April 10th

2005-04-10T13:59:00.000-06:00

On a sad note...
An 'online' friend of mine from my Canadian PALS forum and the ALS Society of Canada forum, informed us that, her brother passed away on Friday morning after a two year battle with ALS.
It's a solemn reminder of how lucky I am to be doing so well with this disease (after almost 3 years).

My heartfelt condolences go out to 'G' and her family...

On a happy note...
Another 'online' PALS friend of mine from my Canadian PALS forum and the ALS Society of Canada forum, also informed us that...
He's now a first time Grandfather!
Samantha Lee arrived at home, surprising her parents, at 12:30 P.M. Saturday Apr. 9/05.
Congrats to Al and his entire family!

Now...How am I doin'???
Not too badly, I hafta say.
Considering I had to make a trip to Emergency on Wednesday night.
Woke up at 3am Wed. morning with severe diarrhea and vomiting.
I couldn't keep anything down and had a fever all day long.
By 9pm...
Andrea was worried about my high temp and dehydration.
Went to the Hospital. Got an IV and I'm good to go...
I've been feeling great ever since.

My supplementation** and physio-therapy(1.5 hours x 5 days a week) regimen, remains unchanged.

For some strange reason...
The sky in my world, seems to be a little bluer these days.
It feels good!

**
3 tsp (5ml) Ambrotose 3x daily
1 capsule AmbrotoseAO 2x daily
1 tsp (5ml) Phyt-Aloe 2x daily
1 tsp (5ml) PHYTOGENINS (Plus) 3x daily
1 oz Awareness Daily Complete Multivitamin 1x daily
1 capsule Awareness Synergy 1x daily

Glycoscience: Biology’s Newest Uncharted Frontier

2005-04-10T11:39:00.000-06:00

by Kathleen Cason

Like wallflowers at the homecoming dance, complex carbohydrates used to attract few suitors. In the world of giant biological molecules, their sexier cousins — DNA and proteins — commanded the most attention.

But over the past decade, the wallflowers have bloomed and scientists are hastening to uncover their secrets. And researchers at UGA’s Complex Carbohydrate Research Center are helping lead the way.

Complex carbohydrates are the next frontier in understanding the secret molecular messages that rule the life of our cells. These strings and branching “trees” of sugars have eluded study and their roles have long been neglected. But during the past two decades evidence has been mounting that these macromolecules deserve attention: Carbohydrates determine blood type, regulate plant growth, and even have roles in cancer, diabetes and human development.

For all cells — plant, microbe and animal — a sugar coating is at the cell’s outer perimeter. It’s what an invader first encounters; it’s what other cells touch. In it resides information that identifies the cell — this one’s a liver cell, that one a skin cell. It may glue similar cells together or unglue cancer cells, allowing them to break loose and travel throughout the body. When invader molecules from a virus, bacterium or fungus touch the outer perimeter, they may trigger self-defense mechanisms in plants or provoke immune responses in animals.

For several decades, CCRC researchers have been on the forefront of glycoscience (“glyco” means sugar). They not only study normal growth and development in plants and animals but also investigate disease processes. When tools did not exist to answer their research questions, CCRC scientists developed new ones. The methods they’ve developed are fueling plant and medical carbohydrate research, not just at the CCRC but worldwide.

“The biology is hard, the chemistry is hard, everything is hard,” said Gerald Hart, a CCRC adviser from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “In glycobiology, in terms of understanding and technology, we’re back where DNA and proteins were in the 1960s. There’s been a lot of progress in the past 10 years but we have a long way to go.”
Read the Entire Article...

A New Perspective...

2005-04-03T14:37:00.000-06:00

Here's my (late) Update...
It's been an odd week (and a half).

Cindi(pt) has been sick...so NO 'physio' in the last 4 days. Omagod!!! What a difference. My legs are tight, my neck is sore, I'm lacking sleep, I'm twitching all over - all the time...UGH!!!

My brother and sister-in-law arrived Thursday morning for a visit.
I hadn't seen them in over a year, so it's been a REAL eye-opener for all of us.
Emotionally tough for me, as I recognize how much I've changed since I last saw them.
They have a tough time understanding me - Andrea and the boys hafta translate for me.
I need help up n down stairs, showering, dressing, eating and gettin' about.
Rob (my bro) has been a saint.
I appreciate all of his help, but it's been frustrating (for both of us).
I can't properly communicate what I need him to do and in failing to understand me, he tries to be '2 steps ahead', thus, complicating the process.
He has a heart of gold and I love him dearly for all his effort(s).

I got my *NEW* wheelchair on Thursday. I don't need it around the house, but use it for extended trips outside the home.
So Friday we all went to the zoo...Talk about seeing the world from 'a new perspective'.
I'm 6'3" and spent most of my life being (literally) 'heads above the crowd'. Being limo'd around seeing the sites from my 6 year old's point of view, is surreal.

While I appreciate the mobility and freedom (not too mention better parking spots... :-) )a wheelchair will bring...
It's still my goal to defy the medical odds and beat this disease and return to walking tall with my head and shoulders above the crowd.

Nutritional Supplement Made from Glyconutrients Shown to Restore and Improve Cellular Health

2005-04-02T13:36:00.000-07:00

Mannatech, a glyconutritional company in Texas, has patented the healthiest nutritional supplement on the market, Ambrotose AO. This nutritional supplement is created from a combination of eight essential glyconutrients, which aid in cellular communication to help prevent disease, and are easily digested into the body because the body recognizes them as food.
Mannatech, a glyconutritional research and development company in Dallas, has patented a combination of eight essential glyconutrients that people need to maintain their health. This combination of glyconutrients has been developed into the most natural and healthy nutritional supplement on the market.
The science behind our products has proven that health begins at the cellular level, a fact that's rapidly gaining universal acknowledgment, said Bert Klein, Independent Associate Executive Director. Many people already take nutritional supplements to improve their health, but that's not enough. The nutritional supplement industry is faced with many difficult challenges to overcome. First, the public has difficulty getting the right combination of vitamins and minerals in their nutritional supplements because they can't tell exactly what their bodies need and it can be dangerous to use the wrong formula. Second, because the nutritional supplement is not created out of a food the body recognizes, it doesn't dissolve easily or not at all and the active ingredient is lost. What this means is the nutritional supplement is practically useless and becomes expensive urine.

Mannatech has created a nutritional supplement that meets both of these challenges. Research has shown that there are certain carbohydrates (sugars) that are necessary in our diets for cellular communication. (Don’t confuse them with table sugar; these are special monosaccharides). When all eight sugars, or their precursors, are provided to the body in a nutritional supplement, then the body has what it needs to communicate properly and heal and defend itself against disease.

“Health problems today are tied to the one trillion-dollar food industry,” said Klein. “Our bodies are not designed to ingest and assimilate foods that have been irradiated and devitalized. Add to that green harvest, toxins, and the fact that the meat we eat today is primarily from animals that were raised in a feedlot or in a cage, the commercial food industry is causing us to miss these very essential sugars in our diet. It’s been proven that our modern diets only contain two of the eight sugars that are necessary for this cellular communication.”

Because people only get two of the eight essential glyconutrients in their food, the Mannatech nutritional supplement Ambrotose AO, which contains all eight, will always provide what the consumer’s body needs. The glyconutrients are naturally occurring sugars, like those in food, so the body recognizes them and digests them much more effectively that other nutritional supplements.

Science Magazine, one of the most widely read science publications, devoted the majority of their March 2001 issue to the subject of Carbohydrates and Glycobiology. One article was entitled, “Saving Lives with Sugar”. Dr. Emil Mondoa, a medical doctor, recently published the book “Sugars That Heal”. He says that “even tiny amounts of these sugars, or lack of them…have profound effects.” It should also be noted that four of the last eight Nobel Prizes for Physiology and Medicine were awarded to scientists in the field of cellular communication.

Mannatech is a glyconutritional company located in Dallas, Texas with proprietary, consumable, scientifically validated health care products, manufactured to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards. Currently, five Texas A&M graduate students have earned their PhD working in Mannatech’s lab. Mannatech filed “composition of matter” patents worldwide on Ambrotose® in 1996, and numerous patents have been granted to date. A patent on Ambrotose AO™ was filed recently as well.

Ambrotose® won the Biochemistry Discovery of the Year award from the American
Naturopathic Medical Association in 1996. Mannatech is a member of the Council for Responsible Nutrition. Between 1999–2001, 54,000 papers were published on Med-Line regarding the discovery of cellular communication.
Read the Full Press Release...

Good Video Presentation

2005-03-25T16:52:00.000-07:00

Although not ALS specific...
This is very good video presentation by Dr Reg McDaniel and is about the effects of Glyconutrients, Stem cells, and the body's ability to heal itself.

Click Here for Video...

It's about 35mins long.

Weekly Update...Mar 24th

2005-03-24T09:40:00.000-07:00

Been a weird week...

Physically, I'm feeling pretty good. I did 'physio' for a SOLID 90 minutes yesterday.
Was I pooped!
Today, I feel great. My strength is good and I feel very calm and relaxed.
None of the usual 'day after a good workout' aches n pains.

Emotionally...I've been all over the map!
One day, I feel fine...
The next day, I feel like curling up in a corner and DYING!
There hasn't really been anything (that I'm aware of) bothering me lately.
I'm gonna assume my emotional response system needed a good purging and to shut down and re-charge for awhile.
Feeling MUCH better now. ;^)

I'm maintaining all my daily doses of my suppliments and I'm still 'Med-Free'.

Yesterday, while receiving my weekly Reiki (pronounced ray-kee) treatment, something came to me that I felt I needed to share...
The following story has been emailed to me a few times and it always gives me a 'lift'.
The similarities between 'Jerry' and myself are uncanny...

A True Story
Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was Always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "if I were any better I would be twins!" He was aunique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry wasbecause of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all the time. How do you do it?" Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today.You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life." "Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested. "Yes, it is,"Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. when you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or a bad mood. The bottomline: it's your choice how you live life." I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.
Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand,shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care Jerry was released from hospital with fragments of the bullet still in his body. I saw Jerry about six months after the incident. When I asked him howhe was, he replied, "If I were any better I would be twins. Wanna see my scars?" I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live,or I could choose to die. I chose to live."
"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. Jerry continued,"The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I really got scared. In their eyes, I read, "He's a dead man." I knew I needed to take action. "What did you do?"I asked. "Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked me if I was allergic to anything. "Yes," I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for me to reply. I took adeep breath and yelled, "bullets!" Over their laughter I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I'm alive, not dead."
Jerry lived, thanks to the skill of the doctors and nurses, but also becauseof his amazing attitude. I learned from him that very day we have two choices to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

Although I've never been shot...Thank Goodness!
I've managed (and owned a) restaurants for over 15 years (in my past)...
I've had family/friends follow me and work with me in the various establishments...
I've had numerous people comment/ask about my infectious 'Good mood/attitude'...
The reason I'm sharing this and why I appreciate 'Jerry's Story' so much, is this.

I can VIVIDLY recall the attitude and look on the people's faces at my first visit to ALS Clinic(Aug 2002).
They were looks of Pity and Sorrow!!!
The attitudes were... Eat every meal like it's your LAST! Travel and do the things you've always wanted to do! Get your affairs in order!
Essentially..."You are a Deadman!" (I can't be the only PALS who's felt this way?)

You know what? I'm still here.
Just work with me and have the attitude "I'm gonna beat this and LIVE!"
Attitude, after all, is everything.

Weekly Update...

2005-03-17T15:47:00.000-07:00

My week started off crappy...
Was very tired and lethargic all week long.
Shitty weather lately, is partly to blame
Also
Found out on Monday that a fellow Canadian PALS passed away earlier that morning.
I never met him (Henry), but had a few email conversations with his wife Carol.
She's also a regular on the ALS Canada Forum. Carol is a lovely person and my sympathies go out her and her family.

Today...
It feels like the fog has lifted.
My speech is clearer. I have more energy. I'm walking better.
To top it all off...
The NCAA March Madness Basketball Championship started today. Nothin' but basketball on my tv for the next 4 days.
I love it!

Self-Imposed Limitations

2005-03-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

Taken from "Time for a little spring cleaning"
BY JEFF HERRING
Knight Ridder Newspapers

Limitations that are not necessary.
Contrary to some current popular sayings, there are limits in life. No matter how much I may want to, or even how much I believe I can, I just cannot fly from here to Orlando without the aid of a plane. These are not the limitations of which I speak.

I'm talking about our self-imposed limitations. Our 'I can'ts.' I recently listened to a man who went into the hospital for what he thought was a pinched nerve. He came out two days later with three years to live because of ALS, or what is more commonly known as 'Lou Gehrig's Disease.' His doctor told him his body will waste away while his mind stays in tact, and if there was anything he wanted to do, to do it now. What I want is this guy's passion and zest for life with out his affliction.

Suggestion: Make a list of 10 things you would like to be, to do, or to have. Pick one and do it. If you can't do it right away, schedule it. If you are like most of us, you are already coming up with reasons and excuses why you cannot do, be or have what you want. What if you had to? What if you knew that time was short? What if you had to?

Read the Full Article

Amen! to that brutha!!!

AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE - DECEPTION AND DISABILITY

2005-03-13T12:09:00.001-07:00

by Marjorie Tietjen
Daystar1952@yahoo.com
May 11, 2004

"I wonder how many of you have been diagnosed with autoimmune disease or know someone else who has? I am willing to bet that just about all of us fit into this category. Ask yourself....how many of the chronic diseases have known or admitted causes, definitive tests or cures? Off hand, I can't think of many...if any. I always thought the main purpose of a charity organization was to fund research into cures for all these separate diseases. Doesn't seem as though they are having much luck.

Many of you are already aware that Lyme Disease, as well as Syphilis ( a close spirochetal cousin of lyme ), are known as the 'Great Imitators'. The question we must ask is.....is lyme disease imitating numerous other diseases or are disease labels such as Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Attention Deficit Disorder, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, etc, being handed out to different manifestations of Lyme Disease? Unfortunately Yale University is considered the main authority on Lyme Disease. Their position is that 4 weeks of antibiotics is more than enough to cure the illness. If one still has the exact same symptoms on the day after this arbitrary time limit, then we are told we are no longer actively infected with the lyme spirochete but that now we either have an autoimmune disease, depression or antibiotic seeking behavior. I've spoken to so many people who 'once had lyme' and they now supposedly have Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, ALS, Fibromyalgia, etc." Read More...

Interesting...

4 Month Update...

2005-03-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

I started taking Glyconutrients on Nov 11th 2004.

Since then, I've seen amazing improvements in my minor health concerns (skin is clearer, disappearance of minor infection(s), etc.).
Looking back at the last 4 months of Posts...
My (overall) physical abilities HAVE deteriorated since Nov 11th.
My speech is more slurred, walking requires someone to be with me, my arms...hard to tell? If I'm tired, I will use the wheelchair...D'oh!!!

But!!! (Here's where the fun begins...)

Last Week, I posted how great I've been feeling lately ("Friday, March 04, 2005
Feelin' GREAT!!! ") and the reasons (I felt) why.
This week...I still feel great!!!
I haven't used the 'chair' since Monday morning.
I am able to walk (hither and yon) with minimal assistance.
During my Physio Therapy, I have been able to ADD! more exercises and stretching to my routine. I can do more reps of each exercise (ie. 50 leg/knee extensions instead of the 10 I would/could do a few months ago).
I've even added a few 'resistance' type exercises (Cindi will pull/flex my arm in one direction and I will push/pull (with everything I have) in the opposite direction as an example).
I've surprized myself at just how strong my legs still are. Flexibilty is the issue.
And my arms are the opposite...amazing flexibility but lacking the strength.

Oh oh...Here comes the sermon!

Looking back(since my diagnosis in July 02)...
I really haven't been too concerned about 'What causes ALS?'.
Is it gene mutation? Enviromental Toxins? Stress?
Nobody knows for sure.
Do cigarettes cause Cancer...No! they don't!
If they caused Cancer, that would mean, everyone who smokes (or subjected to 2nd hand smoke) WILL have/develope Cancer...Right???
Wrong!
Cigarettes WILL signifigantly increase the risk of developing Cancer if you smoke them. Plain and simple.
Not everyone will get Cancer. Some people can smoke their entire lives and die of old age, while (not so lucky) others, who never smoked, die from lung cancer developed from being exposed to 2nd hand smoke.
My question (has always been) is...Why is that???

I've smoked...
I drank (waaay) too much...
I dietaryly abused my body for over 20 years (I once recieved a Xmas card from my favourite pizza joint...Honestly!).
Emotionaly, I was/am considered the 'Nice' guy and let people (closest to me) walk over/take advantage of me. (My nickname growing up was 'Mum'...I always put everyone else's needs before my own.)

So...What does cause ALS?
Specifically, I haven't a clue?
Generally, I know EXACTLY what conditions caused me to receive my ALS diagnosis. Nutritionally, Emotionally and Spiritually my body has been abused and neglected to a point where it wasn't able to stop/prevent that mutating gene, dispose of that toxin or relieve that stress that 'causes' ALS.
It's like the teachings at the 'Yukon Institute of Automotive Assembly' (Y.I.AUTO.)...
You can change the oil in your car, but if you don't (never) change the oil filter...
The car will run...but for how long? Dirty filter means dirty oil and eventual engine damage.
The car will eventually breakdown as my body has.

Switchin' to Repair Mode...
I've broken down the various areas in my life, that I was either abusing and/or neglecting, into the most basic parts.
I've addressed the issues and came up with a plan.
Plans are meant to be done in steps. No step is done before it's proper time. No step in the plan should 'undo' the benefit(s) gained in the previous step(s). All steps in the plan should compliment each other.

My plan has been simple.

Work to improve my bodies nutritional intake.
Work to resolve some long overdue emotional issues in my life.
Work to improve my physical body.

Take care of these 3 things and my body will take care of itself.

Over the last 2+ years... (almost 3...YIKES!)
I've taken a 'Holistic' approach to my problem.
I've been eating better than I have in the last 20!
I've done a lot of work to resolve (put into perspective) personal (emotional) issues.
Getting these areas sorted out has given me a new sense of Spirituality (non religious).

In a word, my approach has been 'BALANCED'.

I have come along way...
But my road to travel, is longer still.
I am a better person now and no matter the outcome of my journey...

I will be fine.

Top 20 Oxymorons

2005-03-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

20. Government Organization
19. Alone Together
18. Personal Computer
17. Silent Scream
16. Living Dead
15. Same Difference
14. Taped Live
13. Plastic Glasses
12. Tight Slacks
11. Peace Force
10. Pretty Ugly
9. Head Butt
8. Working Vacation
7. Tax Return
6. Virtual Reality
5. Dodge Ram
4. Work Party
3. Jumbo Shrimp
2. Healthy Tan

And the #1 Oxymoron is...

1. McDonald's Unveils Healthy Living Campaign

NEW YORK (AP) - Shifting the spotlight from french fries to fruit, McDonald's Corp. (MCD) launched a new worldwide initiative Tuesday promoting healthy living - the latest effort by the world's largest restaurant chain to combat criticism of its food and business.
The 'It's what I eat and what I do ... I'm lovin' it' campaign includes television ads, new packaging, an updated Web site and a fresh series of Ronald McDonald videos teaching children how to eat well and stay active.
'We will use our size and strength to set an example,' said Chief Executive Officer Jim Skinner, who declined to put a price tag on the campaign.
The TV spots, which will be rolled out over the next couple of months in different languages around the world, feature kid-friendly images such as snowboarding, jump-roping fruits and veggies and tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. Hockey player Wayne Gretzky and speed skater Bonnie Blair will also spread the word.

McDonald's has pushed to convey a healthier image amid mounting criticism - not to mention obesity lawsuits - claiming fast food is not nutritious and has contributed to America's weight problem. The Oak Brook, Ill.-based company was also the target of the 2004 documentary 'Super Size Me,' which focused on the health decline of filmmaker Morgan Spurlock during an all-McDonald's diet.
The company introduced entree-sized salads in U.S. restaurants in spring 2003 and in Europe in 2004. McDonald's also ran a promotion for adult Happy Meals featuring salad, bottled water and a " Read More...

While I do applaud their efforts to promote healthy eating...
Let's be realistic!!!

My Horoscope...Today

2005-03-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

"It's an instant replay of yesterday, complete with every last stumbling block, barrier and impediment you could possibly have imagined -- as well as a couple you hadn't. You being you, however, these challenges will only sweeten the pot. You'll gladly jump through every hoop, navigate every obstacle on the course and do what it takes to get where you want to be. At that point, feel free to sit, relax and gloat."

Inspiration comes to me at the strangest times and from the weirdest places.

5 Senses...

2005-03-05T12:51:00.000-07:00

I know, after countless hours of reading/research on ALS (and it's effects on the human body), the 5 senses of Touch, Taste, Sight, Hearing and Smelling are not affected by this disease.

But what happens to our other senses???

Someone commented to me (in an email) the other day...
"It's good that your are keeping your sense of humour."

It struck me as an odd statement...Am I supposed to lose it?

So I 'Googled' it (Google Search: losing your sense of humour)...
I couldn't find any information (medical or otherwise) as to Why??? I would lose it.

So how do I know I'm keeping it?
Is there a blood test? A written or oral exam?
Is there a urine test? and do I need to pee in a 'Dribble Cup' at the doctor's office?
Do I need to watch a Monty Python movie to see if I laugh?
Do I need to email everyone in my address book a dirty joke?

Thinking about 'losing my sense of humour' only increases my 'senses of paranoia' (at least it's intact).
What about my 'sense of well-being'?
What about my 'sense of direction'?
What about my 'sense of purpose'?
Too many questions that are overloading my senses!!!

BUT! ...while on my search, I did find a column written by someone who was unaware she had lost hers... Losing your sense of humour is not as simple as losing a cellphone... and its not funny either by Evelyn John Holtzhausen
I read the article...
I smiled...
and immediately knew...
My sense of humour is intact.

As anyone, who has been diagnosed with a terrible disease, will tell you...

Laughter IS the Best Medicine...
...and having a sense of humour and the ability to laugh at yourself is an integral part of the 'healing process'.

Does that make sense???
Scents?
Cents?

Feelin' GREAT!!!

2005-03-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

Lately...I've been Feelin' GREAT!!!
And I believe these are the reasons why...

Firstly...Weather.
Calgary's weather, as of late, has been warm and steady (avg +11c (50f)).
I find when a 'front' moves in, and the weather changes is when I have my 'off' days.
Forecast calls for nice weather till next week...Wahoo!

Secondly...Physio Therapy.
It's been 1 month of regular physio. I've been getting a GOOD 1 hour workout 4x a week and Cindy (my PT) thinks my flexibilty is amazing for someone who has been diagnosed with ALS as long as I have.

Thirdly...Protein.
To build muscle, the body needs protein.
Added drinking a Protein Shake (BH...They're 'Glute' FREE) 2-3x a day, last week, to my daily regimin.

Fourthly...Reiki.
Over the last month, I've been having weekly visits by a friend who practices Reiki (and other therapies). To describe the experience(s), I can only say...WOW!
Here's an example of what I felt/experienced in a session 2 weeks ago...

when he first started and put a crystal on my third eye(Chakra point on the forehead)...I felt like I was watching myself on the table and there was a beam of intense light (full colour spectrum) connecting my third eye to the sky above.
at times the crystal on my third eye felt like it weighed 10 lbs
other times I couldn't feel it at all
once, when he was at my feet, the crystal felt like a pin through my head and my entire body was spinning around it.
when he held my feet - for a moment it felt like I was floating on air and his hands were grounding me.
I felt a lot of warmth/heat in various parts of my body throughout the session.
my hands/fingers had a tingly (pins and needles) feeling the entire session.
at one point I felt the need to scream...but, physically, wasn't able to.
the word 'Bacon' kept coming to me...(???)
throughout the session I kept hearing "Don't worry, it's just a test. It'll be alright."

It was an amazing experince.

Last, but not least...Glyconutrients.
In light of all the information I've read and/or posted on the subject, with the disappearance of my (minor) chronic maladies and the way I'm feeling as a 'whole'...
I believe my Glyconutrients are helping.
I received this snippet in an email this past week:

It's important to realize that changes with glyconutrients take time.

You have trillions of cells in your body.

It takes TIME to repair and regenerate them.

Persistence and Patience!

My whole approach has been just that...Persistence and Patience!

Lately...
I've been feeling a lot more confident and stable while standing and walking. I have more energy. My motivation to do more, is increasing. My overall health (emotional, spiritual, physical (despite the ALS)) is better.
This is the best I've felt in YEARS!

I must be doin' sumthin right.

Feeling headachy about the shortage of new drugs? Take a couple of aspirins

2005-02-27T18:45:00.000-07:00

Things that make you go...hmmmm!

Mike

WE ARE producing too few new drugs. America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 53 new drugs in 1996 but only 21 in 2003. Moreover, of the drugs that are launched, too many are recalled on safety grounds: Merck’s recent withdrawal of the painkiller Vioxx, for example, threatens the future of the whole class of Cox-2 inhibitors.
The pharmaceutical industry is suffering: after 20 years as the most profitable out of the 47 industries listed in the Fortune 500, it is now ranked third. Moreover, after a decade of annual growth in sales of around 14 per cent, pharmaceuticals are now looking at only 8 per cent.

The problem lies in unsuccessful research. In recent decades, researchers have searched for new drugs by the traditional route of exploring new sciences (such as DNA). Now that that search is failing, researchers are inverting the conventional model, and they are looking for new uses for old drugs.

Jeffrey Rothstein, a neuroscientist from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, organised a consortium of 27 research laboratories, each of which studies some aspect of neurobiology. He then selected, randomly, 1,000 drugs that the FDA had already approved for the treatment of a variety of diseases and asked the 27 labs to test them on experiments they were already undertaking.

To everybody’s surprise, Rothstein found that penicillin is a potentially useful treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the neurodegenerative disease from which Stephen Hawking suffers. If trials confirm that it might indeed be a useful neurological drug, it could be introduced clinically with little delay or cost. New uses for other established drugs may emerge similarly over the next decades.

Although Rothstein has conducted a powerful experiment, life for the poor bloody infantry at the bench could not get much more boring than screening 1,000 randomly chosen chemicals on a repetitive assay. There’s an irony here, because the first antibiotic was found in a similar way. In 1910 the German scientist Paul Ehrlich discovered 606 as a “magic bullet” treatment for syphilis, and he named it 606 because it was the 606th randomly chosen chemical that he injected into syphilitic rabbits.

PERHAPS the poor bloody infantry at the bench deserve to be bored because they stick at the level of experiments. In 1662 the Royal Society was founded to “improve the knowledge of natural things, and all useful arts, Manufactures, Mechanic practices, Engynes and Inventions by experiment”. But experiments are a chore, and few of the really important scientists do many of them.
Consider physics. This year we celebrate the centenary of Einstein’s trio of great papers, but Einstein did no experiments. He wasn’t even an academic — he worked as a patents clerk in Bern, and he ruminated over other people’s experiments.

Einstein’s great predecessor, Newton, did, of course, perform experiments, particularly in optics (and alchemy) but he explained that “if I have made any valuable discoveries it has been owing more to patient attention than to any other talent”. He was primarily an observer and thinker.

In biology, the story is clear. The four great biologists of the modern era were Darwin and Wallace (of natural selection) and Watson and Crick (of DNA). Not one of them was an experimenter, each merely observed Nature and other people’s experiments.

The infantry soldier of the DNA story was, of course, Rosalind Franklin, but she was soon forgotten (although she is now being reinvented as a victim and feminist icon) because, although she did the key experiments, she failed to understand their significance. Yet the story has a happy ending because Franklin knew herself not to be a thinker, and she was happy for others to explain her data.

In chemistry, too, the story is clear but less happy. The greatest of chemists was the French aristocrat Lavoisier, who inaugurated modern atomic theory, not by his own experiments but by reinterpreting those of the English prole Priestley. Priestley, who died still believing in phlogiston (that fire is a substance), never forgave Lavoisier.

But we do forgive Lavoisier, because experiments are only one basis of science, not its essence.

Scientific Research Proves Glyconutrients May Reverse Asthma, Cancer, Heart Disease And More.

2005-02-26T16:34:00.000-07:00

Scientific data from credible sources all over the world is beginning to support that Glyconutrients dramatically improves cell-to-cell communication, which can lead to the body"s ability to defeat some of the nations most dangerous killers. "Our immune system was designed to defeat disease and illness before it starts, at the source, however, Americans diets have lead to a tremendous weakening of these systems. As a result, we seek the use of drugs to treat the symptoms rather than to address the cause." Says Fred Franke, one of the nations leading Glyco-nutrient specialists. "By adding a simple supplement of Glyco-nutrients to our diets, we can provide our bodies with the material to restore cell-to-cell communication and this can lead to the defeat of some of our societies most feared killers."Research all over the world has been supporting these claims for more than 10 years but, modern medicine isn"t designed as a preventative practice in this country. The basis of this research has shown that the body needs an abundant supply of 8 monosaccharides to ensure proper health and when given these nutrients a healthy body has an amazing ability to defeat disease. This means Glyconutirents aren"t designed to cure, mitigate or treat any illness but rather to provide the body with the material to support its" own optimum health. In our modern diets, most people are only getting 2 of the needed 8 carbohydrates. Mr. Franke has literally changed thousands of lives over the past several years in helping people dramatically improve the quality of their health. "Cell to cell communication is literally how we survive and this gives our body the best chance to repair and heal itself. I"ve helped thousands of people from all over the world who were suffering from asthma, cancer, ADHD and countless other ailments. This technology and the science behind it is absolutely changing the world and revolutionizing the health industry, as we know it".

Glyconutrition - Sugars That Heal

2005-02-26T15:24:00.000-07:00

The New Class of Missing Nutrients
"Miracle Sugars"

Scientists have recently discovered that our modern diet is missing some very vital nutrients, and surprisingly enough, these missing nutrients are sugars. After years of research, author Rita Elkins has come to the conclusion that the lack of these invaluable sugars in our diet is a major reason for most of today’s diseases; even cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Today, six out of the top ten causes of death are diet related, and chronic degenerative diseases afflict over 120 million Americans. Miracle Sugars provides valuable information on the recent breakthrough discovery of glyconutrients, which have amazing abilities to maintain and balance your immune system, helping you to achieve optimum health and prevent even the most insidious of today’s killer diseases.

Excerpts:

Can the Human Body Make Glyconutrients:

Yes, we do have the ability to manufacture some glyconutrients, but to do so requires complex chemical pathways. The harmful effects of stress, toxins, poor nutrition, and genetic abnormalities in our metabolism can inhibit this conversion. Consequently, the number and structure of our glycoproteins may be impaired, which can lead to a number of serious health conditions common to our day.

Could these conditions be our modern-day scurvy or beri beri? Could the increase in disease state we see today actually be nothing more than nutritional deficiencies? Consider this... what if those deficiencies involved a class of nutrients that remained unknown until only ten years ago? If our assumptions are true, then it only stands to reason that these conditions could be dramatically treated with the missing nutrients!

A Diet Deficiency Today is a Clinical Event Tomorrow

Cancer has moved from the tenth leading cause of death to number two, even after Richard Nixon’s “War on Cancer” spent thirty billion dollars attempting to find a cure. Diabetes has increased 700 percent since 1959. Nearly fifteen million American adults suffer from asthma and the Environmental Health Commission predicts that number will increase to twenty-nine million by 2020. Twenty-one million Americans suffer from arthritis, and approximately fifty million Americans suffer from autoimmune diseases, with 75 percent of these being female. Many of these autoimmune conditions were practically non-existent thirty years ago.

Look at the average diet of children today--soft drinks, processed cereal, pizza, candy, fast food and their favorite and often only source of vegetables: French fries. Could this be why we are seeing a dramatic rise in ADHD, to the point where eight million American children need to be drugged daily? Autism has gone from 1 in 10,000 children to 1 in 150 in just ten years. Further, adult-onset diabetes is occurring at epidemic rates in children as young as eight.

The Consequences of Glyconutrition

Complete Glyconutrition provides immune balance, fortification, and maintenance. Glyconutritionals are very unique because they are immune system modulators. This means glyconutrient supplementation can help to correct an overactive immune system (auto-immune diseases), boost an under active immune system (chronic or recurring infections), and keep immune armies in tip-top shape for exceptional disease prevention.

Scientific Research Backing Glyconutrition

There are over 20,000 studies conducted annually on glycoforms alone. Researchers from universities and major pharmaceutical companies realize the importance of this new discovery. Breaking the “sugar-code” will mean a tremendous advancement in health and medicine.

Studies confirm that the eight essential biologically active sugars can accomplish amazing results. The following are just a few examples of the exciting possibilities of Glyconutrition:

Dramatically raises natural killer cell and macrophage count against infectious organisms.
Activates immune T-cell activity only when invaders or antigens are present.
Decreases cell death in chronic fatigue syndrome.
Dramatically elevates disease resistance in weakened individuals.
Acts as antioxidant compounds, which boost the collection of dangerous free radicals.
Protects the body against toxin and pollutant exposure.
Slows premature aging.
Decreases inflammation in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
Helps immune cells recognize invaders due to a mutual “sugar exchange” of information.
Enables cellular components to stick to each other initiating the right reactions.

Miracle Sugars is published by Woodland Publishing, who has sold millions of books found in health food stores across North America.

About the Author:
Rita Elkins, M.H. has worked as an author and research specialist in the health field for the last ten years, and possess a strong background in both conventional and alternative health therapies. She is the author of numerous books, including Solving the Depression Puzzle, The Pocket Herbal Reference, The Complete Fiber Fact Book, and The Herbal Emergency Guide. She has received an honorary Master Herbalist Degree from the College of Holistic Health and Healing in 1994.

Rita is frequently consulted for the formulation of herbal blends and has recently joined a Research Medical Advisory Board. She is a regular contributor to Let’s Live and Great Life magazines and is a frequent host on radio talk shows exploring natural health topics. She lectures nationwide on the science behind natural compounds and collaborates with medical doctors on various projects. She recently co-authored Soy Smart Health with New York Times’ best-selling author Neil Solomon, M.D.

Went to the ALS clinic...

2005-02-24T10:33:00.000-07:00

..Yesterday.

It was a tough day!
I didn't sleep well the night before (up late studyin' for my blood test 8-/ )
I decided to take 'The Chair' this time. Tough (but necessary) decision as my balance hasn't been very good since my fall 2 weeks ago.
Very mixed feelings...I enjoyed the 'regal' feeling of being wheeled around, but...
Having to give in and give up some major independence (for safety's sake), is a tough pill to swallow and a big indicator of a tough road ahead.
My shower chair/commode arrived today. At least Andrea won't hafta worry about me falling in the shower anymore. We're also arranging to have more 'Homecare' in to give Andrea a hand with thing's (me) around the house

Good News though...
My bloodwork was perfectly normal (O2, CO2 and blood pressure).
My Vital Lung Capacity was down (I knew it would be) to 77%. Considering my left side still aches (since the fall) during a DEEP breath...I'm not surprised.
Overall, the respiratory surgeon was VERY happy with my results and is amazed at how well I'm doing in the long run. The physio-therapists were also impressed with my leg strength and the fact I can still stand/walk.

Needless to say - The last 36 hours have been an emotional roller coaster...

Today I had physio for an hour...I feel Soooo much better now!!!

Gotta keep on Keepin on!!! (too bad it doesn't pay better)
:-)

Truisms...

2005-02-19T16:40:00.000-07:00

Now that food has replaced sex in my life, I can't even get into my own
pants.

Marriage changes passion. Suddenly you're in bed with a relative.

I saw a woman wearing a sweat shirt with "Guess" on it. So I said Implants?"
She hit me.

I don't do drugs. I get the same effect just standing up fast.

I live in my own little world. But it's OK. They know me here.

I got a sweater for Christmas. I really wanted a screamer or a moaner.

I don't approve of political jokes. I've seen too many of them get elected.

Every time I walk into a singles bar I can hear Mom's wise words:
Don't pick that up, you don't know where it's been!"

A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"

I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose-fitting
clothing. If I HAD any loose-fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in
the first place!

When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping," now I just "chunky dunk."

Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the
difference.

Just remember...if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.

Why is it that children can't read a Bible in school, but they can in
prison?

If raising children was going to be easy, it never would have started with
something called LABOR!

Wouldn't you know it...Brain cells come and brain cells go, but FAT cells
live forever.

Why do I have to swear on the Bible in court when the Ten Commandments
cannot be displayed in a federal building?

Bumper sticker of the year: "If you can read this, thank a teacher....and
since it's in English, thank a soldier."

The Globe and Mail: Common foods laced with chemical

2005-02-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

While I don't believe this to be a direct cause of ALS...
..it is rather disturbing!

Mike :^(

By ANDRE PICARD and AVIS FAVARO

Monday, February 14, 2005 Updated at 1:20 AM EST

From Monday's Globe and Mail

Everyday foods consumed by Canadians — such as salmon, ground beef, cheese and butter — are laced with chemical flame retardants, according to research commissioned by The Globe and Mail and CTV News.

In fact, the research found that Canadian foods are among the most contaminated with polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the world, with levels up to 10 times higher than those found in tests in European countries.

PBDEs are a class of about 25 chemicals that are used as flame retardants in foams, textiles and plastics. They are ubiquitous in modern homes, with the chemicals leeching out of furniture, rugs and electronic products, such as televisions and computers. It is not known exactly how PBDEs migrate from such products into human tissue, but they have been found in industrial sewage sludge, in wildlife and in fatty foods such as meat and fish.

It is unclear what impact the regular absorption of PBDEs has on human health. Nor have scientists established safe levels for the chemicals in humans.

But scientists do say that research conducted on animals — which suggests these chemicals can impair memory, cause learning disabilities and alter thyroid hormone levels — is disquieting and should raise red flags.

"These are persistent toxic chemicals . . . and certainly it is undesirable to have these toxic chemicals in our food supply," said Arnold Schecter, a professor of environmental sciences and public health at the University of Texas, who has done pioneering work on PBDEs.

Research done last year on a group of B.C. women found high levels of PBDEs in their breast milk, but the source was unclear.

"All of a sudden you find out you have something awful in your body and you wonder: 'Where is it coming from?' " said Erin McAllister, a Vancouver mother who took part in the study. "We all suspected it was coming from the food."

To find out, The Globe and Mail and CTV News commissioned an independent laboratory, Axys Analytical Services Ltd. of Sidney, B.C., to test 13 foods commonly consumed by Canadians.

Flame retardants were found in virtually all the foods, sometimes at relatively high levels. Farmed rainbow trout had levels of PBDEs of 3,638 parts per trillion and farmed Atlantic salmon 1,942 ppt. Sausage had 242 ppt and butter 384 ppt, while cheese had PBDEs levels of 23 ppt and milk 10 ppt. Only chicken had virtually undetectable levels. Environmental chemicals tend to accumulate in fat, so not surprisingly fattier foods had higher levels.

"Even though we don't know exactly the meaning of these levels for the health of children or adults . . . we think the smaller the amount, the safer it would be for people eating the food," Dr. Schecter said.

But Samuel Ben Rejeb, associate director of the bureau of chemical safety in the health products and food branch of Health Canada, said the level of PBDEs in the country's food supply has been closely monitored for years and there is no cause for alarm.

"The levels found in food are very low. They vary in parts per trillion and very low parts per billion — levels that in general were found to not pose a health risk for Canadians."

Dr. Ben Rejeb noted that while food is one of the ways people are exposed to PBDEs, it is not the only one and likely not the biggest source of exposure.

Dr. Schecter said that while it is easy to dismiss levels in food as insignificant, the chemicals do accumulate in the body. He said it's also likely PBDEs pose similar risks to human health as their chemical cousins, polychlorinated biphenyls. The use of PCBs was curtailed in the 1970s after they were found to cause birth defects, impair brain and memory functions, and increase the risk of some forms of cancers.

Many European countries have clamped down on the use of PBDEs in the past decade on the assumption that the chemicals are not good for humans.

Peter O'Toole, program director for the Bromine Science and Environmental Forum, the group that represents manufacturers of flame retardants, said PBDEs "have never been demonstrated to have any human or environmental effects. We're far below any level of potential risk to humans."

The benefits of adding these chemicals to household products and mitigating the impact of fires is well established, Mr. O'Toole said. (Fires claim about 400 lives a year in Canada; these rates have fallen since fire retardants became widespread, especially in furniture, although many officials attribute the change to falling smoking rates.)

Beverly Thorpe of Clean Production Action, a Montreal-based consumer group, said the new data on levels of PBDEs in common foods reaffirm her belief that these chemicals should be banned.

"I think it's scandalous that we are still allowing chemical producers to manufacture these chemicals . . . It's scandalous that we are allowing industry to use them as flame retardants."

Ms. Thorpe said her biggest concern is the impact on children who are exposed to these chemicals over a long period of time, and could develop physical and developmental problems. (One popular but unproved assumption is that the rise in rate of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is due to PBDEs.)

"Any synthetic chemical we are finding in breast milk and food has got to be a major alarm signal that we have to stop production of these chemicals," she argued.

Ms. McAllister shares those concerns and is worried about her daughter Jessica, now 18 months old. "Children are inhaling these poisons every day . . . breathing it and eating it every day."!

André Picard is the public health reporter at The Globe and Mail.!

Avis Favaro is the medical reporter at CTV News.!

Understanding Lou Gehrig's disease

2005-02-13T16:27:00.000-07:00

According to the ALS Association, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.
Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to patients' death.

When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed. Yet, through it all, for the vast majority of patients, their minds remain unaffected.

At the onset of ALS, the symptoms may be so slight that they are frequently overlooked.

With regard to the appearance of symptoms and the progression of the illness, the course of the disease may include the following:

Muscle weakness in one or more of the following: hands, arms, legs, or the muscles of speech, swallowing or breathing.

Twitching (fasciculation) and cramping of muscles, especially those in the hands and feet.

Impairment of the use of the arms and legs.

"Thick speech" and difficulty in projecting the voice.

In more advanced stages, shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing and swallowing.
The initial symptoms of ALS vary. One person may experience tripping over carpet edges; another person may have trouble lifting objects; yet another person's early symptom may be slurred speech.

The rate at which ALS progresses can be vary as well. Although the mean survival time with ALS is three to five years, many people live five to 10 or more years.

In a small number of patients, ALS is known to remit or halt its progression, though there is no scientific understanding as to how and why this happens.
(ALS is not 100% fatal...there's always HOPE!...Mike ;-) )

Not all people with ALS experience the same symptoms or the same sequences or patterns of progression. Progressive muscle weakness and paralysis, on the other hand, are universally experienced.

As published on hometownlife.com

Mini Miracle Last Nite...

2005-02-10T11:25:00.000-07:00

Had a MM last nite...
Laying in bed trying to get to sleep,
I was able to move (curl) the index finger on my right hand for the first time in over a year!!!
It'll move if I make a fist, but to move it independantly of the other fingers...

A positive step in the right direction.

A Better Start...

2005-02-09T09:59:00.000-07:00

...to my day, today.

A little sore wakin' up. I slept fine and can move quite freely today.
My ribs are tender and do ache a bit.

So it's (essentially) been 3 months since I started (Nov 11th) taking Glyconutrients.
I feel pretty good these days (despite the fall yesterday)...

I seem to still be able to roll around in bed more easily.
It IS definitely easier to move my arms into more comfortable positions (in bed).
My shoulders don't seem to 'hang' anymore - which means less pressure on my neck.
I can walk around without tiring too easily - it's a slooow process, but I get there and I'm not winded.
My speech is slurred, but I AM still able to communicate.

All this...and still 'Med Free' after 2 1/2 years.

I'm gonna continue taking the same amounts of my suppliments till (at least) May (6 months) and re-evaluate my levels then. For now, my Daily dosage equals:

3 tsp (5ml) Ambrotose 3x daily
1 capsule AmbrotoseAO 2x daily
1 tsp (5ml) Phyt-Aloe 2x daily
1 tsp (5ml) PHYTOGENINS (Plus) 3x daily
1 oz Awareness Daily Complete Multivitamin 1x daily
1 capsule Awareness Synergy 1x daily

I've got the nutritional aspects covered and my physical/exercise needs are being looked after with 'physio' 4 times a week.
Now for the spiritual...

I've always believed in the Mind/Body connection and FULLY believe in the Holistic/Complimentary medicine approach to health and wellness.
No matter the discipline (Reiki, Cranial Sacral, Accu-pressure/puncture, etc.)...

It's about...Balance.

Today, I have a gentleman coming to the house (for his first time) to perform some Holistic Therapies on me.
My past experiences with this have been varied and always very positive. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to his visit.
This morning, I read my horoscope...
You've recently been drawn toward a particular type of belief system and your interest in it has picked up considerably over the past few days. Well, there's no time like the present to investigate. You're wide open to new ideas, and the universe has even arranged to send you a teacher -- someone to help you along your path. And you know if you weren't ready, the teacher wouldn't be here.

Weird!

Rough Start...

2005-02-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

...to my day.

Started off well enough, then I hit the first landing (on my stairwell)...literally!

Came down the 1st half of the stairs no problem, went to turn the corner.
Then All Hell Broke Loose!!!
Lost my balance,
Stumbled,
Fell backwards into the wall.

With no arm strength left to brace my fall, I hit/fell rather hard.
Knocked the wind outta me.
Minor swelling in my left wrist.
Left side of rib cage hurts.

Nothing is broken as I am able to type and it doesn't hurt to breathe.
Had physio-therapy this morning, No pain anywhere. Except when it came to get up off the table. OUCH!!!
Not terribly excited to go to bed and wake up tomorrow...is it gonna hurt, or what?

Oh well...
That which doesn't kill me,
Shall make me stronger!!!

Some Sound Advice...

2005-02-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

I found it at...
http://www.doctoryourself.com/news/v3n14.txt

1) Feeling better is a most important step in getting better. That
is not as thin a statement as it may first seem. You can very
often see recovery in a patient's face and attitude long before
tests and technology confirm it. A healing state of mind is as
least as important as juicing, eating right and taking vitamins,
and those three are extraordinarily important.

2) With well-established chronic diseases, one cannot expect a
wham-bam overnight cure. In chronic illness, cure tends to be
more of a process than an event. "Healing from within out" is a
rough guideline that means that deeper symptoms may clear
up before all externally obvious symptoms go away. You might
feel better before you look better. But feeling good (sleeping
well, pain relief, mental disposition) remains a primary
goal (See Number 1, above). Many naturopaths feel that
outwardly-directed symptoms such as skin outbreaks,
temporary diarrhea, and mucus expectoration are evidence of
beneficial body cleansing, and therefore good signs of
recovery. For example, "productive" coughs are positively
welcome in long-term smokers who have finally kicked the
habit.

3) Hering's "reverse order" healing postulate is like employment
seniority at a layoff-happy factory: last hired, first fired. Oldest
health problems take the longest time for resolution. That is
logical. Patients get impatient. That is inevitable. What to do?

Face facts: if you have a lifetime of lousy eating and years of
bad health habits behind you, what do you expect? Doesn't it
figure that it may take some months to tidy (or is the word
"excavate"?) the mess in your own personally cluttered
anatomical attic?

...some people's children!!!

2005-02-04T09:31:00.000-07:00

As posted on the newsgroup sci.med.diseases.als

From: Dan Simper (pain_wheels@hotmail.com)
Subject: The human body must be improved with felline dna !!!!
This is the only article in this thread
View: Original Format
Newsgroups: sci.med.diseases.als,
Date: 2005-02-03 22:00:12 PST

Cats are much stronger than humans and almost indestructible.We must
combine humans and cats or we're doomed !

CATagorically speaking...
That would be CATastrophic!!!

It'll be tough to find anything weirder on the web today...LOL

In da "HOUSE"!!!

2005-02-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

Last nite on TV:
"House" ( Fox). Dr. Misanthropic, I presume. Acerbic medical maverick Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) isn't one to suffer hospital fools with a smile on his face. But the genius diagnostician is really up against a complicated case this time. Ailing jazz trumpeter John Henry Giles (Harry Lennix) believes he's suffering from ALS (a.k.a. Lou Gehrig's disease). And Dr. House? He disagrees, of course. The word-of-mouth buzz has started to build for the fine medical whodunit, and it's being boosted in the ratings by lead-in "American Idol." If you haven't caught the "House" habit yet, here's a good place to start. It's the show's best episode so far.

It turned out to be not too too bad an episode...(I'd never seen the show before).

While I don't believe the show's producers were trying to deliver any major moral message.
And the constant reminder of "a diagnosis of ALS is a DEATH SENTENCE!" throughout the show was a little much.
It did focus on the fact that there's always Hope!
The patient was ready to die because his doctor said there was no chance of recovery.
Yet against all odds...the hero (Dr. House) never gives up and realizes there's been a mis-diagnosis and saves the patient.

It's a simple lesson...
Never Give Up!!!
Never Give Up Hope!!!
Never Give Up Living!!!

I Shall Call Her...

2005-02-01T15:34:00.000-07:00

I have a new physio-therapist (she started yesterday).
I Shall Call Her...Cindy (because that's her name...d'oh!)

Cindy was told by her office (before her 1st visit) "Prepare yourself to be blown away by him."
Blown away good? or Blown away bad? I dunno???

Apparently, Cindy has experience with ALS.
One of her clients recently passed away (Dec04) from ALS related complications after only 18 months since diagnosis. I can tell Cindy understands the disease and the people affected by it.

Long Story, Short...
She was blown away!
Cindy was amazed at the physical abilities I still have and how much I'm able to do after 2 1/2 years.
My walking.
My speech.
My flexibility.

It's not really fair to compare 2 people diagnosed with the same affliction, but her comments/praise really tells me,

"I'm on the right path."

It's BEEN awhile!!!

2005-01-31T09:57:00.000-07:00

Egad!!!

I totally forgot to do any posts the last coupla weeks...
Let's see...hmmmm (what's happened?)

Andy (my wife Andrea) finished work for a few months. She's taking a Personal (stress) Leave of Absense to relax and get things together. Workin 32+ hours a week, 2 boys, and my illness has really taken it's toll.
met another online PALS named brainhell (http://brainhell.blogspot.com/) and did a lot of email conversations (nice guy with a good blog)
I've been busy working on some NEW websites for some friends.
and lot's of physo-therapy

It's GOOD to be busy!!!

My Horoscope t'day
Ready for that long-cherished dream to become a reality? Bet you are -- and bet you're thrilled. There are definitely some changes brewing on the job, but they're changes of the most positive variety. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to get out of the way and let them happen. That might sound easy, but you know how you get when change happens. This time out, assist it.

...(my "job" is the business of getting better... Scary!!!)

I've been feeling REEEALY good (overall) lately. I had a couple of bad days (in the last 3 weeks), where I've been tired.

I have lots of energy, I'm walking well, sleepin' well.
As James Brown says..."I feel good! I knew that I would..."

I'm keeping up my 3 times 3 tsp a day of Ambrotose and have physio-therapy scheduled 4 times a week (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri)

Gotta keep on, Keepin' On!

2 Month Update/Recap

2005-01-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

Well...it's been 2 months now (since starting Glyconutrient supplimentation to my diet).

Physical Changes I've noticed:

I've been tired the last few days - having trouble gettin' outta my chair (I'm fine on my feet once I do get up).
Speech a little more slurred lately.
I need Help getting up and outta bed.

Mentally/Emotionally...Feelin' Fine! ;^)

One MiniMiracle to note (Oh well...it's been an off week)

My nose RARELY gets stuffed up and/or runny anymore. I would ALWAYS wakeup with a stuffy nose and certain scents would cause me to have an allergic-like reaction (even though I have no allergies). This hasn't been a problem lately.

Time to Recap what's happened (or not) over the last 9 weeks:

mild headaches early on (normal side effect when starting)
I'm able to make a fist(easily) with my RIGHT hand (the limb first affected) for the first time in 6-12 months and having an easier time bending/raising my arm (right) at the elbow.
I continue to find it easier to roll around in bed.
I feel more confident/relaxed on my feet.
Some minor medical ailments have disappeared (Week 5 & 6 Update)
My neck/upper back muscles aren't as tired and tense.
My nose RARELY gets stuffed up and/or runny anymore.
Mentally - I feel GREAT! Fewer emotional ups and downs...

ALS has taken it's toll on my body over the last 2 & 1/2 years.
I have (temporarily) lost the (physical) ability to be able to do some things I have a passion for (Golf, Ultimate (frisbee), hug my wife/kids, etc.).
As a result of being diagnosed with ALS...
I have gained new abilities and developed new passions.
I've made new friends.
I maintain a Positive Mental Attitude

I have taken charge in my life. I will not relinquish this to any other single person.

To Quote:
"NO ONE EVER ACCOMPLISHED ANYTHING WORTHWHILE WITHOUT PMA"
(POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE)

FIRST PMA – THEN SUCCESS

Week 8 Update

2005-01-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

Wow!!!
It's been 8 weeks already...

Been feelin' REEEALLY good this past week.
I've been able to walk by lifting my knees (instead shuffling my feet).
I do feel somewhat more confident on my feet and I'm finding it easier to get my @$$ outta my chair too.
It was ALL GOOD!!!
And then I had Physio on Monday (first time in a week)!!!
Boy O Boy!!! What a workout!
I'm still recovering 2 days later...

Mindset and Nutritional Medicine

2004-12-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

From warrenwichman.com...
Even though the so called Father of Medicine, Hippocrates, is quoted in about 450 BC to have taught "Let your food be your medicine, and let your medicine be your food.", this wisdom has been lost for so long that it now seems unbelievable to the modern mind.

A whole new field of nutritional science called glycobiology has been growing in the last 8 - 9 years. This science has been validating what Hippocrates taught thousands of years ago with his empiric wisdom.

Beyond the Mindset of Modern Medicine
For some unexplained reason it takes 20 - 30 years for a scientific truth to become mainstreamed in medicine. Folic acid for example, has been known to be related to spinal cord birth defects since 1970, however this information did not become mainstreamed in medicine until the last 10 years or so. I think that the best explanation for this sad phenomenon is called 'Mindset'.

Most of us have been amazed as we observed little children react to their environment. We can see them become aware of their surroundings and experience feelings and emotions. We can observe their desires and attempts to satisfy them, and we can observe them learn and remember. The rapidity of the growth of young minds is exciting to see. I marvel at the capacity of these minds to learn and have wondered what would be the result if this capacity to learn would continue throughout our lives.

Children's minds have great 'plasticity'. This refers to the brain as a dynamic, constantly reorganizing, malleable system, which is influenced and shaped by its environment. The learning potential of the brain is now presumed to be continuous and life long, but we know that the rate of learning slows down considerably and may even become 'set'.

This mindset seems to come from "mind filters", which shut out information that is not familiar to us. We are continuously exposed to bits of information that become filters for conflicting information, which we do not take the time to evaluate before it can reach our conscious mind.

Sometimes there is so much information that our mind is overloaded and unable to process it, and it is filtered out.

Society norms, constant messages from advertisers, messages from corporate and political 'spin doctors', and what we have previously experienced is all part of the filter-forming process.

Most people have many compartments of thought. Some compartments are able to learn new things while other compartments become 'set' at an earlier age. We all have mindsets.

The varieties of mindsets are infinite. Examples of this range from the youthful terrorist who believes that blowing himself and others up is the sure ticket to be with God; to learned professionals who feel that they have had the best education, have learned everything worth knowing and doubt if there is 'anything else out there'. They are usually too busy to check it out.

Mindsets act like filters, which keep certain information from reaching our level of consciousness where it can be recognized as new or significant information, and then acted upon.

In my opinion these mindsets occur when we are no longer searching for the truth, because we feel that we already have it. It is a kind of intellectual or emotional block that keeps us from learning new things. Frequently we are not even aware of our mindset. This represents 'thinking in the box' and external forces pounding on this box have little impact.

Mindsets are extraordinarily difficult to change unless the individual has an unmet need that prompts the question "Is there anything else that I can do to help myself"? "Why am I hurting"? or "I need to change this situation, but how can I"? Setting goals can be a way of breaking out of a mindset.

Caregivers will need to search their heart and ask, "Is there anything else that I can do to be of help (to others)"?

Science has shown that it is possible to 'rewire' our brains to learn new thought-processes, changing from a fixed mindset to a mind that sees things differently. It has been shown that this can occur in a rich environment of stimulation and education.

Mindsets are the 'box' in "learn to think out of the box" fame. In order to think out of the box, we have to ask the question, "what else can I do"? "Is there another way to think about this"? With these humble questions, we are able to recognize that we don't know it all. For some, this thought is very threatening but, for others, it can stimulate intellectual curiosity.

There is little significant learning that goes on "inside the box" unless a special need is recognized. This special need opens the box (removes the filters), and enables new information to come in.

A Mindset is the way that our brain is 'working'. In order for us to change our mindsets we need to be aware and evaluate what our minds are 'doing' and how our minds are being influenced. Doing this will enable us to use our mind rather than having our 'mindset' use us. Our Mind is a creation of God. We should not allow it to be hijacked by external forces.

Using our minds as God intended (always searching for the Truth) should be regarded as a basic individual responsibility.

Mind versus Mindset
The concept of 'Mindset' has helped me to understand why change is so difficult.

The definition of mindset is "having one's mind, thoughts, or opinions firmly fixed; obstinate, stubborn."

When we as individuals have our mindsets, that is our problem. The big trouble comes when whole societies have a certain mindset. One of the most famous examples of this was when all of the smart people in the world, thought the world was flat, except for Galileo. History shows that it can be pretty hard going for the Galileos of any day.

Societies however are made up of many individuals, and I suspect that it takes a critical mass of people with one mindset before it becomes 'general belief'. The beliefs that a society has can actually become self-destructive for that society.

The idea that a Low Fat, Low Cholesterol Diet is healthy and one that should be followed, is an example of an erroneous medical concept that developed over 20 years ago. This mindset has been 'sold' to Americans to the point where they cannot believe that this has caused an epidemic of obesity, because of our greatly increased sugar consumption. The complications of obesity are now the cause 420,000 deaths a year. Obesity statistics are catching up, and will soon exceed the 440,000 deaths a year attributed to smoking.

This diet mindset seems almost 'set in stone' and has been vigorously promoted by processed-food companies, soft drink manufacturers, and drug companies selling cholesterol-lowering drugs. I have seen patients dying of cancer still taking these drugs, and still concerned of their cholesterol level!

The individual mindset will not change easily given the above circumstances. It is apparent to me that the mindset and not the minds are frequently in charge. This should be reversed. We should not live our lives on 'automatic pilot', but make conscious decisions that search for the truth.

We live in a world where our minds are under continual assault. This has been true since the beginning, however the 'information age' has made this assault even more overwhelming.

Our minds, a significant part of our gift of creation, were given us to make decisions. Our minds needs to be skeptical of new information, but also need to 'be open' 'to find out the truth'.

Our mindsets frequently usurp the function of our minds. They can influence our perceptions, our decisions, and our actions. They frequently filter out new information. They can stunt our individual growth and learning, by filtering out what is new and unfamiliar.

Our minds are a great gift of the Creator. With this gift comes the responsibility to use it as intended.

Week 7 Update

2004-12-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

Been a tough week(end)...
Christmas was tiring (lots of eatin', socializin', football, etc.).
Watching my boys (6&4) suffer from "Santa Madness" can be exhausting!!! ;^)
So I've needed a little more help getting around.

In one of my earlier posts ("ERIC IS WINNING"), the author (Eric) talks about TM's or Tiny Miracles (physical improvements in his condition).
I'm going to borrow his idea and call mine MM's or Mini-Miracles.

My MM this week...
Andy (my wife Andrea) noticed that my neck hasn't been tired (causing my head to lower/drop) as much as in the past...she's RIGHT!

Dosage Update...
I've increased my Ambrotose intake - 3 tsp (5ml) Ambrotose 3x daily

Drug companies issue Moore alert

2004-12-28T17:21:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Some pharmaceutical companies are telling their employees to look out for the scruffy guy in the baseball cap.

The Los Angeles Times reported this week that at least six drug companies have released internal communications telling employees to be wary of filmmaker Michael Moore. Moore's targets have included General Motors (Roger & Me), the gun lobby (the Oscar-winning Bowling for Columbine) and President George W. Bush (Fahrenheit 9/11).

Moore, normally seen sporting a beard and a ball cap, has now set his sights on the health-care industry, including insurance companies, HMOs, the Food and Drug Administration and drug companies.

"We ran a story in our online newspaper saying Moore is embarking on a documentary and if you see a scruffy guy in a baseball cap, you'll know who it is," said Stephen Lederer, a spokesman for Pfizer Global Research and Development.

In September and October, Wyeth, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline, the second-largest in retail sales, sent out Moore alerts, instructing employees that questions posed by the Media or filmmakers should be handled by corporate communications.

Heavyweights Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals and Synthelabo sent similar memos before their recent merger.

"ERIC IS WINNING"

2004-12-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

"ERIC IS WINNING"
BEATING A TERMINAL ILLNESS WITH NUTRITION, AVOIDING TOXINS & COMMON SENSE
Here is a “must read” book for anyone concerned with good health.

It could save your life.

Excerpt from the above site...

Here’s why I say that. Every movement I make with my arms, legs, etc. is limited. When I make a move that is the best I have done recently, I grade that a “10.” If I make a move that goes beyond my previous limit, I call that an “11.” I have had a great many “11’s” recently and I have been taking the supplement for three months now. I also call these “11’s” “TM’s” for “Tiny Miracles.” Additionally, I have not had any setbacks. The improvement seems to be more consistent. The possible explanation for this is that this supplement improves the immune system. Glenna and I just returned from a three-day stay at a gambling casino in Laughlin, Nevada. During the three days, I decided to put this idea to a test. I threw all caution to the wind and ate anything I wanted including a double scoop of ice cream every night, a cinnamon roll in the morning with my latte, and much more. I not only did not have any setbacks but I feel like I actually improved during that time. The supplement is a glyconutrient.
I must admit that I’m doing several more things than just taking the new supplement. I’ve done more chelation and clay baths, I’ve done Human Growth Hormone well over a year, etc. However, the only thing new has been the supplement and coincidental with that I’ve had many TM’s and “11’s.”

Glyconutrients

These glyconutrients were only discovered about ten years ago. Even though there have been many articles written and published in magazines and medical journals, they are not well known. It is my understanding that glyconutrients only occur in fruits and vegetables and then they only occur within the last few days of the ripening process. When these foods are harvested when they are a little green, then they do not contain the glyconutrients. Therefore, most of the nutrients are not in the average person's food supply. Even if you buy organically grown fruit and veggies, they were probably picked prior to when they were fully ripened. Have you ever eaten fresh fruit such as a peach that you just picked from the tree? If so, you’re familiar with the vastly better taste than what you buy in the market. This tells me that something really does occur in the last few days of the ripening process. These nutrients are said to be ESSENTIAL for good health just like air and water is essential for life. Further, these nutrients are essential for cell communication with one and another. Without communication, our immune system simply won’t work.It would be my pleasure to sell this supplement. However, I’m simply too busy to take orders and our main focus right now is on the book and providing you with these updates.If you’ve read my book, you know that I believe that toxins are the cause of ALS and many other illnesses. I just know that I’m right about that but I now must admit that if our immune system were working properly then the toxins might not be harmful to us. That may explain why only some of us get ALS, for example, and others do not, even though they all have many of the same toxins in their bodies.

Glyconutrients Explained

2004-12-22T16:09:00.000-07:00

Glyconutrients Explained

Simply stated, the Greek word glyco refers to "sweet."
Hence, a glyconutrient is a biochemical that contains a
sugar molecule. The prefix "glyco" can be placed in
front of a fat, protein or any molecule and suggests
that a sugar is attached. Glycobiology is the study of
the sugar portion of these proteins and fats.

Glycoprotein = Sugar attached to a protein.
Glycolipid = Sugar attached to a fat.
Glycoform = Any sugar form.

Like so many new frontiers in science, the role of
these carbohydrates or sugars (glyconutrients) was badly
neglected and underestimated. They were at best considered
a simple source of energy and at worst considered nothing
more than a contaminant on the surface of the cell.

Virtually every cell in our bodies is covered with
minuscule hair-like glycoforms. Until the invention of
the electron microscope, scientists could not see these
molecules on the surface of the cells. They could
detect hairs (proteins and fats), but could not
distinguish that on the surface of those hairs were
trillions of other molecules-sugar molecules
(glyconutrients).

Glyconutrients are not vitamins, minerals, proteins,
fats, herbs, enzymes or homeopathic drugs. They are
carbohydrates. Just as there are essential proteins
called amino acids and essential fats called fatty
acids, glyconutrients are the newly discovered class
of necessary carbohydrate nutrients.

"The last decade has witnessed the rapid emergence of
the concept of the sugar code of biological
information. Indeed, monosaccharides represent an
alphabet of biological information similar to amino
acids and nucleic acids, but with unsurpassed coding
capacity." (Acta Anatomica 4/1998)(glyconutrients
represent these mononsaccharides)

Sugar-bound glycoforms work to keep our hormones in
balance, to fight off disease invaders, to enable blood
to clot, to give our cells their structural support
network and (perhaps most important of all) to create a
complex cellular messaging system.

Today more than 20,000 research papers on glycoproteins
a year, over fifty every single day, are published
worldwide.

THE HEALTHY SWEETS that make up Glyconutrients

Sucrose is the "sweet" with which we are the most
familiar, but it also happens to be the worst for our
health. Sucrose is dangerously overused in America;
the average American's annual consumption of refined
white sugar [sucrose] has shot from 5 pounds in 1900 to
163 pounds today. Refined sugar is nothing but empty
calories and does nothing for our health. There are
other sugars that play a very important, beneficial
role in our health. The "healthy sweets"(glyconutrients)
we do need are as follows:

Glyconutrient #1
Glucose...is readily available in our diets [converted
from white sugar, fructose and starchy foods] and in
most cases is oversupplied in the form of sugar cane,
rice, corn, potatoes, wheat, etc.

Glyconutrient #2
Galactose...is readily available in our diets. It is
obtained from the conversion of lactose [milk sugar]
and is also easily obtained from dairy products UNLESS
you suffer from lactose intolerance or are like me and
simply don't like dairy products.

Glyconutrient #3
Fucose...IS NOT readily available in our diets but is
readily found in breast milk and in several medicinal
mushrooms. It has numerous well-documented benefits
for the immune system.

Glyconutrient #4
Mannose...IS NOT readily available in our diets. It
plays a profound role in cellular interactions and has
even been known to lower blood sugar levels. It is
absolutely vital to proper immune defenses against
microbial invaders and has a natural anti-inflammatory
effect.

Glyconutrient #5
Xylose...IS NOT readily available in our diets. It is
often seen in sugarless gums and candies, in that it
has a sweet taste but does not cause tooth decay. It
has recently been added to nasal sprays and appears to
discourage the binding of allergens and pathogens to
mucous membranes. It also has known antibacterial and
fungal properties and may help prevent certain cancers.

Glyconutrient #6
N-acetyl-neuramic acid...IS NOT readily available in
our diets, but it is another sugar that abounds in
breast milk and dramatically impacts brain function and
growth. It, too, boosts immune function and has
documented antiviral actions. Interestingly, in
certain disease states, the ability to digest this
sugar is impaired.

Glyconutrient #7
N-acetyl-glucosamine...IS NOT readily available in our
diets. It is particularly beneficial for cartilage
regeneration and joint inflammation. Glucosamine, a
well known natural medicine for arthritic conditions
comes from this sugar compound. It has many more
therapeutic effects. Deficiencies or malfunctions of
this sugar have been linked to diseases of the bowel.

Glyconutrient #8
N-acetyl-galactosamine...IS NOT readily available in
our diets. It is the least known of the essential
sugars although it appears to inhibit the growth of
some tumors and like the other sugars, plays an
individual role in keeping cell communiqués clear and
promptly delivered.

These glyconutrients are so important to our health,
that Mother Nature has made provisions to ensure we
get them early on in life. Breast milk contains five
of the essential glyconutrients mentioned above.
Emerging research continues to support how important
breast-feeding is to human development--both short
term and long term. The areas most noted as positively
affected by breast milk nourishment are immune function
and brain development.

FACT: One reason that breast-fed babies are protected
from infections is because breast milk is full of
glyconutrients that may actually prevent infectious
organisms from sticking to intestinal cells.

Medical Disclaimer: I am not medically qualified to
diagnose or treat people. The intention of this
is to provide quality health and nutritional
information for it's readers, but not to replace the
advice of their physicians.

The New Era of Glyconutrients.

2004-12-22T15:26:00.000-07:00

By Noni Kaufman, DSHEA certified Nutrition Consultant

The most important discovery of this century for the
immune system may be something called glyconutrients.
Glyconutrients, available in a food nutrient complex
called Ambrotose , are at the forefront of nutritional
science and biochemistry research. They are not vitamins,
minerals, herbals, homeopathics or enzymes. They are a
class all to themselves. They are supplements derived
from nature that have been formulated based on a new
understanding in biochemistry of how our bodies
maintain health at the cellular level. This new discovery is
as significant as the discovery of the role of vitamins,
essential fatty acids, and amino acids in how the body
functions.

Our Immune Systems at Risk

Cancer, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases (e.g.
lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis),
osteoporosis, genetic diseases, foreign viruses, AIDS, and
infant mortality seem to be more prevalent today than
ever. Why are we experiencing these mounting health
challenges?

The reasons are quite simple. According to the 1992 Earth
Summit, the USA has the worst soil in the world - 85%
depleted. This means the potency of our food supply is
not able to sustain optimum health. The amount of toxins
in our environment has reached a level where the FDA
now has designated "permissible" levels of dioxin and
other harmful chemicals in the environment. Today we
have over 300 chemical toxins including dioxin in the
tissues that were not found in any human before 1940.
These toxins have been shown to bind to receptors,
blocking important enzymatic reactions in the body. One
of the harmful effects of toxins such as DDT and dioxins
is that they mimic hormones in the body causing
disruption and confusion in the endocrine system.

Processed food and fast foods are depriving us of even
more essential nutrients. Many scientists believe that
commercial farming, which burns out nutrients and adds
poisons to the soil, as well as shipping foods "green" to
ripen upon trucks, are major contributors to ill health.
Many corporations continue activities harmful to our
health to increase profits at the cost of our ecosystem and
food chain. They do not inform the public about the true
extent of the problem created by toxic substances and
harmful additives in our foods nor about the
environmental pollution generated from their
manufacturing plants. A movie released a few years ago,
A Civil Action, depicts this lack of accountability in the
corporate arena. Finally, according to research scientist
named Andreas Hartman "A class of broad spectrum
antibiotics in drinking water is causing toxicity to human
DNA!" Given these harsh challenges, one might seriously
ask how can we best protect ourselves and optimize our
health?

Our Body's Capability to Defend and Protect Itself

Every human is equipped with natural killer cells that
identify and kill tumor cells and cells infected with viruses
or some types of fungi or bacteria. Thus, the body has the
genetic capacity to defend itself against viruses and
bacteria, to cleanse itself of destructive toxins, to absorb
and utilize nutrients for fuel, and to heal itself from
practically any kind of damage or disease. So why doesn't
it always perform these functions? Research studies that
have followed our immune system function over time
have shown that on average, Americans have lost over
25% of natural killer cell function (our first line of
defense) over the past 15 years due to toxins, viruses, and
daily stresssors. It seems we have the ability, but are
lacking the energy required to adequately protect,
detoxify, and heal.

New Discoveries in Glycobiology

Healthy bodies, comprised of many components working
together in sophisticated harmony, must have accurate
biochemical communication to function correctly. In its
most basic form, this communication occurs at the
cellular level and is referred to by molecular biologists as
cell-to-cell communication. When you look at any body
function, it is clear they all require cellular
communication. A major breakthrough has occurred
recently with the discovery of how our cells
communicate; that cells have a language, made up of
"letters" and "words." The "words" are called
glycoproteins made up of various sugar molecules known
as saccharides attached in pearl-like strands to protein
stems. Some of the connections for the saccharides are to
lipids forming glycolipids. These "words" extend off the
surface of every cell and can change thousands of times in
a second. Cells actually touch each other to communicate
reading each other with cell surface messages. Disease and
dysfunction occurs when the components necessary for
cell-to-cell communication are absent. As John Hodgson
wrote in an article called "Capitalizing on Carbohydrates",
"Almost without exception, whenever two or more living
cells interact in a specific way, cell surface carbohydrates
will be involved. From the first meeting of sperm and egg,
through embryo genesis, development and growth,
carbohydrate molecules confer exquisite specificity upon
cell-cell interactions."

The Key to Healthy Cells and Healthy Bodies

An increasing number of research scientists and doctors
believe that eight specific carbohydrates (saccharides),
represent the key to cellular communication as these
sugars combine with proteins to create the glycoprotein
chemical messengers. Only two of the eight are
commonly found in our typical modern diets: glucose
and galactose. The other sugars are Mannose, Fucose,
Xylose, N-Acetylglucosamine, N-Acetylgalactosamine, and
N-Acetylneuraminic acid. The body has the potential to
convert glucose and galactose to the other six through
enzyme exchanges. However, the conversion process
requires considerable energy, and is susceptible to
interference from certain disease processes, various
medications and free radicals. Oxidative damage from
free radicals can also cause destruction of existing
glycoprotein structures, making it necessary to convert
some sugars into others to repair the damage. Living in
our current environment, our bodies simply cannot keep
up with this conversion/repair process.

Further validation of the essential nature of these
carbohydrates can be found in an article about the
immune-enhancing benefits of breastfeeding. Five of the
eight carbohydrates thought to be essential for cell-to-cell
communication are ingredients in human breast milk and
also in the glyconutrient formula Ambrotose.

Early Research Results with Glyconutrient
Supplementation

The potential for supporting our immune systems and
enhancing cell-to-cell communication with glyconutrients
is profound. There is a growing body of scientific studies
supporting the potential health benefits of
glyconutritional supplementation for various health
conditions including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue,
ADHD, diabetes, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and
lupus. A study published in February, 1999 reported
a 95% killing activity of the Candida Albicans yeast in
incubation with glyconutritional supplementation.

More studies are now underway due to the breakthrough
findings in this initial research period. In fact, The
National Institutes of Health in the Fall of 2001 awarded
The Scripps Research Institute in San Diego, CA a $34
million grant to understand how cells and the immune
system use these sugars. Science Magazine in March,
2001 dedicated the major part of an issue to summarizing
the extensive research currently underway in the field of
glycobiology and the great potential health benefits in
applying this new understanding.

Dr. John Axford, MD, leading expert in this new field of
glycobiology and President of Clinical Immunology,
Royal Academy of Medicine, stated at a health conference
last year, "Sugars are going to be the molecules of the
next decade. Glycobiology is one of the last frontiers of
science to be conquered and it's going to be at the cutting
edge of a large number of discoveries and therapies over
the next decade."

The book Sugars That Heal-The New Healing Science of
Glyconutrients, written by Emil Mondoa, M.D.,
published in late 2001 and available through major
booksellers, is an indication that this scientific discovery is
reaching the mainstream public reading audience. One
book reviewer wrote a synopsis of the book describing
how these glyconutrients help us maintain health: "Even
tiny amounts of these sugars--or lack of them--have
profound effects. In test after test conducted at leading
institutes around the world, saccharides have been shown
to lower cholesterol, increase lean muscle mass, decrease
body fat, accelerate wound healing, ease allergy
symptoms, and allay autoimmune diseases such as
arthritis, psoriasis, and diabetes. Bacterial infections,
including the recurrent ear infections that plague
toddlers, often respond remarkably to saccharides, as do
many viruses--from the common cold to the flu, from
herpes to HIV. The debilitating symptoms of chronic
fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and Gulf War syndrome
frequently abate after adding saccharides. And, for cancer
patients, saccharides mitigate the toxic effects of radiation
and chemotherapy--while augmenting their cancer-killing
effects, resulting in prolonged survival and improved
quality of life."

In summary, glyconutritional supplements seem to allow
the human body to manifest more of its potential by
enhancing cellular communication. These nutrients may
be a critical component in supporting the natural
function of all of our systems and particularly the
immune system which is at risk in our toxic, denatured
environment. While the scientific community creates
pharmaceutical, synthetic applications of this discovery,
there is already a nutritional supplement that provides a
ready resource of these saccharides.

Glyconutrients: Miracle Cure or Placebo

2004-12-22T13:13:00.000-07:00

Glyconutrients: Miracle Cure or Placebo

With all of the exciting things people are seeing in their lives as a result of adding glyconutrients to their diet, the question has been raised “Are glyconutrients a miracle cure or are the results people have seen a placebo effect?” The answer is: NEITHER!
If you haven’t heard the term “Placebo Effect”, this is a nice way of saying “It was all in your head”. This can refer to either the disease itself or the “cure”. If glyconutrients were in fact a placebo, you would see little scientific evidence to support the results. However, there have been numerous studies on glyconutrients, which scientifically validate the technology. Such studies can easily be found on the internet by searching for information on Glycobiology. One organization that has done extensive research in the field of glyconutrients and disease is The Fisher Institute. They can be found at www.FisherInstitute.Org

To understand why people have such dramatic results after they begin taking glyconutrients, you need to take a look at how and why the body begins the disease process. First of all, glyconutrients are NOT prescription drugs that are prescribed to “cure” or “treat” any particular condition. They are a food. In fact, they are sugars. When you think of sugar, you probably think of the white stuff you put on top of your cereal. However, it has been discovered that all of our cells contain sugars at their core. Without these sugars, the cells cannot communicate properly. There are 8 of these known sugars today, but most diets only contain 2 of these sugars. Fortunately, your body can manufacture the other 6 sugars, however due to stress and other factors, this process can be slowed down or come to a grinding halt. When this happens, cells begin to miss-communicate and the disease process begins.

Once the disease process begins, your immune system recognizes that something is wrong and tries to defend the body against the disease. As with any war, if your immune system has enough “ammunition” to battle the disease, your body will return to its original state of health. However, if your immune system does not have the ammunition or the proper artillery to handle the disease, the disease begins to get the upper hand and your health declines.

You may be asking yourself where glyconutrients play a role in this disease process. As mentioned before, glyconutrients are not prescription drugs. They are naturally occurring sugars and found in certain plants. When you add these sugars to your diet, your cells have the necessary components to communicate effectively. It’s this very process that allows your body to win the war against the disease and heal itself. As stated previously, glyconutrients do not cure or treat conditions. Rather, they allow the body to “treat” or defend itself against diseases.

For years, doctors believed that when you ate sugars, they were immediately converted to energy. In fact some doctors went as far as saying that eating any dietary supplements (such as vitamins purchased at the grocery store) did nothing more for you than make “expensive excrement”. As a result, a study was conducted to understand what happened when a person added glyconutrients to their diet to determine whether or not they were converted to energy or absorbed into the body. The study showed that the body did NOT convert glyconutrients to energy as previously thought. The bottom line is that you can eat glyconutrients and gain significant health benefits.

Speaking of POOR diets...

2004-12-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

Speaking of POOR diets...

((((( SUPER SIZE ME ))))) A FILM OF EPIC PORTIONS

I recommend this film/documentary for anyone wondering what the health consequences are with the average North American diet/eating habits.

Week(s) 5&6 Update

2004-12-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

( Sorry it's late, Greg...lol )
Feelin' good today...
Rough weekend though. Severe weather changes doesn't do me any favours.

I'm maintaining same dosage(s).
Haven't noticed any major changes in the last coupla weeks...Although...

My shoulders don't seem to be as heavy and my neck isn't as sore/stiff/tired as it was a month ago.
I have found it easier to form my words to speak...( st, sh, th type sounds are still hard to pronounce). Whether others find it easier to understand me is the question???

It occured to me the other day...
I've really focused on improving my overall eating habits in the last 2+ years.
Major changes I've noticed (especially in the last 3-6 months)

I used to drink alchohol (6-12 beers/week - coupla beers after work type drinking) and over the years developed a nagging yeast infection. I took many medications for it - nothing helped. I stopped drinking and my infection is GONE!!!
I had a coupla warts (one my right wrist, the other on my left index finger) for years (I'm thinking 15-20+ years). Changed my eating habits...the warts are now GONE!!!
Just noticed today...I had some sort of minor foot fungus on my right foot. Lots of dry flaky skin...is now GONE!!!

All these infections were prolonged and were treated by a medical professional at one time or another. Nothing EVER worked. Not Antibiotics. Not wart removal. Not Anti-fungal creams.

This is why I'm "Med-Free" and focusing on eating properly and supplimenting my diet with Glyconutrients.

Given the chance...the body can and will heal itself.

Mike

Glyconutrients - Lou Gehrig's Disease - Glyconutriton Success Story

2004-12-20T13:08:00.000-07:00

Lou Gehrig's Disease (PLS/ALS) - Glyconutrition Success Story

During a golf game, in May 1997, I became aware that the toes on my left foot were sometimes dragging. After the golf episode, the left toe dragging occurred when I played tennis and after a long walk. The next symptom I experience was muscle spasms occurring down my left side. The spasms lasted 4 hours at a time, sometimes when I was driving my car on the way home from work. I knew that something was wrong and went to my family doctor. I was referred to a neurologist and was given an EMG, which registers nerve activity.

From here, I started a battery of tests: Evoked Potential, EKG, PETSCAN, CTSCAN, and MRI. Some of the test were redone at 6 months intervals for comparison purposes. I continuously asked doctors to book me for physiotherapy as I was experiencing overall weakness and great difficulty in walking as my toes were now folding under me- in other word "a dropped foot". The doctors ignored my request because I did not have a diagnosis

In 1999, after 18 months of running for tests, I was diagnosed with Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS). PLS is a slow-moving Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. My neurologist informed me that the PLS could possibly switch over to ALS. The news devastated me. I was aware that ALS is a fatal neurological disease since I had been following the story in my local newspaper, of a popular young minister who was 35 when he had been diagnosed with ALS and how he had digressed.

I hated seeing myself in a mirror! I was now walking with my left shoulder almost at waist level, my left arm was sitting on my rib cage, my left hand was beginning to curl up into a permenant clenched fist and I was swinging my rigid leg out to the side when I walked to avoid tripping. My body was becoming very weak. I was unable to walk any distance without tripping and my balance was very precarious. Getting from the parking lot and walking through a large building to my office desk was overwhelming.

I took the advice of my neurologist and went on sick leave from a professional management position at a university. A position which I had held for 20 years. I had only turned 55 -- I was looking forward to Freedom 55 with zest -- my life was now in a tailspin. I remember being extremely despondent as I continued experiencing the inability to accomplish tasks that had always been so easy for me. The “dropped foot” made walking extremely difficult. My balance was unstable and, almost daily, I suffered from muscle-spasms that invariably lasted 4-5 hours that were now affecting my left arm.

These uncontrollable spasms, sometimes affecting every muscle on my left side made it very difficult to attend church, eat in a restaurant and going to a movie or live theatre would be a nightmare.. These muscle-spasms left me very fatigued, especially if they awoke me from my night sleep. I kept saying to my family and friends that I felt I was living in a playpen because of the limitations I was now being challenged with. I had been a volunteer with the physically challenged for 14 years and now I was dealing with my own health challenge. I wondered what I was going to do with the rest of my life. As a single mom who had raised two grown-up sons, I was looking forward to being a grandmother and holding my grandchildren.

I researched and read every book/article that I could. I read the book “Your Miracle Brain” by Jean Carper and I gained enough knowledge to know that anti-oxidants are very important, particularly for PLS/ALS patients (who have more free radicals and less anti-oxidants in their body). I started a regime of vitamins, anti-oxidants, including CoQ10, grape seed, pycegenol as well as practicing yoga. I remember an occasion when friends helped me to attend an aquafit class. They almost had to physically carry me from the car to the pool facility and dressing room then to the pool. I was not walking well at all because of my ‘dropped foot’. I continued getting the muscle-spasms and was given Clonozapem.

In the Fall of 1999, now that I had a label of “PLS”, my neurologist gave me the go-ahead to start physiotherapy. I was fitted for a plastic type of support that would fit inside my left shoe and would keep my toe from dropping. I continued with physiotherapy exercises, I began walking 10 minutes each day, enrolled in beginner tai chi classes and went to ‘special-needs’ pool exercises. I participated in tai chi health recovery classes that concentrated on individualized muscle strengthening and balance. Along with this exercise program, I concentrated on a high anti-oxidant diet of fruits and vegetables and saw an improvement within 10 days.

I kept increasing my walking each month by 10 minutes and, although I was still found walking difficult, at least I was mobile. In the summer of 2001, I was able to golf 9 holes using a golf cart. I started to get back some of my old lifestyle and regain strength. I decided to investigate the possibility of getting some kind of leg brace that would give me more flexibility. With the help of my orthotics specialist, I was fitted for a brace that had a hinge on the ankle. I was the first patient, in the clinic, to want this type of walking device. It was exciting. I had to resume physiotherapy and worked on bending my knee, which had been kept ridged for 4 years. I also had to relearn how to walk because my hip and leg muscles had fused together, giving me a ‘stroke-like’ gait. Again, I had to start short walks and build up my endurance. In the meantime, my left hand started to curl more and I tried to focus more on arm and hand exercises. It was tiresome! The medication for the muscle spasms was not effective. I felt frustrated.

The Science of Glyconutrients was introduced to me in October 2001. I was given Dr. Michael Schlecter’s tape “Back from the Brink”. The tape mentioned Lou Gehrig’s disease. I was amazed because this disease is not generally talked about. I immediately made the decision to take the nutrients with the intent of bringing my body back to “wellness”.

The 17 months that I have been on glyconutritional neutraceuticals, in conjunction with a daily exercise program and a high-antioxidant diet, has resulted in me experiencing muscle strength in my leg, arm and increased activity in my left hand. My leg brace has been adjusted twice to allow more flexibility. I now feel that the muscles in my thigh and calf are strengthening. My left arm has relaxed to a natural full-length extension and my fingers on my left hand often lay fully open as a hand at rest instead of being a clenched fist drawn rigidly to my chest. More importantly, since taking the muscle recovery supplement the last four months, the muscle-spasms are almost non-existent. For the first time in five years, I can go to a restaurant or theatre and enjoy my evening.

My adult son recently commented on the remarkable improvement that he had seen in me, both physically and emotionally. I have to say that my family was skeptical when I started the glyconutritionals. Any Mom will know that it is unusual for a male child to tell you that you are doing well. For me, it was most gratifying to receive my son’s compliment and it re-affirms to me that I have chosen the right path to regain an awesome quality of life.

My recent EMG showed some muscle activity in my left side, in areas that previous showed inactivity. I now attend tai chi classes 4 times weekly, regular aquafit pool exercises 5 times weekly and, with the use of a leg brace, can complete a 6km walk with ease. I also played 9 holes of golf twice a week last summer, without a golf cart! Oh! Did I mention that I am now able to travel from the car to the pool and go out for short errands without putting on my leg brace. I cannot tell you how liberating this feels! In February 2003, I baby-sat my 3-month old granddaughter…..I can independently pick her up, hold her and dress her.

My body’s ability in symptom management is phenomenal and I have had no additional health challenges that are frequently reported as a result of pharmaceutical drugs. In fact, I have reduced my prescribed medications from four to only one. My mental outlook is superb and I am now back volunteering again.

I look forward to updating my “wellness” story in the future. I do not know what I will have to report but I can only say that I currently have a quality of life that I did not ever expect to.

.....Marilyn, 2003

A Transforming Experience

2004-12-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

When Mannatech products went to work on a woman suffering from ALS, commonly called Lou Gehrig’sdisease, it made believers of patient and doctor alike. Dr. Michael D. Schlachter, a board certified internalmedicine/pulmonary disease physician, who also serves as medical director of intensive care atSummerlin Hospital, describes this disease as “debilitating, progressive and terminal.”Life and times were pretty dismal for Ethel Stratton, the ALS patient, who had been sent to a nursing home todie. When Dr. Schlachter saw her, she had been paralyzed from the neck down for the previous threemonths and was expected to live no more than another three months.The doctor had only recently learned of Mannatech, and on the premise that it couldn’t hurt her but maybe,just maybe, could help, he started her on a program rich in these glyconutrients. He picks up the tale10 days later when he walked into her room and found Ethel with a big smile on her face. “Nothing, “ hesays, “could prepare me for what I was about to experience next. She mouthed the words ‘watch this’...and raised her legs off the bed. Everything I had been taught in medical school told me that what I hadjust seen was not possible. It was the only time in my medical career that my knees actually became alittle weak.”Dr. Schlachter subsequently treated another ALS patient who had unfortunately lost the ability to swallow because her particular form of the disease primarily affected the upper body nerves. She was willing to give the Mannatech program a 6-month trial, and at five and a half months woke up one morning to find she could indeed swallow again. He’s currently treating yet another ALS case with these glyconutrients.
Above text from... http://www.mannabody.com/mannafromheaven.pdf

Glyconutrients increase stem cells in the body

2004-12-09T11:01:00.000-07:00

What follows is a short summary, written by Noni Kaufman, of what Dr.
Reg McDaniel is saying about how to activate Stem Cells in your body.

Dr. Reg McDaniel talked about first seeing new stem cells in the
peripheral blood of clients using Glyconutrients many years ago and
not recognizing these cells as stem cells. They were 10 times the size
of white blood cells and they were given the name "Gee" cells for some
time as that's what Dr. Reg said when he observed these new cells that
no one could identify!

Now we have the tools to identify these cells appropriately as stem
cells which can be used as "master keys" to move to places in the body
as the body calls for. About a year ago there was an article in JAMA
regarding the stem cells implants of male cells into female bodies of
women with leukemia who had received a stem cell transplant. When
these women died, male marked cells were found as neurons in the
brain.

Reg realized that this might offer an explanation in the many children
with fetal alcohol syndrome that were doing so well with the
Glyconutrients and others who had advanced so far beyond their
perceived genetic limitations. He told the story of several adopted
aboriginal children in Canada who had fetal alcohol syndrome who have
done remarkably well, improving from IQ's estimated to be around 50 to
levels around 100. One girl who had difficulties with reading and
numbers and was in remedial classes after 3 years with Glyconutrients
was able to read a Harry Potter book in a week and discuss what she
had read.

When they measure the before and after stem cell counts in the blood,
virtually none are detectable prior to Glyconutrients. Within a week
of giving Glyconutrients, there are 200-400 stem cells seen in a micro
liter of blood with about 5-10 thousand white blood cells. If one
extrapolates to the whole body, it is possible that there are 1.7-3
trillion new stem cells throughout our body as we add in
Glyconutrients. We're at the beginning of understanding all of what is
possible with stem cells.

Week 4 Update

2004-12-08T14:25:00.000-07:00

Feelin good...
I've increased (started on Sat Dec 4th ) the Ambrotose dosage to:

2 tsp (10ml ttl) 3 times daily

Physical Changes Noticed
I do find it a little easier to roll around in bed.
I feel more confident/relaxed on my feet.
My neck/upper back muscles aren't as tired and tense.

Emotionally...I'm feeling GREAT!
I'm maintaining my weekly Physiotherapy routine (3-4 times per week)
Exercises include Stretching and Range of Motion for the:

Upper Extremities (while laying on floor)

1) Arm Raised – 10x
· Grip shoulder blade (back) and pull towards self while raising hand above head.
· Support wrist and hold arm above head x 15 sec.
2) Arm Extensions
· Thumbs up.
· Extend arm away from side as far as comfortable.
3) External Rotation of Arm – 10x each arm
· Hold shoulder.
· Bend arm.
· Raise arm.
4) Arm Flexion/Elbow Flexion
· Rest elbow on floor
· Flex arm / raise hand (support the wrist to keep the wrist in a neutral position)
5) Wrist Rotation
· Rest elbow on floor – rotate wrist in air (support wrist)
6) Wrist Extension/Flexion
· Elbow resting on floor and hand in the air
· Raise/lower wrist
7) Finger Stretches
· Rest arm/elbow on floor
· Stabilize wrist
· Stretch back fingers at knuckles and bend fingers and thumb

Lower Extremities (while laying on floor)

1) Bend and straighten knee/leg
2) Hamstring StretchRaise leg at ankle and rest back of lower leg on knee, hold around knee (can rest foot/ankle on shoulder) 3x 1 minute

Psychology Today: Nutrition: How Sweet It Is

2004-12-04T14:31:00.000-07:00

From rotting teeth and expanding waistlines to crankiness and diabetes, sugar is the culprit behind much of what ails us. The average American consumes 39 teaspoons of the stuff a day—a recipe for a public health disaster.

Yet, perhaps counterintuitively, sugar is now being hailed as a healing substance at the forefront of a revolutionary science called glyconutrition. Before you start popping M&Ms as if they were miracle pills, be warned that it’s not that kind of sugar that holds medicinal powers.

There’s sugar and there are sugars...

Over 200 sugar compounds, technically known as saccharides, occur naturally in plants. And eight of them have been identified as essential to optimal human health.
Two of those, saccharides galactose and glucose, are commonly found in the foods we eat. Galactose is a milk sugar and glucose is the sugar that sits on your table; it’s also a component of fruits and grains.
Both galactose and glucose are broken down in the body and used as fuel. While the body can use other nutrients as fuel, namely fat, the brain relies almost exclusively on glucose to power its intense metabolic activity.
The other six essential sugars were for the major portion of human history part of the everyday diet, as our ancestors dined on whatever plants they could find. Ninety-nine percent of the diet homosapiens evolved on was made up of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and legumes.
Today, however, the variety of sugars is largely absent from our table, thanks to our reliance on processed foods made with refined sugar— a substance that sweetens our tea and coffee and lurks in sodas, fruit juices, bread and cakes. The problem is not only that it has displaced other essential sugars but that it has been stripped of its plant source and, with it, its nutritional value.
Meanwhile, the body requires the sugars missing from our diet for some very strategic uses—such as, to coat nearly every cell in the body. “They are like a Swiss army knife which the body can use for different tasks,” says Emil Mondoa, M.D., pediatrician and coauthor with Mindy Kitei of Sugars That Heal.
These sugars are not converted one to the other in the body. Once ingested, they combine with proteins and fats to create compounds that allow cells to communicate with each other. And no cells communicate more with each other than brain cells.
Glycoproteins, for example, make up the receptors that neurotransmitters such as serotonin bind to on nerve-cell surfaces. So they are critical to every thought and feeling that you have.
Glyconutrients also play key roles in stressed states. Overactivation of the stress response is now thought to be the primary mechanism of depression. The receptor for corticotropin releasing factor, a key activator of the body-wide stress response, is a glycoprotein. Dysfunction of the receptor is considered by many to be the core defect in depression and anxiety disorders.
Galactose specifically contributes to the makeup of galactolipids, basic components of nerve cell membranes. They too influence the fluidity of the membrane and facilitate all cell transactions.
On the frontiers of medicine, researchers are testing therapeutic applications of various glyconutrients missing from our everyday diet. Preliminary clinical trials have shown that supplementation with glyconutrients may enhance memory, support a variety of higher brain functions, and help curb the stress response.
They also reduce allergies and allay symptoms of arthritis, diabetes, lupus and kidney disease (in animals). Several labs and are looking into ways to use sugar compounds to improve the medicines used to fight anemia, HIV and cancer.
Natural sources of glyconutrients exist all around us. You might not know it because nutritional sugars are not necessarily sweet; most are tasteless. Mannose is one of the eight essential saccharides and it’s found in cabbage, broccoli, and seeds. It’s thought to be important in the structure of nerve cells.
Fucose, another glyconutrient, is thought to be particularly active at the synaptic junctions between nerve cells. It’s found in mushrooms and in seeds. Xylose, yet another, is present in yeast, rye and barley.
Until we better understand how to heal ourselves with what we choose to eat, these so-called “sweet medicines” can be found in powdery nutritional supplements, derived from plant substances. But your best bet, as always, is to eat a variety of unprocessed foods.

Publication: Psychology Today MagazinePublication Date: Jun 8, 2004

Week 3 Update

2004-12-01T11:53:00.000-07:00

No noticable change(s) in my condition this week...
Will continue with same Daily Doses.

I still feel good.

Week 2 Update

2004-11-24T12:59:00.000-07:00

Feelin' good today...
Rough weekend - fell Sunday and bounced my head off the floor (Ouch!)
I had a headache for 2 days and VERY SORE.
Today, I actually got outta bed by myself for the first time in a coupla days.

Minor progress to report with Glyconutrient Supplements...
It would appear that I'm able to make a fist(easily) with my RIGHT hand (the limb first affected) for the first time in 6-12 months.
-Also-
I'm having an easier time bending/raising my arm (right) at the elbow.

Yay!!!

Daily dosage equals:
1 tsp (5ml) Ambrotose 3x daily
1 capsule AmbrotoseAO 2x daily
1 tsp (5ml) Phyt-Aloe 2x daily
1 tsp (5ml) PHYTOGENINS (Plus) 3x daily
1 oz Awareness Daily Complete Multivitamin 1x daily
1 capsule Awareness Synergy 1x daily

Gonna stick with these daily amounts for the next 2 weeks and adjust (if necessary) after that.
Continuing with Physio-therapy also...

My Horoscope Today...

2004-11-19T15:22:00.000-07:00

You may be wondering, 'Is it me or is it the rest of the world?' Maybe some big change happened while you were asleep. Suddenly, the recent past feels like the good old days. Take some time to explore what has been going on in your life recently. Is there some aspect you wish you could change? It's a good time to do some self-reflection. Try to figure out what you could have done differently in the past, and realize that you still have the power to change your future.

It's so true...it's scary!!! :o

Week 1 Update

2004-11-17T19:42:00.000-07:00

So far so good...
Only side affect seems to be a mild headache today and I'm tired.

I've only been taking the product for a week...miracles won't happen overnite.

M

Finally Arrived...

2004-11-11T14:05:00.000-07:00

The final part of my Mannatech (glyconutrient) order has FINALLY arrived.

Let's see what happens...

Today is the Day...

2004-11-04T10:01:00.000-07:00

The first day of the rest of my life...
Ground Zero!
Day One!
D-Day!
The first step!
You get the point.

Overall, I'd hafta say my health is very good after 2+ years of being diagnosed with ALS.
Emotionally - My spirit is good. I maintain a very positive outlook on my future, despite what others (Doctors mostly) may say.
Physically - This is where the challenge begins!!!

Speech - Slurred, trouble saying words with "SH", "CH", and "S" sounds. It's like being at the dentist - having your mouth frozen and trying to speak - without the numbness.
Eating/Swallowing - No major problems. I can still eat whatever I want. I just hafta be careful with the amount in my mouth and eating food with multiple textures (ie. mashed potatoes and roast beef on the same fork). I do avoid foods like apples, carrots, etc. as they can be tough to eat.
Legs - I can still walk. Distances can be a problem...my knees do get sore due to walking method(style). If it's cold out...fuggetaboutit!!! My legs just freeze up and I need help. Stairs...depends on the day. Yesterday, I needed help...Today, stairs are not a problem for me.
Arms - Right Arm - No real strength, lifting my arm starts from the shoulder, picking simple objects up is difficult (if not impossible), I WAS Right Handed. Left Arm - Weak, but able to move a little more freely. Picking objects up is difficult (but not impossible) . I am now Left Handed. I do need help with daily activities (eating, dressing, showering, etc) that most people take for granted.

I continue to do "In-home" Physio-Therapy (at least) 3 times a week to maintain "Range of Motion" and flexibility. It DOES help a lot.

Today...

I start my Glyconutrient Supplementation to my diet.
These are the products I'm gonna be taking...

GLYCONUTRIENTS (Ambrotose®):
Immune System Modulator, Strengthener, Cellular Communicator, and Adjuvant.
Ambrotose is Mannatech's amazing discovery that is the key to putting the "intelligence" back into our immune system. Ambrotose is composed of glyconutritionals (biological sugars), which function above and beyond traditional vitamins, minerals, and herbals. Ambrotose contains the 8 essential biological sugars that must be present on the surface of every cell in the body in order for cells to communicate and function properly. Research has found that only two of these sugars are predominant in our modern diets. Glyconutrients are the alphabet for cellular communication that enable the body to perform the many complicated functions for health such as immune system modulation, NK cell enhancement, and inter/intra-cellular communication. Ambrotose also works as an adjuvant to enhance and potentiate other nutrients or medications used in conjunction with it.

PHYTOGENINS (Plus):
Plant Hormone Modulator.
Plus is Mannatech's proprietary food supplement for hormonal health. Plus is not a hormone, but gives the body what it needs to build healthy hormones. Hormones regulate growth, energy metabolism, fat metabolism, bone and tissue integrity, body rhythms, sexual function and health, and our sense of well being directly linked to emotional health. Plus is a very sophisticated formula that features a proprietary blend of plant-based phytoestrogens and steroidal saponins, which support hormone activity and synthesis. Plus also contains key amino acids (L-lysine, L-glysine, L-glutamic acid and L-arginine) that your endocrine system uses to manufacture natural hormones. Plus provides hormone and immune system modulation and overall glandular support (liver, adrenal, pancreas and pituitary).

PHYTONUTRIENTS (Phyt-Aloe®):
Nature's protectors.
Phyt-Aloe has protective phytochemicals that defend the body on the genetic, cellular, tissue and organ levels. Phytochemicals are natural protective nutrients found in vine-ripened plants that play an important role in balancing the body's defense system. Phytochemicals protect our bodies against toxins and diseases, prevent or destroy tumors and aid in the repair of the body. According to the National Cancer Institute, people who eat large quantities of fruits and vegetables found in Phyt-Aloe have reduced cancer risks.

ANTIOXIDANTS (Ambrotose AO):
Triple protection for your cells.
New! Ambrotose AO combines in one product: antioxidant protection from new MTech AO Blend, immune support from Ambrotose glyconutritionals and phytochemical protection from Phyt-Aloe. Ambrotose AO offers a unique blend of water and fat-soluble antioxidants to protect the entire cell. It contains a validated stabilized matrix of healthful ingredients. MTech AO Blend's ingredients(grape skin extract, green tea extract, quercetin, Australian bush plum and vitamin E) work as one to create a powerful, synergistic antioxidant effect. Antioxidants protect against aging by neutralizing oxidative stress (the internal rusting of the body).

FOOD MATRIXED VITS/MIN (Glycentials®):
Balanced Nutrition.
Glycentials is a highly bio-available multiple vitamin/mineral/antioxidant formula. The minerals in Glycentials are delivered in a unique glycinated food-mineral matrix, called Ambroglycin, developed by Mannatech. Additionally, Glycentials provides antioxidant-rich nutrients to help the body cope with the harmful effects of oxidative stress. When vitamins and minerals are delivered in a whole food matrix, the body is able to assimilate and utilize all of the nutrients available, compared to the minute absorption levels available from other multiple vitamin and mineral formulas.

I will (also) continue with my daily routine of supplementing my diet with Awareness Life's "Daily Complete" .

With all the information I've been given/read about this Glycoscience and the Drug Trial options (and the inherent side effects/risks associated with them) Doctors have provided me with...
It JUST makes sense to me to stick with a natural/holistic method to heal what ails me. The human body was designed to heal itself and like the human spirit, needs a little guidance/help once in awhile.
I need to help Me, Help Myself

Snake Oil...maybe. Only time will tell and I have nothing but time and nothing to lose.

Glycoscience

2004-10-31T13:12:00.000-07:00

The following was emailed to me by a friend.
Those interested in nutrition and disease related issues, it's worth the read.
Scientifically...it makes sense (to me).

Glycoscience is a huge breakthrough in science. And for years, the pharmaceutical industry has tried to synthesize the eight essential sugars because they know the benefits. The problem is, like all synthesized drugs, synthesized sugars have side-effects! And side effects are precisely what they want because it means the selling of more drugs.
One company patented the stabilization process of the sugars in their natural form twenty years ago and now no one can touch it. They basically own the right to the combination of any two sugars and the stabalization processes that keeps then in their digestible form.
MIT recently invited researchers from this company to share theirfindings with their own scientists. And one of the most prestigious medical conferances in the world (in England) last year invited Mannatech (the company that sells the products) to share it's glycobiology research with their attendees. It was the first time in history that this medical symposium invited someone from a neutraceutical company to present their findings. That is HUGE!!
It is simply about nutrition. Human beings today are malnutritioned. Whether we believe it or not, it is a fact. Fruit and vegetables you buy today have very little nutritional value and these 8 essential sugars are virtually non-existant in our diets. And they are neccessary for your body to function not only normally, but optimally! Mannatech has had to deal with a lot of red tape because of the Pharmaceutical companies trying to shut them down. They simply do not want this information out. It would cost them trillions if everyone knew about this. Unfortunately, too many people still blindly trust that doctors know exactly what to do!
These products are not meant to cure disease. Again, they simply provide the nutrition that used to exist and now no longer does. Think of this. Virtually every disease has been on the rise over the past fifty years....guess when large agribusinesses (steroids, pesticides, green harvesting) took over sustainable agriculture?.....shortly after WWII...fifty years ago!! And guess how long most of our modern toxins have been around? Fifty years!! So not only are there over 70,000 (yes that number is accurate) toxins in our environment today that didn't exist prior to WWII, our diet is also completely deficient and we can no longer guard against them using food alone.
So again, glycobiology is all about nutrition. They simply allow your body to function optimally and the effects of people taking them has been insane! How much you should take is hard to say. I don't know how advanced your ALS is. I heard a doctor talk about a lady who was completely bedridden with ALS...who had no movement at all from the neck down and who, after several months on the glyconutrients, was able to prop herself up and put her feet on the floor. It depends on genetics as well.

I'm going to try the product(s) and see what (if any) effect it will have on my condition.
Given what my doctors have offered me...(be part of a drug trial)
I prefer this Alternative Option.

M

First Post...My Visit to the ALS Clinic

2004-10-27T18:00:00.000-06:00

All...
Went to the ALS Clinic today for my 3 month checkup.

My vital lung capacity is 107% (up from 79% in July).
My bloodwork is normal (O2 normal - CO2 up 2 pts, but normal)
The Occupational Therapist was very happy with my strength and flexibility.
Legs are fine for around the house. I'm movin' slower...but I'm movin' nonetheless.
My arms are weaker, but I can still use the 'puter (obviously).
Physio does really help alot.
I was pretty happy yesterday when after 2+ years, I was the only ALS patient who "walked" in to the clinic.
I won't be running any marathons anytime soon, but I do feel good.

Mike
;^)