What Vitamins Do I Take?Learn what vitamins Dr. Gifford-Jones takes and why.

10 Ways to Reduce the Risk of CancerTen things you should know now to reduce cancer risk.

Sytrinol: A Natural Way to Reduce CholesterolLearn how to lower cholesterol by 30% in 4 weeks – Naturally!

The Scoop on Preventing Heart AttacksFind out how I have bet my life on Vitamin C and Lysine for heart attack prevention.

Vitamin K – Essential for Good Bones and HeartThis little known vitamin can have a big impact on bone and heart health.

Fight Seasonal AllergiesFree yourself from a runny nose, itchy watery eyes and sneezing.

New Warning about Bone-Strengthening DrugsWhat you should know about reports on bisphosphates.

What Vitamins Do I Take?

The Scoop on Preventing Heart Attacks!

The Natural Way to Prevent and Treat Fragile Bones

What’s inside2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Should I take vitamin supplements to prevent illness? Do I need them if I eat a balanced diet? What is the best dosage of vitamin D or C? I often receive questions about vitamin ther-apy. So are vitamins worth it, or a waste of money? Scottish heritage forbids me to spend money foolishly. Nor should you!

When patients question the value of vitamins, I always ask them, “What do you eat for break-fast?” The reply is often, “I skip breakfast as I’m rushing to the office”. Or “I get a muffin (fat-laden) and coffee on my way to work.” So they start their day with one nutritional strike against them. Their breakfast lacks fibre, vitamins and minerals such as magnesium. This routine is also a great way to develop constipation and the irritable bowel syndrome.Continued on page 2…

Why is heart attack the number one killer in this country? Ninety-nine percent of doctors say it’s due to atheroscle-rosis (hardening of arteries) and that cholesterol lower-ing drugs are the primary way to treat it. But I say closed

minds are helping to keep coronary attack the main killer. History shows that new ideas are all too often shot down in flames by those who choose to remain blind to them, and do not remember history. Continued on page 5…

What causes the holes in Swiss cheese? I’m sure the Swiss know the answer, but I don’t. But I do know what makes holes in bones, causing osteoporosis. Today millions of North Americans are taking prescription drugs to treat this devastating disease. But there’s a safer, natural remedy, BioSil™, to prevent “holey” bones. The figures are frightening. Studies show that one in four women and one in eight men over age 50 have osteoporosis. And with an aging population we can expect more cases in the years ahead. Continued on page 6…

Dr. Ken Walker (AKA Gifford-Jones) is a graduate of The University of Toronto and The Harvard Medical School. He took post-graduate training in surgery at the Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, McGill University in Montreal and Harvard.

During his medical training he has been a family doctor, hotel doctor and ship’s surgeon. He is a Fel-low of The Royal College of Surgeons and author of seven books.

His medical column is published by 70 Canadian newspapers, several in the U.S. and the Epoch Times which has editions in a number of European coun-tries. He was Senior Editor of the Canadian Doctor, a regular contributor to the magazine Fifty Plus and other publications.

He was awarded a certificate of merit by The Mitch-ener Foundation for his efforts to legalize heroin to ease the suffering of terminal cancer patients. His

Gifford-Jones Foundation donated $500,000 to es-tablish The Gifford-Jones Professorship in Pain Con-trol and Palliative Care at The University of Toronto Medical School. During his career he has travelled extensively to interview a number of internationally renowned scientists and researchers.

Ken is married to Susan, has four children and 11 grandchildren. His hobby is trap shooting.

Dr. Gifford-Jones

W. Gifford-Jones, MDDOCG

IFF.COMYour No-Nonsense Medical Resource

ISSUE #1

What Vitamins Do I Take? …continued from page 1 Natural Menopause ReliefThe second strike comes when they grab a hamburger for lunch. And later in the day they strike out for the third time when it’s too convenient to pick up a packaged dinner loaded with calories, sugar and salt. Reheating also destroys many of the vitamins that are present.

Some of my friends are strict vegetarians. But in their enthusiasm for avoiding animal products, they may not be getting enough vitamin B12, zinc or calcium.

Readers of my columns know I enjoy an alco-holic drink before dinner. I’ve always believed that Sir William Osler was right when he said, “Alcohol is for the elderly what milk is for the young.” But only in moderation, as those who imbibe too much are usually vitamin deficient.

As our bodies age, they undergo change. For instance, the stomach produces less acid, mak-ing it more difficult to absorb vitamin B12. I recall a patient who was believed to be in the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease who slowly regained normal mental function after receiv-ing this vitamin.

But vitamins are not just for the elderly. There are over 70 million North American women in

their reproductive years. They should all be taking Folic acid every day, not just after they become pregnant. Rather, it’s vital to be on this vitamin before they become preg-nant to prevent a defect in their baby’s spinal cord. This message is still not being heard by enough women.

Current evidence shows that folic acid, vitamins B6 and B12 help to decrease the risk of heart disease by decreasing the blood level of homocysteine, a by-product of protein metabolism. But I believe that vitamin C plays an even greater role in preventing heart disease. In fact, studies by Dr. Sydney Bush, an English researcher, prove that high doses of C plus the amino acid lysine can open up blocked coronary arteries.

As a prudent Scot I first try to eat a balanced diet. I also take a variety of vitamins and minerals every day. This routine is not cheap, but relative to the high cost of ill health, I look on these purchases as an inexpensive insurance policy.

Studies have shown that vitamins can differ in quality, so it’s important to be careful where you purchase vitamins. Your lo-cal Health Food Store is the best place to start. Look for brands that are sold only in Health Food Stores as these will have the highest quality and you can depend on the advice you get from the knowledgeable staff.

Newspaper headlines linking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to cancer and heart disease have left an indelible mark on the minds of many women. Fortunately, there are other natural ways to ease menopausal problems.

Some women sail through menopause without trouble. For others, it means sleepless nights, embarrassing hot flushes, decreased sex drive, painful inter-course, urinary incontinence, headaches and mood swings. It’s not fun for any-one.

For women who fear hormones, a natural herbal product called MenoSense is available at health food stores across Canada without a prescription. It’s also been approved by Health Canada for its safety, effectiveness, quality and been given an “NPN” designation.

MenoSense is a combination of natural herbs. One herb, black cohosh, has been used by Native Americans to prevent a variety of complaints. Now, it’s helping a generation of boomer women to stop the feeling that they’ve walked into an oven, have to turn up the air-conditioner or change bed sheets due to nighttime sweats.

Black Cohosh works by blocking the pituitary gland from producing the lutein-izing hormone responsible for hot flashes. Other studies show it may have a positive effect on mood by affecting serotonin receptors. It’s also reassuring for women to know that research reported in the International Journal of Onc-ology showed that black cohosh has no estrogenic activity.

Don Quai, another herb in MenoSense, used for centuries in traditional Chi-nese medicine, also helps to reduce hot flashes. Other herbs, such as Vitex and Hesperidin ease menopausal symptoms by increasing the production of pro-gesterone and decreasing prolactin which increases during menopause. And Gamma-Oryzanol, produced from rice bran oil, is an antioxidant effective in relieving menopausal symptoms by lowering elevated blood levels of trigly-ceride and cholesterol. Results usually occur within 12 weeks. During menopause women, often through a lack of knowledge, make several wrong moves. The worst omission is failure to seek medical attention if they

have emotional and physical problems affecting their quality of life. I cannot recall a single patient who had bonafide menopausal

problems that was not helped by treatment.

Menopause is also a time when menstrual irregularity oc-curs. The usual pattern is fewer periods or less bleeding. But if there’s bleeding between periods or bleeding after

an absence of a few months, this should be quickly reported to the doctor to rule out a malignancy.

Fortunately, most abnormal bleeding is due to benign reasons, but never assume this is the

case.

I believe there are now sev-eral reasons why it’s pru-dent to consider vitamin therapy. We must first rid ourselves of the miscon-ception that the majority of North Americans eat a bal-anced diet. A significant portion of this diet is junk food that does not contain sufficient amounts of fruit, vegetables, fibre, minerals and other vital ingredients.

W. Gifford-Jones, MD ISSUE #12

Natural Menopause Relief 10 Ways to Reduce the Risk of CancerHere’s the bad news! Nearly half of today’s North American men and one-third of women will develop cancer, making it the second leading cause of death after heart disease. To some people, fate deals a bad hand when they inherit genes that increase the risk of cancer. But here’s the good news. Drs. John Swartzberg and Jeffery Wolf at the University of California say that lifestyle changes can help people reduce the risk of at least 65 percent of cancers.

One – Use Alcohol ModeratelyCancers of the esophagus (stomach tube), mouth, throat and larynx are linked to alcohol. The more you drink the greater the risk. For women who know they have a higher risk of breast cancer or have had breast cancer, the advice is to forego the alcoholic drink or do so occasionally. Moderate drinking means one or two drinks a day for men and one for women.

Two - Test the Water for ArsenicThis should not be necessary for city dwellers. But if you’re on a farm and use well water, high levels of arsenic have been associated with cancers of the bladder, colon, kidneys, liver, lung and skin. Arsenic is tasteless, odourless and is found in soil, rocks, water and air. Water filters that are placed on the faucet do not remove arsenic. The only solution is bottled water.

Three – Decrease Workplace Exposure to CarcinogensBartenders and waiters who work in venues that still allow smoking should look for a smoke-free environment to decrease the risk of lung cancer. Funeral directors and those who work in nail salons can become exposed to formaldehyde increasing the risk of nasal cancer. Others who work in chemical or printing plants may be exposed to benzene, a chemical that is linked to leukemia and Hodgkins lymphoma.

Four – Decrease Sun ExposureUltraviolet light from sun tanning beds is estimated to cause two million cases of skin cancer every year. Remember this summer that no sunscreen blocks all radiation.

Five - Get MovingProstate, lung and cancer of the uterus are associated with inactivity. Exercise enhan-ces the immune system and decreases cancer risk by lowering cellular growth.

Six – Shed Pounds Studies suggest that being obese accounts for 14 percent of cancer deaths in men and 20 percent in women. These deaths occur from cancers of the large bowel, esophagus, liver, uterine cancer and leukemia. Why this happens is not totally under-stood, but there’s evidence it may be associated with the production of hormones. Obesity is also linked to chronic inflammation which may trigger cancer growth.

Seven – Decrease High-Heat CookingHeating food over coals or flames creates chemicals called heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which are believed to increase cancer risk. Most people associate this risk with grill cooking. But it’s also true for pan-frying foods on the stove. These chemicals are associated with an increased risk of pancreatic, pros-tate and colon malignancy. You can lower risk by using the microwave to pre-cook food for a few minutes before putting meat or chicken on the grill and then turn food often to prevent charring.

Eight – Limit Radiation ExposureIt seems unbelievable, but every year 10 percent of Americans get a CT scan! Equally frightening, the number getting this procedure increases every year. These scans now account for half of our radiation exposure. One CT scan is the same as 500 x-rays of the lungs. So always ask your doctors if the same result could be achieved by either an ultrasound or MRI test.

Nine – Don’t SmokeI tell patients to see a psychiatrist if they still smoke cigarettes, pipes, smokeless to-bacco or cigars. Smoking is the leading cause of premature preventable deaths in this country. Remember it is never too late to quit and stop needless lung and other cancer deaths.

Ten – Eat a Nutritious DietWhat is an anti-cancer diet? Authorities state repeatedly it’s prudent to limit the amount of red meat, pork and particularly processed meats, and to increase the amount of whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

A Natural Remedy for “Cheat-Eating Days” How often do you feel guilty about cheating, not during a card or golf game or try-ing to pay less income tax, but time and again feeling guilty about cheating on how much you eat? Since readers are always asking me for more natural ways to treat medical problems, here’s one to decrease guilt on cheat-eating days.

The Ultimate Starch and Fat Blocker, a natural remedy, claims you can have your cake and eat it too. Your initial reaction is “Hey, it’s too good to be true”. But the idea is based on a simple fact. If you consume fewer calories than you burn up, you will lose weight. The magic ingredient in this case is an extract of the white kidney bean which slows down the absorption of starches, a form of carbohydrate, present in bread, po-tatoes, rice and pasta.

How does it work? During the digestive process the body converts carbohydrates into sugar. The body does this by breaking down the carbohydrate molecule with alpha amylase, an enzyme that’s produced in the pancreas. The sugar is then used for energy or stored as fat.

The Ultimate Starch and Fat Blocker acts by slowing down the action of alpha amyl-

ase so there’s less breakdown of starches into sugar. This pro-cess allows part of the food to pass through the intestines be-fore it can be converted into sugar and then fat. But it does this without affecting the digestion of healthy carbohydrates, such as fruit and whole grain.

Studies show that this natural remedy blocks over 50 percent of calories from most starches, 30 percent from fat, reduces carbo-hydrate and sugar cravings and decreases excess cholesterol levels.

Unfortunately, none of us are perfect and we all have our own individual devils. One of the big ones is the inability to say no to all the goodies presented to us. Look on the Ultimate Starch and Fat Blocker remedy as a temporary crutch to lean on when you know you’re going to have a cheat-eating day with a high starch or high fat meal.

The usual dose is two to three capsules at the start of a meal. The Ultimate Starch and Fat Blocker remedy is available at most health food stores.

3W. Gifford-Jones, MDISSUE #1

Sytrinol®: A Natural Way to Decrease Cholesterol

What You Need to Know About Magnesium

Prescription drugs can kill, natural remedies rarely. It’s one of the important lessons I’ve learned practicing medicine. So why risk a prescription drug to lower cholesterol when a natural one is available? Sytrinol can be a safe, effective, less expensive and natural way to lower blood cholesterol and decrease the risk of heart attack.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs (CLDs) do decrease blood cholesterol and risk of coron-ary attack. But to question their use is like attacking Motherhood and apple pie, even though there are several short and possibly long-term side effects.

For instance, one major study showed that patients taking CLDs may be exchanging one devil for another. Those taking CLDs had 22 fewer deaths from cardiovascular disease, but this was offset by an increase of 24 deaths from cancer. Hardly a good trade.

Researchers at the University of Denmark reported several years ago that 15 per-cent of those over age 50 taking CLDs suffer nerve damage. Dr. Duane Graveline, a superbly conditioned U.S astronaut, developed transient global amnesia while on Lipitor and could not recognize his family. He slowly recovered after stopping this medication. Skeptical NASA physicians then prescribed half the dose and his amnesia returned.

Dr. Annette Draeger, a researcher at the University of Switzerland, took muscle biop-sies from 44 patients on CLDs who were complaining of muscle pain – 57 percent of these biopsies revealed significant muscle damage.

On rare occasions CLDs can cause rhabdomyolosis, a potentially fatal condition in which large amounts of muscle tissue are destroyed causing kidney failure. For this reason some CLDs have been removed from the market.

Another more sinister concern about the long-term use of CLDs is that they decrease blood cholesterol by inhibiting an enzyme required for the production of cholesterol.

Unfortunately, most doctors do not tell patients that this enzyme is also needed for the manufacture of coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10). This compound has been labeled the “spark plug of our motors”. It generates energy for the heart’s muscle. And we know what happens when spark plugs fail to function in cars.

Studies show that CLDs can decrease Co-Q10 by as much as 40 percent. It’s like drain-ing the car’s gas tank. Moreover, the higher the dose of CLD the more Co-Q10 is re-moved for the heart’s muscle. A number of authorities believe that by continually robbing the heart of Co-Q10, doctors may be setting the stage for a future epidemic of congestive heart failure.

For these reasons I believe it’s good sense for doctors to at least consider natural remedies to lower blood cholesterol. Sytrinol consists of citrus and palm fruit extract that con-tains polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs) and tocotrienols.

Multiple studies show that Sytrinol decreases total chol-esterol by 30 percent, low density lipoprotein (LDL – the bad cholesterol) by 27 percent, and triglycerides by 34 percent. In addition, high density lipoprotein (HDL – the good cholesterol) increases 4 percent.

Sytrinol works by decreasing the oxidation of the bad cholesterol, a factor in plaque formation and narrowing coronary arteries. Sytrinol also decreases inflammation of arteries which is believed to be associated with increased risk of coronary attack. And by lubricating platelets, the small blood particles responsible for blood clot forma-tion, there’s less chance of one forming in coronary arteries.

The dose of Sytrinol is 300 milligrams once a day. It is well tolerated with no reported complications even when 50 times the regular dose is prescribed. Preferred Nutrition Sytrinol is available at most health food stores.

This article does not intend that patients should toss away CLDs. Rather, it’s meant to report a natural alternative for lowering blood cholesterol. Patients must not act as their own doctor. But they should be informed patients about medical matters. So I suggest that readers look at the web site www.sytrinol.net. This makes it easier to make informed decisions about cholesterol along with the doctor.

“Doctor, am I taking enough or too much calcium?” It’s a question I’m often asked by patients. But I can’t recall a single instance when a patient has asked the same ques-tions about magnesium. It’s ironic, as studies show that many North Americans are not obtaining sufficient amounts of this important mineral. In some cases this can be a fatal error. Now, there’s a simple, natural way to prevent this.

Calcium has always enjoyed star status for good reason. Without sufficient calcium bones develop osteoporosis in which a minor fall, or a big hug, can snap a bone. But few realize that magnesium is required for more than 300 bio-chemical reactions in the body.

Magnesium is nature’s natural muscle relax-ant. But this fact went unnoticed for years. Then in 1979 Dr. J. R. Chipperfield reported in

the British Journal Lancet, that patients who suffered from angina often had low blood levels of magnesium. And that by prescribing this mineral the spasm of coronary arteries and pain could be eased. This important finding prevents heart disease, man’s number one killer. But, in addi-tion to expanding coronary arteries, magnesium adds oil to the circulation, pre-venting platelets, small particles in the blood, from clotting, and sudden death.

Magnesium plays another vital role. Each beat of the heart is controlled by an ex-tremely complex electrical system. Low blood magnesium can toss a monkey wrench into this process, triggering an irregular heart rate called auricular fibrillation. In ex-treme cases this can result in ventricular fibrillation and death.

The blunt fact is that consump-tion of CLDs is not like swal-lowing M and M candy. They are powerful drugs.

Magnesium deficiency can result in hyperten-sion, muscle cramps, restless leg syndrome, diabetes, migraine at-tacks, emotional trouble, fatigue and an irregular heart rate.

W. Gifford-Jones, MD ISSUE #14

So how can you

get 350 mg of

magnesium daily?

A good start would be:

• onebakedpotatowithskin55m

g

• one-halfounceofalmonds43mg

• oneshreddedwheat40mg

• onecupofplainlowfatyogurt4

3mg

• one-halfcupofbrownrice42mg

• onebanana32mg

• threeouncegrilledsalmon23mg

• onesliceofwholewheatbread2

4mg

• …anddon’tforgetfruitsandvegetab

les.

Whether or not you die from a heart attack depends on several factors such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes and blood choles-terol. But one dilemma, which has been difficult to explain, is why 50 percent of people who die from coronary attack have normal blood cholesterol. Low blood magnesium may be a factor.

The DASH study (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) showed that this major killer could also be calmed by a diet high in magnesium, potassium and calcium. In another study of 30,000 male health professionals, it was found that the incidence of hypertension was less in those who had a greater intake of magnesium.

A deficiency of magnesium is also fueling the epidemic of dia-betes. A report from the University of Virginia showed that a low dietary intake of magnesium is associated with increased insulin resistance. In this study patients were placed on a diet deficient in magnesium for a mere three weeks. Researchers found that, not only did the cells become lacking in magnesium, but also insulin became less efficient in transporting sugar (glucose) from the blood into cells.

Since 1976 Harvard University has carried out a huge study, called the “Nurses Health Study”. During this time researchers followed 85,000 nurses and 43,000 men. They discovered that nurses who consumed 220 milligrams (mg) of magnesium daily were 33 per-cent more likely to develop diabetes than those consuming 340 mg of magnesium each day. Since most people don’t consume 350 mg of magnesium daily it’s important to use magnesium supplements. Tablets are avail-able from a number of companies. But one company, Preferred Nutrition, has a product called MagSense™, a powdered form of magnesium. It has several advantages as it not only contains elemental magnesium, but also calcium, essential amino acids, vitamin E and several B vitamins.

The dosage is one tablespoon or scoop daily in five ounces of water. This will keep many health problems away. In some cases, the undertaker. MagSense is available in many health food stores.

The Scoop on Preventing Heart Attacks! …continued from page 1 In 1847 one woman in six who entered the University hospital in Vienna left in a coffin. Why? Be-cause esteemed professors ridiculed Dr. Semmelweiss for showing that by simply washing his hands after doing an autopsy, these deaths were prevented. In 1860 Louis Pasteur was also ridiculed by the French Assembly for daring to say that bacteria caused disease. Years later Dr. Linus Pauling, two-time Noble Prize winner, has been ignored for reporting the lack of vitamin C is responsible for the epidemic of cardiovascular disease. During an interview 25 years ago Pauling told me that animals make vitamin C and humans do not. That’s why sailors died of scurvy during long sea voyages, but the ship’s cat survived. Vitamin C is required to manufacture healthy collagen, the glue that holds coronary cells together, just like mor-tar is needed for bricks. Pauling claimed people now receive enough C to prevent scurvy, but not enough to prevent coronary attack. A mere 10 milligrams daily of C will prevent scurvy, but several thousand is required to prevent heart attack. Williams Stehbens, Professor of Anatomy at Wellington University in New Zealand, proved Pauling was right. Stebhens’ research showed that coronary arteries closest to the heart are under the great-est pressure. This causes collagen glue to weaken resulting in the formation of a blood clot and death. Recently a lucky thing happened in Hull, England. Dr. Sydney Bush, an optometrist, decided to use high doses of vitamin C to see if it decreased the risk of infection for those using contact lenses. Fortunately, he took retinal photographs before using C and again a year later. To his surprise atherosclerosis had regressed in the retinal ar-teries. So what has happened to this monumental finding? Bush, like Semmelweiss and Pasteur, has been ridiculed by cardiologists and ophthalmologists. This reminds me of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, who re-plied to his critics in 1650, “I Beseech You In The Bowels of Christ Think it Possible You May Be Mistaken”. Fourteen years ago following coronary attack, I was told by cardiologists to take cholesterol-lower-ing drugs (CLDs). They claimed it was medical madness to say no to such therapy. Instead, I decided to take high doses of vitamin C plus Lysine with breakfast, repeating this at the evening meal. What prompted this radical decision? I knew the history of Dr. Graveline, physician and NASA astronaut who had twice developed transient global amnesia from taking a certain Cholesterol Lowering Drug (CLD). I was also aware that patients had died from CLDs. Others have developed kidney, liver and muscle complications. I also believed Pauling and Stehbens were right. Now the work of Dr. Bush has convinced me my decision was prudent. But to take large doses of vitamin C and Lysine requires swallowing many pills daily. It’s a tall order for those who dislike swallowing one pill. So for several years I’ve been trying to find a company that would manufacture a combination of vitamin C and Lysine powder. Now Gifford-Jones Medi-C Plus is available at health food stores. Sales will help support the Gifford-Jones Professorship in Pain Control and Palliative Care at the University of Toronto. The dosage for Gifford-Jones Medi –C Plus is one flat scoop with breakfast and the evening meal. Those at greater risk should take one flat scoop three times a day. If high doses cause diarrhea, the dose should be decreased. This column is not meant to recommend that those taking CLDs should stop them. This is a decision that can only be made by patients and doctors. Rather, it explains how I decided to treat my own coronary heart disease. I have bet my life on it.

5W. Gifford-Jones, MDISSUE #1

Vitamin K2 Essential for Good Bones and HeartsWhat do the Japanese eat for breakfast that could help North Americans? Every year 7.5 billion packages of Natto are sold in Japan. The government has made it an in-tegral part of the school breakfast program. Natto contains vitamin K2, a largely un-known vitamin on this continent and it packs a whammy. Studies show that K2 helps to prevent osteoporosis (brittle bones) and cardiovascular disease.

In 1929, Danish scientist Dr. Henrik Dam, discovered vitamin K. Later, Japanese re-searchers reported that women living in Tokyo, where Natto, a centuries old Japanese food is popular, had increased bone density. But women living in Western Japan, where Natto is not popular, showed a decline in bone density. Further research de-termined that vitamin K2 in Natto, was responsible for this benefit. Today we know that there are two types of K; K1 and K2. Leafy green vegetables are rich in K1 and play a vital role in blood clotting. But K2 isn’t so easy to obtain in the diet, placing many people at risk for this deficiency.

Bone, like other tissues, is constantly changing. Cells called osteoblasts build up bone and osteoclasts break it down. During our youth osteoblasts are dominant, creating strong bone that should last a lifetime. But after age 30 we begin to lose one percent of our bone each year. It’s an appalling situation that by age 70 many people have lost 40 percent of their bone mass!

Vitamin K2 has been linked to the osteoblast which produces a protein called osteo-calcin. This protein plays a major role in calcium metabolism.

Osteocalcin is like glue. It incorporates calcium into bone decreasing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

Japanese studies show that vitamin K2 decreases the risk of vertebral fractures by 60 percent and 80 percent

of hip and non-vertebral fractures. Other studies show that K2 can

increase bone density in post-menopausal women.

But vitamin K2 also provides a major benefit in fighting this nation’s number one killer, cardiovascular disease. In effect, it places calcium where it belongs, in bones and teeth, and keeps it out of arteries where it causes trouble.

A lack of vitamin K2 triggers a number of cardiovascular complications. For instance, the lack of K2 increases the risk that calcium will be deposited in the aorta. This lar-gest artery carries blood to the rest of the body. Calcification of the aorta weakens its wall increasing the risk of rupture and sudden death. A Rotterdam study of 4,600 men aged 55 and older in Holland showed that a high intake of vitamin K2 decreased the risk of aortic calcification by an amazing 52 percent.

Too much calcium in coronary arteries also leads to heart attack. One study showed that adequate levels of K2 decreased the risk of coronary attack by 41 percent. More-over, excessive amounts of calcium makes arteries less rubbery. The rigid blood ves-sel then sets the stage for hypertension, another big killer.

Today’s headlines rarely mention the increasing number of North Americans who are dying of heart failure. Failure isn’t as dramatic as coronary attack, but the end result can be the same. We are all living longer and eventually the heart begins to fail. But it will last longer if calcium is kept in bones and not deposited in heart valves, placing more stress on the heart muscle. There are some precautions about K2. Don’t take K2 if you’re using blood-thinning medications such as warfarin, have experienced stroke, cardiac arrest or are prone to blood clotting.

Vitamin K1 is present in leafy vegetables, cheese, olive oil, broccoli, cauliflower, green tea and soy beans. Many people are lacking K2 because the major source of K2 comes from steamed and fermented soy beans. No doubt the Japanese like their fermented sticky soy, but it’s not what I would enjoy eating every morning.

Vitamin K2 from Preferred Nutrition contains 100 micrograms of vitamin K2 and is available in most health food stores.

BioSil™: The Natural Way to Prevent and Treat Fragile Bones …continued from page 1

Who develops this crippling disease called Osteoporosis depends on several fac-tors. Genetics plays a role in certain families. So does being thin, small boned and of white or Asian ancestry. Smokers, those who take three or more alcoholic drinks a day and patients who require corticosteroids to treat asthma or arthritis are at increased risk.

Osteoporosis, a silent killer, results in fractures of the spine, hip and wrist. A fracture can also occur with the speed of lightning from a forceful hug or a sneeze can sud-denly break a rib. Osteoporosis can result in chronic pain or life in a wheelchair.

Professor T.D. Spector, a leading bone researcher of St Thomas Hospital in London, England, reported at the 27th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research that low dose choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid (ch-OSA), a form of silicon, plays a major role in building strong bones.

In his study 184 women with either osteopenia (early osteoporosis) or osteopororsis were divided into four groups. They were all prescribed a daily supplement of 1,000 milligrams (mg) of elemental calcium and 800 IU of vitamin D3. But three of the four

groups were also given daily amounts of either: 3, 6 or 12 drops of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid.

Spector reports that after 12 months those women taking 6 and 12 drop of ch-OSA showed significant changes in bone formation, particularly the hip bone. This and other studies now show that a combination of calcium, vitamin D3 and ch-OSA is a safe way to grow strong bones.

We know ch-OSA builds and maintains strong bones by depositing calcium and phosphate into bone. Equally important however, ch-OSA triggers collagen forma-tion, the fibrous protein which provides support for bony structures. It’s like the steel girders that keep buildings from collapsing.

Adequate amounts of collagen generating orthosilicic acid are also required for other tissues, but as we age, levels decrease. For instance, the elderly aorta, the largest ar-tery in the body, contains only 15 percent silicon as that of a child! Losing framework of the aorta may be one reason for the aortic aneurysm that ruptures causing death.

W. Gifford-Jones, MD ISSUE #16

Immuno-Care® to Fight Seasonal Allergies

The predominant component of nails is kera-tin. Keratin production is dependent on the skin’s collagen matrix. A lack of collagen results in brittle nails. Hair growing out of skin with a higher content of collagen tends to fall out less and has more shine and luster. And, increas-ing the amount of collagen in the skin gives it greater strength, increased elasticity and fewer wrinkles.

BioSil is a dietary supplement that contains choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid, the only form of silicon that is biologically active and absorbed by the body. BioSil is so potent that one bottle of it equals the amount of orthosilicic acid in 600 liters of min-eral water!BioSil can be taken either as drops or capsules. The usual dose for bone strength is 6 drops per day in either juice or water or one capsule per day. For additional hair, skin or nail benefits take an additional 6 drops per day or a total of 2 capsules per day. BioSil is available at most health food stores, but should not be used by pregnant or nursing mothers.

Why do so many people suffer from seasonal allergies? Some cough and wheeze, others fight joint pain and stiffness. Is it due to just too much pollen in the air? Or is it also the result of a badly stressed and depleted immune system? Studies show that a natural remedy, Immuno-Care, that contains plant sterols, can be the answer to sea-sonal allergies and other disorders when the immune system is running out of gas.

Years ago, in my teens, I knew the exact day that watery itchy eyes, runny nose and fatigue of hay fever would plague me. It was also the time that my summer job of picking peaches started. I had no idea at the time that my immune system, faced with this bothersome work, was in a “flight or fight” mode. But I knew I could not flee from work until five o’clock or I’d lose my job. Yet, I was nevertheless lucky that over time my immune response defeated the troublesome hay fever and didn’t allow it to progress into adult asthma.

Today, others are not so fortunate; often their immune response has to cope with more than just seasonal allergies and short-term stress. Rather large numbers of people are daily faced with stressful situations. The result? An imbalance in their im-mune system resulting in constant aches, pain in the neck and shoulder muscles that radiate down the spine, fibromyalgia and constant fatigue.

Studies show that these auto-immune problems trigger an inflam-matory reaction related to years of untreated allergy symptoms. This ends in the immune system producing too many inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1 and interleukin-6. The adrenal glands, also become exhausted, adrenaline production decreases as does the amount of sterols.

Endurance athletes have been extensively studied to learn how the immune response works as the stress of these athletes mimics other forms of stress. These studies show that, when athletes are treated with sterols, this causes a significant drop in interleukin-6, the cause of inflammation and pain.

So what are sterols and how do they help to strengthen the immune system? Sterols are plant fats found in all plant-based foods. Studies show that most North Americans are deficient in sterols due to the way foods are processed today.

For instance, unprocessed plant foods have sizeable amounts of sterols. Three ounces of whole wheat berries contain 4,200 milligrams (mg) of sterols. But convert this same amount into flour and 90 percent of the sterol is lost! Even some vegetarians con-sume only 100 mg. Moreover, slimming diets, ill health and aging also significantly reduce the intake of sterols.

The University of Guelph carried out a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study on sterols using the remedy “Immuno-Care®”. Researchers concluded that this product had a positive effect on the immune system. For instance, the clinical study showed a decrease in basophil blood cells. These release histamine that is normally responsible for allergic reactions. There’s also a reduction of interleukin-6, the cause of inflammation and pain.

Immuno-Care consists of 300 mg of plant sterols, beta-sitosterol 117 mg, Cellasate 50 mg and Enzogenol 20 mg, a potent antioxidant and anti-arthritic derived from the bark of New Zealand pine trees. These ingredients are also the product of non-genetically modified soy, proanthocyanidins, fruit and essential fatty acids from oil producing seeds. All are contained in a 100 percent vegetable derived capsule.

The dosage for this dietary supplement is one capsule daily 30 minutes before a meal, on an empty stomach with water or fruit juice, but not with milk or drinks containing fat. Women who are pregnant, nursing or are diabetic should consult their doctor before taking this supplement.

Taking Immuno-Care prior to a meal also helps to block the intestinal absorption of cholesterol. Recent studies have shown that both phytos-terols and Enzogenol can decrease low density lipoprotein (LDL), the bad cholesterol, and increase high density lipoprotein (HDL) the good cholesterol.

Unfortunately Immuno-Care wasn’t available when I was covered with peach fuzz and rubbing itchy runny eyes. Hopefully this natural rem-edy will help others with the same seasonal problem, but also those suffering from chronic colds, fibromyalgia and stiff painful joints. Immu-no-Care adding gas to the immune system may be the answer.

Pound for pound natural remedies are safer than prescription drugs. So I believe it’s prudent to first consider a natural remedy. But only your own doctor must make this decision for you.

7W. Gifford-Jones, MDISSUE #1

Eco-Audit Information Lifecycle Environmental Impact results – Environmental Defense Fund Paper CalculaterSP Newsprint 85% PC; 100% Recycled Newsprint (Uncoated Groundwood): By using recycled paper for this project the following was saved:Wood Use: 1 ton Net Energy: 46 million BTU’s Greenhouse Gases: 7,186 lbs C02 equiv. Wastewater: 28,333 gallons Solid Waste: 1,725 pounds

8040

For more information on Natural Remedies and No-Nonsense Medical Information go to my website at docgiff.com This newsletter has been brought to you by PNO.CA

New Warning about Bone-Strengthening Drugs Warren Buffett, the world’s greatest investor, says, “Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing”. What is true in economics is equally true in medicine, particularly so when taking medication. A recent report from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has a sobering message about bisphosphonates used to prevent osteoporosis (fragile bones). It’s an ironic situation. The FDA warns that prolonged use of drugs to decrease the risk of fracture can actually result in an increase in “unusual fractures of the thigh”. In fact, three years ago “The Harvard Women’s Health Watch Report” wrote about these fractures when they started to appear. These fractures are unusual because the break occurs just below the hip joint and in the long shaft of the thighbone. They are alarming because the fractures can happen with very little trauma and can, on occasion, occur in both thighbones. There’s often very little warning that a fracture will happen. But in 50 percent of cases patients complained of weakness or pain in the affected bone weeks to months before the fracture occurred.

So what does this mean for patients taking these drugs. Certainly there’s no reason to panic. According to authorities the use of bisphosphon-ates has decreased the rate of fracture by about 50 percent. But if you have been taking this medication for several years it would be prudent to ask your doctor if it’s time for a drug holi-day. Today no one knows how long bisphosphonates should be

taken or what is the right length of a pill holiday. But experts suggest that those with a high risk of fracture should take them for 10 years followed by a one-to-two year holiday. Today fewer drugs would be needed to treat osteopor-osis if North Americans improved their lifestyle. The best prescription is the natural one. Put daily tension on bones by walking, climbing stairs, eating calcium rich foods such as dairy products along with vitamins D and K2. Both of these vitamins help to push calcium into bones.

ONLY available at your local Health Food Store

$2OFF DR. GIFFORD-JONESAND PN PRODUCTS ANY SIZE

CO

UP

ON

CUSTOMER SIGNATURE REQUIRED FOR VALIDATION

MANUFACTURERS COUPON TO THE RETAILER: Preferred Nutrition will reimburse the full value of this coupon providing you accept it from your customer on the purchase of the product specified and that the customer’s signature appears here below. Other applications may constitute fraud. Failure to send in, on request, evidence that sufficient stock was purchased in the previous 90 days to cover the coupons presented will void coupons. Coupons submitted become the property of Preferred Nutrition. Store name, account number and staff name must be filled in for redemption. For redemption, mail to: Preferred Nutrition, 153 Perth Street, Acton, ON L7J 1C9. Limit one coupon per purchase. Offer valid only in Canada. Coupon code: 08-001

PNO.CA

Look for Health Solutions Recommended by Dr. Gifford-Jones at your local Health Food StoreTo find a Health Food Store near you go to WWW.PNO.CA