Ben Fuchs

Ben Fuchs is a nutritional pharmacist from Colorado. He specializes in using nutritional supplements when other healthcare practitioners use toxic pharmaceutical drugs.He is the founder and formulator of Truth Treatment Systems for skin care, host of The Bright Side syndicated radio show, a member of Youngevity's Scientific Advisory Board, health expert and frequent guest on Coast to Coast am with George Noory."The human body is a healing and regenerating system, designed divinely to heal & renew itself on a moment to moment basis." "Take charge of your biochemistry through foods and supplements, rather than allow toxic prescription drugs to take charge of you." ~Ben Fuchs

Oct

2013

Iodine an Essential Nutrient for the Thyroid

By Ben Fuchs | Pharmacist Ben

Get ready aficionados of iodine! In the same way that vitamin D caught the supplementing world by storm in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, the 53rd element is poised to become the latest darling of the world of nutrition.

Although we’ve known about the purple mineral (the term “iodine” is derived from the Greek word for violet)) for over 200 years and iodine’s importance as an essential element has been recognized since the late 19th century, it’s only been in the last few years that the iodine’s astounding versatility and significance has become apparent. Perhaps its because of the crippled Japanese nuclear plant at Fukushima (according to experts using iodine can provide protection from radiation) or maybe it’s the seeming epidemic of hypothyroidism (even the nutritionally ignorant are aware of iodine’s relationship to thyroid health), but for whatever reason more and more people are becoming aware of the significance and health relevance of this important mineral.

Although full blown deficiencies are rare, iodine, which even lay people recognize as being an essential nutrient for the thyroid, is becoming more and more scarce in the American diet. According to Dr. Laura Pizzorno, writing in the journal Longevity Medicine Review, iodine intake in the United States has been decreasing since the 1970’s and much of the US population may be deficient. Dr. Pizzorno blames changes in American dietary habits and reduced intake of iodized salt, and even mentions discrepancies in label claims on salt containers and the condiment’s actual content.

With the exception of seafood, iodine is not found in great abundance in many foods and many iodine experts believe that we could all use more of the stuff than we’re getting, and that medical professionals recommend. The RDA for iodine is around 150 mcg but according to Doctor David Brownstein, writing in his classic go-to reference source “Iodine, Why You Need It and Why You Can’t Live Without It”, we should probably be getting a 12.5 mg day, nearly 100 times the government recommended dose. And given iodine’s multi-functionality and non-toxicity, it’s hard to argue his point.

In addition to being protective against radiation toxicity such as the kind being spewed out by the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant and its critical importance for thyroid and thyroid hormone effectiveness, iodine plays a key role in the development of the fetal and infant brain. Around the world iodine deficiency is a leading cause of mental retardation in infants. And according to a British study of 1040 pregnant moms, who were iodine deficient, had children with lower IQs and reading levels.

And there’s more—although most folks could tell you that iodine is important for the thyroid gland, it hardly recognizes that other hormone secreting glandular structures need it too. It can be helpful for the adrenals and the pancreas. And, according to Dr. David Howenstine, iodine supplementation “resolves nearly every case of breast cysts”. Dr. Howenstine writes that iodine can heal ovarian and skin cysts too (20 percent of the body’s iodine stores are in the skin and one of the signs of iodine deficiency is dry skin). Muscles may benefit, ie: muscular pain and fibromyalgia are associated with iodine deficiency.

The most commonly used iodine supplement is Lugol’s solution which is a blend of two forms of iodine combined with potassium. This formulation is available in a tablet form as well. Some researchers believe that absorption of the liquid or tablet forms of these blended iodines may not be efficient. They recommend another type of iodine called “Nascent Iodine” which is an electrically active form that has been separated from other elements (e.g. potassium), and from other iodine atoms as well. The net result of this electrification is a little piece of free element that can be called “atomic” iodine. Nascent or “atomic” iodine is more easily recognized and usable by the body than other forms and thus its superior absorption and utilization.

http://www.morungexpress.com/public_discourse_public_space/104893.html

Oct

2013

Vitamin K Anti-aging Processes

By Ben Fuchs | Pharmacist Ben

Proteins are all about shape. Proteins are all about function. And it is ultimately the shape of the protein that determines its function. This relationship is called “structure-function” and it is a key to understanding how to support the various roles proteins play in maintaining a health bodily biochemistry. There are proteins with structures helping muscles contract and bones get mineralized, the heart beat and nerve cells fire. Other protein shapes turn on the immune system and help us digest our food. Still others clot our blood and the clean our blood. And all of these functions are dependent on an appropriate protein structure.

Some of these functional proteins require calcium for their activation. They are said to be calcium-dependent-proteins and they play a critical part in the operation of many important functions in the body. These proteins are interestingly shaped with little hooks on them, chemical hooks, and molecular hooks. Via these little biochemical appendages they ‘fish” for calcium. Chemical hooks are an iconic example of how shape affects the function and properties and features of various molecules. Without calcium-trapping hooks these vital and key proteins are as useless as any fishing pole & line would be without its hook. A fishing pole & line without a hook isn’t going to catch many fish and a calcium-dependent-protein without a hook isn’t going to catch much calcium. No hooks on these chemicals means these chemicals are going without calcium. And no calcium on these chemicals means these chemicals are essentially neutered. They’re inactive. These are chemicals that contract muscles, keep your heart healthy, and help clean the blood among other roles. In fact almost everything a cell does is somehow related to these proteins and their chemical hooks and their ability to “catch” calcium.

Without these hooks no matter what else you’re doing for your health, e.g. supplementing, working out, eating correctly you will still be at higher risk for all kinds of degenerative, breakdown diseases. One of the most important roles for these hooked proteins is to help regulate calcium levels. Essentially, these hooked proteins can help mop up excess calcium. Without hooks these proteins can’t do their calcium mopping work and calcium can begin to accumulate in the blood. This is a very dangerous condition for the biological system. Calcium accumulation can result in leaking and depositing of calcium in various tissues of the body. The brain, the heart and the kidney are three main areas where calcium can deposit. So, clearly these hooks are important. And clearly if there’s something we can do to help the body make these hooks, so that these proteins can “catch” calcium and thereby do their work of clotting and clearing the blood, of helping muscles contract and the heartbeat and nerve cells fire we should probably be doing it. And, if there are any nutrients that are involved in helping the body and these proteins make hooks, well, that’s obviously a nutrient we want to make sure we’re getting and it’s probably a supplement that we want to be using.

Well as it turns out there is a key vitamin that is involved in making these hooks. It’s called Vitamin K and one of the main ways it works to keep the body running in a healthy fashion is by helping these chemicals, these proteins make hooks. Vitamin K supports hook-making so these chemicals can hook, can complete themselves with calcium and go do their work of building the bone, pumping the heart, contracting the muscle and significantly clearing the blood of excess calcium. This calcium mopping function calcium-dependent-proteins and Vitamin K is one of the most important anti-aging processes in the body. In the absence of Vitamin K and subsequent protein hook deficiencies calcium can begin to accumulate in the blood and in various tissues. This accumulation is referred to as “calcification” and it can be thought of as a type of bone formation. Bone formation in the ordinarily liquid blood and in various tissues of the body is not a good thing. It means a hardening of soft tissues and fluids. Vessels are especially prone to calcification. This can result in poor blood flow and further impaired health. And, deficiencies in hooks means less calcium-dependent-protein activation, resulting in breakdowns in the biochemistry of muscle contraction, heart pumping action, brain/nerve health and blood clotting. This combination of soft tissue blood and blood vessel calcification and defective protein activation is a leading cause of accelerated aging and death.

What to do to prevent calcification and improve the function of calcium dependent proteins? Use Vitamin K! The best food source of Vitamin K is a fermented soy product called natto. Other foods high in Vitamin K include organ meats (especially liver), cottage cheese, hard cheese and butter. And of course supplements are always available. Vitamin K is available in two main forms K1 and K2. I like Vitamin K2 which is more potent and has better anti-calcification properties than Vitamin K1. Because Vitamin K is non-toxic, it’s probably best to err on the side of taking extra, maybe 1000-5000 mcg a day. As with all fatty vitamins Vitamin K is stored so missing a day here and there shouldn’t be a cause for concern.

Interesting Vitamin K fact: Delivery of this important nutrient to the various tissues of the body depends on LDL, which is sometimes (incorrectly) called “bad” cholesterol. Not only is LDL not cholesterol, it is most certainly not bad. LDL is transport substance that carries cholesterol and other fatty substances including Vitamin K through the circulatory system. Foolishly depressing LDL formation by prescribing anti-cholesterol drugs (e.g. statins) can thus decrease effective Vitamin K activity. This can in turn result in blood and blood vessel calcification, ironically causing the heart and circulatory health problems pharmaceutical intervention is supposed to prevent.

Sep

2013

Healthy Pregnant Mom and Baby

By Ben Fuchs | Pharmacist Ben

Last week a story showed up in the industry trade journal U.S. Pharmacist minimizing the potential risks associated with topical steroid use by pregnant moms (http://www.uspharmacist.com/weekly_news_update/nl/43042/). Headlined “Moderate Topical Corticosteroid Use Doesn’t Adversely Affect Fetuses”, the article described research from Chang Gung University College of Medicine in Taiwan that was printed in the latest edition of JAMA dermatology.

The Taiwanese scientists studied 2,658 pregnant women who were exposed to topical corticosteroids and compared them to 7,246 pregnant women who were not exposed. They concluded that “this study reassuringly showed no associations of maternal topical corticosteroid exposure with orofacial cleft, preterm delivery (or) fetal death…”

Nice! Now doctors can “reassuringly” prescribe steroids for moms to be without worrying about toxicity to fetuses! Are you kidding me! Yes, I know that the medication in question is topically applied and not internally swallowed. Still, steroids are steroids and they are among the most deadly and toxic of all prescription medications. They are very fat-soluble ( i.e. they dissolve in fats and fatty tissues) and even if only tiny amounts traverse the skin barrier and enter into the blood stream a delicate and developing fetus can be at risk.

How can it be otherwise! This study and the disturbing conclusion cannot possibly be taken seriously by any medical professional or mom-to be. Steroids are only used to relieve symptoms of conditions not the conditions themselves. Does anyone really want to risk exposing their baby to toxic drugs simply to reduce symptomology?

Eczema, rashes other allergic reaction for which topical steroids are typically dispensed are sign of an immune system alert. They are the manifestations of a defensive response. The appropriate medial approach to a defensive response should be to figure out what is causing it. Not only will palliative, merely symptom-reducing measures potentially affect the fetus, even worse, an alerted and sensitized immune system in a pregnant woman will likely elicit a similar immune response in a fetus as well. As long as the offending agent is present in the mother’s system it will likely be present in the baby system as well. Mom’s does that sound good to you?

Do you really want to condemn your freshly-minted newborn to a lifetime of hypersensitivity and a hyperactive immune system? Pregnant women who are dealing with a topical skin condition and need relief can avoid having to expose themselves and their baby to topical or systemic toxic drugs by first of all addressing the cause, which is more than likely related to digestive system difficulties. Avoiding problem foods can help reduce or eliminate skin reactions and can prevent baby-to be from having to deal with mom’s immune response as well as its own.

All pregnant women and especially those prone to skin reactions and immune issues should be using probiotic supplements. Not only can they help reduce or eliminate skin reactions and improve mom’s immune and digestive health, they can provide benefits for her soon-to- be-born baby too as a healthy and robust gut flora community in a pregnant woman can contribute to a healthy a robust bacterial population in her developing fetus. In fact unlike drugs most nutritional supplements that mom uses can improve the health of her baby. Vitamin C, Vitamin E, MSM can be helpful, same Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Iodine and zinc and essential fats (especially DHA and EPA from fish oil) can help build a healthy baby-brain. And protein supplements can help build a healthy baby-body. Topical nonmedical relief can be obtained by using Zinc Oxide and/or Vitamin C cream both of which have calming and anti-irritant properties for the skin.

Bottom line: mom’s, forget what your doctor and the genius at JAMA recommend, the choice is yours: No matter what researcher’s say, common sense dictates that taking or applying medication cannot do anything for a baby or a mom’s health condition and can potentially disrupt fetal development . On the other hand, taking corrective measure to eliminate immune responses, and using nutritional supplements to support immune system health can eliminate skin and other conditions and build a vital robust fetus and baby. Seems pretty obvious…

Sep

2013

Protein, Fat and Weight Loss

By Ben Fuchs | Pharmacist Ben

Americans are obsessed with weight loss. Every year we spend billions of dollars a year of our hard-earned lucre on diet pills, potions, devices, and lotions. And we spend billions more on gyms, Zumba, Pilates, Neo, spinning, and step aerobics; Not to mention Jenny Craig and Nutra-genics, Nutra-Systems, and Weight Watchers among other guaranteed ‘to-get-you-to-lose-weight’ meal plans. All told, the United States weight loss market is worth over 60 billion dollars! Yet ironically, for all the time and money spent in the seemingly endless obsession to get skinny, Americans can call themselves the fattest culture in the history of the planet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, More than one third of Americans can be classified as obese which according to the World Health organization is a “medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health”. That’s over 100 million people. And of course many millions more could simply stand to lose a few or more pounds.

So what gives? What’s up with the disconnect between what many Americans clearly want, a sexy, skinny lean and mean body that looks hot in bathing suit, and what many of us unfortunately have: a fat and flabby, corporeal mass that looks awful in the mirror. In my opinion, the most important cause for the vast gulf that separates what we want our body’s to look like and how they appear, is a lack of awareness of our flesh functions. We just don’t understand how to care for our bodies or how the darn things work. This is a fundamental problem that lurks behind the health crisis that Americans confront in other areas of health and wellness as well, including life and death matters like cancer and heart disease.

When it comes to weight, numerous factors are involved in how we put on the pounds and why they can be so difficult to lose. Certainly stress, biochemical; like cortisol, estrogen, and thyroid hormones play a role. And sometimes weight gain can be caused by dysfunction in the pituitary or pineal glands in the brain. But by far and away the most important cause of the phenomenon of flab is food. This problem is compounded by an exploitive, economic model of food production that preys on our naiveté and exploits our fundamental drives to sustain a nearly 2 trillion dollar food industry that depends on our ignorance for its survival.

Losing weight is “largely” a food issue and losing weight is easy. But it takes applying some science. Not to be satisfied with the shape and structure is obviously a “body” issue. And, our bodies are made of food. In essence, the human body is a food processing factory. To manipulate the appearance of our bodies (in terms of weight loss), we have to be aware of what food is and how this processing occurs. And then we have to be able to exploit and hack into the chemistry to this food processing. The stuff we call food is made up of four main components; macronutrients (protein and carbohydrates, i.e. sugar and fat), micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), and miscellaneous (trace elements–water and food processing chemicals). Of these four, the most relevant for modifying weight are the macronutrients.

The human body has evolved over the course of many millions of years to run on an appropriate intake of protein, fat and sugar. There is an innate, hard wired system in the brain that can detect when these vital nutrients are missing. Under conditions of lack, it will do whatever it has to in order to make sure that the ‘body below’ gets what it needs. This system can be thought of as an appetite-stimulating center and it is especially sensitive to the presence (or the lack of) the macronutrients. Under deficiency conditions, this appetite center fires up and sends its owners (us) on a one-pointed hunt for food. Because our 21st century American eating style does not, for the most part, provide essential amounts or the appropriate balance of macro and micro nutrition, many of us find ourselves on an endless hunt to obtain these critical biochemical elements. Conversely, there is a second area in the brain that suppresses the appetite. Activation of this so-called satiety (satisfaction) center suppresses the appetite, and is the key to losing weight quickly and easily. Imagine that your appetite suppression center, the satiety center, had a switch. Further imagine that you could simply touch the button and you would no longer be hungry. Say you were getting married and you wanted to fit into that size 2 wedding dress; wouldn’t it be nice to be able to simply suppress your appetite, reduce your food intake and drop a bunch of weight without struggle, strife discipline or will power. Well, guess what? You can! Your appetite suppression center may not have a literal on-off switch, but it has a biochemical one! Once this satiety center is activated you will find that you are no longer hungry. It’s as simple as that. When this million year old brain circuit that is specifically designed to keep us from eating is charged up, you simply will not feel hungry. You flat out won’t want to eat. You’ll be able to just say no to even your most favorite of foods, no will-power required. How cool is that? Once the satiety center in the brain says enough, no matter how delicious that pizza or chocolate layer cake or strawberry milkshake looks or how irresistible it used to be, you simply will have no desire for them.

Of the three macronutrients that affect appetite drives, the satiety center is most sensitive to fat and protein. Whey protein and egg protein can be especially important. Meat and fish can also activate appetite suppression. No one binges on T-bone steaks. Dietary fats also have important appetite suppression effects. Essential fatty acids and a specialized fat called Medium Chain Triglyceride, which is found in coconut oil, can be effective for inducing satiety. Carbohydrates and sugars on the other hand stimulate eating behavior. This is especially, problematic in the case of processed fruits, refined grains and other carbs that have had their inherently filling fiber removed. And sucrose (table-sugar) sweeteners that are such an important part of candies, dessert foods and beverages are the most appetite stimulating of all food chemicals.

OK, so you want to drop 10 or 20 pounds here’s what you do: Load up on protein, eat lots of good quality fat. Replace calories from bread, cereals and desserts with calories from seafood, meat, eggs, whey protein, and coconut oil. Olive oil, hemp seed oil and butter can help too. And don’t worry about these fatty substances causing weight gain. Just make sure you’re using them on salads and high protein foods. As long as you’re not slathering your butter on bagels and Danishes, their satisfying nature can ironically result in weight loss as you’re satiety center kicks in and your appetite is suppressed! Eat these kinds of food to the point where you’re sated. And watch what happens. If you’re like most people what you’ll notice is you’re just not as hungry. And when you’re not as hungry, losing weight becomes a simple matter. No will power or Weight Watchers required!

Sep

2013

Asthma Epidemic

By Ben Fuchs | Pharmacist Ben

Get ready for another epidemic! According an article posted on cnn.com the annual “September Asthma Epidemic” (their words, not mine) is coming, although the only evidence they cite are clinical studies that have shown the greatest number of hospitalization due to asthmatic attack are highest 17 days after labor day. Whether an epidemic is on the way or not may be up to conjecture, but what is not debatable is the well-documented fact that asthma is a big and getting bigger problem. From 2001 to 2010, the asthma incidence increased almost 15 percent. By 2009, asthma accounted for nearly 3,400 deaths, nearly 480,000 hospitalizations, 1.9 million emergency department visits, and 8.9 million physician office visits.

By BruceBlaus (Own work), via Wikimedia Commons

Asthma, which affects almost 13 percent of adults, and over 29 million Americans at least once in their lives is best thought as an inflammatory condition of the airways. The airways are the passageways where air, or more specifically oxygen, gets transferred into the blood. The net effect is an obstruction or a blockade of oxygen which causes the wheezing and shortness of breath, and a sense of suffocation that occurs with a asthmatic attack. The key word in the above description is inflammatory, which alludes to the microscopic blockages where inhaled oxygen from the air we breathe is transferred to the blood.

And inflammation? Well, that’s always the manifestation of a jacked-up immune system. ALWAYS! I can think of no more fundamental concept in all of physical health. Inflammation is the way a defensive (immune) response shows up; a defensive response to some kind of stressor. And a defensive/stress response means something is getting into the body or something is happening to the body that the body perceives as an attack. In order for a DEFENES-ive response to be initiated there has to be a preceding OFFENSE-ive agent; And the main routes for an offensive agent to get into the body for a defensive response to be triggered, such as those observed with an ordinary asthmatic attack, are typically through the lungs (they are breathed in) or the digestive system (they are eaten). In the case of exercise induced asthma the stress results from the need to heat and humidify large amounts of air that enter into the lungs during exercise.

So what’s an asthmatic to do? Though the medical treatments of choice are inhalers, which are usually some kind of steroid type drug or a nervous system agent that dumbs down respiratory responsiveness or suppresses immunity. Pharmacological intervention is not without toxicity or side effects. The questions for asthmatics are: Do you really want to suppress the immune system that is so essential for protecting the body from the environment assaults, animate and inanimate Or, do you really want to dial down your nervous system that distributes the electrical energy that runs our bodies and brains?

In my opinion the best way to deal with asthma is to take a healthy, natural and multi-pronged approach. In the case of asthmatic attacks that are directly caused by something you’re eating, obviously you want to eliminate those kinds of foods. Dairy and grains are likely suspects. Sometimes legumes, including peanuts and soy, can be problematic. Even vegetables can induce an asthmatic attack in those who are predisposed. Be especially careful of the nightshades which include tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants and peppers.

In addition to avoiding foods that can trigger asthmatic attacks it’s important to reduce the load on the immune system, from non-triggering substances that simply burden the immune system without directly causing respiratory symptoms. If there are predisposing immune loads(mostly problem foods), these can contribute to the signs of inhalation asthma albeit without directly causing asthmatic symptomology. Even if it doesn’t seem like there is a connection between foods and asthmatic symptoms, foods can still PREDISPOSE even if they don’t immediately CAUSE an asthmatic attack. This is kind of tricky, because the connection between predisposing factors that weaken the immune system or burden the immune AND immediate triggers might not be obvious. You might think your asthmatic symptoms are the result of exposure to pollen, not realizing that the pollen is merely the trigger and the cause is really an overburdened immune system that is struggling to keep up with food allergens or toxins that are getting into the body on a regular basis, even if they are not causing immediate symptoms or problems. I call it the “straw-that-breaks-the-camel’s-back” effect where the inhaled substance is not the actual cause but merely the “straw-that-breaks-the-camel’s-back”. What’s worse, if you have an immune system that is burning through nutrients or if you are malnourished, either because you’re not absorbing or nor getting nutrients this undernutriation can also be a contributing factor.

Look for other indicators of immune activation. Skin problems, rashes, frequent colds, autoimmune disease are all signs. If you have any of these symptoms associate with them foods and eliminate those foods. And if you don’t have any of those symptoms, then look for digestive difficulties. And really look. Bowel movement issues and gas are especially good clues. So is heart burn. If you have any of these symptoms connect them to food and eliminate those foods. This will decrease the burden on the immune system and reduce the “straw-that-breaks-the camel’s-back-effect”.

And don’t forget to add in the digestive support nutrients including probiotics, digestive enzymes with food, glutamine powder, juices of aloe vera and noni. There are also important nutrients for the lungs and blood and immune system. Magnesium is an asthmatic’s best nutritional friend. It can help relax constricted blood vessels and strengthen the immune system too; use 1000-2000mg of the glycinate form. Vitamin C is especially important for lung health. I’d be using 100-5000 mg a day. Vitamin E is also an important respiratory nutrient. Use the tocotrienol form, 400 IU daily, for best results. Vitamin E’s cousin, CoQ10 can be helpful, use the oil soluble gel-caps and take 100mg a day. And don’t forget about Vitamin D which can provide respiratory health benefits and beef up a burdened immune system. Sun exposure is always the best way to get your Vitamin D, but if you prefer to go the supplement route, take 5,000 to 10,000 IU. And always balance out your Vitamin D supplementation with Vitamin A, which can provide its own respiratory health benefits. I’d be taking 20,000 IU of Vitamin A at least 4 or 5 days a week. It’s stored in liver so missing a day or two isn’t going to hurt. Don’t forget your EFAs especially Omega-3 s from fish oil which can have wonderfully beneficial benefits for addressing the inflammation associated with asthma. Finally, in addition to supporting digestive health, probiotics can strengthen the immune system and keep it from being so sensitive and jumpy. Take 80 billion units a day and look for products that contain multiple strains of good bacteria.