Eat Tomatoes to Protect Against Heart Attack and Stroke

According to Dr. Fuhrman, carotenoids are a family of over six hundred phytochemicals, including alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin. Carotenoids are abundant in green and yellow-orange vegetables and fruits and help to defend the body’s tissues against oxidative damage, oxidative damage from free radicals contributes to chronic diseases and aging.¹

The levels of carotenoids in your skin and in your blood are a good indicator of your overall health because the levels parallel the levels of plant-derived phytochemicals in general. In fact, Dr. Fuhrman uses a carotenoid skin testing method to non-invasively track his patients’ progress as they adopt a nutritarian diet. Low blood levels of total carotenoids, alpha-carotene, and lycopene have been linked to premature death; of all the carotenoids, very low blood lycopene was the strongest predictor of mortality.²

Lycopene is the signature carotenoid of the tomato. The lycopene in the American diet is 85 percent derived from tomatoes.³ Lycopene is found circulating in the blood and also concentrates in the male reproductive system, hence its protective effects against prostate cancer. ⁴ In the skin, lycopene helps to prevent UV damage from the sun, protecting against skin cancer. ⁵ Lycopene is known for its anti-cancer properties, but did you know that lycopene has also been intensively studied for its beneficial cardiovascular effects?

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References

1. Krinsky NI, Johnson EJ. Carotenoid actions and their relation to health and disease. Mol Aspects Med 2005;26:459-516.
2. Shardell MD, Alley DE, Hicks GE, et al. Low-serum carotenoid concentrations and carotenoid interactions predict mortality in US adults: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Nutr Res 2011;31:178-189.
3. Canene-Adams K, Campbell JK, Zaripheh S, et al. The tomato as a functional food. J Nutr 2005;135:1226-1230.
4. van Breemen RB, Pajkovic N. Multitargeted therapy of cancer by lycopene. Cancer Lett 2008;269:339-351.
5. Rizwan M, Rodriguez-Blanco I, Harbottle A, et al. Tomato paste rich in lycopene protects against cutaneous photodamage in humans in vivo. Br J Dermatol 2010.

Increased Risk of Myocardial Infarction with Calcium Supplementation

In a study published in the British Medical Journal in July 2010, researchers at the University of Auckland conducted a meta-analysis of calcium supplement studies.  Eligible studies were randomised, placebo controlled trials of calcium supplements (>or=500mg/day), with 100 or more participants of mean age more than 40 years and study duration more than a year.  The lead authors of eligible trials supplied data.  Cardiovascular outcomes were obtained from self reports, hospital admissions, and death certificates.

The conclusion, calcium supplements (without coadministered vitamin D) are assoiciated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack).

When taking calcium supplementation you must have the fat soluble mineral activators vitamin D and vitamin K2 to adequately absorb calcium.

If the calcium doesn't properly absorb, it won't get where is should go, the bones, instead it will be deposited in the tendons and joints as bone spurs, as calcium oxalate kidney stones or even as calcified atherosclerotic plaques.

When purchasing calcium, the best is to look for a liquid form that includes Vitamin D3, Magnesium, Zinc, and Vitamin K2, if possible.

Note: magnesium supplementation should be in a magnesium to calcium ratio of 1:2 ratio.

Another alternative is to get your adequate amounts of calcium through what you eat.  When you eat a healthy diet rich in natural foods such as vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds, it is easy to obtain sufficient calcium. 

Researchers found that those who eat the most fruits and vegetables have denser bones.  They concluded that fruits and vegetables are rich in potassium, magnesium, vitamin K, calcium and other nutrients essential for bone health, and because they are alkaline, not acid-producing, they do not induce urinary calcium loss. (1)

Most unprocessed, natural foods contain calcium, for instance, one four-ounce serving of steamed collards or kale has about the same amount of calcium as one cup of raw milk.

Below are some unprocessed, natural foods and their approximate calcium levels:

• Broccoli, two cups................150mg
• Collard greens, two cups........600 mg
• Garbanzo beans, one cup.......100 mg
• Kale, two cups....................350 mg
• Milk (raw), one cup..............300 mg
• Orange, one........................60 mg
• Romaine lettuce, 4 cups.........150 mg
• Sesame seeds, 1/4 cup..........350 mg
• Spinach, two cups................500 mg
• Sweet potato, two cups..........150 mg
• Turnip greens, two cups........ 500 mg

Note:  Milk has a calcium absorption rate of about 32 percent, while green vegetables are rated at being over 50 percent.(2)

(1) Tucker KL, Hannan MT, Chen H, et al.  Potassium, magnesium, and fruit and vegetable intakes are associated with greater mineral density in elderly men and women.  Am J Clin Nutr 1999;69(4):727-736
(2)  Weaver CM, Plawecki KL.  Dietary calcium:  adequacy of a vegetarian diet.  Am J Clin Nutr 1994;59(suppl):1238S-1241S

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Coumadin Recall

After Bristol Myers-Squibb determined that the effectiveness of their Coumadin, also called warfarin, a common blood thinner, may change over time due to the ingredient, isopropanol, not meeting quality specifications, the FDA announced the Recall on Monday, July 12th.

Isopropanol is used to keep the Coumadin's active ingredient in a crystalline state, the changing levels of isopropanol could increase or decrease the amount of the active ingredient in the tablets. In some cases, the dose may be too high, which can increase your risk of bleeding. For others, the dose could be too low, increasing your risk of blood clots, heart attack and stroke.

Coumadin recall:
Coumadin 1 mg tablets, physician sample blister packs:
Lot numbers: 9A48931A, 9A48931B and 9A48931C
Expiration Date: January 2012

Coumadin 1 mg tablets, hospital unit dose blister packs:
Lot numbers: 8F34006B, 8K44272A, 8K46168A, 9F44437A, and 9K58012B
Expiration Date: June 2011 - Nov. 2012

Any adverse reactions should be reported to the FDA's MedWatch adverse events reporting program at www.fda.gov/medwatch .