Eating less is the key to staying young, claims Russian Doctor.

Fauja Singh completed this year’s London Marathon in seven hours and forty-nine minutes. By no means a winning time, yet Fauja Singh, affectionately dubbed the “turbaned tornado” is 101 years old. He took up long distance running after moving to the UK from his native India; post his wife’s death in 1992.

He attributes his long and healthy life to healthy eating habits. Like most Punjabis he is a strict vegetarian, existing on a diet of lentils, vegetables flavored with ginger, brown bread, fruit and natural yoghurt. It’s not so much what he eats, but how much! He restricts himself to small, child-sized portions which are reflected in his weight. He is 173 centimeters tall and yet weighs only 53 kilos.

According to Russian born Dr. Arcady Economo there is nothing new here. Scientists have known for 80 years that a calorie restricted food intake can prolong life. Dr. Clive McCay claimed during the 1930s that such diets could extend life expectancy by up to 50%. Fauja Singh’s success in covering the 42 kilometer London Marathon course attests to these claims.

Koh Samui is home to approximately 20 so called “detox resorts”. They range from the good to the bad and indifferent. They all promote fasting and inner cleansing. People flock from across the globe to these establishments. Some come to embrace better health practices, but most come to lose weight. Dr. Economo runs a group of similar facilities in Hungary and Croatia; his emphasis is on the fasting component of the program. In Budapest and elsewhere his nutritional experts design specific diets for his clients. They are expected to follow these eating programs when they return home after completing their one or two week detox plan. The most popular of these divides the year into four, thirteen week blocks. Each chunk comprises one fasting week, with a near zero calorific intake, one recovery week when food is gradually introduced where consumption is limited to  5,200 kilo calories and eleven ordinary weeks. The normal weeks comprise six feeding days calculated at 2,000 calories per day. The seventh day is a fasting day with 0 calories permitted. This formula yields 72 fasting days in the year; it averages out at a usual food input of 1,500 calories per day. It appears Fauja Singh is obtaining the same result simply by eating less on an ongoing basis.

Professor Valter Longo of the University of Southern California’s Longevity Institute explains the connection between fasting and increased life span is the hormone “Insulin Growth Factor-1”. This hormone causes children to develop, but when they reach adulthood it stresses the body and appears to cause aging. His evidence is the genetically engineered Laron mouse, which does not produce IGF-1. These creatures can live up to five years much longer than the 2 year life expectancy of a normal mouse. They seem to be immune to cancer and heart disease, and when they die it’s because the heart just stops.

Longo goes on to explain that fasting lowers IGF-1 levels, and when we stop eating the body switches from growth to repair mode when several DNA healing genes switch-on. Dr. Economo feels that eating cessation also reduces damaging free radical levels. The result is a reduction in blood pressure, a decrease in high blood sugar levels, which are in themselves a prelude to diabetes and metabolic levels decrease as the body slow down to conserve its energy resources.

Fasting, especially for the first timer can be difficult. Toxins which are a natural bi-product of today’s lifestyle release and these can cause headaches, dizziness and an general feeling of unwellness, but stick with it and experience extraordinary results. Both Professor Longo and Dr. Economo suggest a prolonged fast is best accomplished under supervision and probably in a quality detox resort, such as Dr. Economo’s European clinics or in one or two of the recommended facilities in Koh Samui. That’s it for this week. Catch you again next week; if you would like advice and recommendations about fasting and detoxing make contact via the website.

Alister Bredee

Koh Samui

November 2012

Greek style yoghurt, a natural source of probiotics:

Probiotics was a question we covered   a few weeks ago. Maybe now is an excellent place to define the term probiotic, so everyone is clear as to the definition. The international description says that probiotics are organisms living within the host’s bio system that confer health benefits. The human gut, for example, contains somewhere in the region of 2 kilograms of live bacteria. Some of these bacteria are good, and some are bad. For potent digestive health to happen we require the beneficial bacteria to outweigh the detrimental. Remember, too, that superior digestive health is the key to complete nutritional health. To achieve this end, we recommend you include a substantial percentage of friendly bacteria in your diet.

Where do you get this? The first place to look is within the realms of fermented foods. In times, past people ate more fermented food because this was an ideal means of preserving food before the days of refrigeration. In those times, drinking water came from wells where the bacterial overgrowth provided a plentiful supply of humic acid, another good source of probiotics. Today, many of these older natural links to healthful bacteria have been replaced by supposed new and better ways of doing things. Now, we have to go out of our way to sustain ourselves with these living organisms. We need to eat fermented foods, and for those who can tolerate dairy products, yoghurt provides an ideal answer, or does it? Many yoghurt brands claim they are plentifully stocked with probiotics, but they are not! Most commercial brands found in supermarkets are chock full of added sugar. Bacteria are living matter and they die off because of the toxicity of the sugar. Today, sugar is growing more expensive, so food producers turn to artificial sweeteners to offset costs. The worst of these is controversial aspartame, which hides behind well-known brand names like NutraSweet. US alternative medicine researcher and publicist Dr. Joe Mercola claims it to be “the most dangerous food additive on the market”. He bases his claims on several studies that have been conducted over the years. Dr. Russell Blaylock, a retired neurosurgeon brands the sweetener an excitotoxin and further claims, "Excitotoxins have been found to dramatically promote cancer growth and metastasis. In fact, one aspartame researcher noticed that, when cancer cells were exposed to aspartame, they became more mobile … “All compelling reasons to avoid commercially produced yoghurts that say they are a terrific source of probiotics.

Greek yoghurt is free of added sugar, but milk contains its own sugar, called lactose. When they come to make this kind of yoghurt, they strain off the liquid whey and with it goes a lot of the lactose. This is then a remarkably healthy environment for natural probiotics to develop. This leaves a creamy, thick substance which is extremely high in protein. The content is 16 protein Gms per 100 Gms of weight. The human need for protein is another modern day fable. We don’t require massive amounts of protein to promote cell growth. Calculate the daily requirement as being 1Gm of protein per 1 kilo of body weight. A man weighing 70 kilos requires approximately 70 Gms of protein intake per day. This is not a huge amount; it will fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. Greek yoghurt makes an excellent protein source, being much easier to digest than meat, for example.

Christos Panidimos is a long time resident of Koh Samui and is now the patron of the “Fi” Restaurant, located on the road leading up to Tesco-Lotus in Bophut.  Here they make 30 to 40 kilos of probiotic rich Greek yoghurt daily. His uncle Evagalos Polyhropoulos teaches food sciences at the Haropio University in Athens. He attests to the nutritional value of this product. Both men urge everybody to use it instead of mayonnaise or butter and suggest the yoghurt provides the basis of a mouthwatering breakfast when mixed with fresh fruit. 

Alister Bredee

This article first appeared in "The Southern Times" of 1st December 2012

Chaing Mai Study Shows Propolis Clears up Cold Sores in a Matter of Hours.

"Bees are our helpers and our friends. It is estimated that 33% of human food production is dependent on insect pollination; most of this is accomplished by the honey bee. Sadly, the bee population is declining primarily due to the unconsidered use of petrochemical based pesticides and chemicals. In some cases, bee keepers have been contracted to move their hives to areas devoid of bees to insure pollination rather than to make honey.

Propolis is a resinous composition that bees collect from tree buds and certain flowers; it is used to seal off small spaces in the hive to protect it and improve the environment of the bee colony. Generally, brownish in color, it is proved by Chinese research to include isolated sinapinic acid, isoferulic and caffeic acids. These compounds have anti-bacterial properties. However, there is evidence too, that Propolis has anti-viral components.

A study conducted by Sirinad Musiaek and Yimanee Tragoolpua from the Biology Department at Chaing Mai University has revealed that Propolis extract, halted the Herpes Simplex Virus. Often associated with the common cold sore, Herpes Simplex 1 and 2 can affect various body areas namely the lips, eyes and skin. Transmission is often sexual; in the case of HSV 2 the genitals are affected.  It has been a causative factor in Cervical Cancer. The usual medical treatment is with the anti-viral drug Acyclovir. Many products flow from it; Zovirax is one of the best known. The treatment does not eliminate the cause, but it does address the symptoms. However, this can take up to four weeks in extreme cases and stress can easily trigger another outbreak. The remarkable Chiang Mai study showed that aqueous and ethanolic Propolis extracts altered the virus population on vitro cells after virus attachment in both Herpes Simplex 1 and 2 cases. Curiously the Propolis in high dosage performed better than Acyclovir in the case of HSV 2. The real test of the case lay in time, though. The study demonstrated how HSV-1 was entirely eliminated in a mere 60 minutes. It did, however, take just over 6 hours to remove the HSV-2 strain.

This is amazingly good news for the millions of Herpes sufferers worldwide, but there is even more to celebrate! That’s because Acyclovir type drugs have been shown in rare cases to produce birth defects in neonates. A small US study of 467 pregnant women   produced 17 birth defects in their off-spring. This shows a 3.6% affected rate, which is 0.6% higher than the average birth defect rate of 3%. Is it worth taking a risk like this, however, slight? Women suffering from genital Herpes are expected to go on a course of Zovirax for the last few weeks of term to prevent lesions appearing at the time of birth. Wouldn’t it be much better if they took safe Propolis instead during this crucial stage of foetal development? Secondly, it has been found that breast feeding mothers pass on a large quantity of the anti-herpes medication to their babies whilst suckling. Again Propolis appears to solve the problem and no doubt benefits the infant, as well!

Veerapan Tantipong is the President of Bee Products Industry Company Limited in Chaing Mai. He holds a BSc Degree from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. He has used his knowledge wisely and has come up with a solution for long suffering Herpes victims. “Virulox”, contains  50 mg of Propolis and a 120 mg of synergizing Royal Jelly in a lyophilized form. The tablet can pack of powerful punch of Propolis to help the sufferer overcome a Herpes attack. Take two tablets when you feel the first tingle of a cold sore and repeat the dose hourly for six hours. This alleviates the symptoms from both Herpes 1 and 2. The Propolis is aided by the 10 HDA in Royal Jelly, which some describe as being a precursor to the might of stem cells. But that’s a story in itself!"

 This article by Alister Bredee first appeared in "The Southern Times" of  November 18th 2012  

The Body’s Many Cries for Water:

"Today we are going to visit the topic of drinking water, simply because it is so crucial. Most people are dehydrated, because they do not drink sufficient water. It is sound advice to suggest that everybody drink eight glasses per day. These don’t have to be enormous sizes, but the action does need to be consistent. Dr. Fereydoon Batmanghelidj was an Iranian Doctor who completed his medical training at St. Mary’s Hospital in London. After the downfall of the Shah, in 1978 he was arrested and imprisoned in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, branded an enemy of the State under sentence of death. He remained a prisoner for three years and continued his work as a doctor, but there was one snag. The authorities refused to provide him with medicines, so he used the single resource available to him, water!

 Dr. Batmanghelidj is the author of “Your Body’s Many Cries for Water”. In the book, he writes about his findings during the years he worked using water as his only remedy. He claims thirst is only one of the body’s ways of expressing dehydration. He feels a dry mouth is an advanced stage of lack. His clinical practice in prison gave him the experience to assign several different illnesses which he felt were symptoms of dehydration. These broad maladies include asthma, angina, indigestion obesity and several others including many psychological symptoms. In Chapter 5 of his book, he says ” “Pathology that is seen to be associated with “social stresses” –fear, anxiety, insecurity, persistent emotional and marital problems and the creation of depression--are the results of water deficiency to the point the water requirements of the brain tissue is affected. “The message is clear; if you want better health, drink more water.

 When we buy water, it comes in plastic bottles. It can have been in the bottles a long time. The plastic, a bi-product from the petrochemical industry, contains phthalates. These are added to make it more flexible. Di-octyl Phthalate mimics the effect of estrogen. Hormone imbalance is becoming increasingly common. Many women are experiencing estrogen dominance that gives rise to fat around the middle and in the thighs as well as cellulite build-up. Too much estrogen makes for more difficult periods. What's more, the incidence of breast cancer is on the rise and in men sperm counts have been declining for an unusually long time, whilst male pattern baldness is reaching epidemic proportions. These chemicals are leaching into the water.

Another worrying factor associated with this is the decline in the pH of water. You probably remember that pH (stands for potential hydrogen) of water should be 7. 7 make water neutral. It is the cut off between acid and alkaline. Water is becoming acid. This is distressing because over acidity leads to disease. When our blood and other fluids lean towards a more alkaline level illness finds it difficult to occur. Besides, blood pH has an extremely narrow window of opportunity that lies between 7.36 and 7.45, with an average in the range of 7.41. When the blood sways towards the lower end, acidosis occurs and to the higher reaches alkalosis happens. If blood becomes too acid, it is a life threatening situation. The body tries to correct the high levels by drawing calcium from the bones. Calcium as an alkalizing affect, but as the blood leaches the mineral from the bones, it also weakens them. This is the basis of osteoporosis. We need to keep pH ranges in perfect balance. You can ensure your drinking water remains alkaline by adding a slice of lime or lemon Yes, lime and lemon has an acid pH when tested outside the body. It can be as low as 3.5, but foods are tested after digestion by the ash they produce. In the body lemon becomes highly alkaline, usually with a pH of approximately 8. From now on be sure to include a slice of lime or lemon to your water to maintain at least a neutral pH of 7 if not higher. That’s it for today, if you have any questions we welcome comments and queries via the website." This article by Alister Bredee first appeared in "The Southern Times."

The Aztecs knew it, and now we can share it too, Spirulina!

Spirulina or more precisely blue-green algae is a mixture of single cell organisms which bridge the gap between plants and animals.  Its cells photosynthesize, just like plants, whilst there are no cell walls, just like animals! Historically the first mention comes from one of Cortes’ conquistador soldiers who describes it as a valuable food source for the Aztec people in pre-16^th century Central America. The algae grew in profusion on Lake Texcoco. This is where the Aztecs built there famed capital, Tenochtitlan on an island in the lake. They were eventually overcome, and Montezuma’s city fell to the Spanish in 1521, who destroyed the original capital and set about building Mexico City on the same site. The vast city and flood prevention measures reduced the lake to a shadow of its former self and so the spirulina beds of Lake Texococo disappeared.

Sprilulina, thankfully, did not disappear. It’s amazing food, comprising 60% protein. It contains the 8 essential amino acids which are so vital for human cell growth. They are essential because they have to be sourced from food as the body is unable to make them itself. However, blue-green algae are low in methionine and its non-essential companion cysteine. These provide valuable sulphur compounds essential for proper digestion.  A problem for vegetarians is the lack of vitamin B-12 and its pivotal synergist, folic acid in the diet. On the face of it, spirulina provides a powerful protein source, enhanced by the plentiful supply of B vitamins, including the vital B-12 which donates oxygen to hemoglobin and thrusts away pernicious anemia . But there is a problem, for some unexplained reason the B-12 is unassimiable to the human body, therefore, useless. This detracts from it shining forth as an ideal protein source!

It was first commercially produced in Thailand in 1988 when the now famous Booson Farm opened up in Nonthaburi. Thanks to this innovative approach the country has now grown to become one of the world’s leading spirulina producers. Booson Farm has moved to more spacious surroundings in Chaing Mai. As an interesting aside the Thai name for blue-green algae is “Sarai Klew Thong.”

Overseas studies in vitro have revealed it to be effective against the HIV infection. It has also been shown to protect cancer patients against the ravages of chemo and radiotherapy. It is a powerful antioxidant and has been demonstrated as being a successful means of reducing blood fats. A study conducted by a well-respected Bangkok University took 41 diabetic patients.  The first group of 21 participants was fed 6gms of spirulina per day for 8 weeks. The second group was given a placebo. The researchers found that participants in the control group with blood sugar readings in excess of 140 mg/dl successfully reduced the blood sugar levels by 31 mg/dl over the 8 weeks. This took their blood sugar readings out of the range categorized as diabetic. The study also found that uric acid levels decreased. This was contrary to expectations as spirulina had previously been slated for increasing uric acid. This is fantastic news not only for those who have imbalanced blood sugar levels which is reasonably common in vegetarians because some eat a lot of starchy carbohydrates but for gout sufferers, too.

Another study conducted under the auspices of the Nanjing School of Medicine in China showed that a staunch spirulina intake also inhibited the growth of Leukemia cells. Overall, then spirulina is a nutritious food source being high in protein, containing all the essential amino acids and providing the B vitamins in profusion. It stabilizes high blood sugar as well as being a potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Clearly it provides a nutritious food supplement for vegetarians and carnivores alike. Add it to smoothies and daily juices on a regular basis because it is likely to give you a wholesome boost to wellness. All this is easy, and it’s remarkably cheap, too. If you would like assistance in sourcing blue-green algae, simply use the website link to make contact.  More next week, so bye for now!

FULL CIRCLE

This morning I picked up one of the few remaining hard copies of my book “Full Circle”, which was published eight years ago in 2004. When I read this today I considered up-dating the material, but then decided against such an action. As we approach the end of the Mayan Calendar on 21^st December 2012 and perch on the brink of a US Presidential election, the results of which will be known for many when you come to read this; I felt the comments are just as applicable now, as then. What has changed? I believe there is today a greater level of awareness than there was in 2004.

“Many of us remain in jobs or situations or cling to relationships that may well have outlived their purpose. We grip onto these manifestations of the past, because we do not believe that life will support us if we strike out and move into new and unknown realms. 

Many know it is time to make a move, but lack the courage to take the plunge! Sadly the harder we clasp the past, the more it is we will experience all manner of uncomfortable events taking place around us. These trials are not there to make us miserable, but to wake us up and tell us the time has come to make the necessary changes and move on. When we ignore the invitation to change the knocks grow louder to catch our attention. If we continue to snub the warnings, they simply increase in intensity until a time comes when we cannot continue ignoring reality. Many of us are blind to the warnings. Instead of sitting up and paying attention, we blame circumstances or fate for our predicament because we are unaware that we can change the hurtful situation. Sometimes we can see the plight of others because our distance from the burning events gives us an objectivity that those experiencing the episodes do not have! Occasionally we can talk to the individuals in question and explain what we see. Oftentimes, however, the advice is unwelcome because change is a hard path, and many are loathe to come face to face with reality. For those who are open to new information any imparting of subjective knowledge has to be achieved carefully. Help the other person make this difficult transition with compassion and understanding. Assist them move to the next stage in their lives by adopting a supportive attitude. For anything else will be interpreted as criticism which can only be counterproductive in outcome. Show them the exciting new possibilities awaiting all of us if only we had the courage to embrace them.

As we move deeper and deeper into the 21^st Century we shall find many of the old workings not working. We shall inevitably witness the collapse of many of the structures upon which the world is based. Leaders take their energy from the people who have placed them in their positions. On the July 4^th Independence Day (2003), President George Bush urged the American people to celebrate the occasion heartily as he and his Government would be looking after them! Here he is playing the role of a strong father to his frightened children. This patriarchal posturing can trace its roots back to the days of ancient Israel and before. Many are beginning to realize this concept robs them of their power to be. A massive power struggle will develop because many of the political and business leaders will be reluctant to give back to the people what is rightfully theirs

.

Others have begun to question why they have given up vast chunks of their time and freedom to work in companies in order to progress up the corporate ladder. Particularly as they see these companies default on their obligations with casual ease whilst nonchalantly disposing of their workforces. Politicians put a spin on events to rationalize their hold on power. Lying is no longer acceptable.  Justifiably many are angry.” And we will see this anger erupt onto the world stage as 2013 looms ever closer.

In rather a different vein this week.  To find out about the book make contact through the website. 

Dazzling White Teeth, all Thanks to Dental Veneers.

One December morning in 2010, Jackie Green’s car was broadsided at an intersection by a speeding vehicle that had run a red light. Jackie was fortunate; she was not seriously injured but the sideswipe pitched her forward so her mouth struck the steering wheel. She broke her two front teeth and several others were damaged by the impact. Her dentist reconstructed the two missing teeth by means of a bridge, but aside from whitening, he was not much help when it came to the remaining harm. She felt her appearance had been marred and wanted to regain the warm smile of pre-accident days. That’s when she started investigating orthodontics.

Orthodontics is the clinical term for cosmetic dentistry. Thanks to the innovative techniques of Charles Pincus back in the 1970s, dental veneers have leaped to the forefront of modern orthodontic procedures. A veneer is a layer of restorative material placed over the outer surface of a tooth to improve its appearance or to protect it because of damage. These delicate veneers are made from a vinyl composite or from more durable porcelain. Done well these stick on films can enhance appearance and afford protection in a manner that is easy and relatively comfortable for the patient. However, this skilled dental work does not come cheaply.

Dentists in Thailand have always kept abreast of new techniques in their field. This means they are fully capable of producing and fitting world class veneers. Typically in the USA a veneer can cost anywhere between $1000 and $3000 per tooth. It was the price that tempted Jackie to Thailand for her treatment. Thanks to some diligent Internet searching she found she could have veneers fitted much cheaper than at home. The difference made it worth her while to fly half way across the world to attend a dental clinic in Phuket. She used a specialist medical tourism company, Lotus Medical International also based in Phuket. They made all the arrangements for her, looking after her from the moment   she arrived to the moment she departed. They arranged the dental appointments and found her first rate accommodation for the duration of her stay on the island. This made the process easy and stress free for Jackie to receive excellent treatment but also gave her the added bonus of a sunshine holiday.

Costs vary and depend on the sort of material that the Thai dentist uses to make the veneers. The composites are cheaper; they look good but are not as hard wearing as the more durable porcelain variety. Jackie wanted to enhance her appearance but it was also necessary to protect her teeth as they were already damaged. In her case the porcelain variety was the recommended option. Thanks to the improvement in adhesives, once cemented onto teeth, veneers can hold for twenty plus years!  The porcelain was more expensive, but Jackie was glad to be advised by her dentist. Another advantage of coming to Thailand is the high quality of the treatment. Back home high costs might have forced her to make a cheaper choice but would that have been cost effective with the unfolding of the years?

Jackie was truly delighted with the treatment she received from her Thai dentist, in all she only had three dental visits.  This is not always the case, but her Phuket dentist was skilled in work with veneers. He was able to prepare her mouth for the porcelain shields in the first session and then send the impression to the lab for the actual production of the veneer. In the second session a few days later the lab sent back the finished product for fitting. There were some alterations necessary, including a better color match which was done and the finished veneer fitted on the third visit.  This time the color was perfect for her and she was delighted at the service she received in the land of smiles. If you would like to contact Lotus Medical International simply use the website link to make contact and we’ll put you in touch.  More next week, so bye for now!

Launch of Amazing Natural Shampoos and Cleansers "

Have you ever wondered what ingredients are contained in the body products we all use every day? Let’s take shampoos and anti-bacterial handwashes as the example. A principal ingredient is iso-propyl alcohol. It comes in many disguises, is a by-product of the petroleum industry and serves as antifreeze in the motor industry! In factories there are warnings about handling hazardous chemicals like xylene and toluene other aliases for the same thing. Propyl alcohol is put in ever popular anti-bacterial hand washes; ironically the substance inhibits the skin’s ability to protect against bacteria, molds and fungus. These are the pathogens it is supposed to protect you against. It doesn’t make any sense at all!

Chronic illness has been on the rise. The Centre for Disease Control tells us in the 32 years from 1975 to 2007 that the incidence of cancer has shifted from 400 cases per 100,000 population to 461 in 2007. WHO figures for Thailand for 2002 have cancer as the number 1 cause of death with a rate of 73.3 cases per 100,000 population. This had risen dramatically from 26.1 cases in 1982. Is it any wonder when chemically toxic products flood the market place and consumer awareness of these dangers is minimal?

Dr. Teuro Higa, Professor of Horticulture at the University of Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan, has developed EM Technology, this stands for “effective microorganism”. His initial research in the 1980s reported that up to 80 microorganisms were effective in decomposing negative organic matter and created healthy regeneration instead. Decaying and pathologically dangerous matter can revert to a “life promoting” process thanks to the positive micro-organisms present in the EM liquids. This natural health giving bacteria works in the same way as probiotics which are very popular in natural medicine. Good bacteria create a balance against the bad bacteria ever present in the eco-system we call the gut.

This amazing technology is reported to support sustainable practices in agriculture as well as forming a new frontier in the improvement of health and hygiene. The EM process was used during the recent floods in Bangkok. Inundation creates an ideal environment for the disease process to flourish. Often natural disasters are followed by epidemics of illnesses like cholera and dysentery. This was not the case in Bangkok and it seems that similar positive results have emerged in other areas EM has been used; these include the 2004 Tsunami, the Kobe earthquake and in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina. A huge database of research has not been conducted on these life saving techniques, but empirical evidence suggests Dr Higa has presented the world with a great gift. This gift is simple. Release “Effective Microorganisms” into flood water and let the live bacteria do their work!

The fruits of the Sapindus trees have been used for eons in natural medicine, particularly the Indian system of Ayurveda. This relative of the lychee is a natural source of, chemical free soap.  The Sapindus fruit, a native of temperate Asia provides an emulsion that foams in water. It has been around a lot longer than  westernized soap and to good effect. In Ayurveda it is used for the treatment of eczema and psoriasis. It is something that promotes skin health and is devoid of pernicious by products like propyl alcohol. Common sense dictates that we should be washing ourselves with these natural soaps, but the story gets better still.

Someone has come along and launched a product line of body washes, shampoos and cleaning agents that combine the probiotic potency of the EM technology with  the amorphous glycosides of the sapindus fruit to  make an outstanding series of soaps and cleaners that enhance the body’s good bacteria and thus stimulate the system to preserve  healthy immunity that truly does everything the chemical hand washes pretend to do; it also balances nature’s eco-system so that streams and rivers are oxygenated, supporting new life and a clean water table.  The line is called “Blue Sky”. If you would like help in sourcing any of these things, simply use the website link to make contact."

This article first appeared in "The Southern Times of October 13th 2012

Alister Bredee

Koh Samui, September 2012

Look Years Younger by Reversing your Greying Hair.

Grey hair tends to be ageing; I think we all agree! Though, more and more people are going grey earlier. Why is that? They say the age the hair turns grey is determined by the genes.  If your parents turned grey young, then you stand a statistically good chance of doing the same. The rate, however, your hair loses its original lustrous colour is rather up to you!

This is not entirely a matter of conscious choice but depends on how you have taken care of your health. When we are twenty it is possible to drink a bottle of vodka and smoke a pack of cigarettes each day, but as we grow older this is no longer viable.  Besides the earlier health risks do begin to show their negative fruits sooner than we would have liked. It really pays to take good care of you, because this provides a safeguard against premature ill health. This translates into vibrant mental, emotional and physical wellbeing into old age. Cigarettes for example contain approximately 600 toxins including arsenic and strychnine. The ingestion of smoke makes the system very acidic which betrays itself in wrinkled dry skin as well as early grey hair. Both of these make us look older than we really are. Other factors that contribute to the hair changing colour include anemia. There are two types; one is characterized by a lack of iron which is best described as a megoblastic condition and the other, pernicious anemia, which is a digestive complication that causes Vitamin B12 deficiency. To counteract the effects one needs to look at the full spectrum of B Vitamins. It is important they are kept in balance and contain a natural form of B12 to complete the synthesis.

An imbalance of B vitamins is poor nutrition but so is poor diet characterized by fast foods, deep frying and an overabundance of starchy carbohydrates. This sort of eating pattern comes at the expense of life giving fruits and fresh vegetables.

Often when the hair begins to lighten because the keratin or pigment producing cells start to die off, people panic and begin to consider the advantages of hair dyes. Hair dyes provide artificial pigmentation. Most dyes depend upon hydrogen peroxide to give the illusion that natural coloration has been re-established. Hair bleach on its own gives a brassy blond shade, but it is also used to strip the hair of its natural colour, so the artificial dye can take a hold.   Bleaching is extremely harmful. It produces dry and brittle hair follicles which have a natural propensity to greyness unless the chemical product is incessantly reapplied. Over 60% of dyes contain P-Phenylenediamine; this is classified as a toxin by the EU. This chemical is shown to  affect the skin, immune and respiratory system as well as the liver. Other chemicals present include ammonia and resorcinol. This has been shown to disrupt hormonal function in rats. It has also been exposed to cause hypothyroidism. In recent years low thyroid function, especially in women, has reached epidemic proportions. This has given rise to low blood pressure and decreased levels of progesterone with a knock on result of high estrogen intensities. This leads to PMT and fat and cellulite build up around the waist and hips. Some dyes even contain lead acetate; this causes a heavy metal overload. What to do about hair dyes? Well, supposedly natural hair dyes contain fewer toxic chemicals, so that is a start. It seems the darker you wish to colour the more risks are involved.

However, there are some preferable natural alternatives. Copper is said to stop greying. You can purchase a supplement or Organic Black Strap Molasses has a high Copper content. You can lighten hair colour with honey or the herb rosemary and for darker shades Henna is an excellent choice. It may appear too red for some but an auburn tint has always been attractive!

That’s all for this week. If you have questions we are happy to respond. Contact us through the website.

Makam Pom Will Make You Healthy, Wealthy and .....

"Embilica Officinalis, a fine sounding Latin name, is more easily known as the Indian Gooseberry or Amla Berry. Unlike the small, green, astringent gooseberries that grow on bushes in Europe these are the fruit of a tree, which can grow as high as eighteen metres. They are found in Issan and similar areas that are less tropical than the lush South. The berries grow in clumps; they are light green to yellowish pink in colour. You will find a fibrous interior whilst the taste is sour to bitter. They resemble the Tamarind and have the name Manila Tamarind in the Philippines.

In Hindustan, which in historical terms is that area of India lying between the Himalayas and the Vindayas, with Delhi as the capital and the Ganges as the main artery; the Amla is considered sacred to the Goddess Lakshmi. Not only is she the consort of the Hindu God Vishnu she is also the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. If you have an Amala tree on your land this is considered to be extremely lucky. Not only will this bring you wealth but it is said to protect the householders from all kinds of misery and money related dilemmas. If you are unfortunate enough to be without a tree, eating the fruit is likely to bring you many benefits, too!

The berries provide an excellent source of natural vitamin C. Unfortunately most of the so called vitamin C on the market is synthetic, ascorbic acid. It is made in a laboratory; it’s popular because it is cheap. A sad fact of life is you get what you pay for. Synthetic vitamin C serves a purpose but lacks the vital spark of life which stands in its way of making a truly effective anti-oxidant. Amla contains twenty times more vitamin C by weight than oranges. This is why it is labeled a super food.

In 1988 the “International Journal of Cardiology” compared three Indian botanicals; these were tested on rabbits. The Indian Gooseberry was one of those natural extracts... All three were found to lower cholesterol. A later Japanese study confirmed these findings. Amla is a favoured ayurvedic medicine. The dried powder or a tincture administered in doses of approximately 30 mg per kilo of body weight was found to significantly reduce blood cholesterol levels. Admittedly, we are not rats, but the study suggests if it is good for rats, it’s also good for humans. Wouldn’t it be a lot better to take a couple of grams of quality vitamin C on a daily basis than embark on a course of treatment involving the Statin drugs which your doctor is so keen on prescribing? Statins have significant side effects. Aside from constipation, skin rashes and insomnia; if you read the warnings on the leaflets that accompany the medication; you will see cautions about memory loss, mental confusion and the possibility of diabetes. They don’t mention the other hidden drawbacks like loss of libido, liver damage and even heart attack, something the statins are supposedly protecting us from!

Other studies have shown that Makam Pom has had a positive effect on kidney disease by improving creatinine and urea nitrogen levels whilst reducing blood pressure. Vitamins, minerals and other natural products take time to become truly effective. This slow approach requires patience. However, you will most certainly see an improvement if you give them at least 90 days to be truly effective.

In Thailand, Amla powder is also used in cosmetics. One product combines Makam Pom and Rice bran oil. It is designed to removes dead skin scales and improve the overall complexion. Another using Amla and Samor Thai promotes luxuriant hair growth. It has also been shown to reverse male pattern baldness. That makes sense because of the high anti-oxidant levels and excellent tannins found in the formula. Recently, another manufacturer launched a range of natural soaps and cleansers. Amla is found in the “Body Wash”. If you would like help in sourcing any of these things, simply use the website link to make contact. "

This article first appeared in "The Southern Times", edition # 1 on 6th October 2012

Alister Bredee

September 2012