Magnesium

Do you need more Magnesium?  

• Magnesium promotes deep, restorative sleep.
• Magnesium is necessary for the proper functioning of enzymes, muscles and nerves.  Magnesium is a co-factor in more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body.  Magnesium is necessary for the transmission of nerves impulses for muscular activity.
• Magnesium is necessary for metabolism of macronutrients protein, carbohydrate and fat.
• Magnesium is important for the metabolism of micronutrients calcium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, iron, sodium, lead, cadmium, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and vitamin C.
• Magnesium is needed for activation of vitamin B1, thiamine.
• Magnesium is needed for the formation of healthy bones and teeth.  The body contains about 25 grams of magnesium, most of which is present in the bones.  Magnesium is important for the integrity of skeletal bone-crystal formation.  Magnesium is needed to convert dietary vitamin D into the active form that increases calcium utilization in bone formation.  Magnesium binds calcium to tooth enamel creating a barrier to tooth decay.
• Magnesium plays a crucial role in energy production within the cells as a co-factor for oxidative phosphorylation in the production of ATP which regulates the production and transfer of energy in all cells of the body.
• Magnesium is necessary for the production and function of acetylcholine.   
• Magnesium is necessary for temperature regulation.
• Magnesium is needed for detoxification reactions.
• Magnesium is a component of both intracellular and extracellular fluids.   Magnesium regulates the transportation of nutrients across cell membranes.  
• Magnesium deficiency causes irritability of the nervous system with muscle tetany, vasodilation, convulsions, tremors, depression and psychotic behavior.   The first symptom of magnesium deficiency is muscle twitches or tremors.  Long term deficiency subjects experience extreme irritability to noise or bright lights.
• Elevated magnesium has a relaxing effect on muscles and nerves of the bowel, blood vessels, heart and lungs.  Elevated levels are seen in dehydration and adrenal exhaustion, Addison’s disease, renal failure.  Kidney excretion of excess magnesium makes magnesium toxicity rare.  Excess magnesium intake causes diarrhea.  Magnesium is great for constipation, if you take too much magnesium decrease your dose by one tablet or capsule until you figure out the perfect daily amount for better bowel movements.
• Magnesium is an extremely important nutrient for the cardiovascular system. Magnesium increases oxygenation of the heart muscle by improving contractility.  Magnesium lowers blood pressure, but there are more factors to address in hypertension.  Magnesium deficiency is associated with an increased incidence of atherosclerosis, hypertension, strokes, and heart attacks.  Low levels of magnesium increases rigidity and stiffness.  In the blood vessels, rigidity elevates blood pressure, and a contraction or spasm in the heart muscle, can result in sudden death.  Many heart attacks occur in individuals with a relatively healthy heart.  Magnesium deficiency is the instigator of the heart spasm that results in death. 
• Magnesium relaxes blood vessels in the head to alleviate migraines.  Magnesium relaxes sinuses to alleviate sinusitis.  Magnesium relaxes bronchioles, spasms and rigidity lessening asthma symptoms.
• Magnesium acts like many prescription drugs:  Magnesium decreases platelet stickiness to inhibit platelet aggregation, like aspirin.  Magnesium thins the blood like warfarin.  Magnesium blocks calcium uptake like calcium channel blocking drugs.  Magnesium relaxes blood vessels like ACE inhibitors.
• It is very common for people to consume a greater amount of calcium than magnesium.  Calcium supplements, prenatal vitamins and multivitamins usually have more calcium than magnesium.  Baby formulas contain more calcium than magnesium.  Enteral and parenteral nutritional formulas contain at least 3 to 5 times more calcium than magnesium.  Food processors add calcium to orange juice, fruit juices drinks and yogurt. 
• If your doctor told you to supplement with calcium and vitamin D for osteoporosis, then you can take 400mg Magnesium with every meal to balance your calcium intake.

 Do you have constipation, restless leg syndrome, muscle twitching, asthma, sinusitis, migraines, stiff or strained muscles or sciatica?  Maybe you need more Magnesium. 

In Memory of Ruth Newmark who died of magnesium deficiency one year ago.

Cancer

           NUTRITIONAL STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING CANCER

If someone truly wants to, cancer can be managed nutritionally.  There are determined people who are able to really know what they need.  It takes trusting your own sense and asking for divine help to make it work, because it is the Creator who gives and takes life.

• Detoxification with digestive enzymes
• Buffered ascorbate vitamin C
• Coenzyme Q10
• Omega 3 essential fat
• Vitamin D
• Arginine
• B vitamins: B12 Folic Acid
• Antioxidants
• Alkalizing the body
• Magnesium
• Water intake
• Balanced meals on a schedule
• Exercise and movement
• Relaxation and stress reduction, positive thinking
• Active participation in your own care nourish yourself
• Confidence: nutrition therapy beats chemotherapy

DETOXIFICATION AND ELIMINATION:

Enzymes dissolve the fibrous, hard protective shell around cancer cells.  Take digestive enzymes on an empty stomach to get a systemic effect.  In order to clear the fibrous shell around cancer cells, take digestive enzymes on an empty stomach with water. Wait at least one half hour to eat.

Digestive enzymes can also be taken at the beginning of meals to improve digestion, but for dissolving cancer cell membranes take any kind of digestive enzymes on an empty stomach daily at bedtime or early morning or any time that is convenient for you.

Use serapeptidase enzyme to clear mucus, thick body fluids or any fibrous accumulation in the lungs or lymphatic system. 

Use natokinase or lumbrokinase enzymes to clear fibrous accumulation that is angiogenic in the blood vessels.

Any enzyme product will have a systemic beneficial effect when taken on an empty stomach.

Live foods such as uncooked, raw vegetables, fruits and raw nuts and seeds provide enzymes.  Eat lots of vegetables and drink water continually. 

 ASCORBATE VITAMIN C:

Buffered Vitamin C clears out toxins by binding toxic metals and toxic chemicals that have been stored in the body, and then flushes them out through the bowels.  Use an ascorbate flush protocol once weekly as a detoxification strategy, or at least one time to determine your personal daily needs.

To calculate the optimum amount of Vitamin C for your daily needs take 1000mg of buffered Vitamin C every 15 minutes until you get diarrhea. Your daily optimum requirement will be 1000mg less than the total amount needed to cause the flush. For example, if you required 5000mg to achieve the flush then 4000mg is your optimal amount. Once you determine your optimal amount take half in the AM and take the other half in the PM.  

Ascorbate is of benefit in cancer because it facilitates apoptosis, also called programmed cell death which is the bursting and death of cancer cells.

BATHING AND LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE:

Soak in sea salt, Epsom salt, sodium bicarbonate in the bath and wash off sweat with soap. 

Wash in the shower holding the soap and moving your hand over your extremities from the knees to the thighs on all sides of the legs.  Rub both legs from the knees to the thighs in front, on the sides and the back of the upper leg; then wash from the ankles to the knees on all sides.  Get rid of lymph fluid in the upper leg and then work on the circulation of the lower legs. 

First wash the underarms in circular movements in both directions clockwise and counterclockwise as desired.  Then wash the  upper arms on all sides, from the elbow to the shoulder, on the top in the back, underneath and inside; then wash the forearms on all sides, moving your hand from the wrists to the elbows, on all sides.

In general you always want to move the circulation toward the sweat glands under the arm or towards the sweat glands in the groin.

From the center of the chest, wash toward your armpit above and below the breast.  From the center of the upper back wash from the center toward the sweat gland by your shoulder. 

To reduce edema, make effort to encourage the circulation in the natural way the lymphatic system flows.  You can get rid of a terrible cold and congestion by washing in the correct direction.

 WATER INTAKE: 

Drink purified water as needed and thank G-d for urination.

Adequate hydration is necessary to process waste products that are being eliminated when using a detoxification protocol.   Water enables expectoration and bowel movements.  Dehydration may actually be a cause of headache.  Other liquids such as juices are a source of carbohydrates and should be considered part of balanced meals.  Water is a free beverage unlike other beverages and is necessary for homeostasis, circulation and to prevent muscle atrophy.  

Exercise and movement is important to facilitate detoxification through the lymphatic system which releases through the sweat glands, bowel movements, urination and breathing.

OMEGA-3 ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS:

The outer surface of every cell is composed of fat.  Liquidy fat is needed for production of helpful hormones that decrease inflammation.  Omega-3 fish oils supplies the substance that make the skin of every cell.  This supple, flexible cell membrane creates permeability in cells allowing for elimination of wastes and then you can really benefit from  intake of nutrients because you’ll be able to absorb nutrients through the surface of the cells.  Omega 3 enables cells to spontaneously produce anti-inflammatory eicosanoid hormones which decrease pain and inflammation.  Omega-3 stabilizes normal cell growth and limits chaotic overgrowth of cancer cells.

Symptoms of Omega-3 deficiency are dry eyes, dry hair and dry skin, constipation, insomnia, insulin resistance, edema, muscle aches, headaches, arthritic pain.

According to Dr. Barry Sears of the popular Zone Diet, dosage recommendations for  Omega-3 EFAs are a minimum of 4000mg daily taken with fatty foods such as nuts, seeds, olives, avocados or during/after a meal for everyone.  Individuals with cancer have higher needs than healthy people.

Omega-3 EFAs 4000 mg can be consumed every 3 to 4 hours if needed to control any physical pain, swelling, or inflammation.

VITAMIN D:

Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency include osteoporosis or loss of bone in teeth above the gums, high blood pressure, diabetes, insulin resistance, the flu, infections, cancer.  People don’t work on farms in the sun and when we go to the beach or the park we put on sunscreen.  And COPP a Life Corp. thinks there is a Vitamin D deficiency epidemic.

Get a lab test to determine if you need to supplement with Vitamin D.  Take in sunlight directly on your skin in order to produce Vitamin D yourself.

Vitamin D mechanisms of action include: decreases rennin production thereby reducing blood pressure,  decreases insulin resistance, enables insulin production, antibacterial, antiinfective, inhibits angiogenesis and blood vessel growth, increases bone growth by increased mineral utilization.

COENZYMEQ10:

Cancer cells have a tough, fibrous shell which prevents oxygen from entering the cell. Cancer cells thrive in this anaerobic environment. CoenzymeQ10 enhances the utilization of oxygen inside cells and increases the amount of oxygen in all cells. Cancer cells cannot grow in an aerobic environment.   Dosage of CoQ-10 varies according to individual needs.  Symptoms of CoenzymeQ10 deficiency are bleeding gums, gingivitis, muscle fatigue, rhabdomyolysis.   A doctor can order the blood test CPK creatinine phospho kinase, to check for and monitor for muscle breakdown if you take Statin cholesterol medications and other medications listed below.  Beware that if you take prescription or over the counter medications that inhibit the body’s production of CoenzymeQ10 you are more at risk of growing cancer cells.

DRUGS THAT INHIBIT OR DIMINISH COENZYMEQ10

PRODUCTION OR FUNCTION:

Prochlorperazine used as an antiemetic during chemotherapy actually shuts down production of coenzyme Q10 and ATP production.  

BETA BLOCKERS AND BLOOD PRESSURE LOWERING MEDS

Acebutolol 

Atenolol     

Nadolol

Hydralazine

Metoprolol

Pindolol

Propranolol

Satolol

Timolol

Clonidine            

Methyldopa

CHOLESTEROL LOWERING MEDS AND STATINS

Atorvastatin

Cervistatin

Lovastatin

Pravastatin         

Fluvastatin                   

Simvastatin

Femofibrate

Gemfibrazole      

DIABETES MEDICATIONS

Acetohexamide

Glimepriride

Metformin 

Tolazamide

Tolbutamide

DIURETICS OR WATER PILLS

Amiloride

Benzthiazide

Chlorthiazide

Hydrochlorothiazide                                           

Hydroflumethiazide

Indapamide

Methyclothiazide

Metolazone         

Polythiazide

Quinethazone

Trichlorethiazide

PSYCHOTROPIC MEDS

Amitriptyline

Amoxapine

Chlorpromazine           

Clomipramine

Desipramine

Doxepin     

Enoxacin   

Fluphenazine                                   

Haloperidol                                                                                      

Imipramine

Mesoridazine

Nortriptyline                                                      

Perphenazine      

Prochlorperazine

Promazine          

Promethazine

Protriptyline

Thiethylperazine

Thioridazine

Trifluperine

Trimipramine

 

B VITAMINS:

B vitamins are necessary for normal cell growth and production of healthy DNA.  Folic acid, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, Niacin, Thiamine, Riboflavin, choline and inositol, biotin.

Beware of medications that inhibit absorption of B vitamins in the gastro-intestinal tract.  Examples include Acid-blockers like:

H2 receptor antagonists Cimetadine, Tagamet, Nizatidine, Axid, Zantac, Ranitidine, Pepcid, Famotidine

Proton Pump Inhibitors Prilosec, Omeprazole, Prevacid, Lansoprazole, Nexium,esomeprazole, Protonix, Aciphex. 

Metformin, which is used for Diabetes and Poly-cystic Ovarian syndrome inhibits intestinal absorption of Vitamin B12 and folic acid.

If you take medications that inhibit the absorption of B vitamins in the digestive tract, supplement with a B complex product that is absorbed through a different route of administration, such as a sublingual melting, dissolving lozenge or a topical patch that sticks to your skin where there is no hair. 

Directions: Dissolve under the tongue daily to absorb directly into the glands and blood stream and bypassing the gastrointestinal tract.

or

Apply topical patch to skin daily or as needed behind the ear or on skin where there is no hair growth.  

ARGININE:

Increases microcirculation perfusion.

 ANTIOXIDANTS:

Antioxidants prevent aging of cells, slow cell growth and revitalize the body.  These include:

Fresh, live raw organic fruits and vegetables

Vitamin E mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols

Vitamin C ascorbate buffered with magnesium

Selenium

Carotenoids

Glutathione

Alpha Lipoic Acid

Methyl sulfonyl methionine MSM

Etc

ALKALINIZING THE BODY:

The body is more susceptible to growing cancer cells in an acid environment. Diet recommendations include supplementing with minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc.  Remember to balance calcium intake with magnesium supplements (for extensive information on magnesium deficiency caused by excessive calcium intake and on the pathophysiology of magnesium deficiency see http://www.MGwater.com.)  Symptom of magnesium deficiency is foul body odor.

Eat balanced meals and make sure that at least 50% of your diet is vegetables.

All meat, chicken, fish, dairy products, and grains are acid forming foods.

Vegetables are alkalinizing, they provide antioxidants and low glycemic vegetables and they stabilize blood sugar, insulin and cortisol production which influences immune function.

MIND & BODY SUPPORT:

Increase stress management and relaxation techniques.  Gather social and family support.  Utilize techniques that help you relax, feel better and stay positive such as yoga, bio-feedback, chiropractic visits, massage therapy, positive affirmations, visualize yourself healthy.

If you want to live, ask the Creator to give you a complete recovery; and believe that He will send the recovery through your work in detoxifying physically and mentally, and by rebuilding yourself.

NUTRIENTS SPECIFIC FOR BREAST CANCER:

Excess estrogen may be produced or there is an imbalance in the forms of estrogen present in the body. 

Avoid commercially processed meat meaning if the cows ate food with pesticides their fat is higher in toxins and omega 6 fats which compete with omega 3.

Eat organic grass fed meat, chicken and eggs to reduce consumption of hormones, or pesticides which are xenobiotics and hormone mimickers.

Supplement with indole carbinol or DIM, an antiestrogen supplement manufactured from cruciferous vegetables or eat lots of cabbage, and cruciferous vegetables and any plant of the mustard family.

Increase in estrogen decreases copper excretion via the liver and gallbladder.  If there is increased copper, then zinc is decreased.   Decreased zinc will decrease progesterone levels.

Symptoms of increased copper are prolonged heavy menstrual flow, low thyroid function, low adrenal hormone production.  Copper toxicity is seen in deficiency of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, B6, B3, B5, zinc and iron.

Symptoms of decreased zinc are white spots on nails, stretch marks (relative deficiency produces white or silver stretch marks, absolute zinc deficiency produces red or purple stretch marks) frontal headaches, fatigue, emotional volatility, constipation, weight gain, increased blood insulin levels, less storage of insulin, hypoglycemia and food cravings.

Bio

Rivka Freeman, RPh is a NYS Registered Pharmacist for 23 years and a Clinical Nutrition Pharmacist for 14 years.  She specializes in risk advisory and cost containment.  Her continuing education information on balanced meals as a childhood and community obesity and diabetes prevention program appear in ww.nutritionpharmacist.wordpress.com. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with three children, ages 24, 17 and 16.  She had a left mastectomy for breast cancer 23 years.  In January of 2002 and December of 2002 she eliminated breast cancer tumors in her right breast using the nutritional strategies here.