December 9, 2011. An article published on November 8, 2011 in the European Journal of Nutrition reveals the results of a randomized, crossover trial which found that cherry juice drinkers slept longer and better than those who didn't consume the juice.

Glyn Howatson and colleagues from Northumbria University compared the effects of Montmorency tart cherry juice or a placebo drink in 20 men and women aged 18 to 40 years. Participants were instructed to consume one serving upon awakening and another before bed for seven days. The subjects subsequently switched regimens following a two-week period in which no drinks were administered. Daily diaries recorded information on the participants' sleep quality, which was corroborated with a wearable sleep monitor. Urine samples obtained before and during the trial were analyzed for 6-sulphatoxymelatonin, the major metabolite of melatonin: a sleep-promoting hormone that occurs in cherries.

Participants who received tart cherry juice had significant elevations in urinary melatonin content, while the placebo group's levels remained the same as those measured at the beginning of the trial. Drinking cherry juice was associated with an average of 39 minutes longer sleep, more time in bed spent asleep, better sleep quality and less daytime napping compared to the placebo group. While increased melatonin is the primary mechanism to which the improved sleep of those who consumed cherry juice was attributed, the authors note that sleep regulation is also influenced by pro-inflammatory cytokines and that tart cherries have numerous phenolic compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties.

Read More….

http://www.lef.org/whatshot/2011_12.htm#Review-confirms-glucose-reduction-benefit-for-cinnamon-in-diabetics

Don’t have a gray summer next year! The sun has cast its decadent rays and we all enjoyed showing some skin. All this exposure may have seemed worth it at the time but now we may be seeing visible signs of sun damage on the skin that are definitely not helping us look our best!

Have you noticed any redness and/or little red capillaries on the cheeks or nose? How about enlarged pores, oily skin, acne or small nodules just under the skin? These may be signs of the skin condition called rosacea. And sun exposure usually makes it worse.

What is rosacea?

Rosacea is a fairly common condition that causes changes to the skin most often surrounding the cheeks, nose and occasionally the brow and chin. Women between ages 30 and 50 are most commonly affected; however, men tend to experience more severe and permanent skin changes. There are three types of rosacea: “flushing,” “acne” and “nodular.”

• “Flushing,” or erthematotelangiectatic rosacea, appears as facial flushing over 10 minutes duration after various stimuli such as alcohol, emotional stress, spicy foods, exercise, cold or hot weather, or hot baths and showers. During the flushing, a burning and stinging sensation may be felt in the cheeks. Over time the face may develop a purplish hue with prominent blood vessels.

• “Acne,” or papulopustular rosacea, appears as strikingly red skin with acne-like pustules on the cheeks, nose and occasionally brow and chin. Skin quality may be normal to oily and there can be flushing as well; however, flushing is not the main bothersome feature.

• “Nodular,” or glandular rosacea, more frequent in men, manifests as thickening, oily skin with enlarged pores, nodules and cysts on the nose, cheeks and forehead. Women with glandular rosacea tend to develop more nodules on the chin. Growth of the skin on the nose, with increased capillaries and nodules, known as rhinophyma, may develop with this type of rosacea.

What is the cause of rosacea?

Sun exposure, alcohol consumption, caffeine, hot beverages, eating spicy foods, extreme temperatures, harsh wind and emotional stress are all common triggers of rosacea; however, exactly why or how is not completely understood.

There is some correlation with hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid), H. pylori infection (a bacteria that lives in the stomach), and Demodex folliculorum (a mite infection of the skin); however, this has not been proven by research.

So how can I look better naked with rosacea?

Sexy, smooth, and clear skin is paramount to looking good and therefore we treat rosacea in various ways, both topically and internally, with the dual purpose of repair and prevention.

Topical and internal treatments are available

• Antibiotic creams, gels, and oral regimens such as metronidazole, clindamycin, or doxycycline can reduce redness and telangiectasis (tiny broken blood vessels).

• Azelaic acid, found in whole grains, can be used topically in papulopustular rosacea to reduce redness and acne causing bacteria.

• Retinoids may also be used topically and internally to treat sun damage, enlarged pores and telangiectasis.

• Vitamin C serum topically may boost antioxidants, treat sun damage and reduce redness.

• Vitamin B complex, especially Riboflavin, may decrease Demodex mite infection and normalize oil production.

Repair damaged skin

• Intense pulsed light (IPL) – a.k.a. “photofacial – this concentrated visible light filters out the damaging UV rays and concentrates certain wavelengths of light designed to even out color, reduce unwanted brown and red spots, and eliminate telangiectasias. It can have a nice side effect of skin tightening and removal of unwanted hair where desired. Usually there is no downtime after the procedure.

• Laser – this uses one concentrated wavelength of light (whereas IPL uses a range of wavelengths, thereby possibly treating a broader set of issues in one session). Laser resurfacing can treat the lumps and bumps created with “nodular” or glandular rosacea. However, this is a deeper and more penetrating procedure therefore more pain, more down time after the procedure, longer healing and more risk for scarring and discoloration. So potential benefits should always be weighed against risks.

• Hyfrecation – this low-powered electrosurgical device is perfect for decreasing nodules caused by overactive and blocked sebaceous glands commonly seen in rosacea. When done properly the effect fans out into the deeper tissue with minimal damage to the surface tissue leaving your skin smooth and sexy!

Prevention methods

• Avoidance of triggering factors such as alcohol and caffeine consumption, hot beverages, eating spicy foods, extreme temperature exposure, harsh wind and emotional stress.

• Massage. What’s sexier than a massage? Self-nurture daily or recruit a partner and trade gentle face massages. Move your fingertips in a slow circular motion over your entire face and neck to increase lymphatic flow and circulation to the skin.

• Increase antioxidant foods and anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids found in olive oils, fish, nuts, seeds and avocados while decreasing inflammatory omega 6 rich animal protein.

• Use sunscreen! We all know suncreen protects your youthful complexion and it is essential for rosacea. Look for a full spectrum sunscreen with UVA/UVB protection with at least 7% zinc oxide for maximum UVA protection. Zinc also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can reduce redness and flushing. And NO, this is NOT the zinc oxide your dad used to wear on his nose making it white when you all went to the beach as kids. Today’s zinc oxide, in the right product, is micronized or ultra-micronized, such that it rubs in and you don’t see it at all. So yes, you can look good even while wearing sunscreen!

For many more ways to keep your skin looking radiant, contact Dr. Farnesi and Dr. O’Connell at Medical Age Management at (619) 795-6700, their website, Facebook and Twitter.

References

1. Ferrari A, Diehl C. Evaluation of the Efficacy and Tolerance of a Topical Gel With 4% Quassia Extract in the Treatment of Rosacea. J Clin Pharmacol. 2011 Feb 22.

2. James, W., Berger, T. and Elston, D. Andrews’ Disease of the skin clinical Dermatology. Tenth edition. Elseview Inc. 2006.

3. Antal AS, Dombrowski Y, Koglin S, Ruzicka T, Schauber J. Impact of vitamin D3 on cutaneous immunity and antimicrobial peptide expression. Dermatoendocrinol. 2011 Jan;3(1):18-22.

United Press International

11-18-11

The traditional Thanksgiving meal has so many antioxidants and healthy foods, it's a shame Americans tend to only eat it on holidays, a U.S. dietitian said.

"Several foods we consume this time of year are actually good for you when prepared with minimal added fat, sugar and salt, and consumed in moderation," Stacey Snelling, a registered dietitian and associate dean at American University's School of Education, Teaching and Health, said in a statement.

Read more…

Opening myself up to new therapies to treat stubborn cholesterol, liver function, viral infections, neurological issues and memory loss and I found Patricia Kane PhD who has done some fabulous research on using Phospatidylcholine in I.V. form.  This protocol she has developed uses phosphatidylcholine to stabalize cellular membranes which improve their function then follows with folic acid and glutathione to stabalize DNA and detoxify.

Always willing to try things on myself first…I paired up with an MD and we began I.V. therapy.  I felt a sensation of warmth and could smell the fatty acid but it was painless and after I felt very relaxed and a little more vital.  The research was so well done and the wide variety of conditions it treats will definetely start me on my own research but there just might be a new I.V. therapy available in the new year!

~ Dr. Bridget O'Connell  

Of the tens of thousands of molecules that make up the life of a cell, Phosphatidylcholine (PC) stands apart; it is possibly the most important of all. It is one of four phospholipids that make up the membrane: Choline (PC), Ethanolamine (PE), Serine (PS), and Inositol (PI). The membrane is the structural skin that surrounds the cell as well as the tiny organelles within it. But it is far more than an outside protective layer — it is literally the essence of life. You may damage other parts of the cell, even the nucleus or its DNA, and the cell will still carry on. But damage the membrane and the cell is gone (Lipton 2005).

The membrane is the lining of every nerve cell that carries our signals. It manages the production of energy in the mitochondria for without its double membrane structure there is no separation of electrical charge — no Kreb cycle, and subsequently — no energy. The sheer volume of membrane in the body is mind-bending. The liver alone has ~ 300,000 square feet of membrane. That’s more than 4 football fields; 4.63 to be exact.

It manages all of our senses, but particularly the miracle of sight. The retina of the eye contains 100 million photo-receptor cells, rods and cones. Within each one of those cells are 140 million receivers (peptides) called rhodopsin, all sitting in the membranes of each photo-receptor cell waiting patiently for a portion of light, a photon; which, after capturing one or two, sends a signal back to the brain, on the membrane, giving us the ability to see (Rodieck 1998). This, and much, much more assemble miraculously together to make up the mental and physical structure of each of

us, with the lipid membrane in the center of it all.  

Read More…http://www.bodybio.com/BodyBio/docs/BodyBioBulletin-Phosphatidylcholine.pdf

Medical Age Management is excited to announce the addition of Dr. Bridget O’Connell to our Anti-Aging Medicine practice at Medical Age Management.

Bridget C. O’Connell, N.D. is a board-certified doctor of Naturopathic Medicine.  Dr. O’Connell received her doctorate in naturopathic medicine at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR.  During her time in Oregon, Dr. O'Connell was chosen to complete a year internship in Integrative Cardiopulmonary and Endocrinology at the Center for Natural Medicine.  Dr. O’Connell additionally completed an internship in Chronic Care Management in Community Health and Integrative Women's Health in Portland, OR.  She is an active member of California Naturopathic Doctors Association (CNDA), American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OANP) and the Greater San Diego Business Association (GSDBA).  

As a naturopathic medical doctor, Dr. O’Connell employs the inherent capacity to heal by blending the best of conventional medicine with holistic principles and therapies.  Through a thorough history, physical exam and specialized laboratory testing, the root cause of your health concerns will be discovered allowing for individualized treatments, which work with your body and your lifestyle. 

Stop into Medical Age Management to meet Dr. O’Connell and see how naturopathic medicine can help support your anti-aging goals! 

To see information about BioPharma products such as NanoGreens, NanoPro, NanoReds, or NanoEPA, click HERE.