Acrylamide in the News

New reasons NOT to eat your fries
(and maybe a few other things as well)

     Scientists at the University of Stockholm in Sweden have released research that shows that foods rich in carbohydrates cooked at high temperatures develop alarming levels of Acrylamide. Acrylamide is a chemical that has been classified as a probable human carcinogen.
    
    While some scientists claim that there is no foundation for this claim, others thought it so important that they released this information to the public before having it published in a peer reviewed journal. Acrylamides main use has been in the area of water purification as a coagulant in the treatment of drinking water.

      Short term exposure to this chemical have been listed by the EPA as damage to the nervous system, weakness and incoordination in the legs. Long term exposure – damage to the nervous system, paralysis, and cancer.

      For more information on the types of foods that have been checked for acrylamide, check the FDA web-site at:

Survey Data on Acrylamide in Food: Total Diet Study Results

Quote of the Month:
Stand by your doctor when he’s right, and expose him when he’s wrong.
                                      Mildred Jackson, N.D.

Drug Interactions: Grapefruit

       If you are one of the over 160 million Americans on prescription medicine, the following information may be of the type you can’t live without. During research to explore possible reactions between alcohol and a drug called felodepine (a blood pressure drug), it was found that blood levels of the drug were three times higher than they should have been. Grapefruit was found to be the cause.

    Natural substances found in grapefruit restrict the activity of one of the enzymes produced by the liver (CYP3A). What this means is that  CYP3A isn’t allowed to do its job of breaking down certain chemicals and in turn, blood levels of some drugs are higher and may even stay in the system longer. Another problem with this would be the increased risk of overdose and side effects. If you eat grapefruit the effects may last up to 72 hours.

Some concerns about grapefruit would include:
1)       If you are currently on medication and like to eat grapefruit, do not stop eating grapefruit altogether as blood levels of the medication may decrease. Have your physician monitor blood levels of the drug and adjust your dosage accordingly.
2)       Since grapefruit has this effect on the liver enzyme CYP3A, what effects does the lack of this enzyme have on normal functions within the body?

Some drugs that are known to have interactions with grapefruit

Aids Drugs
Agenerase, viracept, kaletra, norvir, invirase, fortavase.

Antihistamines
Claritin

Calcium Channel Blockers
Plendil, dynacirc, dynacirc cr, cardene, cardene sr, adalat cc, procardia xl, nimotop.

Hormones
Ethinyl estradiol

Immunosupressants
Neoral, sandimmune, rapamune, prograf

Psychiatric Drugs
Buspar, tegretol, valium, versed, serzone, seroquel, halcyon, sonata, anafranil, desyrel

Statins
Lipitor, mevacor, zocor

Steroids
Medrol

Other Drugs
Cordarone, pacerone, viagra

  (This list may not be complete so check with your physician)

Drug Interactions-Grapefruit Sources:
Health and Healing – your definitive Guide to Alternative Health and Anti-Aging Medicine October, 2002, Volume 12, No. 10: Phillips Health, LLC; Potomac , MD.
A-Z guide to drug-herb-vitamin Interactions by Healthnotes, Inc. 1999  

Home Remedies

  Myrrh, when burned as incense, will clear away negative energy. When taken as a tea, it will lift the spirits. Use ½ teaspoon powdered herb to 1 cup boiling water and drink 1-2 cups per day.

  Garlic and Onions are both powerful sedatives that sooth the brain. Use separately or mix together in tea and drink several cups per day.

  Pinkeye can be cleared almost overnight by making a poultice of grated apple and placing over the eyes. Leave on for 20 minutes. Repeat daily if needed.  

Home Remedies Sources:
The Handbook of Alternatives to Chemical Medicine; Mildred Jackson, N.D. and Terri Teague, N.D., D.C.: New World Library; Novato , CA ; 1997  

Chaparral
(Larrea tridentate)

  Some other names that chaparral goes by include Creosote bush, Gobernadora, Greasewood, Hedionilla, and Dwarf Evergreen Oak. It is a medium to large evergreen shrub and has several flexible stems which project at an angle from it’s base. Chaparral is usually about 4 feet tall, but with enough water it can grow to heights of about 12 feet.

    Chaparral is a perennial to zone 9, needs full sun, and can survive without much water. Harvesting is a simple task; just strip the leaves, flowers, seeds, and small twigs and get rid of the woody stems. If using externally, older plants work better for antimicrobial uses. Internally, those that are leafy and green should be used.

      One of its constituents, (N.D.G.A. or nordihydroguariaretic acid) is one of  the most highly antioxidant substances known to man. N.D.G.A. inhibits several enzyme reactions in the body, including lipo oxygenase, which is the culprit in some unhealthy inflammatory and immune system responses. It should be no surprise that it has been used for many things. Tuberculosis, bowel complaints, stomach ulcers, cancers, colds and flu just to name a few. It has also been shown to reduce inflammatory histamine responses in the lungs, so this brings some good news to those who suffer from asthma. Uterine fibroids and fibrocystic breast disease have been helped tremendously with the use of a concentrated extract of chaparral. In cases of capillary fragility, it has been found to be beneficial to the walls of the capillaries all through the body. Liver function can be enhanced with the use of chaparral. It causes the livers metabolism to speed up which improves the livers ability to synthesize fatty acids into high density lipids (HDL…the good cholesterol). In turn the LDL levels decrease. It’s antiviral properties prompted investigation into its ability to inhibit the spl promoter HIV and as an inhibitor of Herpes simplex-1in cell cultures; as well as Kaposi’s sarcoma virus.. Clinical evaluation showed that as an extract in an aloe-based lotion, it was effective in reversing nearly all cases of HSV-1 and shingles within 12-24 hours and in greatly reducing the severity of sores from Kaposi’s sarcoma in people with full blown AIDS. The lotion proved to work faster and more effectively than acyclovir, which is the main drug used for herpes.

  Some warnings:

   Chaparral is being used as a treatment for certain cancerous conditions so the FDA is on the war path about its use. The FDA claims that there have been cases of acute non-viral hepatitis linked to the use of chaparral.  In the 1970’s and 80’s extensive studies were carried out by Dr. Norman Farnsworth, who found the plant to have no hepatoxic properties. Dr. Clark Watt and a group of scientists and doctors concluded after their studies that the hepatoxicity was most likely linked to an allergic reaction rather than “inherent liver toxicity.” With overuse nausea, loss of appetite, gastric pain, and vomiting can occur. It is best to leave the administration of this plant to the professionals who are able to prepare according to proper guidelines.

Chaparral Sources:
The Healing Herbs, Michael Castleman, Rodale Press, 1991; ISBN 0-87857-934-6.
Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West, Michael Moore, Museum of New Mexico Press, 1989; ISBN: 0-89013-182-1
Nutritional Herbology, Mark Pederson, Wendell W. Whitman Co., 1995; ISBN: 1-885653-03-4