Melatonin: More Than a Sleeping Pill 

Benzodiazepines are frequently prescribed to the elderly as a sleeping pill. Although they should only be recommended for six-week treatment intervals, these drugs are routinely prescribed indefinitely. Not only do benzodiazepines produce poor sleep quality, but they also inhibit the body's natural production of melatonin. In one study of benzodiazepine users, melatonin decreased the time they spent awake at night from 63 minutes down to a half-hour. Many of the study participants were able to decrease or even discontinue their need for prescription sleep medication. 

A related study investigated the use of melatonin in diabetic patients. Not only did melatonin improve restful sleep, it also helped to decrease blood sugar measurements. More specifically, those who took melatonin for a 6-month period noted a reduction of the blood marker hemoglobin A1C. Hemoglobin A1C measurements indicate the state of blood-sugar control over a three-month time period. Ideal readings of hemoglobin A1C in diabetic patients ranges between 4.5 and 6.0. 

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Hydrogenated Oils Are Deadly to Blood Vessels and to HDL 

Many of you have probably wandered if it is healthier for you to eat margarine or butter. New research may give us the answer. In a journal published by the American Heart Association, diets high in trans fats such as those in margarine reduced the ability of blood vessels to dilate when compared to diets rich in saturated fats found in butter, animal products, and coconut oil. The trans-fat diet also reduced levels of the good cholesterol (HDL) compared to the saturated fat diet. In addition to margarine, French fries, doughnuts, crackers, cookies, and pastries also tend to be high in trans fats. 

Trans fats are manufactured when hydrogen molecules are added to liquid oils such as corn or soybean to make them solid at room temperature. They are often referred to as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. Read labels on the foods you purchase, and attempt to avoid foods containing such oils.  Processed foods are notoriously high in these unhealthy trans-fatty acids. 

Even though butter may be superior to margarine, it fails when compared to diets rich in unsaturated fats such as canola or olive oil. One caveat for cooking: any unsaturated oil can become unhealthy when heated to extreme temperatures. 

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Have you suffered a heart attack or stroke? If so, it’s essential that you know what  researchers have recently discovered.  According to a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine, risk factors for having a second heart attack and stroke are being inadequately addressed in many patients. Major risk factors include high cholesterol, hypertension, and uncontrolled diabetes. The researchers noted that blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol readings were still too high. These results are troubling in light of the fact that physicians frequently see those who have suffered a heart attack or stroke for follow-up visits and their medical needs are too often neglected. 

The researchers did not state the reason why these high-risk individuals were being inadequately treated. However it is likely that patients do not receive appropriate nutritional counseling, to eat a diet low in saturated fats, rich in Omega-3 fats, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables. It is also likely that these patients may experience side effects from the medications used in "management" of their disease, resulting in a lack of compliance. 

Natural alternatives to medications may offer a solution to this problem, providing safe and effective ways to lower blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. 

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A pilot study at Duke University showed that three tablespoons of ground flaxseed incorporated with a low-fat diet reduced tumor cell proliferation rates and produced higher levels of cancer-cell death in men with prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the number-two cause of cancer death and the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in U.S. men. In 2001 it is estimated that almost 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed, and 31,500 men will die from it. 

Why does flaxseed stop the growth of cancerous prostate cells? There are two reasons. First, flax is rich in the Omega-3 fatty acids, which have proved to prevent both cancer and heart disease. Secondly, flax contains compounds known as lignans. Lignans block the action of testosterone on the prostate gland, impeding the growth of cancer cells. This mechanism is quite similar to that used by prescription hormonal prostate drugs such as Lupron and Zoladex. 

Flaxseed may play an important role in both treatment and prevention of prostate cancer, with some added benefits of providing a good source of fiber and Omega-3 fats. Flax can be sprinkled over yogurt, cereal, or in your favorite juice or shake.  At the Magaziner Center, Doctors Magaziner and Greenberg have had extensive experience in treating prostate cancer with a wide range of nutrients and immune modulators. 

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Every year, 13,000 Americans die from head and neck cancer. These include tumors of the oral cavity, sinuses, nasal cavity, salivary glands, and the voice box, accounting for five percent of all cancers diagnosed each year. Head and neck cancers are considered to be "aggressive," defined by the fact that patients are usually diagnosed in the later stages of the disease. Survival rates have not significantly improved over the past 20 years and are among the lowest when compared to other types of cancer (i.e., breast, prostate, colon). The traditional treatments for head and neck cancer, which include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, have failed to demonstrate improved survival for patients diagnosed with advanced stages of disease. 

While the above-mentioned information appears grim, a vitamin-based therapy may offer patients a greater chance of survival. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center studied 44 patients with head and neck cancer over a two-year period. The results, as published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, showed a promising 98% survival at one-year follow-up, and 91% survival after two years. These survival rates are superior to those shown by patients who receive conventional therapies.  The only side effects from the therapy were mild flu-like symptoms and fatigue. 

The successful vitamin regimen included retinoic acid (a vitamin A derivative), vitamin E, and interferon-alpha. This treatment differs from chemotherapy and radiation in that it stimulates the immune system to fight the tumor rather than attempting to poison it. 

Immune-based therapies are not new, and have been an important part of the program that Doctors Magaziner and Greenberg use when patients are diagnosed with cancer. Immunotherapy has been used and extensively researched in this county as well as abroad. In fact, a derivative of the maitake mushroom used to boost the immune system is the basis for one of the most widely used therapies in Japan. In our experience, a complete nutritional program with immune stimulants has resulted in favorable outcomes and reduced side effects in patients being treated for cancer. Most of our cancer patients note an improved quality of life when nutritional therapies are combined with more traditional treatments. 

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