Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)

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LDN is short for Low Dose Naltrexone.

Naltrexone is a drug that was approved by the FDA in 1985 to treat opiate dependencies. It is marketed under the trade names ‘Revia®’ and ‘Depade®’ and in some countries (including the United States), an extended-release formulation is available as ‘Vivitrol®’. Naltrexone is commonly used at a dose of 50mg–100mg daily for treating opiate dependency.

The term ‘LDN’ refers to the use of Naltrexone at doses below 10mg per day. Naltrexone exhibits novel and paradoxical effects when administered as these low doses, as discovered by Dr. Ian S. Zagon and his team at Hershey Medical Center, Penn State University, in 1980.

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is being used as a regulator of the immune system, providing relief to patients with autoimmune diseases, and central nervous system disorders. Whilst it is not licensed by the FDA specifically for these conditions, physicians are permitted to prescribe LDN ‘off-label’ for treatments they think are appropriate.

The apparently diverse conditions in which LDN appears to have a therapeutic effect are united by their ability to benefit from increased levels of endorphins (naturally occurring opioids – specifically OGF).

For more information, go to https://www.ldnscience.org/

If interested in starting LDN, contact the office at 281-419-1340 or email at info@drbirken.com

Patient’s must start with a low dose and then increase weekly.

Superfoods: Fad or Fact?

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From Medical News Today

What are superfoods?

Currently, there is no set scientific definition for what counts as a superfood. Generally speaking, the term describes foods rich in nutrients and known to offer significant health benefits.

Superfood products are ubiquitous in the wellness world. For example, typing superfood into a well-known e-commerce search engine offers page after page of products branded as superfoods, including coffee creamers, green tea powders, dried fruits, and supplements, some of which are prohibitively expensive.

Companies make millions on labeling these products as superfoods — the global superfoods market size was estimated at $137 billion in 2018 — but do they really live up to the hype?

Many health experts are wary of the term superfood and for good reason. There is no set definition of the word and no regulations surrounding the use of the term on packaging labels.

Because of this, there is no guarantee that a product with the superfood label offers any special health benefits or contains certain nutrients.

Consumers may often think that products with superfood on their label are healthier than other products, which isn’t necessarily true. This could lead to consumers spending money on expensive products marketed as healthy, such as superfood powders, protein bars, and supplements, when they could be receiving more benefits at a lower price by purchasing whole foods such as fruits and vegetables.

What’s more, many superfood products contain proprietary blends of fruit and vegetable powders and don’t disclose how much of each ingredient — or the amount of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants — a serving contains.

The European Union have even banned the use of this term on labels unless accompanied by explicit detailing of the product’s nutritional content.

Some nutritionists have expressed worries that the label superfood might make certain food items seem as if they have almost miraculous effects on health.

For example, in an interview for The Observer in 2007, Catherine Collins — then chief dietician at St George’s Hospital in London, now intensive care unit dietitian at the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust in the United Kingdom — expressed this worry in no uncertain terms.

“The term superfoods is at best meaningless and at worst harmful,” she warned, saying that many people have “wrong ideas” about food items commonly labeled as such.

“Not only is there no scientific definition of a superfood, but the concept itself could be harmful. [Moreover,] [n]ominating some foods as nutritional talismans gives the impression that ordinary, affordable, and everyday foods are somehow deficient.”

– Catherine Collins

Popular superfoods

Many foods are considered superfoods due to their beneficial effects on health and disease prevention.

Most of these are plant-based, but some animal-based foods, such as salmon, have also been given the title.

Nutritionists sometimes label the following foods as superfoods, while they acknowledge there is no accepted definition for the term:

blueberries

kale

goji berries

chia seeds

maca

spirulina

citrus fruits

acai berries

cocoa

ginger

garlic

flaxseeds

chia seeds

chili peppers

pomegranate

wheatgrass

turmeric

green tea

salmon

avocado

cruciferous vegetables

beets

However, this list is by no means exhaustive, and there are many other foods that people often refer to as superfoods.

Are superfoods real?

Even though there is no set definition of superfood, with many health experts skeptical of the term, some foods classified as such have been linked to significant health benefits.

For example, berries, which people often describe as superfoods, have associations with several health benefits. Some studies indicate that berry consumption may have links with improved vascular function and reduced heart disease risk factors. However, further research is recommended to verify these findings.

Diets high in cruciferous vegetables, such as kale, broccoli, and cauliflower, also have links with a lower risk of heart disease and certain cancers.

Meanwhile, garlic has been shown to provide anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-hypertensive effects. And citrus fruits are celebrated for their impressive concentration of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant metabolites, including flavonoids, alkaloids, carotenoids, coumarins, phenolic acids, and essential oils.

It is likely that most foods considered superfoods could benefit health in one way or another.

This is because they are typically a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds, such as polyphenols and carotenoids, known to positively impact health in a number of ways, including reducing inflammation and protecting against cellular damage.

The reason is that carotenoids and polyphenols are antioxidants, which can protect against oxidative stress — an imbalance at the cellular level — which plays a key role in aging processes.

However, some superfoods have been deemed superior to other foods, even though there is no evidence that they are healthier. For example, kale is considered a superfood that many people believe to be healthier or better than other types of vegetables.

Even though kale is indeed healthy and may benefit the body in several ways — including reducing inflammation and potential anti-tumor effects — it does not mean other vegetables are less healthy or that kale is a prerequisite for optimal health.

Many other greens that are not as popular, including watercress, collard greens, purslane, and Swiss chard, are very nutritious and linked with health benefits.

For example, these greens also offer an abundance of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, such as polyphenols and carotenoids, that may help protect against cellular damage.

Studies show that consuming a diet high in foods rich in these compounds, such as watercress and chard, could offer protective effects against health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. They are also high in many vitamins and minerals.

In fact, one study examined vegetables concerning their nutrient concentration and found that watercress, Chinese cabbage, chard, beet greens, spinach, chicory, romaine, mustard greens, and endive all contained higher levels of 17 nutrients, including potassium, calcium, iron, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, zinc, and vitamins A, B6, B12, and C, than kale.

Salmon is another example of a food that could be considered nutritiously superior. It provides a concentrated source of omega-3s and other important nutrients, although other fish, including herring, mackerel, and sardines, are also packed with omega-3s and may be more affordable than salmon.

However, this does not mean that foods commonly branded as superfoods are not important for health. It merely suggests that many other foods offer a similar nutritional value but are not as popular as heavily-marketed superfoods.

Your entire diet matters

Even though so much attention is given to specific foods, such as superfoods, humans cannot survive on any one food.

We consume a varied diet comprising a variety of foods, some that contain more nutrients or different types of nutrients than others. For this reason, the totality of the diet, not the inclusion of a single food, is what matters when discussing health.

If your diet contains some superfoods but mostly consists of ultra-processed foods, such as fast food and foods high in added sugar, the benefits from superfoods are likely to be outweighed by the potential negative effects of the ultra-processed foods.

Alternatively, if your diet mostly consists of whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, eggs, spices, herbs, and fish and contains a limited amount of processed foods, these choices are likely to promote health and offer some protection from disease, even if none of them are considered superfoods.

These foods contain the nutrients the body needs to function optimally. Diets low in ultra-processed foods and high in whole foods have been consistently linked to lower disease risk and longer lifespan.

In addition, diet is only one piece of the large puzzle that makes up overall health. Other factors, including physical activity, sleep, stress, and genetics, must also be considered.

Lack of sleep, sedentary lifestyle, and psychological distress are all associated with a heightened risk of disease and early death. Genetic susceptibility may also increase the likelihood of developing certain health conditions.

So, while consuming a diet rich in products considered superfoods is likely to benefit overall health, it is more important to focus on the overall quality of your diet.

Medical Myths About Heart Disease

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From Medical News Today

1. Young people do not need to worry about heart disease

It is true that heart disease is more likely to affect people over the age of 65, but 4–10% of heart attacks occur in people under the age of 45 years, mainly in men. In addition, it is how we live our lives as children, adolescents, and adults that lays the groundwork for heart health as we age.

For instance, eating a diet that is high in trans and saturated fats or smoking tobacco slowly increases the risk of heart disease as we age. Changes to lifestyle today build the foundation for a healthier heart in later life.

In the U.S. as a whole, heart disease mortality has slowly dropped since the 1970s, although the trend seems to be slowing. However, in some regions, rates have increased.

One study that investigated heart disease mortality in different age groups in the U.S. found that “over 50% of counties [experienced] increases in heart disease mortality from 2010 through 2015 among adults aged 35–64 years.”

2. People should avoid exercise if they have heart disease

This is a myth. Exercise helps strengthen the heart muscle and improve blood flow around the body.

In August 2020, the European Society of Cardiology published guidelines on exercise in patients with cardiovascular disease. Prof. Sanjay Sharma, who was involved in creating the guidelines, explains:

“The chance of exercise triggering a cardiac arrest or heart attack is extremely low.” However, he also adds a note of caution: “People who are completely inactive and those with advanced heart disease should consult their doctor before taking up sports.”

3. I take cholesterol-lowering drugs, so I can eat whatever I like

Some drugs, such as statins, reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood. However, this does not mean that a person who is taking statins can consume foods containing saturated fats with abandon.

Cholesterol is either consumed in the food that you eat or produced in the liver. Statins block an enzyme in the liver that is necessary for producing cholesterol, reducing overall blood cholesterol levels. However, this means that ingested cholesterol can still make it into the blood.

In short, statins may just be able to override the adverse effects of a poor diet, but a poor diet will increase risk of other independent risk factors for heart disease, such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.

4. Heart disease runs in my family, so there is nothing I can do to stop it

If close family members have experienced heart disease, it could mean that you have an increased risk. However, it is not set in stone, and there are a number of ways to reduce the risk, even for people with a genetic susceptibility.

These include eating a healthful diet, stopping smoking, managing blood pressure, and exercising regularly.

It is also worth noting that if heart disease runs in the family, it may not be a sign of genetic susceptibility. Families tend to share lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise habits, both of which can impact the risk of heart disease.

5. Vitamins can prevent heart disease

Although most vitamins, taken at the recommended doses, are unlikely to be bad for heart health, there is no evidence that taking any vitamin supplements can reduce the risk of heart disease. And they certainly cannot replace a healthful diet and regular exercise.

For instance, a systematic review and meta-analysis looked for associations between multivitamin and mineral supplements and a number of cardiovascular outcomes, including coronary heart disease and stroke.

The analysis, published in 2018, took data from 18 existing studies, including 2,019,862 participants.

The authors concluded that multivitamin and mineral “supplementation does not improve cardiovascular outcomes in the general population.”

According to Victoria Taylor, the nutrition lead at the British Heart Foundation: “There are no shortcuts when it comes to nutrition — supplements are not a replacement for healthy food. You might be prescribed a vitamin or mineral supplement by a health professional for other reasons, but we do not recommend people take multivitamins to help prevent heart and circulatory diseases.”

6. I have smoked for years, there is no point stopping now

This is a myth. Smoking tobacco is a major cause of heart disease. As soon as a person stops smoking, the health benefits begin. The National Institute on Aging write:

“It doesn’t matter how old you are or how long you’ve been smoking, quitting smoking at any time improves your health. When you quit, you are likely to add years to your life, breathe more easily, have more energy, and save money.”

They also explain that you will lower the risk of heart attack and stroke and have better circulation.

7. Heart disease only really affects men

This is a myth, as heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women. In 2017 in the U.S., 24.2% of men and 21.8% of women died from heart disease.

However, when strokes, which have similar risk factors, are added in, the figures are even more similar between men and women: 28.7% of men and 28% of women died from heart disease or stroke.

It is a common misconception that only men are affected by heart disease. It is true that men tend to develop cardiovascular disease at an earlier age than women and have a greater risk of coronary heart disease. However, women have a higher risk of stroke.

One paper explains, “Although the incidence of [cardiovascular disease] in women is usually lower than in men, women have a higher mortality and worse prognosis after acute cardiovascular events.”

8. Cardiac arrest and heart attack are the same

Heart attacks and cardiac arrests are not the same thing. A heart attack is a circulation problem. It occurs when the coronary artery, which carries oxygenated blood to the muscles of the heart, becomes blocked.

A cardiac arrest is an “electrical problem,” where the heart stops pumping blood around the body effectively. Cardiac arrests are often caused by a heart attack.

During a heart attack, an individual is likely to be conscious. During a cardiac arrest, they are almost always unconscious. Both are a medical emergency.

9. Coughing during a heart attack can save your life

According to some sources, coughing vigorously during a heart attack — so-called cough CPR — can save your life.

This is an internet distortion of a paper published over 40 years ago, which showed that patients who had a cardiac arrest during arteriography in hospital and who coughed every 1–3 seconds stayed conscious for an additional 39 seconds.

There is no evidence that this technique works in the community for heart attacks that are not induced by medical procedures.

According to Christopher Allen, a senior cardiac nurse:

“The absolute priority when you think you or someone else is having a heart attack is to call [the emergency services]. This way, paramedics can assess and aid you, and you’ll get to hospital as fast as possible. There is no medical evidence to support ‘cough CPR.’”

10. People with heart disease should avoid eating all fat

A person with cardiovascular disease certainly should reduce their intake of saturated fats — which are found in foods such as butter, biscuits, bacon, and sausages — and partially hydrogenated and trans fats, which are found in foods such as baked goods, frozen pizzas, and microwave popcorn.

However, unsaturated fats can provide benefits. For instance, there is some evidence that omega-3, which is a polyunsaturated fat, might protect heart health.

The American Heart Association recommend “that all adults eat fish (particularly fatty fish) at least 2 times a week. Fish is a good source of protein and is low in saturated fat. Fish, especially oily species like mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and salmon, provide significant amounts of the two kinds of omega-3 fatty acids shown to be cardioprotective, [eicosapentaenoic acid] and [docosahexaenoic acid].”

They also recommend eating plant-derived omega-3 fatty acids. These can be found in tofu and other forms of soybeans; walnuts, flaxseeds, and their oils; and canola oil.

Dr. Birken does support a low carb diet as well as taking Arterosil which can reduce plaque formation.