In the 19th Century, colloidal silver gained popularity, with silver being used in various forms to combat infections and promote health. During this time, silver nitrate and silver compounds were commonly used for their antimicrobial properties, both topically and internally. At this time, there were fewer antibiotics available, so silver was seen as a potential treatment for a range of infections.
Flash forward a century later, and colloidal silver experienced a resurgence in popularity, driven in part by alternative medicine advocates who promoted it as a dietary supplement for various health benefits.
The health benefits of colloidal silver include:
As with any nutritional product, if you're considering using colloidal silver for any health condition, it's essential to consult with a healthcare professional.
If your body doesn’t get enough, or gets too much, of any of the critical nutrients, you increase your risk of disease or other medical problems. For this reason, minerals can have a significant impact on blood pressure, weight management, cancer prevention, depression, pain, PMS and digestion, to name a few.
Sodium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur and calcium are minerals we are probably more familiar with. But “trace” minerals are also important, though we need them in much smaller amounts. Trace minerals include iron, chromium, copper, zinc, iodine, manganese and selenium.
Trace minerals have essential functions including:
But the question remains— how do we get these elements in our bodies? One option is to go eat some rocks. The other safer, normal option is to eat the right food or supplements. Plants bring up minerals from the soil to help build complex molecules they need for growth, respiration and photosynthesis. So we get minerals when we eat those plants, or when we eat animals who’ve eaten those plants.
]]>They are THAT critical to your body’s daily functioning.
If your body doesn’t get enough, or gets too much, of any of the critical nutrients, you increase your risk of disease or other medical problems. For this reason, minerals can have a significant impact on blood pressure, weight management, cancer prevention, depression, pain, PMS and digestion, to name a few.
Sodium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur and calcium are minerals we are probably more familiar with. But it’s the TRACE minerals (and ionic trace minerals) that help our body perform at its best.
And there are a number of factors that contribute to your body not getting enough of these minerals:
While it is rare to encounter severe trace mineral deficiency in the Western World, mild to moderate deficiencies are common and may lead to general often less clearly recognized symptoms such as fatigue, slow metabolism, decreased immune system, and decreased mental capacities.
What are the trace minerals that the government has highlighted as ‘essential’ minerals needed by the body to perform its tasks? Iron, chromium, copper, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus and selenium.
Here are the Recommended Daily Intakes for the most important trace minerals ( from the National Institutes of Health):
Although a healthy diet does usually provide adequate trace minerals in the body, it is notable that strict vegetarian diets, strenuous exercise, pregnancy, gastrointestinal diseases and malabsorption issues can all contribute to trace mineral deficiencies.
]]>Some essential trace minerals include:
Iron: Iron is essential for the formation of hemoglobin in red blood cells, which carries oxygen to various tissues and organs. It also plays a role in energy production and immune function.
Zinc: Zinc is involved in numerous enzymatic reactions in the body and is necessary for normal growth, immune function, wound healing, and reproductive health. It also supports the senses of taste and smell.
Copper: Copper is important for the formation of red blood cells, connective tissues, and the production of energy. It also acts as an antioxidant and supports the function of the nervous system.
Selenium: Selenium is a potent antioxidant and plays a crucial role in the function of the thyroid gland. It supports immune function and helps protect against oxidative damage.
Manganese: Manganese is involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, cholesterol, and amino acids. It also plays a role in bone formation, wound healing, and antioxidant defense.
Chromium: Chromium is involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, helping to regulate blood sugar levels. It also supports insulin function and may have a role in weight management.
Iodine: Iodine is necessary for the production of thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism and support growth and development. It is particularly important for proper brain development in infants and children.
Supplementing the body with essential trace minerals can provide several benefits, including:
Improved nutrient absorption: Trace minerals are often required for optimal absorption and utilization of other nutrients in the body. Supplementing with these minerals can enhance nutrient uptake and utilization.
Enhanced immune function: Many trace minerals play vital roles in supporting immune function, helping to defend against infections and promote overall immune health.
Increased energy production: Trace minerals are involved in various metabolic processes, including the production of energy. Supplementing with these minerals can support energy production and combat fatigue.
Antioxidant protection: Several trace minerals act as antioxidants, helping to neutralize harmful free radicals and protect cells from oxidative damage.
Support for specific functions: Each trace mineral has specific functions in the body. By supplementing with these minerals, you can support their respective functions and maintain optimal health in various systems, such as the circulatory, nervous, and endocrine systems.
While trace mineral supplements can be beneficial, it's important to note that they should be taken in moderation and as recommended by healthcare professionals. A balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrient-rich foods is the best way to ensure adequate intake of essential trace minerals and overall nutritional needs (supplements can help provide numerous essential minerals your body is not able to get from your diet.)
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However, several factors can contribute to why you may not be getting all the trace minerals your body needs like malabsorption, poor diet, bowel/digetive issues, and even where you live (bad soil creating poorer quality foods).
Below are a list of trace minerals, their functions, and common foods that they can be found contain them.
Trace Minerals:
For centuries, chaga has been used as a traditional medicine in Russia and other Northern European countries, mainly to boost immunity and overall health – popularly grated into a fine powder and brewed as an herbal tea. It has also been used to treat diabetes, certain cancers and heart disease.
While research is continually being done on this fungi, many health benefits have been shown:
Considered the “king of medicinal mushrooms,” Chaga is one of the most nutrient-packed mushrooms on the market, including (but not limited to):
Chaga also has one of the highest antioxidant (ORAC) scores. With such high levels of nutrients and antioxidants, Chaga doesn’t just help the body fight harmful free radicals and oxidative stress, naturally occurring polysaccharides (known as beta-glucans) help the body’s immune system modulate. When it’s overreacting, it calms it down; when it’s underperforming, it gives it a boost.
]]>Considered the smart mushroom because of its ability to improve memory, focus and clarity, research shows that Lion’s Mane mushroom can boost immunity by increasing the activity of the intestinal immune system, which protects the body from pathogens that enter the gut through the mouth or nose. These effects are believed to be due to changes in gut bacteria that stimulate the immune system.
In addition to superior immune defense, some of the other promising ongoing research on Lion’s Mane includes:
According to Healthline.com many benefits have been associated with the use of Lion’s Mane mushroom including protection against dementia, reducind mild symptoms of anxiety and depression, and help repair nerve damage. It’s also been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-boosting abilities and to lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, ulcers, and diabetes in animals. While the current research is promising, more studies involving humans are needed to develop practical health applications for lion’s mane mushrooms.
]]>A recent study of nearly 5,000 Japanese people with type 2 diabetes showed that those who drank green tea had a reduced risk of early death, and the more tea they drank, the greater the benefit. Participants who drank four or more cups of green tea per day lowered their risk of dying early by 40%, and even those who drank less still saw some reduced risk. The study also showed that participants who drank four or more cups of green tea along with two or more cups of coffee saw a 63% lower risk of early death.
In animal studies, green tea extract has been shown to protect against carcinogens that could lead to intestinal, lung, liver, prostate, and breast cancer. In human studies, evidence of the anticancer effects of green tea has been inconsistent, though in one study, postmenopausal women who drank two or more cups of green tea per day had a lower incidence of digestive and urinary tract cancers than those who drank less green tea. Green tea benefits for women also may extend to lower risk of gynecological cancers. Some studies have found an association between drinking green tea and a reduced risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers.
The flavanols found in green tea are commonly called catechins, which have been shown to provide protection against heart disease. In animal studies, catechins have been shown to provide a boost in antioxidant activity as well as modify lipid metabolism, which means catechins interfere with the way the body absorbs lipids, including cholesterol.
The polyphenols and antioxidants in green tea have benefits to help fight against aging and skin damage. Inflammation, photodamage and oxidative stress all contribute to factors that make skin appear older. But green tea polyphenols and antioxidants have been shown to prevent carcinogenic activity of ultraviolet light radiation as well as photoaging, which refers to those wrinkles and spots that appear as we age.
Not only can green tea influence your mood, it may also have benefits for mental function, including improved memory, increased alertness, and reduced anxiety. Scientists think the caffeine in green tea plays a role in these positive effects.
]]>Let’s turn our attention to two of the most popular mushrooms Reishi and Shiitake and some of the more recent studies on their heart-healthy benefits.
Reshi Mushrooms
In addition to its effects on the immune system and quality of life, reishi mushroom has been studied for its potential to improve other heart health.
One 12-week study of 26 people showed that reishi mushroom may increase “good” HDL cholesterol and decrease triglycerides.
However, other research in healthy adults showed no improvement in these heart disease risk factors.
Moreover, a large analysis demonstrated no beneficial effects for heart health after examining five different studies containing around 400 people. The researchers found that consuming reishi mushroom for up to 16 weeks did not improve cholesterol.
Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms contain compounds called statins. These compounds are one of the most prescribed types of pharmaceuticals for lowering blood cholesterol levels. But you can get them naturally by eating mushrooms!
Medicinal mushrooms specifically target the “bad” or LDL cholesterol in your bodies and also improve your “good” or HDL cholesterol levels.
They also lower inflammation which is a major cause of arteries hardening. Mushrooms contain phytonutrients that stop cells from sticking to blood vessel walls and forming a buildup known as plaque (referred to medically as atherosclerosis.)
Both LDL cholesterol and plaques and hardening of the arteries are major risk factors when it comes to heart attacks, stroke, and other forms of heart disease.
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These compounds fight inflammation, destroy infectious microbes, slow down aging, and even help regenerate nerve cells.
Most of all, mushrooms are immune powerhouses. They strengthen your immune system when it’s too weak and downregulate it when it’s too active—such as with autoimmune issues.
This is particularly important to realize because our immune system needs more help than ever. The rates of autoimmune disease are at an all-time high and steadily increasing.
Mushrooms are one of the best ways to give our immune system a helping hand. But not any mushroom will do the trick.
Here are four of the most effective immune-regulating mushrooms:
Turkey Tail Mushroom
The turkey tail mushroom is one of the most studied medicinal mushrooms due to its ability to fight disease and bolster your immune system.
This amazing mushroom contains bioactive compounds called beta-glucans. When consumed, beta-glucans can stimulate the immune system by enhancing macrophage and natural killer cell function—two types of cells that play an important role in your immune system.
Studies also suggest that beta-glucans can help the immune system slow the growth of tumors and protect your body from the effects of cancer-causing compounds. One NIH-funded study in 2011 even showed improved immune response in breast cancer patients.
Turkey tail also contains prebiotics which feed the good bacteria in your gut, supporting overall immunity. Since turkey tail is so effective at enhancing the immune system, many people consume it during the cold and flu season.
Maitake Mushroom
Maitake mushrooms are most commonly known as “hen of the woods” by mushroom foraging communities because it resembles the fluffed tail feathers of a nesting hen.
Like turkey tail mushrooms, maitake contains beta-glucans that support macrophage and natural killer cell activity. Research also suggests that maitake can support healthy blood sugar.
They’re a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins B & C, and several minerals. Maitake mushrooms are highly sought after for both their delicious flavor and immune-regulating effects.
Shiitake Mushroom
Shiitake mushrooms are a common staple of Asian cuisine. They have a meaty, yet versatile flavor.
Animal studies indicate that shiitake mushrooms can fight obesity and support a healthy heart. And human studies show it may significantly improve your immune system.
Specifically, the American College of Nutrition found that shiitake mushrooms can improve the efficiency of the immune system, improve gut immunity, and decrease inflammation.
And lab tests on human cell lines show shiitake mushrooms can prevent malignant tumor growth. It does this by signaling tumor cells to lyse (burst) in a process called apoptosis.
Lastly, shiitake mushrooms may have potent antimicrobial properties, making it an effective natural antibiotic. What makes them even more amazing is that a study showed it only killed disease-causing (pathogenic) microbes, leaving beneficial bacteria unharmed. On the contrary, prescription antibiotics kill off both beneficial and bad bacteria in your body.
Cordyceps Mushroom
Cordyceps mushrooms are well-known among professional athletes for their ability to improve physical performance and energy levels. But what most people don’t realize is, cordyceps can also benefit your immune system.
According to a publication in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, cordyceps can help improve your body’s innate immunity.
Cordyceps is so effective in modulating immunity it has even shown benefits in studies on those with moderate to severe asthma.
Evidence also suggests that cordyceps can help autoimmune issues and decrease the number of harmful bacteria in the gut. This is a perfect example of how mushrooms can balance out your immune system.
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The immune system is our body's armor against these invaders. However, it seems every day scientists discover hundreds of germs, bacteria, chemicals and pollutants that we come in contact with in our daily activities that contribute to, according to experts, a growing number of health threats and concerns. Continual exposures to these viruses, pollutants, bacteria and toxins may cause the body's defenses to be defenseless.
We need to minimize our exposure or help our body battle this burden.
Buy It Now
1. Cut Back on Sugar
High in fructose and linked to health challenges like obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, sugar is linked to belly fat. And don’t be fooled by seemingly healthy fruit juices—they’re often filled with not just sugar, but empty calories and artificial sweeteners and flavors too!
2. Increase Protein Consumption
High in vitamins and nutrients, protein not only helps build muscle and boost metabolism, a high-protein diet helps decrease belly fat.
3. Get More Sleep
While sleeping does not fuel your body, it does provide nutrition for your brain and keeps your metabolism in working order to help you lose weight.
4. Cut Back on Alcohol
They call it a “beer belly" for a reason. Like many unhealthy beverages, alcohol is filled with sugar—so much so, that it can slow your metabolism and contribute to ‘stubborn to lose’ belly fat.
5. Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals
Not only does this train your metabolism into burning fat more frequently and more efficiently, it can also help you lose weight faster.
6. Reduce Your Stress Levels
Stress has been shown to be a contributing factor in weight gain. The potential for overeating or emotional eating is often associated with stress. Stress produces the hormone cortisol which can directly interfere with weight loss. Excess cortisol stimulates glucose production. This excess glucose is then typically converted into fat, which gets stored in your body.
7. Take Out the Trash
Give your weight loss efforts a fighting chance by removing heavy metals, undigested fats, carbs and other additives that your body cannot recognize much less process that have been accumulating along your digestive tract as stubborn, hard to lose belly fat.
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At first glance, these may appear to be foreign herbal products; however, they have become more widely known throughout the globe in recent years. Mushrooms naturally contain a high level of polysaccharides including beta glucans, which provide some of the immune support we see in Defend. These compounds increase the production of immune cells including phagocytes, lymphocytes, NK cells, and cytokines. In fact, this particular blend of mushrooms has been shown to activate all 260 classes of immune cells.
When developing this complex mushroom blend, researchers discovered that when dealing with the immune system, it is often necessary to utilize more than one compound to fight infections. This is because of the rapid adjustment viruses and bacteria are able to make in their reproductive process. They are able to adjust their genetics to become new strains of infection that can bypass immunities. Therefore, by supplementing the immune system with more than one ingredient, Defend provides a more complex weapon to fight these brilliant invaders.
May seem like an unfamiliar botanical name; however, it is one of the most commonly consumed mushrooms in East Asia. Referred to by its common name, the shiitake mushroom can now be found in most markets throughout the West as well. It is used in Asian cooking in both its fresh and dried forms and is readily seen in the commonly consumed Japanese miso soup.
Known as the maitake mushroom, is used readily as a medicinal plant in Asia, yet it is grown prolifically in the northeastern United States as well. This mushroom grows for many years in the same place, allowing its fruiting body to cluster, in some cases growing up to one hundred pounds. It, too, is edible when young, becoming inedible over time simply due to the hard exterior that occurs with age.
The reishi mushroom, has been a medicinal remedy in China for more than 2,000 years. It is known there as the lingzhi mushroom and is also a polypore mushroom, meaning that it releases its spores through fine pores, not through gills. Although edible, this mushroom is highly bitter, and is usually administered as an extracted product in capsule or powder form. In addition to its immunologic properties, reishi is also highly valued as an anti-allergen, showing positive effects against asthma and contact dermatitis.
Sometimes referred to as the caterpillar mushroom due to the method in which is grows in the wild. This fungus germinates inside the living larva of ghost moths, kills and mummifies the larva, and then the fruiting body emerges from the dead larva. Although it has a very strange life cycle, this fungus has been prized for over 2,000 years in Tibet and Nepal for its medicinal benefits, including lung and kidney health, anti-aging, cancer, and even erectile dysfunction.
The mushroom complex included in Defend is a 100% USDA-certified organic, certified kosher, non-GMO blend of these mushrooms cultivated in a biotech lab to insure no contamination occurs and only the highest quality product is produced. This blend has been refined physically to reduce the particle size of the product without negating or removing any of the beneficial compounds. Through this non-destructive process, developers are able to achieve a miniscule particle size, which allows for the improved bioavailability of the product when it enters the digestive system.
While eating whole mushrooms delivers the compounds found in Defend, albeit at much lower doses than this concentrated form, it takes significantly longer for these beneficial compounds to be broken down in the digestive system and absorbed into the body. By processing the material before it is consumed, these mushrooms are more readily digested, providing a more immediate immune response. This small micron size also allows it to dissolve more easily when mixed with water, making for an easy to consume beverage.
]]>Clinoptilolite is an aluminum silicate of natural origin; the microporous structure and the net negative charge of its crystal lattice allows for adsorption of ions, toxins, inflammatory mediators, and some microorganisms.
Two preparations of clinoptilolite were studied: a standard powder (GHC1, with a size of 3.6 µm) and a microparticulate fraction (GHC2) with a size 0.39 µm. These were examined for their ability to accelerate the recovery of mice from induced intestinal inflammation. Efficacy of clinoptilolite preparations was investigated by administering DSS-treated mice twice daily with 30 mg GHC2 or GHC1 for 5 consecutive days, followed by 5 days of recovery without DSS. To explore the safety of the microparticulate preparation (GHC2), mice were subjected to 4 cycles of DSS-exposure.
Treatment of mice with GHC2 was superior to GHC1 and as effective as the reference compound 5-aminosalicylic acid in ameliorating the damage induced by the exposure to DSS. In addition, no clinoptilolite particle was observed in the intestinal epithelial layer, gut-associated lymph follicles, or in the liver.
To review the original study, click here.
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The severity of osteoporosis in humans manifests in its high incidence and by its complications that diminish quality of life. A societal consequence of osteoporosis is the substantial burden that it inflicts upon patients and their families.
Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are common chronic diseases that reduce quality of life and carry a substantial financial burden. Despite pharmacological advances, the burden of osteoporosis remains problematic and current pharmacotherapies often come with adverse side effects.
Here, we present an innovative and cost-effective approach for treating osteoporosis based on studies with an animal model of osteoporosis and a first in human clinical trial. The approach takes advantage of properties exhibited by zeolites, particularly Panaceo Micro Activation (PMA)-clinoptilolite, a surface modified zeolite with ion exchange properties. Intervention of osteoporotic animals and patients with PMA-zeolite-clinoptilolite yielded sufficient beneficial markers of bone formation and maintenance of bone integrity to warrant further evaluation of this compound, alone or in combination with a current therapy, for the treatment of osteoporosis.
To view the original study, [Treatment of osteoporosis with a modified zeolite shows beneficial effects in an osteoporotic rat model and a human clinical trial], click here.
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In fact, it’s the first things most health can provides consider and try and rule out once a new illness or condition has surfaced.
This shifts in climate directly impact and challenge they health of many of our key systems including our immune / musculoskeletal system.
When temperatures rise, people have tendency to wear too few layers to stay cool. That can affect their immune response and can trigger upper respiratory infections. Wear light, layered clothes to avoid issues with fluctuating temperatures.
Air systems struggle to keep up with the demands for cooler climate. And if your filters haven’t been changed in more than six months, they are likely blowing dust, mold and mildew-ridden air on you and your family while you are at home or work.
Cold air (including air conditioning) can trigger seasonal asthma or bronchitis. People who have these conditions should be prepared to use an inhaler seasonally to avoid severe and chronic coughing episodes.
When the weather warms up, people are eager to head outdoors. But being extremely active on muscles and joints that have been hibernating during the cold winter months can lead to injuries.
]]>Click here to link to full study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5165155/
]]>According to regional lore, Agaricus blazei was first believed to have medicinal properties when outsiders noted that the people of Piedade rainforest of Brazil, who consumed the mushroom as part of their diet, had lower rates of aging-related disorders like cancer and heart disease.
]]>Reishi mushroom is a powerful stimulant that helps regulate the Th1 aspect. Further, it also works to suppress various inflammatory compounds in the body (such as prostaglandins) and works to inhibit histamine release.
]]>When looking at zeolites, we use the 4 P’s: Purity, Particle, Power and Proven to separate the NCD zeolite from its would-be imitators.
In their natural state, zeolites do what nature intended—they soak up toxins from the environment around them. Using zeolites in this state would be ineffective for human use, since it is already “FULL” of toxins. For that reason, the zeolite needs to be properly cleaned (or activated). Only NCD undergoes a stringent activation process, in a strictly controlled laboratory environment, to “clean” the zeolite, so it can safely and effectively trap and remove heavy metals and toxins from the body.
When it comes to effectiveness, few attributes are as important as the particle size. In this case, the smaller the better. Why? The zeolite particle (cage) must be small enough to travel through your body to help collect and trap toxins. While many try to replicate NCD's exclusive zeolite formula, it is the micronization process that sets NCD apart from the rest. Not only is NCD’s zeolite cage cleaned and activated to remove toxins that exist in the mineral’s natural state, it is filtered and micronized to less than 3 microns.
The miracle of the zeolite, is its powerful negative charge. This allows it to be effective in attracting positively charged toxins. The negatively charged mineral draws (and traps) positively charged toxins into its cage and eliminates them from the body— safely, gently and naturally. But just like zeolites, not all charges are created equal. Most zeolites on the market do not go though such a rigorous, multi-step cation exchange process, which enhances and sets apart the attraction power of NCD. This process is key to the power of the zeolite’s charge and the effectiveness of trapping toxins and heavy metals in its cage.*
Nothing says proven like a published study or individual results—and unlike the imitators, Waiora has both. The subject of several peer-reviewed, clinical studies including:
These elements—Purity, Particle, Power and Proven—combine to create the most revolutionary, most effective, natural detoxifing solution on the market today—Natural Cellular Defense.*
DO NOT take your health or safety for granted. Stick with the only solution proven safe and effective, Natural Cellular Defense.*
]]>The 2004 study, published in the Journal of International Medical Research, showed that when elderberry extract is used within 48 hours of the onset of the influenza A or B virus, it shortens the duration of flu symptoms by an average of four days.
Patients received 15 ml of elderberry syrup four times a day for 5 days.
In a 2009 study, published in the Online Journal of Pharmacology, H1N1 and avian flu patients were given four 175-milligram doses of elderberry extract daily.
While a group of patients receiving a placebo showed no improvement or worsening symptoms, those who received the extract “showed significant improvement within 24 hours.”
Fever, headache, muscle ache and nasal congestion were significantly reduced within 24 hours.
“Within 48 hours of treatment, nearly 90% of the elderberry extract treated patients were either symptom free or had only mild symptoms,” the researchers wrote.
A 2016 study, published in Nutrients, showed elderberry can reduce the duration and symptoms of a cold in air travelers.
Travelers using this herb from 10 days before travel until four to five days after arriving overseas experienced on average a two-day shorter duration of their colds and also a significant reduction in cold symptoms.
]]>When we eat a meal containing fat, our liver begins to produce bile, a liquid comprised of acids, cholesterol, lecithin and substances filtered from your blood (i.e., drugs, toxins, fats and fat-soluble waste).
Because bile re-enters the bloodstream in constituent parts, it breaks down, is re-filtered and reabsorbed, gets more toxic, and is secreted into the small intestine.
As long as you have adequate fiber in your diet, this doesn’t pose a problem for your body. That fiber forms a tight bond with the bile in the intestine, binding up all the harmful toxins, cholesterol and fat that it contains. Since the soluble fiber cannot be absorbed by the intestinal wall, neither can the bile attached to it. This fiber-bound bile ultimately leaves the body in a bowel movement (like taking out the trash), with its load of toxins, cholesterol and fat in tow.
]]>The zeolite in the Natural Cellular Defense (NCD) attracts and traps small, highly‐charged particles that fit into the pores and channels of the zeolite cage.
The SiO4 units are electrically neutral, but each AlO4 unit carries a negative charge, creating fixed, negatively charged sites throughout the crystal structure. The negative charges of the AlO4 units are balanced by the presence of exchangeable, positively charged metals known as cations (pronounced “CAT‐ ons”). These cations usually consist of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and iron. These ions are only loosely held and can be readily displaced by other substances, such as toxic heavy metals.
This phenomenon is known as cationic exchange, and it is the very high cationic exchange capacity of zeolites which provides for many of their useful properties. In their chemical makeup, zeolites are a lot like clay, in that they are both made up of aluminum, silica and oxygen. However, there is an important difference in their structure.
Many types of clay have a layered crystalline structure (similar to a deck of cards) and are subject to shrinking and swelling as water is absorbed and removed between the layers. In contrast, zeolites have a rigid, 3‐dimensional crystalline structure (similar to a honeycomb) consisting of a network of interconnected tunnels and cages. Water moves freely in and out of these pores but the zeolite’s framework remains rigid. Another special aspect of this structure is that the pore and channel sizes are nearly uniform, allowing the crystal to act as a molecular sieve.
Whereas most chelating agents used for detoxification are non‐specific, only relying on charge for binding potential, the clinoptilolite seems to be highly specific for the toxic heavy metals. Research has shown that the smaller the diameter of the metal and the higher the charge of the metal, the greater the affinity it has for the activated liquid zeolite. Higher charges simply increase the strength of binding with higher binding characteristics.
The arsenic binds with very high affinity for the zeolite while the potassium has no affinity whatsoever. It just so happens that the most toxic metals are those with a small radius and high ionic charges. The healthy minerals and electrolytes tend to have larger size with smaller ionic charges. The clinoptilolite binds a variety of toxins. This includes heavy metals (Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, etc..), nitrosamines and others. Cationic exchange is an entirely passive process – when the zeolite is in close proximity to these high‐affinity compounds, they will be drawn to the zeolite and either absorbed into the cage or adsorbed onto the surface of the zeolite. There is no chemical activity in this process. The zeolite will not be drawn to compounds in an effort to 'rip' metals away from them. In other words, the zeolite will not pull metals that are sequestered inside tissue or bone. If, on the other hand, the tissue has already released free metals into the system, the zeolite will have the ability to trap and remove it.
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The zeolite in the Natural Cellular Defense (NCD) attracts and traps small, highly charged particles that fit into the pores and channels of the zeolite cage.
The SiO4 units are electrically neutral, but each AlO4 unit carries a negative charge, creating fixed, negatively charged sites throughout the crystal structure. The negative charges of the AlO4 units are balanced by the presence of exchangeable, positively charged metals known as cations (pronounced “CAT‐ ī - uhnz”). These cations usually consist of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and iron. These ions are only loosely held and can be readily displaced by other substances, such as toxic heavy metals.
This phenomenon is known as cationic exchange, and it is the very high cationic exchange capacity of zeolites which provides for many of their useful properties. In their chemical makeup, zeolites are a lot like clay, in that they are both made up of aluminum, silica and oxygen. However, there is an important difference in their structure.
Many types of clay have a layered crystalline structure (similar to a deck of cards) and are subject to shrinking and swelling as water is absorbed and removed between the layers. In contrast, zeolites have a rigid, 3‐dimensional crystalline structure (similar to a honeycomb) consisting of a network of interconnected tunnels and cages. Water moves freely in and out of these pores, but the zeolite’s framework remains rigid. Another special aspect of this structure is that the pore and channel sizes are nearly uniform, allowing the crystal to act as a molecular sieve.
Whereas most chelating agents used for detoxification are non‐specific, only relying on charge for binding potential, the clinoptilolite seems to be highly specific for the toxic heavy metals. Research has shown that the smaller the diameter of the metal and the higher the charge of the metal, the greater the affinity it has for the activated liquid zeolite. Higher charges simply increase the strength of binding with higher binding characteristics. The small size allows for deeper access into the zeolite pores with more points of coordination (attachment).
Larger atoms do not fit into the zeolite cage as well and so are more easily exchanged for higher‐affinity metals. As an example of this phenomenon, arsenic has a charge of +3 and an atomic radius of approximately 1.8 angstroms, while potassium has a charge of only +1 and an atomic radius of approximately 2.8 angstroms.
The arsenic binds with very high affinity for the zeolite while the potassium has no affinity whatsoever. It just so happens that the most toxic metals are those with a small radius and high ionic charges. The healthy minerals and electrolytes tend to have larger size with smaller ionic charges. The clinoptilolite binds a variety of toxins. This includes heavy metals (Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, etc..), nitrosamines and others. Cationic exchange is an entirely passive process – when the zeolite is in close proximity to these high‐affinity compounds, they will be drawn to the zeolite and either absorbed into the cage or adsorbed onto the surface of the zeolite. There is no chemical activity in this process.
The zeolite will not be drawn to compounds in an effort to 'rip' metals away from them. In other words, the zeolite will not pull metals that are sequestered inside tissue or bone. If, on the other hand, the tissue has already released free metals into the system, the zeolite will have the ability to trap and remove it.
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Coinciding with the global rise of weight issues has been the steady increase of plastics, chemicals, heavy metals and other toxins in our daily environment. From our plastic coffee lids to our hand sanitizers and the air we breathe—it is impossible to leave your house without being exposed to toxins that are known health disruptors. Sadly, these heavy metals haven’t simply been linked to heartbreaking fertility issues and fatigue. There are many experts that believe the same dangerous substances may also be to blame for world’s obesity epidemic.
Heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium, are metallic elements that are highly toxic and impair health. Although they can be from natural sources, the majority of heavy metals in our environment are a result of industrial waste or agricultural chemicals like pesticides. As we pollute our environment, these pollutants enter our food, water, air, and eventually our bodies.
So how does this translate to weight? Studies have shown that heavy metal exposure is linked to a wide range of health conditions including metabolism and weight. In 2018, an analysis of 9,537 adult samples showed that exposure to 18 different heavy metals correlated with several markers of weight gain – body mass index (BMI), skinfold thickness, total body fat, and obesity-related conditions like diabetes. A study from China also showed that blood lead levels correlated with a higher BMI and risk of obesity in women but not men. Other heavy metals like cadmium have even been shown to ramp up fat production at a cellular level.
The effect of heavy metals on weight is so strong that in some cases, high exposure during pregnancy can increase the risk of the child developing obesity later in life. One study on lead revealed, “Children whose mothers had red blood cell lead levels of 5.0 mcg/dL or greater (16%) had 65% greater odds of being overweight or obese compared with children whose mothers’ lead level was less than 2 mcg/dL, after adjustment.” A 2020 study was even able to correlate ambient air pollution exposure to obesity.
There is much we are still learning about how heavy metals affect weight. Research shows us that not all heavy metals have the same effects and results can differ among age groups, gender, toxicity levels and more.
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Three common autoimmune diseases are:
If these types of conditions are plaguing you and your health, consult your physician for how to combat the symptoms.
]]>However, inheriting an overactive immune system, is anything but a lottery win.
These individuals face the day like a game of Russian Roulette. Things in the air and the environment (allergens) that would occur unnoticed in other people’s lives trigger an immune response that is anything but pleasant.
Having an allergic reaction is the most common example of an overactive immune system. Dust, mold, pollen, and foods are examples of allergens.
Some conditions caused by an overactive immune system are: