From Phyllis:
The Black Walnut Beverage available through us at Back to Health, Narually has a
most natural source of SELENIUM. We recomend that 100 I.U.'s of Vitamin E is to
be taken for each ounce of the beverage that you drink. The Black Walnut is to
be drank on an empty stomach. About
15 to 20 minutes afterward the Vitamin E is to be taken. A meal can be consumed
about 15 to
20 minutes later if that is your choice. For more information about the Black
Walnut beverage please feel free to contact me at my e-mail address or call the
office at 412-486-2142. Tom Zeller or I will be most happy to speak to you about
it.
SELENIUM: MINERAL WITH MUSCLE Health Sciences
Institute e-Alert December 18, 2002
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Dear Reader, Who knew selenium was such a hot topic? But I'm not surprised
really.
This naturally occurring mineral with excellent antioxidant properties has been
shown to activate a cancer- suppressing gene, fight autoimmune disorders and
help increase insulin efficiency. In addition to all this, a colleague of mine
reminded me that Jonathan Wright, M.D., speculates in his book, "Maximize your
Potency and Vitality" that prostate cancer may be a
nutritional disease caused by low selenium.
With credentials like these, it's no wonder that the recent e- Alert I sent you
about selenium ("Most Valuable Mineral" 12/4/02)
brought in several comments and inquiries from HSI members.
Two of them in particular stood out, with questions that opened up other topics,
including vitamin efficiency, fat metabolization, and mercury poisoning.
In order to give these questions all the expert attention they deserve, I called
on HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., and asked him to do the heavy lifting for
me.
-------------------------------------------------------------- Giving E a boost
-------------------------------------------------------------- The first
question comes from a member named Bill who knows about one of the most
beneficial actions that selenium provides:
"Thanks for the information on selenium. I've taken it for years, but not for
cancer prevention. Years ago I read it enhances the effectiveness of vitamin E.
You said nothing about that in your article. Is that true or not? I wish you
would comment on that someday."
Today is the day, Bill. Here's Dr. Spreen's answer:
"It does seem to be true that selenium enhances the effectiveness of vitamin E.
The original connection between selenium and vitamin E was made in 1957, when it
was first identified as a factor capable of preventing and curing symptoms of
vitamin E deficiency in animals.
Subsequent observations showed that the two nutrients helped each other
('synergistic effect') in many cases, while the E did better for some situations
and the selenium did better for others.
Both nutrients together are biochemically linked to preventing the unwanted
peroxidation of polyunsaturated fats, so prominent in our diet since all the
propaganda nowadays concerning saturated fats.
"Both selenium and vitamin E are also intimately associated with stimulation of
the part of the immune system dealing with production of immunoglobulins.
Antibody response in several animal studies was dependent on both selenium and
vitamin E status. In addition, animal sensitivity to toxic heavy metals
(mercury, lead, cadmium) was closely related to both substances. In fact,
combined deficiencies in concert with heavy metals caused sudden death in
animals associated with pathological changes of the heart.
"Affecting the immune system is why so many different illnesses are said to
respond to correcting deficiencies of these two nutrients...you strengthen
immunity and lots of problems go away."
-------------------------------------------------------------- A little built-in
protection
-------------------------------------------------------------- An HSI member
named E.C.S. has a question about dietary sources that contain mercury, which
ends up being a selenium question in a roundabout way:
"Regarding foods and food products which might contain mercury; is it not a fact
that deep sea fish sources such as swordfish and tuna contain the mineral
element selenium? And that this mineral has been known to bind the mercury in
the human system, thus not allowing it to be absorbed and pass harmlessly thru?
I for one would like to know if my past sources of information in this area are
truthful and accurate, or just plain fantasy."
And Dr. Spreen's answer:
"I always assumed that to be the case, which has been why I eat deep-sea fish
without worrying. However, until you asked I never really actually checked (call
me lazy).
"The highest single food source of selenium (by wa-a-a-y far) is Brazil nuts
(something like 840 mcg per ounce!). Next on all the lists I checked showed
seafood of some sort: Cod (cooked, dry heat, 3 oz)-
40 mcg; Tuna (canned, 4 ounces)- 80 mcg; Oysters (cooked, 4 ounces)-
80 mcg; Flounder or sole (cooked, 4 ounces)- 60 mcg. So, part one of the
question (is the mineral in there?) seems to be answered with a resounding
'yes.' "Part two (does the nutrient bind mercury?) is pretty well established,
or at least there are many studies out there showing that selenium is very
important in detoxifying cases of heavy metal poisoning, to include lead,
cadmium, and mercury. Whether it's actually due to chemical binding with the
metal I don't know (or care, as long as it helps detoxify), but it certainly
seems to help. In fact, it's well known that a combined deficiency of selenium
and vitamin E in dogs with deliberate heavy metal toxicity are subject to sudden
death, with associated findings of heart disease.
"So, there seem to be pretty decent indications that selenium is helpful in
detoxifying mercury from seafood. The last question would then be, "Is it
enough?" I can't answer that one at all, but we are getting something like 1000
times more mercury from polluted waters than our ancestors did in the 1600's
(I'm told). If the levels are truly that high then I doubt the selenium is
completely covering us.
But hey, you can't eat the meat from all the hormones and treated fields; you
can't eat the veggies from all the pesticides and synthetic fertilizers; you
can't eat the fruits for the same reason; you can't eat the eggs from all the
salmonella and sick chickens, and you can't eat the grains from all the
refining, bleaching, etc., etc., ad nauseum.
"I insure myself with nutrient supplements and keep my fingers crossed!"
-------------------------------------------------------------- Are you getting
your selenium?
-------------------------------------------------------------- I have one
additional side-note on the selenium topic. While doing some routine research
earlier this week I came across an item from the Annals of the Rheumatic
Diseases with a discussion of dietary surveys.
A review of the surveys showed that patients with arthritis, as well as patients
with rheumatoid arthritis, tended to have reduced selenium levels in their
blood. These findings are considered preliminary, but it raises the speculation
that the antioxidant effect of selenium helps relieve symptoms of arthritis.
Once again we see how the importance of selenium in our diets can't be
overstated. In addition to the sources mentioned above, beef and poultry also
contain fairly good amounts of selenium. If you're taking a multi-vitamin,
there's a very good chance that selenium is on the list of nutrients. And if
it's not, it may be time to add a supplement of selenium to your daily regimen.
As always, my thanks to Dr. Spreen for his assistance fielding your questions.
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** Michael Farrell, age 50, received about $1.675 million last year.
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** Jennifer Stephens, 31, pocketed $391,000 last year alone, from the exact same
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** Joseph Galligan, 43, received $31,200 last year as part of the same deal.
Do you qualify? Learn more below:
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HTML links listed below)
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...and another thing Looking over postings on the HSI Forum yesterday I came
across a thread titled "Sacrificing Jenny." And as soon as I began reading I
realized I had not made my position clear about an important issue on the
smallpox vaccine question.
In this past Monday's e-Alert ("A Vaccine With Your Name On It"
12/16/02) I made this comment: "I agree that it's wise to sacrifice a few to
protect many."
This comment angered a couple of HSI members - and one in particular, named
Mike, took me to task, saying that my stance had offended him.
He interpreted my statement as meaning that I approve of forcing people to take
vaccinations, even if it may kill some.
Without question, no one should be forced to receive any medical treatment they
don't wish to take, and I would never approve of such a plan. My comments the
other day, however, were regarding the impact of the vaccine on those who are at
high risk of adverse (an possibly lethal) side effects, who would be in danger
if they came in contact with others who had received the vaccine. If we knew we
were facing an imminent bioterrorist attack with smallpox, wouldn't it make
sense to allow millions of people to protect themselves with a vaccination, even
when there is the certainty that a few who come into contact with them could
die?
A member named Lance makes this point in a posting on the Forum, saying, "those
'first responders' who receive the initial vaccinations, shop at the same
stores, eat at the same restaurants as the rest of the world. Military personnel
routinely fly all over the world, including countries that have not been
vaccinated!"
Given the fact that the smallpox vaccine contains such a dangerous and highly
contagious living virus, it's easy to imagine the potential for disastrous
results.
In a previous e-Alert on the smallpox vaccine ("Risky Business"
9/30/02), I addressed this situation, saying, "As horrific a decision as it is,
IF WE KNEW FOR A FACT that a smallpox attack was imminent, I would say that we
would have to sacrifice the lives of a few in order to save the lives of
millions. It's almost on the level of "Sophie's Choice" - the heartbreaking
reality that no matter what choice is made, the consequences are unbearable. The
thing is - I'm not convinced that we've come to that point yet where the clear
choice is to vaccinate one and all."
Almost three months after writing that statement, I still don't believe that
we're at the point where it's worth risking lives to protect ourselves from an
attack that we can't say for sure is even in the least bit imminent. Especially
because those who are vaccinated can so easily transmit the live vaccinia virus
to the many people who are at high risk of side effects.
When the vaccination is offered to the general public in 2004, more than a year
from now, the world will be a different place. We can only hope that when that
time comes, no nation on earth will be forced to take drastic or dire measures
to defend its citizens from bioterrorism.
To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute
**************************************************************
IF YOU CAN READ THIS...
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**************************************************************
Sources:
"Selenium" NIH Clinical Center Copyright (c)1997-2002 by www.hsibaltimore.com,
L.L.C.
The e-Alert may not be posted on commercial sites without written permission.
To learn more about HSI, call (508) 368-7494 or visit http://www.agora-inc.com/reports/HSI/WHSIC313/home.cfm.
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