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Weight Loss Laws

by Joel Lopez, MD, CNS

It’s that time of the year again when people make New Year’s resolutions (that they can hopefully stick with until the motivation goes south). Perhaps, the best thing to do is to plan ahead but take things a day at a time. If things don’t go your way or to put it another way, if you blow it, just forget about it and go back on your merry way. No use crying over spilt milk, as the old saying goes.

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight. It’s not as easy as it used to be when simply cutting down caloric intake could do the trick. Nowadays, one has to consider the role that toxicity, stress, hormonal imbalance, inflammation, food sensitivities, and yes, even chronic pathogens, play in people’s health problems, including that of obesity.

Let’s first discuss the role of toxins in the obesity epidemic. Toxins are natural or man-made products that could wreak havoc on our physiology. With well-functioning organs of elimination, it’s not usually a problem. However, since we’re dealing with so many toxins in our food, air and water, it’s important that we assist these organs of detoxification and elimination in any way we can. Vitamins, minerals, herbs, essential oils, and homeopathic remedies are among the things we could use to facilitate that. Other activities that could help include exercise, fasting, massage, dry skin brushing, enemas/colon hydrotherapy, and Ayurverdic practices such as pranayama and abhyanga.

Toxins, if not metabolized and excreted, could accumulate and affect every system in the body. The once thought to be impenetrable blood-brain-barrier (protecting the brain) could actually be “infiltrated” by circulating toxins.

One popular theory behind the accumulation of fat in certain areas of the body is that these fat cells are actually trying to protect vital organs from these toxins. It’s a adaptive mechanism, if I may put it that way. Toxins are basically stored in fatty tissues. These toxins are subsequently released during a weight loss program. This explains why most people feel bad in an unsupervised, non-holistic weight management program. A holistic approach would consider adding a liver support protocol, among other things. It’s also wise to have someone’s baseline body composition measured prior to starting a program. Doing this initially and at regular intervals during the program guarantees that a person is losing fat and not muscle tissue.

Anyway, a natural result of detoxifying the body is fat loss. Therefore, anyone considering losing weight should begin with getting rid of junk internally (from their bodies) and from their environment (basic clean food, air and water).

 

It's All About The Bike

In Photo: Robb Dorf - Founder & President - PureFit Nutrition Bars

by Robb Dorf

Lance Armstrong, seven-time winner of the Tour de France, wrote his account about how he beat cancer and came back to win the world’s toughest bike race for a record seven times in a row.  The book is called It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life. Every one of my friends and family who have read the book say they loved it and that it inspired them.

The reason this blog entry is called “It’s About The Bike” is because I too want to inspire you — but in a different way and for different reasons. I want you to finally attain and maintain your fitness goals. At age 42, there are specific reasons why I still weigh 155 pounds, am fairly flexible and enjoy a healthy body fat level.

I attribute this healthy maintenance to five specific tips that I know work. I’m living proof that they work because I work them. I’ve got no short cuts for you. No magic pills here. No mystical drinks, powders or diets.

Here are the 5 things I do to stay lean, strong and energetic:

1. Cardio, cardio and more cardio. It’s about the bike for me. I ride, I burn calories.  OK, I’ll admit I’m addicted to it. I love cycling, spinning, running, walking and pretty much anything else that qualifies as “continuous aerobic activity.” And please, don’t take offense, but sitting on a recumbent bicycle, talking to your friend on your cell phone or reading a book, isn’t what I’m talking about. I’m talking about a 60-minute spin class that leaves you spent. Or a 45-minute Zumba class that leaves you drenched in sweat. If you’re not working your tail off you won’t get results. That power walk with Fido doesn’t count either, unless you are seriously huffing or puffing for 45 minutes.I do seven to 10 hours of cardio a week.

2. Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition. There are nutritional philosophies like the 40/30/30, (you can download a free copy of PureFit's 6-week Fat Burning Guide at: http://www.purefit.com/choose-the-right-bar/15.html). The 40/30/30 program is generally undisputed by healthcare and fitness professionals and if followed correctly, works in the long term. Why? Because it is based on how the body works. It is based on how the body chooses to burn stored body fat over sugar. It’s not a diet, and every successful nutritional program since the book “The Zone” was first written has borrowed parts of 40/30/30. Now, some 15-plus years later, nobody has proven Dr. Sears wrong and everyone is borrowing his moderate carbohydrate approach. I eat a moderate carbohydrate diet. The benefit, of course, is that my cycling is stronger and more enjoyable when I eat healthy.

3. Stretch, stretch, stretch. Over the last year I’ve added Bikram yoga to my exercise routine. I got a little burned out after 10 years of Hatha and Ashtanga yoga. As I’ve stated before, while the benefits of yoga are far too great to cover in a single blog post, I can tell you that my regular Tuesday evening yoga class — which I’ve been working into my schedule for 10 years now — has dramatically improved my life. First of all, I feel better. I don’t feel 42 years old after that class, and that feeling lasts through at least the next day. My body feels younger, more fluid, less stiff. In spin class — the day following yoga — my knees don’t ache. On my road bike, my neck is less stiff, and my body feels more “at one” with the bike.

4. Rolfing. Despite all of my stretching and rest, the body does break down from time to time. I have found that deep-tissue massage is vital. Not all therapists will call their technique Rolfing. I have worked with Brian Dorfman and his clinic in Solana Beach, Calif., since 1993. He performs very deep tissue massage and I’ve never heard him call it Rolfing. My point is simple: It’s important to reorganize the connective tissues — called fascia — that permeate the entire body. Find yourself a certified Rolfer, or a massage therapist who understands this procedure and is qualified.

5. Balance. If I don’t balance my personal life, I don’t have time for me. I have to make time to go to spin class. I have to make time to go to yoga. The bottom line is make time for yourself. The excuse I hear the most is, “I don’t have the time.” I get it. I understand. If it was easy, we’d all be thin and more energetic. It’s not easy, but it’s definitely not impossible. It takes time every day. The weight did not come on overnight, and it’s not going to come off overnight. Come up with a plan. Re-arrange your schedule. Be honest with yourself. Do I have to work this much? Am I just making excuses to not go to the gym? There are more ways to work out than ever before. Find something you truly enjoy, set a goal, and hold yourself accountable.

In my case, I just happen to love my bike and the enjoyment it provides. So for me, it’s all about the bike. What’s it about for you?

The Fable of Cholesterol

by Joel Lopez, MD, CNS

It’s always good to remind ourselves about cholesterol because of the flurry of information you get from the news on TV or the net. It seems that everybody has a strong opinion about it.

Anyway, cholesterol is not all bad. In fact, it is essential for life. It’s part of our cell membranes besides being the parent molecule for all the steroid hormones in the body including cortisol, aldosterone and sex hormones. 90% of the cholesterol molecule is made in the liver from carbs (de novo synthesis) while only 10% comes pre-formed from our food. Therefore, the first step in curbing unhealthy cholesterol numbers is to cut down simple carb intake. That includes your white bread, white rice and pastries.

What’s also important is your bad cholesterol or oxidized cholesterol. What causes this is the ingestion of trans-fats or hydrogenated oils from fried foods primarily. One more thing to consider is the actual size of your cholesterol particles. The smaller the size, the more dangerous it is. Fortunately, there are labs that would actually do a more comprehensive lipid panel. One lab also includes the following in their panel namely; C-reactive protein, homocysteine, lipoprotein-a, fibrinogen and ferritin levels.

There are a host of natural remedies that help balance cholesterol levels. These include the use of essential fatty acids, plant sterols, guggulipids, red yeast rice extract and garlic. For those people who “have to ” be on statins, I highly recommend the use of coenzyme Q 10 just to prevent the common side effects of statins such as memory loss (by interfering with pregnenolone synthesis), fatigue, and muscle aches. An integrative approach to lipid management always yields better results than just taking the medication route alone.

Fall Changes

by Joel Lopez, MD

Yup, it’s that time of the year. Things around us are changing. That includes the weather, the trees and leaves, our moods (because of impending winter when days are dark and gloomy), among many other things. It’s also that part of the year when I recommend a thorough detoxification or cleansing program.

The process of “detox” or detoxification is not just something an alcoholic or drug addicted person needs to do. It’s actually something that all of us need to go through regularly. The main reason for this is due to the environmental pollution that we’re all exposed to. Toxins can be found in our food, air and water. Then, there’s also toxins produced in our bodies from regular metabolic processes. The world has changed a lot during the last 100 years and our bodies haven’t kept up with these changes. Therefore, it’s really important to support the organs of detoxification since our bodies are practically overwhelmed with these external and internal sources of toxins. Simple things that a person can do include avoidance of environmental toxins. Eating organic food, drinking pure water, installing a shower filter  and having an air filtration system at home could be a good start.

Avoiding petrochemical-based personal care products and shifting to natural or better yet, organic ones is better for our bodies and the environment as well. Herbal/nutritional support of the major detoxification organs such as the liver include the use of cruciferous vegetables, green tea, milk thistle, NAC, ALA, glutathione, etc. Other simple things anyone can incorporate in their regular detox program include regular exercise, dry skin brushing, and occasional fasting (medically supervised if someone has chronic degenerative diseases or is on medications). Therapeutic grade essential oils of clove, peppermint and cumin have different cleansing properties. Stay tuned for more specific detoxification protocols.

Natural Solutions for Losing Weight

The research behind natural approaches to weight loss is getting better and better.

Your integrative healthcare practitioner is the right person to ask for advice about losing either weight or fat or both and thereby improving health. But all who have lost weight successfully point to four critical elements, and there are lots of new developments:

• proper hydration at the right time;
• diet and nutrition (making healthy food choices);
• exercise (integrating physical activity into your lifestyle); and
• taking supplements to correct imbalances (especially important: a lot of new developments here).

Proper Hydration: The late internationally renowned researcher Fereydoon Batmanghelidj, MD, showed that drinking more water could help individuals lose weight naturally. This is best done between meals because too much water with food can dilute stomach acid and enzymes necessary for digestion.

Diet and Nutrition: The latest research has put to rest the myth that consuming fat makes a person fat. Studies show that raw nut consumption reduces weight and body fat compared to non-nut eaters, which shows that what matters most is the kind of fats we eat—relying on healthy Omega-3 fats from avocados, olives, and fatty fish like salmon, as well as the medium-chain fats from coconut oil we discussed in last week's newsletter, together with the avoidance of harmful transfats. Good fats are proven to fight inflammation and help brain function, cell membranes, heart, nerves, lungs, eyes, digestion, internal organs, and a healthy immune system—and reduce weight and body fat. Eating nuts also reduces cholesterol. 

Much research has also centered on the Glycemic Index, which ranks dietary carbohydrates according to their effect on our blood glucose levels. Choosing low GI carbs—the ones that produce only small fluctuations in our blood glucose and insulin levels—may reduce risk of heart disease and diabetes and is, many believe, a key to sustainable weight loss.

According to author William Linz Wolcott and others, different foods have very different effects on different people. Wolcott believes that tailoring your diet to your body’s particular quirks—metabolic typing—will improve digestion, circulation, immunity, energy, and mood. To determine your type, he has you take a 65-question test (the questions range from nose moisture to how you feel about potatoes), then place yourself in one of three categories: protein type, carbo type, or mixed type.

Closely related to metabolic typing is oxidation typing. George Watson, PhD, found that your oxidation rate was directly related to metabolism and the production of stress hormones which cause weight gain, and that diet and supplements can control and correct imbalances.

Loren Cordain, PhD, is a world authority on the evolutionary basis of diet and disease. Dr. Cordain, whose work has been cited in recent articles in the Washington Post, the New York Times, and many other publications, has scientific evidence that we are evolutionarily designed to eat like our Paleolithic ancestors: lean meats, nuts, fresh fruits, and vegetables; no grains, extra salt, sugar, legumes, or even dairy products. His Paleo Diet refers to the era before agriculture took hold, when a movement away from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle resulted in settled societies, and, eventually, Twinkies and couch potatoes.

Exercise: Paleo dieters also believe in hunter-gatherer kinds of activity: lots of walking, intermittent bursts of running, periodically carrying heavy things and climbing tall things. The closest modern equivalent is probably interval training: getting your pulse up for a short time, then taking things at a slower pace, then ramping up again, with resistance training sprinkled throughout for variety. Some studies suggest this is the most effective exercise approach for weight control and cardiovascular health.

Supplementation: Julius Goepp, MD, wrote an extremely well-researched article in a recent issue of Life Extension Magazine on the obesity epidemic, and shows how curcumin, an extract of the spice turmeric, controls blood sugar levels and enhances insulin sensitivity, and restores balance across a range of systems normally ravaged by diabetes. Cinnamon is another well-known controller of blood sugar levels. Another article in the same issue discusses the role of serotonin in compulsive overeating, and looks at saffron as a natural control for between-meal snacking.

Minerals like magnesium and chromium, amino acids like carnitine and arginine, and common plants like green tea are all being heralded as important tools in the weight-loss battle.

And new natural supplements are being discovered all the time. Garcinia cambogia is a traditional Ayurveda supplement for weight loss derived from a fruit in southeast Asia.Hoodia gordonii, a type of cactus, and Aurantium, or bitter orange, are being investigated as appetite suppressants. Irvingia gabonensis is a West and Central African tree also known as the wild mango or bush mango. In a recent ten-week double-blind placebo-controlled study, individuals taking the Irvingia averaged 28 pounds in weight loss compared to just 1.5 pounds in the placebo group, and lowered their body fat by 6.3% compared to 1.9% in the placebo group. Total and LDL cholesterol levels dropped dramatically more in the Irvingia group (27%) than the placebo group (4.8%). Needless to say, no drug has equaled these results.

So, if you have not taken action to prevent the FDA from shutting down weight loss supplements, please do so now.

TO SEND YOUR MESSAGE TO THE FDA Click this link to go to the Action Alert page. Once there, fill out the form with your name and address, etc., and customize your letter. We have a suggested message for you, but please feel free to add your own comments to the letter. Source: Alliance for Natural Health - USA. Natural Solutions for Losing Weight. October, 12, 2010. http://www.anh-usa.org/natural-solutions-for-losing-weight/

Find The Perfect Diet For You And Never Have To Ask, "Do These Make Me Look Fat?" Again!

by Joel Lopez, MD, CNS

The perfect diet! Is there such a thing?  Possibly, if a person’s biochemical individuality is considered when making dietary recommendations, then it’s possible to have a perfect diet. Ideally, a diet should be tailored according to a person’s needs. And it should all start right after a baby is weaned off from his/her mother’s milk, which by the way, is a baby’s perfect food. 

You probably have heard of the blood type diet. It is a concept popularized by Dr. D’Adamo in his book called “Eat Right For Your Type” and actually endorsed by world-famous holistic MD, Dr. Jonathan Wright.  The dietary advise based on the blood type diet actually goes beyond the general recommendations given by dietitians, nutritionists or even some holistic practitioners.  The “blanket” recommendations given include a low fat/high protein diet, low carb diet, no hydrogenated oils/trans-fats, no artificial colorings/flavorings/preservatives, no caffeine, no high fructose corn syrup, hormone and antibiotic free meat, etc. 

There are also a lot of fad diets on the market such as the Atkin’s diet, South Beach diet, and the Mediterranean diet. It’s all good but the common denominator among these recommendations is that they’re generalized, cookie-cutter or a one-size-fits-all approach. The blood type diet is a small step towards individualizing dietary recommendations. People with type O blood do well on a diet that’s high in animal protein due to their higher production of Hydrochloric acid. Type A blood type usually do well on vegetarian diets. Blood type B individuals could tolerate dairy and fish and lastly, blood type AB do well on seafood, nuts and grains. 

Another interesting concept is based on the work of George Watson, proponent of the metabolic typing diet. A person can be a fast, slow, mixed or balanced oxidizer. Oxidation, by the way, refers to the burning of foods in the body for fuel/energy. Slow oxidizers metabolize food slowly while fast oxidizers metabolize food rapidly. Then, there are those who are mixed oxidizers, who vacillate between fast and slow oxidation. In summary, it’s really important to get to know a person well before making dietary recommendations. Fortunately, there are tests available that help us achieve this goal. These include functional intracellular analysis (or nutrient deficiency testing), food sensitivity/allergy testing, organic acid analysis and more.

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Organic - Berry Good For You!

Does growing organic really matter? Supporters of conventional agriculture say that organic farming is little more than a fad—and that organic produce lightens consumers’ wallets for no tangible benefits. And unfortunately, since agro-ecosystems are so complex, scientists have had a hard time cutting through the haze of claims and counter-claims.

Until now: “Fruit and Soil Quality of Organic and Conventional Strawberry Agroecosystems," a study led by Washington State University Regents professor of soil science John Reganold, is one of the most comprehensive, persuasive studies yet to show the nutritional and environmental benefits of organic farming. Its findings only apply to strawberries—but they do point the way to the kind of research that can, and should, be done with other crops as well.

The study design was both careful and comprehensive in scope. The strawberries were grown on 13 conventional and 13 organic fields, with organic/conventional field pairs located adjacently in order to control for soil type and weather patterns. The data was drawn from repeated harvests over a two year period, and the strawberries were picked, transported, and stored under identical conditions to replicate retail practices. And just as farming is a complex business, scientists contributing to the study range from soil and food scientists to genetics experts and statistics specialists, who analyzed 31 soil properties, soil DNA, and the relative taste and nutritional quality of three strawberry varieties in California.

The results are pretty convincing: organic strawberries are healthier, tastier, and better for the soil than conventional strawberries.

First, let’s take a look at strawberry quality. Consumers buying organic products consistently cite the health benefits of organic foods as a main purchasing motivation. Yet there is a general lack of conclusive data to back this up. However, the WSU study found that organic strawberries ultimately beat conventional strawberries in quality, based on a number of factors:

• Organic strawberry plants showed fewer instances of post-harvest fungal rots than conventional strawberries, despite the fact that no fungicides were used on the organic fields. The study notes this finding may prove that organic systems help defend plants against infection through systemic-acquired resistance rather than chemical inputs.

• Organic methods resulted in strawberries with increased antioxidants, vitamin C, and total phenolics. While phosphorus and potassium levels were higher in conventional crops, the study emphasized the importance of vitamin C and antioxidants in relation to human health; vitamin C from strawberries has been shown to have a direct, negative effect on cancer cell growth.

And for those who value flavor more than health, organic also outdoes conventional in taste tests. Consumer-sensory panels found little difference between two of the organic and conventional strawberry varieties, but preferred the organic “Diamante” variety for its appearance and sweetness over its conventional counterpart.

Then there’s the issue of soil quality. While consumers may be solely interested in the end result, farmers and food experts like Will Allen and Wendell Berry have stressed that high-quality soil is the basis for healthy agro-ecosystems. California farmers have relied on methyl bromide (an ozone-depleting toxic fumigant) to sterilize their soil for decades, and as a result have reduced soil from a habitat for microorganisms into a growing medium devoid of nutrients. Despite the conventional practice of spraying soils with synthetic fertilizers, the study found that organic fields contained significantly higher amounts of nutrients. Organic and conventional soils contained similar levels of most extractable nutrients, but organic soil had higher levels of zinc, boron, sodium, and iron. Organic soils also performed better through a number of biological properties, such as enzyme activities, micronutrient levels, and carbon sequestration.

But what’s perhaps most interesting in the study is the use of DNA analysis, which helped scientists establish that organic soils contain a significantly higher amount of unique genes and overall genetic diversity. In a time when global warming is creating increasingly unpredictable weather conditions, biodiversity is one of our greatest defenses against climate change (for more on this idea, look no further than activist and physicist Vandana Shiva, a compelling advocate of the social, economic, and health-related benefits of biodiversity).

Strawberry fumigants are a hot-button issue in California right now, making this study especially timely. While the negative effects of methyl bromide have been established, and it was technically banned under an international treaty back in the 1980s, the fumigant is still being used until a substitute can be found. However, the proposed methyl iodide, approved under the Bush administration in 2008, is possibly even more toxic than methyl bromide. In light of the study, this controversy is bordering on the absurd—why even look for a new fumigant when organic production clearly produces better soil quality, increased nutrient density, and doesn’t rely on chemicals that make farm workers sick?

For any naysayers out there who are clinging to the Monsanto line that conventional agriculture is the only way to feed the world, while this study doesn’t delve into crop yields itself, a 2009 report put out by the Union of Concerned Scientists may put that claim to rest. Despite the fact that in some instances conventional methods may marginally raise the yield of food crops (while genetically modified crops were shown to produce no increase in yield), this study notes it comes at a high cost to the environment and our health. The chemical inputs used in conventional farming are directly contributing to unpredictable climate changes, which will affect our long-term ability to consistently grow food.

It's hard to argue against Dr. Reganold's findings. Even while some categories of analysis produced similar results between conventional and organic strawberries, the fact the organic methods did not rely on toxic chemical inputs is a big, juicy point in its favor. Promoting organic agro-ecosystems means fewer people will be exposed to toxic chemicals all in the name of producing a healthier, tastier piece of fruit.

Published Sept. 1, 2010. Venetucci Harvey, Michelle. The Dirt On Organic Produce. http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2010/09/01/the-dirt-on-organic-produce#more

Drink Milk, Not!

 by Joel Lopez, MD, CNS

Drinking milk has always been thought of as a healthy thing. I remember as a kid, almost being forced into drinking my glass of milk. I was really stubborn then and I’m glad I was. Being of Asian heritage, it doesn’t make sense to drink milk because most of us (and for that matter, people of African descent as well) are lactose-intolerant. Even organic milk won’t work if you’re lactose intolerant. Besides, there’s so much “stuff” in regular milk that you may not want to drink it. Among these include antibiotics, hormones and pesticides. What’s fed to commercially-farmed animals ends up in their body fluids (and that includes their milk). 

Anyway, one of the reasons they’re promoting it widely is because of its benefit of improving bone density because of its calcium content. But, there’s more to healthy bones than taking calcium alone. A preferable source of calcium would be green, leafy vegetables. But of course, it’s not “cool” to promote veggies in large media advertising campaigns. See how they use celebrities with milk on their upper lips? How many of them actually drink milk? What about celebrities with green plant material between their teeth suggesting that they’re eating veggies? Won’t that be a funny picture? I heard one of my mentors several years ago talking to his obese client jokingly. Why do you need (cow’s) milk? Is your mother a cow? Don’t you know that milk is probably making you fat? Funny, but it’s true. One of the results of food sensitivities is weight gain but that's another topic we have to discuss in the future. One more thing to think about is that we’re the only mammals that drink milk in their adulthood. Is there a reason why other creatures don’t drink milk in their adulthood? Just wondering…..

Chinese Herbs

 

by Holly Lucille, ND, RN

Chinese herbs have been around for a long, long time - five thousand years, give or take a few - and they are highly effective for treating all sorts of health problems. I believe that they work best when used within the paradigm of Oriental medicine. In other words, Chinese herbs are much more likely to work well when a patient receives the herbal prescription from a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, and receives the practitioner's guidance and support around using those herbs.

Some 500 to 600 herbs, animal byproducts, and minerals comprise the traditional Chinese materia medica. These herbs are used by TCM practitioners in all kinds of combinations, based on a complex diagnostic system. Naturopathic and TCM doctors use the same general approach - we base diagnosis and treatment on evaluation of imbalances, deficiencies, and excesses, and the ability of various treatments to counteract them. TCM is based on ancient theories involving the flow of energy (qi), made up of a balance of yin and yang energies, along energy pathways (meridians) that run throughout the body. Qi is manipulated by supporting either yin or yang with specific herbal combinations, or by directing its movement with acupuncture, acupressure, cupping (where glass vials are applied to the skin with a gentle vacuum) or moxibustion (burning of herbs at acupuncture points).

Many Chinese herbs are beginning to enter the mainstream of herbal medicine, and these herbs are widely available in health food and supplement stores and increasingly popular with consumers for maintaining optimal health or to correct an imbalance that is making them feel unwell. Here are a few of the herbs customers might be looking for, and why they are believed to be beneficial for their health.

Panax Ginseng
One of the best-known Chinese herbs, panax is what's known as an adaptogen - it enhances cellular metabolism, increases endurance and energy, and is believed to enhance brain function and boost alertness. Any adaptogen (which may also be referred to as a tonic) earns its title by improving the body's ability to tolerate and recover from stress, whether that stress is physical (intense exercise), chemical (exposure to toxins), or biological (contracting an illness).

Panax ginseng. This tonic, adaptogenic herb increases the amount of oxygen that passes from the bloodstream into cells to be burned for energy, improving exercise performance and breakdown of carbohydrate and fat stores. These effects explain why ginseng is so popular as an energy and endurance booster. It's also thought to increase fuel availability in the brain, enhancing alertness and thinking ability. Panax ginseng contains chemicals called ginsenosides, which mimic the adrenal hormones made in the body when stressful situations arise. Those hormones enhance energy, strength, and alertness, helping us to rise to the occasion. In other words, ginsenosides specifically support the function of the body's natural stress-resistance system.

This form of ginseng (one of several) also acts as a powerful antioxidant and has documented anti-cancer activity. It increases immunity against colds and flu and has long been used as an aphrodisiac.

Contraindications to this herb include hypertension or diabetes that is controlled with insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs. The best-quality extracts are standardized to 1.5 to 7 percent ginsenoside. It appears to have greatest benefit when taken for two to three weeks at a time, with a two-week break in between periods of use.