Archives for February 2016

Glutamine supplementation: cancer concerns and benefits

February 26, 2016 By Trudy Scott 128 Comments

In the recent Truth About Cancer docu-series hosted by Ty Bollinger, founder of Cancer Truth, interviewed Dr. Russell Blaylock, M.D. and Dr. Blaylock said no to glutamine supplementation because it feeds cancer like sugar.

Here is what Dr. Russell Blaylock said during Episode 4 – Excitotoxins that Fuel Cancer:

Cancer cells use two major fuels, they use glucose and they use glutamine. Of the two, glutamine is the more powerful stimulant for cancer cell growth.

The Warburg effect is the fact that normal cells use both anaerobic and aerobic system, the Krebs cycle. The cancer cells only use the anaerobic system, it was thought. Glutamine can work the aerobic system and product a lot more energy. So if you’re eating a lot of sugar and you’re eating a lot of glutamine, you’re really stimulating your cancer powerfully. So the idea is you want to cut down your glutamine intake. A lot of people are promoting glutamine as a way to heal the gut—the leaky gut syndrome. So, they’re saying, take five, six, ten grams of glutamine. That is a powerful stimulant for degenerative brain disorders, a powerful stimulant for cancer growth. You don’t want to do that. There’s a lot better ways to repair the GI tract—they work better and safer and actually inhibit cancer.

Dr. Blaylock, author of Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, has been saying this for years. His coverage of MSG and how harmful it is, is very powerful groud-breaking work but many practitioners disagree with his glutamine-feeding-cancer comments.

As a result of this recent interview I’ve been getting a lot of questions about glutamine because it’s something I use with most of my clients for blood sugar control, carbohydrate/sugar cravings and gut healing.

In order to reassure folks I started looking at the current research and getting feedback from trusted colleagues.

I have now gathered 20+ studies showing glutamine to be beneficial in cancer: it heals the gut, helps boost glutathione, helps with muscle wasting, helps when someone is going through chemotherapy and radiation, and is useful for bone marrow transplants. Studies as far back as 1990 state it has benefits and doesn’t promote tumor growth, with 5 of them published this year.

This 2010 paper Glutamine as indispensable nutrient in oncology: experimental and clinical evidence summarizes many of the benefits:

Within the last two decades, 36 (24 oral/enteral, 12 parenteral) clinical studies evaluating the tolerance, safety and effects of glutamine in various patient groups have been published. In the great majority of these clinical studies, glutamine supplementation in cancer patients improves host metabolism and clinical situation without increasing tumor growth. Potential mechanisms of glutamine effects include maintenance of mucosal integrity, improved immune competence, inhibition of cell proliferation, increased apoptosis rate, increased synthesis of glutathione, induction of heat shock protein synthesis, and increased synthesis of glucagons-like peptides.

In various clinical situations, appropriate exogenous glutamine supply is safe and can beneficially contribute to diminish risks of high-dose chemotherapy and radiation. In addition, there is some evidence that adequate glutamine availability can beneficially affect outcome, especially in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

With new research coming out all the time, a paper published in 2010 may seem very old and yet there are some more recent papers stating similar benefits, many of which were published this year and in 2014. Here are a few excerpts from some of these papers:

Oral administration of [glutamine] plus [elemental diet] may prevent chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in esophageal cancer patients. Link to paper
This study suggests a beneficial role of oral [glutamine] use in prevention and/or delay of radiation-induced esophagitis, in terms of esophageal transit time and serum immunological parameters, as well as weight loss. Link to paper
It also appears that glutamine may significantly reduce the duration and severity of objective oral mucositis during radiotherapy. Link to paper
These results suggest that [glutamine] is an effective way to reduce radiation morbidity to breast cancer and is associated with the increased expression of a novel serum protein biomarker. Link to paper
A promising supplemental therapy agent in the field is glutamine. Glutamine (Gln) is an amino acid that is produced in physiological conditions in human cells. However, in pathological states, glutamine production is often insufficient. In the clinical setting, glutamine has been shown to decrease metabolic side effects resulting from cancer treatment and to improve patient outcome. Link to paper
Prophylactic oral glutamine could ameliorate the neoadjuvant chemotherapy-induced increase in intestinal permeability, but had no significant positive clinical effect on stomatitis and diarrhea and did not interfere with the antitumor effect of chemotherapy. Link to paper
Oral [glutamine] increased [glutathione] levels and lowered IGF-I and TGF-beta 1 in a range that is considered clinically significant. However, the effect of [glutamine] in maintaining normal gut [glutathione] production in the presence of DMBA was much more significant. Link to paper

I’ve also posted the glutamine-cancer question in a number of online practitioner groups I belong to and have received this feedback:

Some practitioners still feel glutamine supplementation is very safe to use up to 10-30g a day for a month and then titrated down to a maintenance dose
An integrative cancer doctor says she is more cautious and would not recommend greater than 5g per day if someone has active cancer
One practitioner shared that long term studies haven’t shown changes in mortality due to glutamine supplementation in cancer settings but glutamine may be used for fuel by cancer cells
Glutamine is not neurotoxic as has been suggested in the book Excitotoxins:The Taste That Kills according to Dr. David Brady and other researchers
Many consider bone broth to be safe, some feel bone broth should be avoided during cancer treatments

It’s clearly a controversial topic with very divided opinions and it seems the jury is still out. We are also very individual beings with unique biochemistry so there is never a once size fits all approach and it’s very likely that some won’t benefit from glutamine and some may have adverse effects.

I do list cancer as a possible issue under the glutamine precautions and recommend that you check with your oncologist if you are currently undergoing treatment.

I do want to share safe and valuable information with my clients and with you (my community) and am not afraid to back down and say I was wrong. BUT right now I don’t believe we have enough information to say NO-ONE should be using glutamine as a supplement. I’m gathering information and feedback, am learning a great deal and will be sharing more in future blogs on this topic. And I hope to get some feedback from Dr. Blaylock himself!

I hope this helps with questions you’ve been having or may have in the near future.

In the meantime I’d love your feedback…

If you’re a practitioner I’d love to hear your thoughts and approach, what cautions you offer and do you recommended a safe upper limit?
If you’re someone who uses glutamine or has used glutamine what does your practitioner say about it? Have they cautioned you about glutamine? Have they recommended a safe upper limit? What benefits have you seen when using it?
If you’ve been treated for cancer, has your cancer team recommended glutamine? And did it help?

UPDATE: Feb 26, 2016 (The post above was originally published on October 30, 2015)

I promised to come back and share additional information from someone working in the area of cancer and so here we are – an update on the glutamine cancer concern:

Paul Anderson ND shared a literature review and practice implications in an called “Glutamine and Cancer: What do we know?” (Update Sept 2021: it was published on Emerson Ecologics but the link is no longer active)

When I read this reassuring literature – based on the 2015 paper, Key Roles of Glutamine Pathways in Reprogramming the Cancer Metabolism. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity – I reached out to Dr. Anderson and was given permission to share the link and excerpts from the article:

L-Glutamine the amino acid is one of the most widely used therapeutic substances in natural and integrative clinics as well as some allopathic practices. It has benefit in gastrointestinal illnesses and repair, post-surgical care, renal support, muscle mass maintenance, cachexia and a number of other conditions. Given its wide use in the integrative medical community the concern regarding potential for any adverse or untoward event associated with its use is significant. The primary potential issue is the “feeding” of cancer cells and another related issue is increasing glutathione stores and thereby inactivating standard therapies.

He shares some of the same potential benefits of glutamine that I mentioned above:

Post-surgical healing
GI repair and maintenance
Immune system recovery and maintenance
Muscle cell maintenance and recovery
Glutathione pool restoration

Dr. Anderson shares that:

the availability of glutamine even in a supplemented person is often too low to do much more than feed the deficient GI cells, so peripheral use is limited with oral doses.

The one common exception is glioblastoma multiforme (GM). In the case of GM, it is theoretically possible that amounts of glutamine that were able to cross the GI barrier could be metabolized in a manner promoting of GM energy and health. In the case of GM the authors point out that restricting carbohydrates would likely make the glutamine effective in an anti-GM biology.

And he shares a number of take home points for clinical practice: oral glutamine supplementation is likely safe across most tumor types in patients with cancer, it’s indicated for GI damage, the timing and doses, and how he uses carbohydrate restriction for certain cancers (when also using glutamine).

Based on his clinical experience Dr. Anderson states that:

Glutamine used appropriately is an excellent adjunctive therapy in the oncology setting.

Dr. Paul S. Anderson is medical director of Anderson Medical Specialty Associates, a clinic focusing on the care of patients with cancer and chronic diseases. Former positions include professor of Pharmacology and Clinical Medicine at Bastyr University and Chief of IV Services for Bastyr Oncology Research Center. He is a graduate of National College of Natural Medicine and began instructing classes at naturopathic medical schools in the early 1990’s. He continues to hold board review classes and CME courses for most of the US and Canadian ND programs. He also is a founding board member of the Academy of Parenteral Therapies specialty group and an instructor and author for the International IV Nutritional Therapy training group.

His book, Outside the Box Cancer Therapies: Alternative Therapies That Treat and Prevent Cancer (here is my Amazon link) discusses glutamine and some of the research and benefits when used with cancer patients, and also recommends consulting with your physician.

Did your oncology medical team recommend use of glutamine while you were in cancer treatment and did it help?

Or did they say no to supplemental glutamine and share why?

Feel free to post additional glutamine questions too.

Microbiome & your mood! Don’t miss Microbiome Medicine Summit

February 24, 2016 By Trudy Scott 6 Comments

The trillions of organisms (known collectively as the microbiome) that live all over your body have a profound influence on your health. Understanding your microbiome is vitally important if you suffer from chronic diseases of the heart and digestive system, autoimmune disease, diabetes, thyroid disorders, anxiety and depression and more. The Microbiome Medicine Summit runs February 29 – March 7 and the line-up of speakers and topics is stellar!

Learn more and register here: https://qt247.isrefer.com/go/BIOME16reg/trudyscottcn/

Here are just some of the great speakers:

Aviva Romm, MD: “Connecting Women’s Health and Your Microbiome.” Dr. Romm is the author of many wonderful books on natural health for women, one of which is WomanWise. She shares:

And so we know that right now in the United States, 34% of all women are going to have a C-section. And not only that, every mom who gets a C-section also gets an antibiotic. So those babies are getting the double whammy. They’re not getting exposed to the vaginal flora and mom’s breast milk is getting affected by the antibiotic. And baby is getting some of that antibiotic. So they’re getting an antibiotic exposure, and not getting the microbiome exposure. And then a whole other percentage of babies, maybe as much as 30% of babies on top of that, are getting exposure to an antibiotic all during labor or through mom because mom is positive with something called Group B strep. And so we give the mom an antibiotic to prevent her from passing this potentially serious infection on to the baby. So anywhere from 30% to 40% of babies in the United States are being born with an antibiotic exposure or absence of that good healthy immune education.

Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD: “The Relationship Between Gut Health, Mental Disorders and Mental Clarity.” Dr. Campbell-McBride is well-known for her book and program The Gut and Psychology Syndrome and the GAPS diet that benefits so many with anxiety and depression and other mood issues.

And the summit host, Raphael Kellman, MD, who created The Microbiome Medicine Summit to present ground-breaking information and a whole new perspective that could help you improve your emotional and physical wellbeing! His book is The Microbiome Diet and his talk is called “The Microbiome: The Next Revolution in Modern Medicine.”

He shares this fascinating information:

The microbiome is the community of trillions of bacteria that live in your digestive tract and elsewhere throughout your body. Collectively weighing about three pounds — the same weight as our brain — these bacteria outnumber our human cells by a factor of about 9 to 1. I jokingly tell my patients that I might look like a human, but I am really just “bacteria in a suit.” Each of us is literally more bacteria than human.

Not only do our bacteria outnumber us, their genes outnumber our genes — by a factor of 150 to 1. In many ways, their genes have more of an influence over our day-to-day life than our own genes do.

When your microbiome is balanced, you have a terrific ally that keeps your body healthy, promoting good digestion, clear thinking, balanced mood, and glowing overall health. When your microbiome goes out of balance, however, you risk such symptoms as brain fog, depression, anxiety, bad skin and insomnia — and, down the road, obesity, diabetes, and cancer.

I’m not speaking on this summit but will be listening and learning along with you. Learn more and register here:
https://qt247.isrefer.com/go/BIOME16reg/trudyscottcn/

PS. I’m actually in New York city at the moment and get to hear Dr. Aviva Romm live at the Integrative Health Symposium. But when you sign up for this summit you get to hear her in the comfort of your own home! Enjoy the summit and don’t forget to share with a loved one or friend who may benefit from this too.
https://qt247.isrefer.com/go/BIOME16reg/trudyscottcn/

PPS. It starts Monday next week!

Tryptophan 500mg or Tryptophan Complete (by Lidtke)?

February 19, 2016 By Trudy Scott 138 Comments

tryptogold-lidke — Lidtke Tryptophan 500mg and Lidtke Tryptophan Complete (credit: Lidtke)

If you’ve been following me and have read my book The Antianxiety Food Solution and heard me speak at conferences and on summits, you know I have been an avid fan of the Lidtke tryptophan 500mg for years and years because of the quality and because it works SO well for my anxious clients. The Lidtke brand is the ONLY tryptophan I recommend (and I’m not paid to say this) for boosting serotonin levels. You can find it and the other amino acids I use on the supplements blog.

This week I had a great conversation with Ron Sturtz, Owner and product formulator of the products at Lidtke Technologies. We discussed tryptophan in general and concerns about it not going down the serotonin pathway and instead converting to quinolinic acid.

We talked extensively about the Lidtke Tryptophan Complete and why they include vitamin C, niacinaminde, P5P (the active form of vitamin B6), curcumin, lysine, magnesium glycinate, magnesium taurinate and folate (from lemon peel) in the product. As a result of that discussion I now want to learn more about the Lidtke Tryptophan Complete product for you and for my clients.

I’ll be sharing more information with links to the research as to why these ingredients are important in the serotonin pathway but here is the short version: with these ingredients and co-factors less tryptophan is reportedly needed and there is less chance of it going down the wrong pathway to produce neurotoxic quinolinic acid instead of going down the pathway to make serotonin. We obviously want the latter to happen.

I’ve also decided I want to interview Ron on the next Anxiety Summit. The biochemistry is too important not to share. Hearing him say “we are fanatical about safety!” makes me even more of a fan of this company and their products!

Anyway, according to Ron, you should need less of the Lidtke Tryptophan Complete. He shared that 500mg Lidtke Tryptophan is approximately equivalent to 350mg Lidtke Tryptophan Complete, since it has all the co-factors.

I asked for feedback in some Facebook groups I host and got this:

I’ve used the Tryptophan Complete product and actually like it a lot better than the 500mg version. The Tryptophan Complete gave a much deeper state of relaxation and a way more solid sleep than the 500 mg version. I thought I would try the latter [the 500mg] and although it is good, once it is done, I’m going to go back to the Lidke Tryptophan Complete. For me, it seems that the addition of the other ingredients really worked well for my body chemistry, leaving me feeling grounded, focused and well rested. 🙂

With the Tryptophan Complete she needed just 1 tablet (350mg) an hour before bed and with the Tryptophan 500 mg, she took 2 tabs (1000mg) an hour before bed.

My concerns right now would be individual reactions to any or all the other ingredients, since we all have very individualized needs. Someone did share this on one of my Facebook posts:

Can’t do the p5p! Makes me agitated.

I’m not yet sure what my final recommendations will be but these are my initial thoughts (which may be revised in the future):

I like to have my clients do a trial of the amino acids so they can find the ideal dose for their needs and right now I still feel this would still be the best approach to take – using 500mg tryptophan. Once you have figured out you do well with tryptophan-only product and have your dose, then consider reducing it slightly after about 2-3 weeks and adding in additional Tryptophan Complete.
The other option is this: if you don’t get the expected results with Tryptophan 500mg, then try the Tryptophan Complete. You may need the other ingredients for it to work well for you.
Don’t use the Tryptophan Complete if you know you react to any of the other ingredients
If you do better with higher doses of tryptophan don’t use more than the recommended 3x Tryptophan Complete because you’ll end up with too much of the other ingredients. Rather make up the difference with extra capsules of the 500mg Tryptophan

So for now, since I’m in learning mode/discovery mode I’d love your feedback.

I’d love to hear if you’ve used the Lidtke Tryptophan Complete product (personally or with clients/patients)? And what you’ve observed? Better or worse?

Have you also tried the Lidtke 500mg tryptophan in the past and noticed any difference when using the Lidtke Tryptophan Complete?

And how much of each did you find you needed?

So is it Tryptophan 500mg or Tryptophan Complete or a combination for you?

Oprah on anxiety and depression: You are not alone, there is hope and help

February 5, 2016 By Trudy Scott 9 Comments

oprah-mag-cover — *You are not alone! We’re starting a conversation about anxiety, depression, help and hope…* ~ Oprah

I’m SO pleased to see this on the cover the February issue of O Magazine. Helping women with anxiety is my mission because I personally experienced the most awful anxiety and panic attacks in my late 30s and found complete resolution with food and nutrients!

Oprah shares how she has recently come face-to face with mental illness and recognizes that there is shame, that more help is needed and that we need to start talking about it. I commend her for these wise and compassionate words.

And I agree with so much of this: there is no shame, we are not alone and we need to be talking about it and offering help and hope. There is a solution for each one of us (it’s just a matter of finding the right one) and each of us deserves to feel on top of the world again!

I’m hoping to see some coverage of the growing field of nutritional psychiatry in one of the next two issues of O Magazine.

The fact that something like the removal of gluten could eliminate anxiety has not yet reached the mainstream and stories like the ones below would go a long way towards making that happen.

Lauren was feeling overwhelmed with life, she had some stressors that triggered heightened feelings of anxiety and fear. Her daily meditations were not enough to curb the anxiety and the supplements she trialed (inositol, Kava Kava and others) didn’t help either. But she did find a solution that worked for her and shares this in her blog: Tried & True: Gluten-Free Anxiety Fix

At the start of the new year, I found my saving grace. I had discovered an article written by Dr. Kelly Brogan, a Holistic Psychiatrist, in which she discusses the detrimental effects of gluten and the positive use of probiotics in treating neurological disorders. A light bulb went off in my brain. I’ve always considered myself a health-conscious eater, but I’d never paid much attention to the gluten-free trend. I figured since I don’t have celiac disease there was no way gluten could be negatively affecting me. Right? Wrong! There’s plenty of research linking gluten sensitivity to anxiety and depression and numerous testimonials of people who have cured their anxiety and depression by giving up gluten.

It was around this same time that I’d purchased a book called The Antianxiety Food Solution by Trudy Scott who also highly suggests eliminating gluten. The more I delved into the relationship between gluten and anxiety, the less I could convince myself that gluten-sensitivity wasn’t a possible issue for me.

On January 1st, Lauren cut all gluten from her diet. She shares:

It felt like a last ditch effort and I had little hope that it would actually work. Much to my surprise, I started to feel drastically better within a few days of going gluten-free. I would go hours without feeling anxious (a rare feat in the previous month). I was able to enjoy life again! And since I couldn’t eat bread or other gluten-filled foods, I found myself eating a lot more vegetables and protein. It was exactly what my body needed, a healthy, whole foods diet. Within 2 weeks, I was feeling 75% better. Not only did my mind feel better, but my whole body felt better.

Lauren went gluten-free and went from feeling anxious, fearful, defeated, baffled and out of control to feeling better than ever (90% better) in just 24 days.

For some people it’s the removal of gluten that makes the difference, for other it’s addressing biochemical imbalances and other nutritional deficiencies. With Jan it was a matter of addressing low GABA levels with the amino acid GABA and using zinc, vitamin B6 and evening primrose oil for her pyroluria symptoms. She recently shared her lovely results in the comments of this blog post – GABA, the calming amino acid: products and results:

After reading your book The Antianxiety Food Solution and taking one of your workshops I have had a great deal of improvement in my life. I did something I thought I would never be able to do again (not solo yet), but I drove further than I have in over 5 years, which gives me a lot of hope of regaining my independence. I’m a small step taker, but it’s working! I’ve had no panic attacks and so many improvements since I started taking the aminos and using the Pyroluria protocol. I take the GABA before I’m in any of the situations (like driving) that might trigger anxiety and its working! I couldn’t be happier!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!… I’m getting my life back!

It warms my heart to hear powerful results like this and I appreciate both Lauren and Jan sharing and inspiring others with their hopeful stories.

Be sure to read Lauren’s whole blog post and the GABA blog (to see plenty of feedback from others who have also benefited from GABA).

Now we just need to get to get this information into the mainstream. Hopefully with Oprah starting the conversation and including stories like this, we can make this happen.

There certainly is help and much hope if you have anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders.

Do you have a story of hope to share? Please let us know in the comments.

Barefoot on the grass with The Urban Monk: an interview with Dr. Pedram Shojai

February 3, 2016 By Trudy Scott 28 Comments

Dr. Pedram Shojai is the author of newly released book, The Urban Monk: Eastern Widsom and Modern Hacks to Stop Time and Find Success, Happiness and Peace.

I recently had the opportunity to interview him and would love to share that wonderful interview with you (see the audio link below).

Dr. Shojai is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and a Qi Gong master who has studied Kung Fu and Tai Chi for decades. He climbs big mountains and skies down them, he has two adorable kids, a delightful wife and is happy to be a family man. He’s the founder of Well.Org and the producer of the must-see movies “Vitality” and “Origins”.

Pedram was a Taoist monk for four years and decided his place was back here in the real world where he feels he can make a bigger impact:

Pedram has discovered a way for us to harness the calm of a Zen master in the midst of our hectic lives, showing how we can bring the centeredness of the monastery into our highly stimulating and demanding careers, families, and environments in a grounded way!

Here are some of the topics we discussed during our interview:

To merely survive is not enough. We want to thrive.
Stress impacts us physically and cuts off blood flow to the prefrontal cortex of our brains impacting digestion, reasoning, weight
A great “shake it out” de-stressing exercise
Sleep: “Our ancestors got a lot more of it and we’re suffering without it.” He shares a great tip for helping you get to sleep and here is his clip from the Dr. Oz show
How we are disconnected from nature and how our relationship with nature helps charge our batteries and soothe our souls … “the energy of nature is so simple and pure”
Why we want to kick off our shoes and put our feet on the grass

Here is an example of the simple and yet profound wisdom he shares in the book … on why we want to go barefoot:

Cutting off the flow of vital qi to your body is a bad idea. This happens as we cut off our contact with the natural world. We all get stuck doing it at times, and too much of it makes us weak and sick. Taking some time to reconnect with the planet and its free flow of limitless electrons is key. Take off your shoes and touch the earth. Doing so on raw earth is best. Grass, gravel, sand, and seawater are powerful ways to connect back into the “life soup” and let your body heal through the vital exchange of energy it needs (and direly misses) with the earth. The more the merrier on this. Some people take it to the extreme and go barefoot everywhere; I don’t advise this simply because walking around in urban environments subjects us to a barrage of petrochemicals and nasty agents that are not natural and have negative health impacts on us. We absorb things through our skin. We drag things into our homes with our feet. That’s why in traditional Asian cultures, shoes are left at the door and the house is to remain pure and clean. I’d say use shoes (with leather soles if you can) while walking the streets and go barefoot in nature, your yard, and your own house all the time.

Here is the whole interview. (Click the link to listen)

Get a copy of the book if it sounds like you need help with some great ways for becoming an Urban Monk so you can reduce stress and anxiety and be a happier, healthier and more peaceful you!

Or sign up here for additional resources and Pedram’s upcoming Urban Monk 7-Day Reboot program if you feel you could do with wisdom and guidance from the Urban Monk himself, plus all the visuals of the videos.

I’ve also got 2 copies of the book for a giveaway so check out the table of contents (with the look inside Amazon feature) and share in the comments why you’d like to be one of the winners. Be sure to share at least one topic from the book that you think sounds really interesting. I’ll announce the winners in the ezine on Friday.

2/5/16 UPDATE: Thanks for participating and commenting – the winners are Michele and JoAnn. We’ll contact you to get a mailing address and get a copy of the book to each of you!

If you missed out I encourage you to still check out the table of contents (with the look inside Amazon feature) and get the book if it feels like a fit for you. Check out the comments below to be inspired further.

Enjoy and lets us know what you think?

I’d also love to hear if you enjoy going barefoot in nature?