Beta cell regeneration – Hope for T1 Diabetics

I was at a wedding this evening and as our creator would have it my path crossed with another functional medicine minded individual with a Type 1 Diabetic family member!  One of the tidbits I picked up from this blessed encounter was the role the spleen plays in beta cell regeneration.. So you all can probably guess one of the first things that I did upon returning home was head to the research portals to see what I could dig up.. Well this was the first one I came across (while I was munching on leftover chili)

Here is the abstract:

Approaches Towards Endogenous Pancreatic Regeneration

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1783561/
Banerjee M, Kanitkar M, Bhonde RR. Approaches Towards Endogenous Pancreatic Regeneration. The Review of Diabetic Studies. 2005;2(3):165-176. doi:10.1900/RDS.2005.2.165.

The phenomenon of pancreatic regeneration in mammals has been well documented. It has been shown that pancreatic tissue is able to regenerate in several species of mammal after surgical insult. This tissue is also known to have the potential to maintain or increase its β-cell mass in response to metabolic demands during pregnancy and obesity. Since deficiency in β-cell mass is the hallmark of most forms of diabetes, it is worthwhile understanding pancreatic regeneration in the context of this disease. With this view in mind, this article aims to discuss the potential use in clinical strategies of knowledge that we obtained from studies carried out in animal models of diabetes. Approaches to achieve this goal involve the use of biomolecules, adult stem cells and gene therapy. Various molecules, such as glucagon-like peptide-1, β-cellulin, nicotinamide, gastrin, epidermal growth factor-1 and thyroid hormone, play major roles in the initiation of endogenous islet regeneration in diabetes. The most accepted hypothesis is that these molecules stimulate islet precursor cells to undergo neogenesis or to induce replication of existing β-cells, emphasizing the importance of pancreas-resident stem/progenitor cells in islet regeneration. Moreover, the potential of adult stem cell population from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, liver, spleen, or amniotic membrane, is also discussed with regard to their potential to induce pancreatic regeneration.

Did you catch that?  Look at several factors which play a role in the regeneration…

“Various molecules, such as glucagon-like peptide-1, β-cellulin, nicotinamide, gastrin, epidermal growth factor-1 and thyroid hormone, play major roles in the initiation of endogenous islet regeneration in diabetes.”

Looks like I have the next few days cut out looking more in-depth as to what gets those things out of balance, what is needed to return those molecules to a homeostasis, what tests available to determine the status of those molecules in our system… my list will grow!

Anyway – just had to share as it’s another confirmation of hope for T1’s – when our perspective is changed from symptom management to system restoration our health takes on a whole new meaning!  Hope you all are excited about our upcoming new year – I know I am!  That’s it for now…

 

Detox 101

TRANSCIPT OVERVIEW:

Hi there. I thought it would go over a real quick tutorial here on the transsulfuration pathway in the detox pathways. Let's just look here real quick. We have the folate, methionine, and transsulfuration pathway. This is these three connected together. There's a lot of other ones that connect here, but here you see, you have the MTHFR down at the bottom. That's the big one. We hear MTHFR all the time and detox methylation and this is how it's connected. So it goes around the MTR, here in the B12 cycle, makes that up here in the methionine cycle and we get to SAMe then it comes around eventually to homocysteine. Homocysteine can either keep going around in this cycle and keep this cycle spinning or it can go down here through our CBS gene and get down to our detoxing cycle, the transsulfuration, that is where we have the glutathione.

So let's look a little bit closer here at the glutathione. And right up here that homocysteine comes in and we've got all of these co-factors that it needs for this system to work. Like B6, a lot of B6, zinc, iron, ATP, magnesium. We've got selenium over here. This comes all the way down. We see cysteine here kind of goes off over here. This other side to the left. You're gonna have your sulfates and sulfites. It's going to go process through those and go out through the urine. And we also come down here to the glutathione recycling and that's where we start getting rid of the toxins. So we need all these things working together because if we have a lot of glutathione and the glutathione is not recyclying it is going to have negative feedback.

(01:26)
So it is going to have an off/on switch. It's going to have signals saying, Hey, we have too much. We don't need any more. Then it's going to shift things to another pathway. That's why it's really important when we are looking at supplementing for whether it's for the methylation cycle, whether it's for neuro-transmitters, for detox, we really look at the big picture and look at the co-factors that are involved before we start. Just giving glutathione or giving whatever it happens to be giving, melatonin for examples in our neurotransmitters, we need to look and make sure that,that we know "why is the toilet clogged up" to begin with. Because if we just keep adding more things to it and don't unclog it first. It's going to create a big mess. Especially when we are talking about detoxing because that's where we can start having the toxins redistribute.

(02:10)
We've got several different phases in our liver, the detox, the stages in that. And so things can get stuck. They basically get kind of broken apart and then they are very, very toxin toxic in this middle stage. We've got to get them all the way through that detox process. And it's that, last part there in our liver. Where the glutathione is taking things out. So we really need that part of our liver phase, working. So basically whenever you're looking at detoxing, whenever you're looking at supporting methylation, supporting those kinds of things, make sure you are looking at the co-factors. These are charts that I really like from Ben Lynch. His pathway planners and I think the prices have come down a lot on these now. They are really, really handy to have, whether you're a practitioner or whether you're not, where you are a person who is really after taking charge of your health.

(03:00)
These are some great, great resources to have when you look at these, we can see here in the green are co-factors. And that means this is things that our body needs for those pathways to work. So if we are deficient here in magnesium or ATP, that's what we can't get to that glutathione recycling process. If we are deficient in B six, we're going to have a lot more difficulty even getting this whole system to work to begin with a magnesium and we're going to need zinc, magnesium, selenium, molybdenum, copper. All of these different, nutrients that we hear about. All these micronutrients that we hear about are vitamins and minerals. This is why they are so important. This is what keeps these cycles running. This is the fuel that our genes need for these different pathways and for these enzymes to work.

The rest of the video I talk about the nutrigenomic package that I offer - you can read more about that here:

Introduction to Your Immune Response

It is a long weekend which means a bit slow in the office and I have a little extra time to delve into some of my favorite resources for learning.  As I was going through an Autoimmune and Oral Tolerance module it hit me how little the basics are shared among the health community.  For some reason, these things are taught then everyone moves on to the more "complex" topics.  However, it is the foundation that determines the outcome and whether an illness is resolved or turns into a chronic health situation.

So today I decided I would share some of the key foundational concepts which one must understand as they chart out their course to restoring health and vitality.  It starts with how our body responds to something foreign, an antigen.  Different cells have different jobs from a "security guard" to "reinforcements" to "special forces" to "calling off the troops".  Here is a short video that illustrates and explains that vital component of health.  Help me spread the word of these key foundations by sharing with your friends and family so we can all become empowered to take charge of our health!

Be sure to share with your friends and family and join me as I redefine healthCARE with clarity, action steps, resources, and empowerment.

FedEx Small Business Grant

Hello all!  I am needing your help to bring natural health options to others in East Texas.  FedEx has a small business grant contest going on through April 1st, 2019 – You can vote ONE VOTE EVERY DAY here: or click on the image below https://smallbusinessgrant.fedex.com/#/gallery/votebadge/78a01a0a-5090-4f0e-8d1a-b334ea97b188

Combating Autoimmunity Naturally

Combating Autoimmunity Naturally

Are you ready to reach your optimal health?

Do you want to regain your vitality? 

Have you been begging for your issues to be truly heard?

What is stopping you from getting the help you deserve?

According to The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), there are approximately 50 million Americans suffering from autoimmune diseases. That equates to 20 percent of the population!

With over 100 known autoimmune diseases today, autoimmunity has become a major chronic health problem and diagnosis for these diseases are difficult, research is limited, and conventional treatment is often counterintuitive.

THE FUNCTIONAL HEALTH ALTERNATIVE

During Combat Autoimmune Challenges Naturally, we will discuss strategies to overcome these obstacles with the help of functional health approaches.

Functional health approaches focus on:

  • The individuality of each individual, based on their genetics, environment, and unique health history.
  • An individual-centered approach, rather than simply treating the symptoms of the disease.
  • The identification of health as a dynamic balance of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well being, rather than just the absence of disease.
  • The complex mix of interactions of nutrition, physical activity, organ integrity, and stress management.
  • Prevention of complex, chronic conditions that need specialized care.

 

Join us to get clear on how you can reverse (and even prevent!) autoimmune complications at our next online webinar, Combat Autoimmune Challenges Naturally, on Saturday, November 17th at 1:00 pm CST.

WATCH REPLAY HERE

The Dangers of Candida

The Dangers of Candida

Did you know that ancient Romans discovered yeast without knowing it? In fact, they learned that dough left in the sun can be “revived” after adding the sugar!

Did you know yeast has been used for the process of making beer and wine thousands of years before it was discovered by converting sugar into alcohol?

Did you know yeast is a fungus that helps keep the digestive system and immune system healthy and also helps absorb vitamins and minerals from your food?

Did you know certain species of yeast can induce various diseases in humans and animals?

Candida albicans, for example, can induce infection in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract of humans.  And, has been known to be directly tied to cancer since 1913!

There is a very good chance that this very moment you have a yeast overgrowth and don’t even realize it! As according to the molecular biologists at Rice University, 70 percent of all people are affected by Candida, a systemic yeast-fungal infection. Don’t worry, though, as this potentially harmful and preventable health condition can easily be corrected naturally!

Our goal is to help you improve your gut to stay healthy, which is why we invite you to attend our on-demand webinar HERE

During this experience, you will learn about the function yeast plays in the body and what happens when it becomes out of control, thus causing candida.

Building a Healthy Microbiome

We are so excited to bring our Start Smart series to the Nacogdoches Public Library! This will be a fun event to explore the “good bugs” and “bad bugs” with kids.   Gut health and the microbiome are complicated things to understand but we will be reading a fun children’s book, doing bug crafts, making healthy “good bug” snacks and having lots of fun!   Everyone is welcome!!

We will see you Wednesday, October 24th in the kids section of the Nacogdoches Public Library at 10:30 AM!

Essential Oils 101

Essential Oils – 101

Did you know essential oils have been healing people of all cultures around the world for centuries?

Did you know 5,000 pounds of rose petals are required to distill 1 pound of pure rose oil, making it one of the most precious and expensive oils on the market?

Did you know a single drop of peppermint essential oil is equivalent to 28 cups of peppermint tea?

If you’re curious as to how essential oils can benefit you and your family, join me for my next webinar, Essential Oils 101, on Saturday, October 13th at 1:00 pm CDT where you will learn everything you need to know about using essential oils!

REGISTER HERE

From Energizing to Calming… Essential Oils Can Help!

Some oils are noted for their ability to heal, aid digestion, alleviate pain, and soothe sore muscles while others are amazing for toxin-free cleaning and bug deterrent.

Essential Oils Can Help With…

  • Boosting your immune system and fight cold and flu symptoms
  • Relaxing and soothing sore muscles
  • Alleviating headaches and minor aches and pains
  • Improving cognitive ability and brain function
  • Reducing toxicity and healing digestive concerns

No matter what you’re in need of, essential oils can improve your overall well-being of mind, body, and soul naturally!  Essential oils can even benefit our pets! During our webinar on Saturday, October 13th we will also discuss what oils to avoid as well as how to safely apply them to your furry friends.

 

Essential Oils, The Holistic Answer

By extracting and concentrating natural compounds to create essential oils, we can harness the power of natural healing.  In fact, just one drop of the right essential oil can benefit you immensely!  Finally… feeling better, without negative side effects is within your grasp!

Helping others achieve optimal wellness has always been a passion of mine.   Nature has so much more to offer than we give credit for. Historically nature provided the only form of medicine we needed.  Our scientific advances have taken us far, but sometimes going back to our roots is the simplest solution.  I am motivated to demystify the world of essential oils and make them more accessible to all.  Holistic and natural approaches have been the subject of extensive research over the years, and benefits can no longer be overlooked!

How to Heal With Essential Oils

During this webinar you will learn:

**Various application techniques**

**Essential oils for balancing hormones**

**Ways to boost immunity with essential oils**

**Supporting digestion, improving brain function, and MANY MORE ways to use essential oils to restore health and vitality**

**Essential oils for pets**

**Quick reference guides and recipes to get you started making custom essential oil blends today!**

You can help spread the word by inviting the people you care about to sign up for Essential Oils 101.

This is guaranteed to alter the way you see your medicine cabinet!

Can’t Wait To Share With You On Saturday, October 13th At 1:00 pm CDT!  Register Here

Troubleshooting Tuesdays – Delving into MTHFR and Neurotransmitters

MTHFR – Neurotransmitters – Where do we start?

We have access to so much information, studies, and new discoveries it can be difficult to figure out where to start.  This is from my facebook group Moms Taking Charge of Digestive Health and I thought I would share.

So often we are just told about MTHFR and the rest of the genes in the methylation cycle are left out.   I can’t begin to count the number of times I have heard from clients that as soon as they found out they had a MTHFR snp they were put on methylated vitamins.  On top of that I usually here how great they felt, then things started getting worse than before supplementing.

I can’t express enough how important it is that we put any and all test results into context and to avoid supplementing just because of a test result.  Test results are great to have but they are just one piece to the puzzle.   Which puzzle I am going to talk about in this video.

This first image is a brief, simple overview of a few of the cycles connected to MTHFR.   Some of the key takeaways are SAMe is a product of that pathway and used in at least 200 processes throughout the body.  Another takeaway is the cofactor vitamin B6 is needed for many of these genes to work well  – from the detox/transsulfuration(bottom left) to neurotransmitters(far right).  So if there are deficiencies in that vitamin guess what?  Those genes are going to have problems whether there is a snp or not!

I should have more videos coming soon, and be sure to connect with me on facebook to get updates.

UPDATE:  Here is the new page for past online webinars and more in-depth informational videos:  CLICK HERE FOR PAST CLASSES

And another helpful pathway illustration 

Heal Your Child Summit – 2018

I am super excited to be able to share the following information with you!  Our children are now sicker than we are – over 50% of the children in the United States has a chronic illness and over 45% of those have multiple illnesses!  This MUST stop!

In order for that to happen parents must be equipped with information to turn their children’s health around.  Which is what the Heal Your Child Summit 2018 is all about!!!

It is an honor to be a part of this wonderful movement to empower parents and equip them with ways to take charge of their child’s health.  Connecting with Health Professionals, Researchers, Community Activists, and Thought Leaders from Around the World to Share Their Most Strategic Secrets and Resources to Parents of Children with Chronic Illness is at the core of my mission.   Please join me and others who are on that journey to restore health in their child through natural methods.  This is a FREE online summit with an abundance of resources, strategies and practical tips from holistic, natural and, functional perspectives.

HEAL YOUR CHILD – BODY, MIND, HEART, and SOUL

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” – WHO

Imagine some of the world’s top experts on Chronic Illness coming together to discuss their #1 HEALING strategies.  And not only are they gathering, but you have a VIP Invitation to this limited space event.  By attending you are able to quickly and easily implement their strategies for Empowering yourself with strategies, resources, and evidence-based research to help you heal your child.

Well, there is no need to imagine.  This is exactly what’s happening September 17-21, 2018 at the HEAL YOUR CHILD SUMMIT.  But don’t worry if you can’t make it to every live call.  We’ll be recording every moment and taking notes.

I have to warn you though, the purpose of this Summit is not to discuss the latest greatest drug or medical intervention to manage your child’s chronic illness.  We are NOT in the business of diagnosing, treating, or curing disease. We WILL NOT pursue a pill for every ill.  The presenters in this summit are seekers of the truth and function as detectives to help you uncover and understand the ROOT CAUSES of your child’s chronic illness.

Be sure to tune in on Monday, September 17th where I will be presenting: Healing Your Microbiome – Pesky Bugs, or Cute Critters?  Here I will delve into the foundation of creating a microbiome which promotes health and restoration along with strategies to uncover the root of an imbalanced GI tract.  It will be a power-packed day as Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo delves into Genetics and tackles the myths surrounding genetics: Destiny of Dis-Ease or Opportunity for Health and Prevention.  

You will also want to tune into my friend and functional medicine colleague Dr. Neil Paulvin as he provides insights on craniosacral therapy and opening up healing opportunities through removing obstructions with chiropractic manipulations.   Every day is filled with great information, I am so excited to be sharing this with you and look forward to seeing you there!

Remember to help me spread the word!

www.healyourchildsummit.com

Autism Awareness – A Functional Health Approach

Living Well with Autism

Did you know that in 2014, approximately 1 in every 68 children were identified as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?  Today that number is even more disturbing 🙁   How about that this prevalence is more common in boys than girls, with 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls effected?  More current figures estimate prevalence to be closer to 1 in 45 children ages 3 through 17. (This equates to 2% of children in the U.S. who are living with autism!)

No matter what the statistics say, individuals with an autism diagnosis and their families deserve the basic right to maximize the quality of life and live in a world where they are always respected and valued.

Autism does not discriminate and families and individuals of all cultures, ethnicities, and socioeconomic status are affected. The specific cause is currently unknown, however, it is likely to actually be a number of different developmental brain disorders that produce similar presentations. (Most cases of autism are thought to result from a combination of genetic predisposition and triggering environmental events which influence early stages of brain development.)

During this experience, you will finally have the chance to learn holistic techniques to reduce symptoms and find out how functional medicine can help make the future look a lot brighter.

The goal for Functional Autism Awareness on Saturday, August 25th at 1:00 pm CDT is to help you or your loved one learn how to best manage an autism diagnosis through functional health approaches.  Hosted by:  Salena Rothenberger, D.PSc, CFMP, CHC

Watch Replay Here

Debunking Misconceptions of Autism

There are many myths surrounding autism. (For example, the prevalence of autism has been steadily increasing for the last 40 years.

Truth: The rate of autism has increased by 600% in the last 20 years. In 1975, an estimated 1 in 1,500 had autism. In 2014, an estimated 1 in 68 had an autism spectrum disorder.

Another myth blames parenting styles for causing autism. There is no evidence to support this and causes much undue guilt and pain on parents.

Are you aware many brilliant famous minds throughout history are thought to have been on the autism spectrum? 

Some notable figures include:

– Albert Einstein
– Amadeus Mozart
– Sir Isaac Newton
– Michelangelo
– Thomas Jefferson

A well-known name in the autism world is Professor of Animal Science, Temple Grandin. She was diagnosed with autism as a child and is noted as one of the first individuals to publicly share insights about her personal experience of autism. She attributes her ability to think in pictures to helps her solve problems that neurotypical brains might miss.

Functional health approaches are ideal for helping individuals with ASD as the body is viewed as one integrated system rather than a collection of independent organs. By understanding and treating the body as a whole, functional health approaches can help various ranges of abnormalities such as gut imbalances and detoxification issues common in individuals with autism. (Such anomalies often cause the behavioral and mood symptoms of autism.)

We are driven to share the many holistic techniques and benefits functional medicine has to offer as the integrated approach of functional health looks at diet, exercise, detoxification, and supplementation as means to reducing symptoms of autism.

There is no reason you or your family should endure any additional stress. We understand autism comes with enough complications and trying times, and now settling for mediocrity does not have to be your future.

Please invite anyone you feel who can benefit… grandparents, caregivers, and friends are all absolutely welcome!

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