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Sunday, November 24, 2013

Muscadines Celiac Disease, Glutathione and Antioxidants



Muscadines, Celiac Disease, Glutathione and Antioxidants

"If I take my muscadine pills I don't get sick from gluten..."  ( with another longer testimony shared at the bottom of this post...)

That is what has inspired the research for this article. 
muscadine grape seeds celiac

Most of my articles get sparked by a testimony or a question from someone using the muscadine grape seed extract... and this one is no different. After hearing a testimony from a client suffering from stomach pains and symptoms related to celiac or gluten issues, and hearing that if she takes the MGS extract she can eat more of those foods with less discomfort, it put me on a search to see why this could happen.

It has been an interesting research and once again, I have learned that our bodies were definitely amazingly and wonderfully made!

Celiac disease affects children and adults and is a serious disease with severe and potentially dangerous digestive reactions to gluten, which is the major protein in wheat and many other grains.

As I researched celiac disease articles I kept coming across this word that I had no idea what it was...


Glutathione...

natural remedies for celiac Glutathione and Celiac Disease are two words that you will find in most articles, and from what I understand this is due to the inflammation and lack of antioxidant enzymes that those suffering from Celiac Disease have, and it dangerously lowers the levels of the body’s master antioxidant, called Glutathione.... so as the intestines become more and more inflamed and iritated with the affects of gluten, the glutathione keeps getting lower and lower until it becomes a life-threatening issue.


Here is how Dr Mark Hyman describes Glutathione :



GLUTATHIONE (pronounced “gloota-thigh-own”) is the most important molecule you need to stay healthy and prevent aging, cancer, heart disease, dementia and more, and necessary to treat everything from autism to Alzheimer’s disease. I called it the mother of all antioxidants.
The good news is that your body produces its own glutathione. The bad news is that toxins from poor diet, pollution, toxins, medications, stress, trauma, aging, infections and radiation all deplete your glutathione.*



The last part of Dr Hymans quote would give us reason to believe that the heavy load of chemicals and toxins associated with all our wheats and gluten foods COULD very well be the reason that we see such a huge increase in celiac disease and gluten intolerance from as little as 50 years ago.


It is no secret that we live in a very toxic and chemical world compared to half a decade ago and we can't help WHERE we live but we can help WHAT we do about it. :)  As we have mentioned before, unless we take SOME sort of antioxidants on a DAILY basis, most of us will have SOME sort of physical issues or disease. It is just something we have to deal with in this wonderful world of technology, fast foods, chemicals, toxins and stress!



I was suspicious that this glutathione is one of over 100 antioxidants found in the muscadines, turns out I was right! :-)

Research on antioxidant benefits provided by grapes or grape components includes the following findings. Grapes and grape components can:


buy muscadine grape seed extract
  • help prevent certain oxygen-related enzymes from becoming overactive. These enzymes include xanthine oxidase and catalase.
  • increase our blood levels of glutathione (a critical antioxidant nutrient) and also increase the ratio of reduced-to-oxidized glutathione (one important measure of antioxidant capacity).
  • help protect cell membranes from free radical damage.
  • lower levels of oxygen reactive molecules in our blood.
  • reduce oxidation of fat (lipid peroxidation).
  • lower biomarkers of oxidative stress. **




According to a study done in 2009 ...and then published on PubMed – (a place that us regular folks have a hard time comprehending) on children with celiac disease and whether or not antioxidants might help– here is their conclusion: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19560448



Oxidative stress is an important factor in the pathogenesis of celiac disease. The antioxidant capacity of celiac patients is significantly reduced, mostly by a depletion of glutathione. Natural antioxidants and appropriate dietary supplements could be important complements to the classic therapy of celiac disease.

 

According to Natural News:

A landmark study, conducted by researchers from the University of Belgrade, Serbia, and published in the journal Clinical Biochemistry in 2009, suggested that treatment with antioxidants may be able to significantly reduce the symptoms of celiac disease.....



and they conclude their study with this quote:



All people can improve their health by boosting their intake of antioxidant-rich foods. Studies have shown that berries and fruits are among the foods highest in antioxidants, particularly goji berries, acai berries, pomegranates, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, and apples. And here is the sentence that makes my muscadine heart leap for joy! :-) …. In general, the more deep red or purple the color, the higher the antioxidant content.***
Brunswick Laboratories stated that when they compared the muscadine grapes on the ORAC scale alongside most of the fruits and berries mentioned above, the muscadines were off the charts.
(ORAC is a scale used to determine how much superpowers is in the fruit or berry


So in conclusion...

muscadine grape seed supplement to buy
My personal recommendations would be for anyone dealing with Celiac Disease to continue with whatever they are doing currently, as far as diet and medications... but to introduce SOME sort of antioxidant supplement and see what happens. Although we are very partial to the muscadine grape seed products, we still recognize that there are some other great supplements out there... ( just don't use the chemically processed stuff you can buy at Walmart - if it is FDA approved, I tend to run far away from it...)

There is always the chance it could change your life for the better, as it is doing for so many people that are becoming educated about the Superman powers of antioxidants... we hear crazy stories every week of people gradually getting off meds for everything from inflammation related issues such as fibro and arthritis to allergies and diabetes... not to mention what happens to cancer cells if you add enough of Mr Superman to your diet!

For some the road back to health is a gradual process and for others it is a life-changing, almost overnight happening, but regardless the process - feeling healthy, full of energy and pain free is PRICELESS!

Muscadine and Celiac story from a reader: My muscadine story is pretty new, but 6 months into it, I feel confident it's working very, very well. My son ( now 10) was born with bleeding ulcers and has since been diagnosed with Celiac Disease. He spent much of his life on ulcer medications, although changing his diet for Celiac did make a big difference. There would be episodes of him getting in contact with miniscule amounts of wheat, like one spoonful of food containing soy sauce (which has wheat) and it would land him in the hospital. His allergy to wheat was life threatening.
Last fall I did some research and found that Celiac is caused by the breakdown of an enzyme in the intestine, which then allows toxins to build up and actually flatten the cilia that pushes food along the digestive track, causing severe pain and blockages. Bingo, antioxidants! I talked to Viola and decided it was worth a try getting my son on the muscadine.
A month into it, we decided to "cheat" which was scary for both of us, but he ate a bite of regular bread and had no side affects. Later on we tried a whole piece of homemade bread and even a doughnut once. These were pretty extreme chances to take, considering the outcome earlier. The only side affects he had was about 3 days after each time he would be in some pain (manageable) and be constipated. I decided not to risk trying wheat in large amounts after that, because it wasn't the main goal. Our goal was his health. He has been on no ulcer meds or acid reducers since and I am much more relaxed about cross contamination. He also eats a lot of food that is not "certified gluten free" like oatmeal and etc.
My advice would be for someone who has a gluten sensitivity to try getting back to eating normally while taking the muscadine grape seed extract, introducing wheat slowly. But for someone with Celiac, remember you have an allergy to wheat that can quickly become life threatening and if you can use the muscadine  to calm down your symptoms and get some relief, please do! I saw photos of my son's lower intestines from a scope and I can tell you it's not what you want your stomach to look like long term. His was raw and bleeding. I am positive that is no longer the case and I will keep him on the muscadine for his overall future health, even if he can't eat everything. Keep in mind, eating your favorite things is not as important as keeping cancer out of that intestine. When your stomach is a raw wound, it is susceptible to just about anything. Thanks for listening!


Find high quality Muscadine products here



Disclaimer: Consult your health care professional about any serious disease or injury. Do not attempt to self-diagnose or prescribe any natural substance as a substitute for professional medical assistance. The information here is provided for better understanding of holistic health.

Resources:
*http://drhyman.com/blog/2010/05/12/what-is-glutathione-and-how-do-i-get-more-of-it/
** http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=40 
***http://www.naturalnews.com/040220_celiac_disease_antioxidants_treatment.html#ixzz2lcWHOQsX


Saturday, November 9, 2013

Muscadine Grapes , Ellagic Acid and Resveratrol

resveratrol for anti aging
"Muscadine grape seed extract took away all my inflammation and I can function again."

"I don't need my blood pressure meds anymore since taking the MGS"


"No more joint pain.... no more fatigue... my muscle pains are gone... my fibromyalgia pains are gone and I can function again... first summer with no allergies... first holiday season I didn't get the flu...
"
" I have SO MUCH ENERGY!!"
These are all common things we hear after people start taking the muscadine grape seed extract, which started my research to find out WHY.


Come to find out the muscadine seeds are LOADED with over a hundred little 'army men' that we NEED in our bodies to fight off all manner if things.


Problem is, most of us don't have a clue what some of these things even mean! 
 

Ellagic acid...resveratrol.... phytochemicals...phytonutrients.... inhibition.... viral..... bacterial.... these are all words that tend to swim together after awhile when you read many of the articles that have been written on these intrigueing and increasingly popular topics.
 


So I shall take my pen in hand and endeavor to write something that even my children can understand, and hopefully some of my readers will get excited about! :)


Resveratrol and ellagic acid are some of the more commonly heard forms of antioxidants found in plants, fruits and berries.


For instance.....


Ellagic acid is a "plant-chemical" or nutrient found in several berries and fruits, such as pomegranates, walnuts, strawberries, raspberries and recent studies have found that the muscadine grape, which is a grape/berry grown in the SE parts of the United States, has more than TRIPLE  the amount of ellagic acid than almost any other fruit or berry on the planet!

People that consume foods high in ellagic acid may be able to ward off many types of viral or bacterial illnesses and diseases as the ellagic acid is very high in anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.

There is an independent Lab Company called Brunswick Labratories that tests foods and supplements to see how high the ORAC scale is in them. ( ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) which in simple terms stands for how high is the anti-oxidant level in this food or supplement....or in our story terms "how well can this food/supplement fight off the bad guys!" ...  When they tested the muscadine grapes, they said they have never tested anything that rated so high on the ORAC scale!


Phyto is simply another word for 'plant' so whenever you see the term 'phytochemical' or 'phytonutrient', it is talking about a plant based chemical or nutrient. I personally prefer to call it a nutrient as that is EXACTLY what it is. Chemical sounds too scary.


Inhibition is my new favorite word nowadays. When I read or hear of something that will INHIBIT the growth of... or INHIBIT the process of... it is usually a good thing, as it seems all the bad stuff in our bodies will automatically grow like crazy, unless we can find something to inhibit it, or STOP it. "Inhibited the growth of cancer cells" is my new favorite phrase!

I learn best with 'word pictures' so let me try to give you one here... :)


Let's start with Free radicals.... It is a very common term used these days as it's the word used to describe all the bad guys that are constantly trying to disrupt our lives. They come in the form of chemicals and toxins, and they sneak in, totally uninvited and often unawares in ways we would never imagine.

grapes for free radicals
Here are just a few ways we are letting these guys invade us on a daily basis:

  • Stress....studies show that stress drastically increases the chance of illness and disease in our bodies. Why? Because it opens the door for these nasty little guys to come in and wreck havoc.

  • Skin care... did you know that our skin is our biggest organ and that whatever we put ON our skin enters the bloodstream with in 26 seconds?   Yep, that includes all the anti-freeze and engine degreaser we slather on our skin every day.   Wait, you didn't know that propylene glycol is the main ingredient in anti-freeze and that sodium laurel solfate (SLS) is what they use as engine degreasers?    Yes, our lovely FDA has approved those exact ingredients to be used in the skin care industry and if you check your labels, you will see them on every bottle on the shelf.  ( even the Johnson&Johnson baby care products!)     And then we wonder why our skin gets saggy and wrinkly as we hit the 40's and 50's....!

muscadine grape seed free radicals
  • Our foods.... forget the processed foods, everyone KNOWS those aren't good for us, ( and they eat them anyways) but what about the fresh fruits and veggies? Yep, loaded with bad guys,  just waiting for a free ride into their next assignment. Your body. Their free ride into our system is through GMOs, bug spray chemicals, water treatments, etc. 

  • Environment... we are so priviledged to live on planet earth in a time when there has never been more technology and advancement. But it all comes with a huge unhealthy price tag. All of this amazing new technology is emitting radiation and chemicals on a level that I don't even understand. All we know is that they are there and we can't get away from them! 


These are all bad guys that pretty much have access to our bodies at all hours of the day.  Unless they are stopped, they rapidly steal and eat the good cells, multiply themselves many times over .....and start feeding inflammation, diseases, aging and cancer.


So what do free radicals, ellagic acid and these muscadine grapes have to do with all of this?



That's where the exciting part comes in! I am rubbing my hands with anticipation that maybe just a couple people will catch a glimpse of this amazing phenomenon that happens when we latch onto something life-changing and good!


ANTIOXIDANTS is your new friend and warrior, ESPECIALLY when it comes to fighting the 'bad free radical guys'! When we start taking ANY supplement high in anti-oxidants, it is almost like I can see the scenario going on inside... all the bad guys are skidding to a halt, as the big macho 'new guy' stands up, flexes his muscles and says, "Listen up! I am the new guy on the block now'..party over!" :)


The new guy immediately goes
to work restoring all the worn out and broken down cells in our bodies. And as long as he is there, the bad guys can't function.


They are inhibited!


Stopped.

Did you know that by the ripe young age of 40, our antioxidant levels are at about 50% and it decreases rapidly from there - by the age of 60-70, it is down to about 5%? For some, the loss of antioxidants starts way sooner.... which is why we are seeing cancer attack at a much lower age than ever before.

So back to ellagic acids and resveratrol and what all they do.


 Inhibition again.


Gah. I love that word!


These are all part of the 'superman' team that is now in control of our inward parts.


 Ellagic acid helps the body fight off viral, fungal and bacterial infections by INHIBITING the bad guys from doing their job as they enter the body... if we have enough ellagic acid in our bodies, our chances of getting sick from any of the above is much less.


Resveratrol - ahhh, another word I have come to dearly love. If I was still having babies, they might be called Rezzy and Ellagic. :)


Seriously, ladies, Resveratrol is our 'saving queen!' ... She is seriously on our side! She is all about rebuilding all the aging cells, tightening up the loose places, giving back the zip that has been stolen from us, cleaning up those blood vessels and varicose veins, and in simple words, she is all about helping us to age gracefully!  I love her to pieces!


( She was also my husband's saviour as she is the QUEEN of anti-inflammation - is it any wonder we love her so?! :-)


Studies have shown that one of the highest forms of natural occuring resveratrol is found in the skin of the muscadine grapes. That plus the fact that there over a hundred MORE of these supermen and heros included in this little grape/berry, just waiting to be released into their destiny,  that has been growing right under our noses ever since the beginning of time is enough to make anyone excited.

I personally think that when God made the muscadines, he did it with a twinkle in his eye, knowing that someday FAR down the road when the world he made would be in such a chemical and toxic mess, he would reach down, pick the right person... drop a vision into his heart and let him change the world with this simple little fruit. I am honored and humbled to be part of that plan.

This is the Muscadine product line I have been using for over 6 years in case you need some... 



Disclaimer: Consult your health care professional about any serious disease or injury. Do not attempt to self-diagnose or prescribe any natural substance as a substitute for professional medical assistance. The information here is provided for better understanding of holistic health.