The below video shows a 50 year old man running up, back down then up and back again on a short flight of stairs showing that his knee pain has been greatly reduced if not eliminated to what he attributes is his consumption of Pharmaceutical Grade Nutritional products specifically Glucosamine and Omega 3 Fatty Acids.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
“Energy Drinks” – Aren’t Really Energy Drinks
It seems like the whole planet is going crazy and drinking “Energy Drinks”. You can’t walk five minutes down town without see someone with a Red Bull or a Rock Star drink in their hand.
Whoever invented these drinks should be both praised for their business acumen and scorned for putting junk in the hands of the masses.
Simply put, the “energy boost” you get from these drinks is a sugar high,…which of course will be followed by a low. The worst thing about it is the roller coaster ride you give pancreas fits creating and releasing insulin into your body to remove the blood sugar from your system.
MyAchingKnees.com is going to look at three common energy drinks,…Verve, Rock Star and Rd Bull and compare it to non-commercial healthy energy drink.
One of the great things about Rev 3, besides it's low glycemic sugars, is the ingredient L-Carnitine that offers two important energy functions: Helps shuttles fatty acids into the mitochondria where they can be turned into energy; and, helps to transport toxic by products of energy combustion out of the mitochondria to prevent acculmulation. Rev 3 also has grape seed extract, olive oil and pomengranate as ingredients.
If you are interested in hearing more on Rev 3, contact me through the contact link to the right, or click here.
Whoever invented these drinks should be both praised for their business acumen and scorned for putting junk in the hands of the masses.
Simply put, the “energy boost” you get from these drinks is a sugar high,…which of course will be followed by a low. The worst thing about it is the roller coaster ride you give pancreas fits creating and releasing insulin into your body to remove the blood sugar from your system.
MyAchingKnees.com is going to look at three common energy drinks,…Verve, Rock Star and Rd Bull and compare it to non-commercial healthy energy drink.
One of the great things about Rev 3, besides it's low glycemic sugars, is the ingredient L-Carnitine that offers two important energy functions: Helps shuttles fatty acids into the mitochondria where they can be turned into energy; and, helps to transport toxic by products of energy combustion out of the mitochondria to prevent acculmulation. Rev 3 also has grape seed extract, olive oil and pomengranate as ingredients.
If you are interested in hearing more on Rev 3, contact me through the contact link to the right, or click here.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Many Supplements Said to Contain Toxins and Make False Health Claims
From HealthDay, Wednesday 26, 2010
This article from HealthDay re-iterates what MyAchingKnees.com has been saying from Day One, that is there is a huge difference in the quality of food grade, off the shelf supplements and pharmaceutical grade supplements. Without the controlled manufacturing process where ingredients are quarantined and checked.....without the quality checks on the products as they are being manufactured,.....and, without a guarantee from the supplement manufacturer, the consumer just can’t be assured that they are taking products that not only make a difference in their health, but are free from potentially harmful toxins.
A Congressional investigation of dietary herbal supplements has found trace amounts of lead, mercury and other heavy metals in nearly all products tested, plus myriad illegal health claims made by supplement manufacturers, The New York Times reported Wednesday.
The levels of heavy metal contaminants did not exceed established limits, but investigators also discovered troubling and possibly unacceptable levels of pesticide residue in 16 of 40 supplements, the newspaper said.
One Ginkgo Biloba product had labeling claiming it could treat Alzheimer's disease (no effective treatment yet exists), while a product containing ginseng asserted that it can prevent both diabetes and cancer, the report said.
Steve Mister, president of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a trade group that represents the dietary supplement industry, said it was not surprising that herbal supplements contained trace amounts of heavy metals, because they are routinely found in soil and plants. "I don’t think this should be of concern to consumers," he told the Times.
The report findings were to be presented to the Senate on Wednesday, two weeks before discussion begins on a major food safety bill that will likely place more controls on food manufacturers, the Times said. The newspaper said it was given the report in advance of the Senate hearing.
How tough the bill will be on supplement makers has been the subject of much lobbying, but the Times noted that some Congressional staff members doubt manufacturers will find it too burdensome.
At least nine misleading health claims were noted in the report, which was prepared by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). These claims included assurances that the products could cure diseases, such as diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and cancer, investigators said. In one instance, a salesperson claimed that a garlic supplement could replace blood pressure drugs, the Times reported.
Products that purport to treat or relieve disease must go through strict reviews because they are considered drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The oversight of supplements has improved in recent years, said Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wisconsin), who will preside over Wednesday's hearing. However, the FDA needs the authority and tools to ensure that dietary supplements are as safe and effective as is widely perceived by the Americans who take them, he told the Times.
One witness scheduled to testify, Dr. Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab.com, said supplements with too little of the indicated ingredients and those contaminated with heavy metals are the major problems. In testing more than 2,000 dietary supplements from some 300 manufacturers, his lab has found that one in four has quality problems, the Times said.
According to the newspaper's account, the proposed food safety bill could require that supplement manufacturers register annually with the FDA and permit the agency to recall potentially dangerous supplements.
It's estimated that half of adult Americans take vitamin supplements regularly, and about a quarter take herbal supplements at least occasionally. Annual sales are about $25 billion a year, the Times said.
This article from HealthDay re-iterates what MyAchingKnees.com has been saying from Day One, that is there is a huge difference in the quality of food grade, off the shelf supplements and pharmaceutical grade supplements. Without the controlled manufacturing process where ingredients are quarantined and checked.....without the quality checks on the products as they are being manufactured,.....and, without a guarantee from the supplement manufacturer, the consumer just can’t be assured that they are taking products that not only make a difference in their health, but are free from potentially harmful toxins.
A Congressional investigation of dietary herbal supplements has found trace amounts of lead, mercury and other heavy metals in nearly all products tested, plus myriad illegal health claims made by supplement manufacturers, The New York Times reported Wednesday.
The levels of heavy metal contaminants did not exceed established limits, but investigators also discovered troubling and possibly unacceptable levels of pesticide residue in 16 of 40 supplements, the newspaper said.
One Ginkgo Biloba product had labeling claiming it could treat Alzheimer's disease (no effective treatment yet exists), while a product containing ginseng asserted that it can prevent both diabetes and cancer, the report said.
Steve Mister, president of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a trade group that represents the dietary supplement industry, said it was not surprising that herbal supplements contained trace amounts of heavy metals, because they are routinely found in soil and plants. "I don’t think this should be of concern to consumers," he told the Times.
The report findings were to be presented to the Senate on Wednesday, two weeks before discussion begins on a major food safety bill that will likely place more controls on food manufacturers, the Times said. The newspaper said it was given the report in advance of the Senate hearing.
How tough the bill will be on supplement makers has been the subject of much lobbying, but the Times noted that some Congressional staff members doubt manufacturers will find it too burdensome.
At least nine misleading health claims were noted in the report, which was prepared by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). These claims included assurances that the products could cure diseases, such as diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and cancer, investigators said. In one instance, a salesperson claimed that a garlic supplement could replace blood pressure drugs, the Times reported.
Products that purport to treat or relieve disease must go through strict reviews because they are considered drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The oversight of supplements has improved in recent years, said Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wisconsin), who will preside over Wednesday's hearing. However, the FDA needs the authority and tools to ensure that dietary supplements are as safe and effective as is widely perceived by the Americans who take them, he told the Times.
One witness scheduled to testify, Dr. Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab.com, said supplements with too little of the indicated ingredients and those contaminated with heavy metals are the major problems. In testing more than 2,000 dietary supplements from some 300 manufacturers, his lab has found that one in four has quality problems, the Times said.
According to the newspaper's account, the proposed food safety bill could require that supplement manufacturers register annually with the FDA and permit the agency to recall potentially dangerous supplements.
It's estimated that half of adult Americans take vitamin supplements regularly, and about a quarter take herbal supplements at least occasionally. Annual sales are about $25 billion a year, the Times said.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Common Knee Injuries - ACL and MCL tears
The following short video explains and illustrates most common knee injuries: tearing of the Anterior Cruciate and Media Collateral Ligaments (ACL and MCL); tears of the Meniscus, inflammation of the Bursa Sacks (Bursitis) and Tendonitis (overuse of the supportive connective tendons.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Reduce Back and Knee Pain with correct posture
MyAchingKnees.com believes in a comprehensive approach to reducing or eliminating chronic joint pain. Very rare is the solution one dimensional. With chronic joint pain, especially knee pain and back pain, people often find the best relief through a combination of enhanced nutritional supplementation, smarter approach to exercise, and possibly massage therapy, topical creams and ointments.
Another part of the solution is learning to do routine physical tasks in a more mechanically sound posture.
Everyone has probably heard the saying “Lift with your knees, not your back.” This is vitally true. Bending over to pick objects up placing you and your body in a mechanical disadvantage, with the lower back absorbing alot of stress.
As far as the knees go, a much more sound way to pickup objects is to squat with your heels remaining on the ground, keeping your back straight. Most people can do this and it is referred to as the “half squat”, as the thighs do not go lower than parallel to the ground.
An alternative is to kneel on one knee with the other leg in a "L" shape and straighten up with pushing up and off with the back leg. This is commonly called the "lunge" position. The idea is that neither leg contracts under 90 degrees and therefore keeps maximum stress off of the knee joint.
A lot of people do not have sufficient muscle mass or tone in their thigh muscles (Quadriceps) to comfortably do routine half squats, especially when picking up additional weight. Simple leg extension, with a light ankle weight and or a couple sets of half squats added to your physical training or physical therapy regime will certainly help develop better quadriceps strength, as well as strengthen ligaments an tendons in the knee joint.
Most people, if performing the full squat, would fall over backwards and although this is embarrassing and potentially harmful (particularly if you hit your head on a bunch of sharp rocks), the full squat performed with the heels off the ground placing too much weight on the balls of the feet and toes AND places great stress on the knee joint. This position has to be avoided. By the way, watch Baseball Catchers squat - you'll see them with their heels on the ground.
When you add weight, as picking it up off the ground, when you are in the full squat position with heels off the ground, the additional weight and pressure on your knee joint is greatly additional, furthering pain and discomfort to that joint.
So squat smartly and keep additional stress off your knees.
Another part of the solution is learning to do routine physical tasks in a more mechanically sound posture.
Everyone has probably heard the saying “Lift with your knees, not your back.” This is vitally true. Bending over to pick objects up placing you and your body in a mechanical disadvantage, with the lower back absorbing alot of stress.
As far as the knees go, a much more sound way to pickup objects is to squat with your heels remaining on the ground, keeping your back straight. Most people can do this and it is referred to as the “half squat”, as the thighs do not go lower than parallel to the ground.
An alternative is to kneel on one knee with the other leg in a "L" shape and straighten up with pushing up and off with the back leg. This is commonly called the "lunge" position. The idea is that neither leg contracts under 90 degrees and therefore keeps maximum stress off of the knee joint.
A lot of people do not have sufficient muscle mass or tone in their thigh muscles (Quadriceps) to comfortably do routine half squats, especially when picking up additional weight. Simple leg extension, with a light ankle weight and or a couple sets of half squats added to your physical training or physical therapy regime will certainly help develop better quadriceps strength, as well as strengthen ligaments an tendons in the knee joint.
Most people, if performing the full squat, would fall over backwards and although this is embarrassing and potentially harmful (particularly if you hit your head on a bunch of sharp rocks), the full squat performed with the heels off the ground placing too much weight on the balls of the feet and toes AND places great stress on the knee joint. This position has to be avoided. By the way, watch Baseball Catchers squat - you'll see them with their heels on the ground.
When you add weight, as picking it up off the ground, when you are in the full squat position with heels off the ground, the additional weight and pressure on your knee joint is greatly additional, furthering pain and discomfort to that joint.
So squat smartly and keep additional stress off your knees.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Aspartame - A Cause of Joint Pain
Aspartame, the artificial sweetener used to make Nutrasweet/Equal and sometimes labeled as phenylalanine in products, has been the subject of heated controversy—both because of safety issues and the shady circumstances surrounding its approval (FDA Commissioners reportedly overruling his safety board to get Aspartame approved). Considering possible connections between aspartame and diseases such as brain tumors, brain lesions and lymphoma, and taking into account alleged conflicts of interest during the approval process, you owe it to yourself to learn the facts.
Aspartame was approved for dry goods in 1981 and for carbonated beverages in 1983. It was originally approved for dry goods on July 26, 1974, but objections filed by neuroscience researcher Dr John W. Olney and Consumer attorney James Turner in August 1974 as well as investigations of G.D. Searle's research practices caused the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to put approval of aspartame on hold (December 5, 1974). In 1985, Monsanto purchased G.D. Searle and made Searle Pharmaceuticals and The NutraSweet Company separate subsidiaries.
Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death.(1) A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as being caused by aspartame include: Headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain.
Aspartame was approved for dry goods in 1981 and for carbonated beverages in 1983. It was originally approved for dry goods on July 26, 1974, but objections filed by neuroscience researcher Dr John W. Olney and Consumer attorney James Turner in August 1974 as well as investigations of G.D. Searle's research practices caused the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to put approval of aspartame on hold (December 5, 1974). In 1985, Monsanto purchased G.D. Searle and made Searle Pharmaceuticals and The NutraSweet Company separate subsidiaries.
Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death.(1) A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as being caused by aspartame include: Headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Glucosamine Comparison
Recently a friend of mine, and reader of this site no less, asked me what the difference was between the Glucosamine product I take and what he was taking for joint health and to reduce chronic joint pain.
It was hard to compare the product he was taking because the dosage was one to eight tablets day. So I did the comparison based on how tablets he would need to take to cover a 28 day period like the product I take does.
His product is called Glucosamine-Chondroitin Capsules, at $28.50 per 28 day supply. My product is called Procosa II (a Glucosamine based product0 at $23.99 per 28 day supply.
The Glucosamine-Chondroitin Capsules provide 1,400 mg of Glucosamine Sulfate and 1,575 mg of Chondroitin Sulfate per day.
The Procosa II provides 2,000 mg of Glucosamine Sulfate, 300 mg of Vitamin C, 5 mg of Manganese, 500 mg of Turmeric Extract and 3 mg of Silicon.
So I told my friend that on the surface, the Procosa II Glucosamine supplement I take was cheaper and provides more joint pain relief and joint health ingredients than what he was taken. But if you take into consideration the manufacturing differences, where his product is manufactured using food grade standards with no guarantee of quality, dissolution and bio-availability, and, the product I am taking is manufactured under strict pharmaceutical grade standards then there is no comparison.
I also told my friend that with the addition of Omega 3 Fatty Acids to his nutritional supplementation or diet, I think he may get enhanced results as an Omega 3 product would help balance the Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio which would help reduce inflammation.
I asked him to think it over and do his own research before switching over as it has to be his idea….even though it’s a no brainer.
It was hard to compare the product he was taking because the dosage was one to eight tablets day. So I did the comparison based on how tablets he would need to take to cover a 28 day period like the product I take does.
His product is called Glucosamine-Chondroitin Capsules, at $28.50 per 28 day supply. My product is called Procosa II (a Glucosamine based product0 at $23.99 per 28 day supply.
The Glucosamine-Chondroitin Capsules provide 1,400 mg of Glucosamine Sulfate and 1,575 mg of Chondroitin Sulfate per day.
The Procosa II provides 2,000 mg of Glucosamine Sulfate, 300 mg of Vitamin C, 5 mg of Manganese, 500 mg of Turmeric Extract and 3 mg of Silicon.
So I told my friend that on the surface, the Procosa II Glucosamine supplement I take was cheaper and provides more joint pain relief and joint health ingredients than what he was taken. But if you take into consideration the manufacturing differences, where his product is manufactured using food grade standards with no guarantee of quality, dissolution and bio-availability, and, the product I am taking is manufactured under strict pharmaceutical grade standards then there is no comparison.
I also told my friend that with the addition of Omega 3 Fatty Acids to his nutritional supplementation or diet, I think he may get enhanced results as an Omega 3 product would help balance the Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio which would help reduce inflammation.
I asked him to think it over and do his own research before switching over as it has to be his idea….even though it’s a no brainer.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Doctor Ray Strand’s Releasing Fat
As you can tell, from time to time MyAchingKnees.com goes off azimuth on Aching Joints and Chronic Joint Pain subjects and delves into areas like basic Nutritional issues. Long a proponent of Doctor Ray Strand and his writings, his web site http://www.releasingfat.com is a gem of knowledge in the area of natural healthy lifestyle.
MyAchingKnees.com believes that a healthy lifestyle, through proper nutrition, supplementation and moderate physical exercise supports healthy joints and possibly reduction in chronic joint pain, especially for the knees which takes the brunt of our weight. Doctor’s Strand ’s ReleasingFat.com is not about losing weight, more so than it is about a healthy lifestyle in which losing weight is often a beneficial side effect.
Part of any Healthy Lifestyle should include diagnostic blood work to derive values for essential nutrients that you may or may not have. MyAchingKnees.com has previously posted here, about Health Screening such as Health Check USA which is a Laboratory we have used (and can recommend) for blood testing.
Doctor Strand also offer’s blood testing through a partnership with Lab Corp a well respected laboratory and blood testing facility with offices throughout the United States. Please visit Doctor Strand’s website, http://www.releasingfat.com to obtain additional information through a site tour. He offers memberships which provide discounts, especially for blood testing.
The Releasing Fat Program offers comprehensive blood testing for its members located in the continental United States . These blood tests are offered at very competitive rates for its members. Our members are able to order their blood tests from the convenience of their home and are able to go to over 1,000 draw stations across the nation to have their blood work drawn. The results are then available in just a couple of days to the physicians involved with the Releasing Fat Program. You will receive a complete health risk assessment from our medical staff after you have filled out your Health Survey and our physicians have received your blood work. This medical evaluation also allows us to establish your baseline prior to entering our program. Follow-up blood work is then recommended after you have completed the 12-week Releasing Fat Program and annually in our Maintenance Program.
Some of you may be located in an area where a LabCorp blood drawing center is not located. This means that we will need to mail you a blood drawing kit, which will need to be taken to your local lab or physician's office. They will draw your blood and then place it in an overnight package (this will be provided) so that the blood can be shipped overnight to LabCorp. There will be an additional charge of $25 for each time blood needs to be drawn. Your local lab or physician will also charge you a standard blood draw fee, which usually ranges somewhere between $5 to $10.
MyAchingKnees.com believes that a healthy lifestyle, through proper nutrition, supplementation and moderate physical exercise supports healthy joints and possibly reduction in chronic joint pain, especially for the knees which takes the brunt of our weight. Doctor’s Strand ’s ReleasingFat.com is not about losing weight, more so than it is about a healthy lifestyle in which losing weight is often a beneficial side effect.
Part of any Healthy Lifestyle should include diagnostic blood work to derive values for essential nutrients that you may or may not have. MyAchingKnees.com has previously posted here, about Health Screening such as Health Check USA which is a Laboratory we have used (and can recommend) for blood testing.
Doctor Strand also offer’s blood testing through a partnership with Lab Corp a well respected laboratory and blood testing facility with offices throughout the United States. Please visit Doctor Strand’s website, http://www.releasingfat.com to obtain additional information through a site tour. He offers memberships which provide discounts, especially for blood testing.
The Releasing Fat Program offers comprehensive blood testing for its members located in the continental United States . These blood tests are offered at very competitive rates for its members. Our members are able to order their blood tests from the convenience of their home and are able to go to over 1,000 draw stations across the nation to have their blood work drawn. The results are then available in just a couple of days to the physicians involved with the Releasing Fat Program. You will receive a complete health risk assessment from our medical staff after you have filled out your Health Survey and our physicians have received your blood work. This medical evaluation also allows us to establish your baseline prior to entering our program. Follow-up blood work is then recommended after you have completed the 12-week Releasing Fat Program and annually in our Maintenance Program.
Some of you may be located in an area where a LabCorp blood drawing center is not located. This means that we will need to mail you a blood drawing kit, which will need to be taken to your local lab or physician's office. They will draw your blood and then place it in an overnight package (this will be provided) so that the blood can be shipped overnight to LabCorp. There will be an additional charge of $25 for each time blood needs to be drawn. Your local lab or physician will also charge you a standard blood draw fee, which usually ranges somewhere between $5 to $10.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Young Adult Obesity and the Effects on Joints (and Health)
Over the past 10 years the obesity rate among 17 to 24 year old has increased from 14 percent to 24 percent, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The rise was steady through these years, not once abating.
The CDC defines an overweight person as having a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9; 30 or higher is considered obese. Normal BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9.
Twenty-seven (27) percent of the 17 to 24 year old Americans are too fat to serve in the military.
This is incredibly bad news for the future. Many more Americans will contract degenerative diseases, not from being over weight or obese but from the poor nutrition that to a large extent creates being overweight.
Combine ill health and overweight with being sedentary, the effects on the joints of the next generation will create a lot of chronic joint pain prescription pain medicine users, and in turn also create health problems as these young Americans will start on these pain meds much, much earlier.
To a large extent, the answer is nutrition, both in consumption and in education of these young Americans. The education process should begin in early childhood with good examples being set by the parent and continued through school with mandatory nutritional education.
When I used to take my children to school, I would be disappointed to see fairly young but obese parents, in their 20’s, walking their five or six years old who were also overweight or even obese. This is a form of child abuse and creates a medical services burden for the future.
Please teach your children good nutritional habits. Please teach them that before they reach for the pain meds bottle, that there are other things to consider first, such as rest, therapy, alternative medical treatments and specific supplements for joint health before the need to use prescription pain medications.
The CDC defines an overweight person as having a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9; 30 or higher is considered obese. Normal BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9.
Twenty-seven (27) percent of the 17 to 24 year old Americans are too fat to serve in the military.
This is incredibly bad news for the future. Many more Americans will contract degenerative diseases, not from being over weight or obese but from the poor nutrition that to a large extent creates being overweight.
Combine ill health and overweight with being sedentary, the effects on the joints of the next generation will create a lot of chronic joint pain prescription pain medicine users, and in turn also create health problems as these young Americans will start on these pain meds much, much earlier.
To a large extent, the answer is nutrition, both in consumption and in education of these young Americans. The education process should begin in early childhood with good examples being set by the parent and continued through school with mandatory nutritional education.
When I used to take my children to school, I would be disappointed to see fairly young but obese parents, in their 20’s, walking their five or six years old who were also overweight or even obese. This is a form of child abuse and creates a medical services burden for the future.
Please teach your children good nutritional habits. Please teach them that before they reach for the pain meds bottle, that there are other things to consider first, such as rest, therapy, alternative medical treatments and specific supplements for joint health before the need to use prescription pain medications.
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