Natural Water Containing Vanadium

Is vanadium water going to be hype soon?

Vanadium is a metal, that oxidates quickly and it’s used as an alloy with steel. Vanadium pentoxide is used as a catalyst for the production of sulfuric acid [1]. Only metallic vanadium is rare in nature. Vanadium compounds occur in quite a lot of different minerals. Vanadium is nearly as common as copper or zinc.

Seawater has a high concentration of vanadium. Water from springs around Mount Fuji contains as much as 54 μg per liter. Amanita muscaria, AKA fly amanita, contains amavadin of which the biological function is still unknown, but maybe it serves as a toxin for protection of the mushroom [2].

It is still not known, if vanadium is essential human nutrition. “The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) of dietary vanadium, beyond which adverse effects may occur, is set at 1.8 mg/day.”

There had been a study on Mount Fuji water and the effects on diabetes mellitus [3]. “In the clinical studies, the levels of blood glucose and serum HbA1C of hyperglycemic patients were significantly reduced by three month consecutive treatment of this Mt. Fuji ground water”, but the effect was only seen in patients, who believed in the effect. The study has been publishe in Japanese. I haven’t seen any notion on how many humans were on the study. Also the study mixes date obtained from a study on mice with a study on humans. The authors concluded: “Thus both animal and human studies suggest that the daily treatment with Mt. Fuji ground water containing natural vanadium is useful for the regulation of blood glucose levels and the improvement of QOL to the hyperglycemia patients due to the improvements of glucose transporter and the insulin receptor and so on. However it might be little difficult to expect the significant improvement of the severe conditions of diabetes mellitus by the consecutive treatment of natural vanadium water, since this ground water is good as a supplement.” I’m not quite sure what the authors want to tell us.

I’ve also seen a review article [4]: “A systematic review of vanadium oral supplements for glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus”. “The authors concluded that there was no good evidence that oral vanadium supplementation improved glycaemic control in diabetes and so the routine use of vanadium could not be recommended; … .”

I don’t know if there’s going to be a hype on vanadium water, but as to a scientific basis – I’ve found none. But that won’t keep people from telling you, that you need an expensive dietary supplement.

Links:

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanadium

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amavadin

[3] https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/brte/17/1/17_1_11/_article and https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/brte/17/1/17_1_11/_pdf/-char/en

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0026409/

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Artificial Sweetener Sucralose May Lead to Metabolic Syndrome

In a still unfinished project I had been talking about sugar and also artificial sweeteners. “I consider the idea of sweeteners nonsense. / It is not a matter of looking for alternatives to sugars, which then also turn out to be problematic.” [1] If artificial sweeteners, which contain no calories, are used to fatten pigs than we should be alerted.

There has been a study at the 2018 Endocrine Society’s Annual Meeting in Miami. N. Kundu and colleagues presented [2]: “Sucralose Promotes Metabolic Dysregulation and Intracellular ROS [reactive oxygen species] Accumulation”. Conclusion: “Analysis of in vitro human MSCs [mesenchymal stem cells] exposed to sucralose, data along with subjects’ fat biopsy sample analysis data from consumers and subject’s biochemistry indicates that sucralose promotes metabolic dysregulation (by increased glucose uptake, inflammation and adipogenesis) which is associated with increased intra-cellular ROS accumulation and high TG. This effect appears to be more evident in obese rather than non-obese subjects. …”

J. Suez and colleagues published in 2014 [3]: “Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota”. In conclusion, the authors “link NAS [non-caloric artificial sweeteners] consumption, dysbiosis and metabolic abnormalities, thereby calling for a reassessment of massive NAS usage.”

What’s the gist? Stay away from (sugar) sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages and foods.

Links: 

[1] http://rheumatologe.blogspot.de/2017/06/diet-for-urban-troglodyte-01-sugar.html

[2] http://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/4482/presentation/8752

[3] http://www.nature.com/articles/nature13793

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A Drink to Eliminate Gout?

I have my doubts, when it comes to a drink to eliminate gout [1]: “THIS 4-INGREDIENT DRINK WILL ELIMINATE YOUR GOUT AND JOINT PAIN FOREVER!”

“Are you aware that cucumber juice helps bring down body temperature”, asks the article. Fever isn’t a problem as long as patients are treated with NSAIDs [Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs]. The beverage should also be “effective for removing uric acid crystalization in joints”. First comes treating pain and inflammation, as gout pain is excruciating. Reducing uric acid immediately could mean inducing a new gout attack. However, once the acute gout attack is treated, one can start reducing the level of uric acid.

The juice contains half a medium-sized cucumber, two ribs of celery, a slice of lemon, and a one-inch piece of young ginger root. I like all of it and you’ll get a healthy juice, but that’s it. There isn’t any proof that this reduces pain or removes uric acid. I’ve checked PubMed, really nil!

I don’t think that this advice is a form of self-help, it’s rather self-torture. Drink it, if you want to drink a healthy juice, but see you doctor if you suffer from gout.

Links:

[1] http://www.natural-remedies8-8-8.cf/2017/10/this-4-ingredient-drink-will-eliminate.html

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I am shocked, indeed – An Amazing Drink is said to Cure Diabetes in just 5 Days

 

I’ve read: “Doctors Are Shocked! This Amazing Drink Can Cure Diabetes In Just 5 Days!” I am shocked, indeed, as you can make a statement as stupid as this.

In the text one presents us “an amazing homemade recipe that will help you get rid of diabetes without the harmful medications!”

THIS STATEMENT IS DANGEROUS!

The miracle, wonder, super-duper, amazing drink is made of “2 stalks of celery, 1 green apple, 3 handful of spinach, and 2 carrots”.

A wonderful drink, I agree. But you cannot cure diabetes with this drink. Please don’t expect to go “without the harmful medications”. I am shocked, indeed!

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Diet for the Urban Troglodyte - 07. The Protein Issue

 

Is protein an issue? No! O.K. some people make it an issue. I must admit that transitioning to become a vegetarian in the early 1990ies I thought getting enough protein would be an issue. It isn’t! If you eat an adequate amount of calories you would have problems designing a diet inadequate in protein.

How about our caveman ancestor?

Eating lots of meat – no problem.

Eating lots of fish – no problem.

Eating lots of seeds – no problem.

Eating lots of grubs and insects – no problem.

Eating lots of nuts and seeds – no problem.

Eating lots of leafs, grasses, blossoms, fruits, tubers – no problem.

Each season however might have been different for our caveman. But he wouldn’t have a problem with protein if he had enough to eat. So the caveman was faring well, and the urban troglodyte will fare even better.

On the average we already eat too much protein. Some people promote an increase in protein to lose weight – a myth! The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine [1]: “… Americans tend to take in twice the amount of protein they need already.” And: “Excess protein has been linked with osteoporosis, kidney disease, calcium stones in the urinary tract, and some cancers.” Taking more and more protein to get healthy is a myth. Another myth had been unwillingly created by Frances Moore Lappé in her book “Diet for a Small Planet”: combination of plant protein. No you haven’t.

Too much protein means more nitrogen to be excreted by the kidneys. It also means an increase in calcium excretion and thus promotes osteoporosis. Highest calcium and vitamin D intake have traditionally living Inuit, but they also have the highest rate of osteoporosis. Some proteins and also amino acids promote growth, and so might increase the risk for cancer; the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) would be such a protein, which you get by drinking milk and eating dairy products [2]: “The consumption of cow’s milk and milk products is linked to increased levels of IGF-1, which in turn are linked to various cancers.” The caveman had no access to milk and dairy. The urban troglodyte doesn’t have to use milk and dairy.

The urban troglodyte should take an adequate amount of protein. Veggies, dark leafy vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and legumes would be perfect.  

Links:

[1] http://www.pcrm.org/health/diets/vsk/vegetarian-starter-kit-protein

[2] https://www.whitelies.org.uk/health-nutrition/insulin-growth-factor-1-igf-1

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