Is corn a healthful grain or has science created a global toxicity effecting the human population?
Many us know the strategy of the company, Monsanto, has taken to genetically engineer a soybean that resists being killed by the very pesticide they also make.
If that wasn't enough, they now have genetically modified corn to make it produce a toxin that kills the corn borer worm.
Do you think this toxin has deadly consequences for humans?
You bet!
In March of 2007, scientists reported in the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology the results of the impact GMO (genetically modified) corn had when fed to rats for only 3 months.
These results revealed:

• Increased weight gain
• Liver and kidney toxicity
• 40% increase in triglycerides, which leads to Metabolic Syndrome X, diabetes, and heart disease.

Now we all need to know that us humans just don't eat plain GMO corn products, but instead we consume products with corn sweetener which is found in commercial salad dressings, breads, snacks, sodas, and all sorts of processed foods, even tonic water.
Remember much of corn is changed dramatically in the factory into high fructose corn syrup.
Modified corn is an abnormal molecule for the body that will contribute to the obesity epidemic. 
Dr. Norm Childers, the Ph.D. who discovered the relationship between human arthritis, tendonitis and dietary nightshade foods (tomatoes, potatos, peppers, eggplant) has seen that GMO corn may in fact lead to rectal bleeding, irritable bowel, joint pain that comes and goes, and arthralgias of all types.
The bottom line is foods that have been genetically altered are considered foreign to the human body and will behave differently than natural grown foods. This genetically changed food has long term detrimental health consequences.
These foods damage the chemistry for weight loss.
The bottom line would be to try to avoid anything with high fructose corn syrup, corn sugar or corn syrup in the ingredients.

by: Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S.
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References:
Roger, S. Total Wellness. Prestige Publishing, January 2008

The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Grisanti and his community. Dr. Grisanti encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. Visit www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com to find practitioners thoroughly trained in functional medicine.

If you suffer from insomnia then you understand the seriousness of simply not getting a good night's sleep. Your whole world around you appears to crumble when you can't get a good 6-8 hours of quality deep REM sleep. Your work life, your family life all suffer.
Today's article will touch on a few "key" things to consider to solve insomnia.
To begin remember that the awakening after a few hours of sleep and not being able to get back to sleep is often rebound from what you ate or drank hours before. High sugar, alcohol, highly spiced foods and of course, caffeinated drinks are often the culprits.
If you are unknowingly deficient in chromium, vanadium, manganese and other nutrients you can experience hypoglycemic rebound in a few hours where you abruptly wake-up and are unable to drift back to sleep.
Let's now consider something called the “happy hormones” that lead to a restful sleep.
One of these hormones is serotonin, which anti-depressants like Prozac work on.
We make serotonin from the amino acid tryptophan.
Unfortunately as we age or faced with an overload of stress the level of serotonin suffers.
Dozens of studies show that low tryptophan levels lead to insomnia, awakening feeling unrested, inability to stay asleep after getting there, and just lying there all night watching the clock.
For over a quarter of a century literally dozens of studies have proven this amino produces a great sleep in many, and with no side effects or hangover. In fact, folks have better mental clarity during the day. Furthermore, it improves daytime depression, PMS, fibromyalgia, and anxiety as well as carbohydrate cravings, binge-eating and even alcohol recovery.
Now from a functional medicine position it is important to know that a simple B6 or zinc deficiency can contribute to insomnia. A common vitamin B6 deficiency can keep you awake all night, or low zinc causing impaired conversion of B6, which is needed to make tryptophan work.
If you have an elevated organic acid, kynurenate acid, for example, and a low tryptophan, the correction of B6 may be all you need.
Now don't forget plasticizers in our bodies lower zinc which is needed in the enzyme to convert B6 to its active form so it can then transform tryptophan to a serotonin.
I am disappointed with the number of people suffering with insomnia who could be helped if only their physician understood the significance of nutritional biochemistry.
It comes down to finding the cause of the cause.
Remember that as important as serotonin is for sleep and moods, most of serotonin is not made in the brain.
Ninety five percent of serotonin is made in the gut.
If the gut isn't healthy, then you are going nowhere. If you have gas, bloating, alternating diarrhea or constipation or other gut issues than your chances of solving your insomnia problem may be futile until you fix your gut.
The secret is to find a doctor who understands the probable underlying causes of insomnia and knows how to do the proper testing to discover what needs to be fixed.
It really can be as simple as that.


​Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S.

References
Schmidt HS, L-tryptophan in the treatment of impaired respiration in sleep, Bull Eur Physiopathol Respir, 19; 6:625-9, 1983
Demisch K, et al, Treatment of severe chronic insomnia with Ltryptophan: results of a double-blind cross-over study, Pharmocopsychiatry, 20; 6:242-4, 1987
Hartmann E, Effects of L-tryptophan on sleepiness and on sleep, J Psychiatr Res, 17; 2:1-7-13, 1982
Ashley DV, et al, Evidence for diminished brain 5-hydroxytrptamine biosynthesis in obese diabetic and non-diabetic humans, Am J Clin Nutr, 42; 6:1240-5, 1985
Riemann D, et al, The tryptophan depletion test: impact on sleep in primary insomnia - a pilot study, Psychiatry Res, 109; 2:129-35, 2002
Schneider-Helmert D, et al, Evaluation of L-tryptophan for treatment of insomnia: a review, Psychopharmacol (Berl), 89; 1:1-7, 1986
 
 
The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Grisanti and his community. Dr. Grisanti encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. Visit www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com to find practitioners thoroughly trained in functional medicine.

Michael Jurgelewicz, DC, DACBN, DCBCN

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition that is characterized by itchy, scaly skin plaques. The exact cause of psoriasis is unknown; however, more and more evidence suggests that the immune system can be a culprit when it is chronically stimulated, causing an overproduction of cytokines, which maintains an inflammatory environment.
According to a new study published in the journal International Immunology, researchers have discovered more evidence that a cytokine called IL-17A is especially critical in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
In this study, researchers cultured normal keratinocytes with a mixture of six different cytokines known to be involved in psoriasis and, as a result, found that this caused the expression of psoriasis-related genes. The research team identified a group of psoriasis-related genes in keratinocytes that are regulated by IL-17A. One of these genes in particular, called NFKBIZ, was found to have a significant role in the IL-17A pathway. This gene encodes a protein that plays a well-known role in regulating the body's immune response to infection.
What appears to happen with most autoimmune conditions is that there are multiple triggers chronically stimulating the immune system over a long period of time in multiple ways. As a result, the immune system goes into an overloaded, overwhelmed state and loses its ability to function. 
If we know what causes the immune system to attack itself and we know some of the triggers that cause a malfunction in the immune system, we can then strive to successfully treat these conditions.
There are various autoimmune diseases within all specialties, and all of these are looked at differently. Nevertheless, they all have the same common triggers. Therefore, we can take a similar approach in working with all autoimmune conditions.
Nutrients to Consider
There are only a few natural products that have demonstrated such a wide range of protective properties as those containing curcumin. This powerful component of the Indian spice turmeric provides anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant effects that modulate cytokine and chemokine production, and as a result balances the Th-1 and Th-2 T helper cells further downstream.
Glucosamine is a derivative of glucose which can be converted in cells to N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc). This novel form of glucosamine has demonstrated that it acts as an immunosuppressive agent through a variety of mechanisms. Glucosamine can suppress the activation of T-cells and dendritic cells, both being critically involved in the immune response. In one study, when GlcNAc was used in children with chronic inflammatory bowel disease, biopsies revealed histological improvements as well as restoration of the epithelial barrier (i.e., repairing leaky gut).
ParActin® is a branded botanical that has very unique immune-modulating properties. It is a standardized, special extract of Andrographis. In low doses (25-30mg) it actually acts as an immune stimulant, but at higher doses (150-500mg) it activates the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) nuclear receptor. When activated, it stimulates the expression of genes involved in energy homeostasis as well as key regulators of the immune and inflammatory responses.
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Reference:
Muromoto R, Hirao T, Tawa K, Hirashima K, Kon S, Kitai Y, Matsuda T. IL-17A plays a central role in the expression of psoriasis signature genes through the induction of IκB-ζ in keratinocytes. International Immunology. March 3, 2016.

The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Grisanti and his functional medicine community. Dr. Grisanti encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

Dr. James Greenblatt
December 6, 2018
 News media are replete with alarming statistics about the current and future incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease. A recent CBS headline announced the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control predicting already troubling rates will “soar” in coming decades, with the number of cases potentially doubling by 2060 to almost 14 million Americans. With its impact going significantly beyond a personal toll to create devastating burdens on the family and the economy, Alzheimer’s Disease has become a disturbing public health phenomenon. What is most frightening is that despite billions of dollars spent annually on Alzheimer’s research, we don’t seem to be any closer to pinpointing a cause or finding a cure. 
Drug Development Hits a WallIn the last few years, many major drug companies have ceased conducting clinical trials for Alzheimer’s Disease. Just this year, dramatic articles have announced that Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly/AstraZeneca, and most recently Pfizer have abruptly discontinued trials, halted research funding, and laid off researchers due to embarrassing or even dangerous outcomes. From thousands of failed trials, the Food and Drug Administration has approved a total of 5 drugs, only 3 of which arrived in the last 14 years. Sadly, none of these approved prescriptions has shown long-term effectiveness. As discouraging accounts continue to pour in, fresh perspectives and optimism are critical.
The Value of Early DetectionExperts agree that early detection is the primary goal, yet physicians rarely discuss preventive measures beyond generic diet and exercise mantras. Clinicians remain slow to translate into practice mounting scientific research identifying the risk factors and objective diagnostic markers that are essential for developing more effective prevention and treatment strategies. Many lack full understanding of the disease process and thus fail to explore unconventional options, offering little hope to patients and their families. Furthermore, all currently approved prescription drugs for Alzheimer’s were developed using incomplete models of disease, exemplifying the futile efforts of pharmaceutical research.
Many have described Alzheimer’s Disease as an inevitable effect of aging, but proof is mounting that its roots begin decades before obvious symptoms manifest. Neuroscientific discoveries have given us unprecedented knowledge about the how, when, what, and where of disease in the brain, and technological progress is allowing us to distinguish structural and functional impairments in their earliest stages of development. Consensus is gaining that, discovered earlier, brain damage leading to Alzheimer’s Disease may be both treatable and preventable. Robust research indicates that specific risk factors, genetic errors of metabolism, and biochemical imbalances are identifiable in the initiation of Alzheimer’s Disease that suggest precise, achievable treatment models based on individual variations.
Modifiable Factors Potentially Involved in Alzheimer’s RiskThe neurocognitive symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease stem from barriers to communication between neurons primarily attributed to plaques and tangles, essentially scar tissue that obstruct, isolate, and kill brain cells. Loss of connection and death occurs when neurons lack access to sufficient nutrients for energy and protection and incur cumulative insults from inflammatory activity. The significant metabolic turnover in the brain requires a substantial variety of nutrients including B-vitamins, mineral cofactors, and antioxidants that neural cells require for optimal functioning, communication, and defense against inflammation. Like the rest of the body, the brain obtains the majority of these substances from the food we eat, and its integrity is determined by the composition and quality of our diets. 
While the brain’s significant energy demands are well known, it seems that most physicians overlook the fact that its nutrient needs are also elevated. Despite a bounty of evidence indicating that nutrition is just as important for the brain as it is for the body, conventional medicine stubbornly refuses to abandon reactionary models that attempt to treat nutritional deficiency symptoms with pharmaceutical drugs. The human diet provides not just fuel for cells, but the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other compounds that keep the brain’s machinery running smoothly. Accurate control and response by neurons require careful concentrations and ratios of these invisible means of communication that produce thought, memory, mood, and movement. Given the brain’s profound role in human health and well-being, it is astonishing that more attention is not given to nourishing and protecting our most vital organ.
Pharmaceutical drugs fail patients because, at best, they provide interference within dysfunctional processes and slow the rate of deterioration; they do nothing to promote recovery or provide hope. Since we now know that neural dysfunction and loss ultimately leading to Alzheimer’s Disease originate decades before significant symptoms bring concern. By the time patients display notable problems with cognition and memory, it is likely that much of the damage to the brain is irreversible. In order to repair and strengthen the brain, we must provide what neurons need to revive and restore connections. By targeting specific cellular nutrient requirements, we target neural degeneration at its roots and facilitate the brain’s innate healing capabilities by correcting interrupted processes and providing the tools it needs to rebuild.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too LateThe impacts of aging on the brain begin years before we want to think about growing old, but just like saving for retirement, we can’t afford to wait until we run out of money. It is similarly irresponsible for doctors to wait until obvious symptoms of dementia and cognitive decline appear before addressing brain health. With the growing epidemic of Alzheimer’s Disease, new perspectives and novel treatments based on advancing science are the clear path forward for preventing this devastating disease from robbing families and society of the love, wisdom, and productivity that come with age. 
The only cure for Alzheimer’s Disease is prevention.
Valid and useful models for prevention are clearly outlined in the scientific literature that do not involve prescribing pharmaceuticals at end-stage dementia. Nutritional interventions have both profound public health implications and the potential to stop escalating rates of Alzheimer’s Disease. In this series of articles, I will begin to explore the science and research describing nutritional Lithium, Vitamin B12, and Folate for both treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease. Next time we will take a closer look at Lithium, an unassuming mineral that holds astounding implications for preventing and treating Alzheimer’s Disease. Supplied primarily from tap water, this essential nutrient has been shown in randomized clinical trials to be at least as effective as currently-approved drugs for inhibiting cognitive decline and dementia in Alzheimer’s patients.
ZRT Laboratory offers a simple to collect, non-invasive way to asses lithium levels in dried urine. The urine lithium test allows for assessment of dietary intake or lithium supplementation.
Bio: James M. Greenblatt, M.D.Dr. James M. Greenblatt is the author of Integrative Medicine for Alzheimer’s, exploring the research on nutritional lithium (available January 2019). This book, as well as other information about Dr. Greenblatt, can be found on www.JamesGreenblattMD.com. Dr. Greenblatt is chief medical officer and vice president of medical services at Walden. He provides medical management, leadership and oversight of Walden’s eating disorder and psychiatric programs. Dr. Greenblatt is board-certified in child and adult psychiatry.
He lectures extensively on integrative therapies for mental health. . Dr. Greenblatt is the author of six books including one textbook. Dr. Greenblatt is the founder of Psychiatry Redefined, a healthcare education training program for integrative psychiatry.

Related Resources

• Web: Heavy Metals & Nutrients Testing
• Webinar: Integrative Medicine for Alzheimer's
• Blog: Lithium - Medication or Micro-Nutrient?

ReferencesWelsh A. (2018). Number of Americans with Alzheimer's expected to soar in coming decades. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/number-of-americans-with-alzheimers-dementias-expected-to-double-by-2060/?ftag=CNM-00-10aac3a. Accessed 09/22/18.
Alzheimer’s Research Impact. (2018). Fiscal Year 2019 Alzheimer’s Research Funding Fact Sheet. http://act.alz.org/site/DocServer/2015_Appropriations_Fact_Sheet__FY16_.pdf?docID=3641. Accessed 09/22/18.
Shurkin J. (2018). Alzheimer's Drug Trials Keep Failing -- It May Be Because We Don't Understand the Disease. Inside Science. https://www.insidescience.org/news/Alzheimer%27s-Drug-Trials-Keep-Failing. Accessed 09/29/18.
Matsunaga S. (2015). Lithium as a Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Alzheimers Dis. 48(2):403-10.