Spring is a common time for people to start moving more and thinking about doing a gentle detox. Here are some general recommendations and information about modified citrus pectins.

Food is one of the most important medicines we can use to re-energize and help detoxify. When we start eating more nutrient dense foods such as lean proteins, fruits, vegetables and legumes (high in fiber), it helps to balance blood glucose and insulin levels and removes those sugar cravings. Avoiding refined foods, sugars, cooked oils and trans-fats, alcohol, caffeine and preservatives reduces inflammation that make us feel sluggish and foggy headed. Keeping that healthy gut flora happy is a must so choose sauerkraut, kimchi, natto and green tea to help colonize good bacteria and aid in detoxification. Let’s not forget about water. Filtered or spring water is best. The general rule is to drink half your body weight in ounces. Also, when we feel better, it motivates us exercise and to stick with our program.

Now let’s talk about binding those toxins so they can be eliminated in the body. Modified citrus pectin (MCP) from citrus peels is a unique dietary fiber that removes toxic metals, environmental toxins, and even radioactive isotopes from the circulatory system and digestive tract. It is a safe gentle chelating agent and does not remove essential minerals due to its structure. When you combine it with alginates, you get a more powerful effect because the alginates from seaweed prevent the reabsorption of heavy metals.
MCP is also one of the most powerful immune enhancers according to a study by Dr. Isaac Eliaz. In healthy volunteers MCP showed a healthy increase in blood cytotoxic T-cells (which fight cancer) by 160%, and it activated natural killer cells (NK-cells) 10-fold which changes the activity of cancer.
Researchers have also shown that MCP binds to Galectin-3 (Gal-3) to reverse inflammation and fibrotic changes to the heart, kidney, liver, nervous system and other tissues. Gal-3 is recognized as a predictive biomarker and therapeutic target for heart disease. It is easily measured in the blood and is covered by most insurance companies. It can also be used to assess cancer risk and progression.
For those with no risk factors, 5 grams per day is recommended. This will help reduce toxic heavy metals, enhance the immune system, reduce inflammation and tissue damage. Also, as we age Gal-3 naturally goes up, so MCP will help with maintenance. If you have any chronic illness, cardiovascular disease, cancer, hepatitis or elevated Gal-3 (over 15), then 15 grams a day is recommended.
Start a healthy cleanse this spring. It’s worth the investment!
References:
Dr. Eliaz, I. 3-Step Spring Detox Diet. Amazingwellnessmag.com. March 1 2017
Komen, S. Modified citrus pectin. Komen.org. 2014.
Desaulniers, V. How can modified citrus pectin halt cancer cell growth? Thetruthaboutcancer.com. June 9, 2016.
Isaac Eliaz, MD, MS, L.AC., www.modifiedcitruspectin.org

It is not uncommon for me to see aspirin on the medication list of many of my older patients. It is most common with my well-controlled hypertensive or hyperlipidemia clients whom have no history of clinically evident cardiovascular (CV) disease. So when I ask them why they are on aspirin, the common reply is, “I read that it prevents heart attack and stroke so I started it on my own”, or “My husbands cardiologist suggested I take it after I took him in for a check up”. Two new studies in 2018 might shed some light on the subject.

In the ARRIVE trial, some 12,000 non-diabetic patients were randomized to 100mg of daily aspirin or placebo. Enrolled men were 55 years or older with 2 or more CV risk factors. Women in the study were at least 60 years old and had 3 or more CV risk factors. After a 5 year follow up aspirin had no CV benefit in reducing CV-related death, heart attack, unstable angina, stroke or transient ischemic events anymore than placebo. Those in the aspirin group had a slightly higher risk for gastrointestinal bleeding.

In the ASCEND trial, 15,000 middle aged or older diabetic patients were randomized to 100mg of aspirin daily or placebo. During average follow up of about 7 years, aspirin prevented 1 vascular event but caused 1 serious hemorrhage for every 100 treated patients.

So what does this mean…

Maybe we shouldn’t use aspirin as the magic prophylactic bullet for primary prevention that we once thought. Among diabetic patients, the trade off between a small benefit and harm are razor thin. And balancing one adverse event (CV event) against another adverse event (gastrointestinal bleed) is not straightforward. We cannot predict which of those outcomes would apply to any given patient. The other consideration is that a large proportion of patients in both studies were taking statins and antihypertensive drugs, and only a small proportion were current smokers. So you could conclude that these studies examined the incremental benefit of aspirin, added to other standard preventative treatments.

I like to individualize my healthcare with patients since outcomes in studies give us associations and not cause-and-effect results. One additional way to determine if a patient would benefit from aspirin is by performing a random urine test known as Aspirin Works. This measures 11-Dehydrothromboxane B2 in the urine which is produced from the breakdown of thromboxane A2. It is released by activated platelets (that cause our blood to clot) and urine levels can be used to monitor the response to aspirin therapy. This test may determine that you don’t need aspirin, or if on aspirin that your dose needs to be changed.

Ask your doctor or practitioner to perform this simple urine test to see if a daily aspirin would specifically benefit you.

Reference: Brett, A. Aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular events; JWatch.org, Oct 1, 2018, Vol. 38, No. 19.
NEJM JW Cardiol Oct 2018 and N Engl J Med 2018 Aug 26; [e-pub]

All medications have risks, whether they be a supplement or prescription drug. One example would be non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs such as Advil, Naproxen, Celebrex, or Diclofenac. Many people use these drugs long-term for menstrual cramps, headaches, aches and pains, arthritis or injuries. Long-term use can increase the risk for acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease progression. They also raise the risk for cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke. So it’s been suggested to avoid use of these medications for those with hypertension, heart failure or chronic kidney disease. This is difficult, especially for the elderly who typically have these health conditions but also need pain relief for treatment of osteoarthritis.

In a recent U.K. study, Diclofenac was associated with excess risk for myocardial infarction as opposed to Naproxen. Also, Ketorolac, another NSAID, can adversely affect kidney function more than other NSAIDs. Factor in dehydration, nausea, activity limitations especially after surgery, and acute kidney injury and you can see that the use of these meds can be a real danger.

With the opioid crisis in the forefront, nonnarcotic alternatives for pain control are in high demand. If you need to use an NSAID, there are some like Diclofenac that pose a higher risk for cardiovascular events and GI bleeding compared with other NSAIDs or Tylenol. There is little justification to use Diclofenac before trying other traditional NSAIDs. Better yet, it’s worth trying herbs such as Ginger, Curcumin and Boswellia (AKBA). Combining Boswellia’s activity with Curcumin and Tumeric can offer even higher levels of pain relief. CBD is also an amazing pain reliever if monitored well.
I always advocate plenty of fluids, avoiding food allergens and other inflammatory triggers and getting healthy sleep as the foundation for reducing pain and optimal wellness.

References: Dubreuil M et al. Risk of myocardial infarction with use of selected non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with spondyloarthritis and osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2018 Aug; 77: 1137.
Schwenk, T. NSAID use in patients with hypertension, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease. Journal Watch 2018 Nov; Vol. 38 No. 22 p. 180.
Myers, C. Plants for pain relief. Health and Happiness 2019 Feb; p 12.