The Gary Null Show Notes – 03.27.23

Videos:

1.US General: Secret Plan to Invade 7 Muslim Countries 

The Higher The Magnesium Level, The Healthier Our Arteries

National Institute of Cardiology (Mexico), March 15, 2023

Higher serum levels of magnesium may reduce the risk of hypertension by almost 50% and the risk of coronary artery calcification by 42%, says a new study.

More than 70 percent of the population have an unhealthy balance of 10 calcium to 1 magnesium in our many trillions of cells. A previous study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicated that for every 50 mg per day increase in intake of the mineral, the risk of cancer was modestly reduced by 7%.

Another notable study of more than 4,600 Americans found the risk of developing metabolic syndrome over the next 15 years was 31 percent lower for those with the highest intake of magnesium.

Data from 1,276 Mexican subjects also indicated that for every 0.17 mg/dL increase in serum magnesium level was associated with a 16% reduction in coronary artery calcification.

The new cross-sectional study, which was published in the Nutrition Journal , assessed magnesium levels in almost 1,300 Mexican participants aged between 30 and 75. None of the participants had any symptoms of cardiovascular disease.

The results indicated that people with the highest average serum levels magnesium (greater than 2.18 mg/dl) had 48% lower odds of high blood pressure (hypertension), 69 % lower odds of type 2 diabetes, and 42% lower odds of coronary artery calcification, compared with people with lowest average levels (less than 1.97 mg/dl).

“The results of this study strongly suggest that lower serum magnesium levels are associated with coronary artery calcification in Mexican subjects free of clinically apparent cardiovascular disease,” wrote the researchers. “Confirmation of these results in other populations is required. Additional prospective studies are also needed to determine if hypomagnesaemia predicts the development and progression of coronary atherosclerosis.”

While the data indicates correlation and not causation, scientists from the National Institute of Cardiology – Ignacio Chávez in Mexico City said that there is biological plausibility for the potential cardiovascular benefits, adding that the mechanism(s) may be linked to enhancing endothelial function and reducing inflammation.

The results add to an ever growing body of science supporting the potential health benefits of the mineral.

Black Seed May Treat Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s Disease), Clinical Trial Reveals

Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (Iran), March 22, 2023 

A powerful randomized clinical trial reveals that the ancient healing food known as nigella sativa (aka “black seed”), once known as the “remedy for everything but death,” may provide an ideal treatment for the autoimmune thyroid condition known as Hashimoto’s disease, which is the most common cause of hypothyroidism.

The study, published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, evaluated the effects of nigella sativa on thyroid function, serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) – 1, Nesfatin -1 and anthropometric features in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

The study took 40 patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, aged between 22 and 50 years old, and randomized them into one group receiving two grams of powdered encapsulated Nigella sativa and the other 2 grams starch placebo daily for 8 weeks.. Changes in anthropometric variables, dietary intakes, thyroid status, serum VEGF and Nesfatin-1 concentrations were measured.

The positive results were reported as follows:

“Treatment with Nigella sativa significantly reduced body weight and body mass index (BMI). Serum concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies decreased while serum T3 concentrations increased in Nigella sativa-treated group after 8 weeks. There was a significant reduction in serum VEGF concentrations in intervention group. None of these changes had been observed in placebo treated group. In stepwise multiple regression model, changes in waist to hip ratio (WHR) and thyroid hormones were significant predictors of changes in serum VEGF and Nesgfatin-1 values in Nigella sativa treated group.”

The researchers concluded:

“Our data showed a potent beneficial effect of powdered Nigella sativa in improving thyroid status and anthropometric variables in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Moreover, Nigella sativa significantly reduced serum VEGF concentrations in these patients. Considering observed health- promoting effect of this medicinal plant in ameliorating the disease severity, it can be regarded as a useful therapeutic approach in management of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.”

Twice weekly yoga classes plus home practice effective in reducing symptoms of depression

Boston University School of Medicine,  March 13, 2023 

People who suffer from depression should participate in yoga and deep (coherent) breathing classes at least twice weekly plus practice at home to receive a significant reduction in their symptoms.

The findings, which appear in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, provide preliminary support for the use of yoga-based interventions as an alternative or supplement to pharmacologic treatments for depression.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is common, recurrent, chronic and disabling. Due in part to its prevalence, depression is globally responsible for more years lost to disability than any other disease. Up to 40 percent of individuals treated with antidepressant medications for MDD do not achieve full remission. This study used lyengar yoga that has an emphasis on detail, precision and alignment in the performance of posture and breath control.

Individuals with MDD were randomized to the high dose group, three 90-minute classes a week along with home practice, or the low dose group, two 90-minute classes a week, plus home practice. Both groups had significant decreases in their depressive symptoms and no significant differences in compliance. Although a greater number of subjects in the high dose group had less depressive symptoms, the researchers believe attending twice weekly classes (plus home practice) may constitute a less burdensome but still effective way to gain the mood benefits from the intervention.

“This study supports the use of a yoga and coherent breathing intervention in major depressive disorder in people who are not on antidepressants and in those who have been on a stable dose of antidepressants and have not achieved a resolution of their symptoms,” explained corresponding author Chris Streeter, MD, associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at Boston University School of Medicine and a psychiatrist at Boston Medical Center.

According to Streeter compared with mood altering medications, this intervention has the advantages of avoiding additional drug side effects and drug interactions. “While most pharmacologic treatment for depression target monoamine systems, such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, this intervention targets the parasympathetic and gamma aminobutyric acid system and provides a new avenue for treatment.”

Social media and the self-perpetuating cycle of risk for body image and eating disorders

University College London, March 23, 2023

With recent reports finding that 91% of U.K. and U.S. adolescents use social media and that over 50% check their accounts at least once per hour, researchers decided to have a look into the influence of so much social media use on body image concerns and eating pathology in young people.

Alexandra Dane, and Komal Bhatia from the Institute for Global Health, University College London, compiled and analyzed data from 50 studies in 17 countries involving young people ages 10 to 24. The papers centered around comparisons of social media exposure to physical and mental health outcomes.

Eating disorders can often be fatal illnesses. With such an overwhelming percentage of modern childhood interacting with social media, the risks could have generational consequences if ignored. Understanding factors contributing to pathology allows researchers, parents, educators, policymakers, and health care professionals to use resources proactively and preventatively.

The report  suggests that social media usage leads to body image concerns, eating disorders, disordered eating and poor mental health.

Specific time and frequency exposures to social media trends, pro-eating disorder content, appearance-focused platforms and investment in appearance-related activities were found to strengthen the relationship with pathology. High BMI, being female, and pre-existing body image concerns also increased this relationship, while high social media literacy and body appreciation were protective factors.

Links between social media usage and body image dissatisfaction, including body shame, low self-esteem and body-related anxiety, were demonstrated in 33 studies. Five of these studies suggested that body image dissatisfaction preceded a subsequent eating disorder pathology.

Appearance-related activities such as “selfie” avoidance, photo manipulation, and posting edited photos were consistently associated with body image dissatisfaction and risk of eating disorder pathology in 17 studies.

Significant associations between social media usage and disordered eating behaviors, including binging, purging, use of laxatives and extreme dieting were seen in 11 studies.

Seven studies investigated the relationship between social media screen time and body image or eating disorder-related outcomes. High frequency of social media usage and body image dissatisfaction was supported in another two studies. Five cross-sectional studies connected social media usage to various clinical eating disorders.

Can you really die of a broken heart?

St. George’s University of London, March 21, 2023 

Losing a loved one can be heartbreaking. But a new study shows that this can be more than just symbolic, as the chances of experiencing a stroke or heart attack after a partner’s death doubles within the first 30 days.

The researchers note that, sometimes, grief can lead to extra physical stress and can also make people lose interest or forget to take their medication.To investigate bereavement as a risk factor for cardiovascular problems, the team assessed the rate of stroke or heart attack in patients over the age of 60 whose partner died. They then compared that with individuals whose partners were still alive.

In total, there were 3,0447 individuals in the study whose partner died and 83,588 controls whose partners did not.

The researchers found that 16 per 10,000 people whose partners died experienced heart attacks or strokes within 30 days of their partner dying, compared with only 8 per 10,000 from the control population. After 30 days, however, this increased risk began to fall in individuals who lost a loved one.

Dr. Sunil Shah, co-author and senior lecturer at St. George’s University of London, says: “We often use the term a ‘broken heart’ to signify the pain of losing a loved one and our study shows that bereavement can have a direct effect on the health of the heart.”

There has been evidence from other previous studies that partner loss and grief can lead to changes in blood clotting, blood pressure and heart rate control, Dr. Shah says.

“In addition, we have found, in another study, that in the first few months after bereavement, individuals may not consistently take their regular preventive medication, such as cholesterol-lowering drugs or aspirin,” he adds.

The Link Between Nightshades, Chronic Pain And Inflammation

Few people are familiar with the term nightshades, and many will be surprised to learn that consuming foods from this plant group may be contributing to their pain and inflammation.

GreenMedInfo, March 21, 2023

Nightshades belong to the Solanaceae family which includes over 2,000 species. They also include some of the most popular foods consumed today; such as tomatoes, potatoes, all types of peppers, and eggplant. Although not truly nightshades, blueberries, huckleberries, goji berries and ashwaganda all share the same alkaloids which may have inflammation-inducing properties.

The Solanaceae family contains cholinesterase inhibiting glycoalkaloids and steroid alkaloids including, among others, solanine in potato and eggplant, tomatine in tomato, nicotine in tobacco, and capsaicin in garden peppers. The glycoalkaloids in potatoes are known to contribute to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and negatively affect intestinal permeability. According to Dr. Marvin Childers, “When these inhibitors accumulate in the body, alone or with other cholinesterase inhibitors such as caffeine or food impurities containing systemic cholinesterase inhibiting pesticides, the result may be a paralytic-like muscle spasm, aches, pains, tenderness, inflammation, and stiff body movements.” These symptoms may dissipate in a few hours or days if ingestion is stopped, based on the sensitivity of the individual, the amount of nightshades consumed on a regular basis and their level of inflammation. However for some heavy consumers of nightshades the process of inflammation and pain reduction can take up to 3 months.

After reading the symptoms associated with nightshade consumption, it is easy to understand why one of the major problems attributed to nightshade is arthritis.  Arthritis has no boundaries to gender, race or age, it affects young and old alike In fact it may be surprising to some that an estimated 294,000 children (age 18 and under), have some form of arthritis.

Three-month challenge

If you want to know if nightshades negatively affect you, take the three month challenge. Avoid all nightshades for three months.  Be careful to note the nightshade list, and become a label reader as some homeopathics, prescriptions, over the counter medications as well as numerous processed foods contain nightshades. Prescriptions and over the counter medicines may require a discussion with your pharmacist or a phone call to the manufacturer of your over the counter medicines to determine ingredients.

After three months, begin to reintroduce one nightshade at a time. Take note of any aches, pains, stiffness, and loss of energy, headaches, respiratory problems or any other symptoms. You may find as many others have, that the quality of your daily health will dramatically improve after eliminating nightshades from your diet.

The nightshade list

·         ­ tomatoes (all varieties, including tomatillos)

·         ­ potatoes (all varieties, NOT sweet potatoes or yams)

·         ­ eggplant (aubergine)

·         ­ okra

·         ­ peppers (all varieties such as bell pepper, wax pepper, green & red peppers, chili peppers, cayenne, paprika, etc.)

·         ­ goji berries

·         ­ tomarillos (a plum-like fruit from Peru)

·         ­ sorrel

·         ­ garden huckleberry & blueberries (contain the alkaloids that induce inflammation)

·         ­ gooseberries

·         ­ ground cherries

·         ­ pepino Melon

·         ­ the homeopathic “Belladonna” [note: this is highly precautionary as homeopathics contain virtually no measurable “active” chemical]

·         ­ tobacco

·         ­ paprika

·         ­ cayenne pepper

Soy sauce made in the U.S. is generally made with genetically modified (GMO) soy beans, which are cut with the nightshade plant Petunia.

The condiments black/white pepper and pepper corns are not nightshades

Other ingredients and products to avoid

·         ­Homeopathic remedies containing Belladonna [note: this is highly precautionary as homeopathics contain virtually no measurable “active” chemical]

·         ­Prescription and over-the-counter medications containing potato starch as a filler (especially prevalent in sleeping and muscle relaxing medications)

·         ­Edible flowers: petunia, chalice vine, day jasmine, angel and devil’s trumpets

·         ­Atropine and Scopolamine, used in sleeping pills

·         ­Topical medications for pain and inflammation containing capsicum (in cayenne pepper).

·         ­Many baking powders contain potato starch

·         ­Don’t lick envelopes, many adhesives contain potato starch

·         ­Vodka (potatoes used in production)