Astaxanthin Reduces Ischemic Brain Injury.

Posted on July 5, 2009 by Dr. Gary Pack

Astaxanthin (ATX) is the carotenoid found in algae, fish and crustaceans which accounts for their color. It is necessary for development and survival of salmonids and crustaceans. ATX in algae protects them from the damage of ultraviolet (UV) light. ATX has been shown to alter liver function in fish. ATX reduces the effects of loss […]

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Conditions: Apoptosis, Ischemic brain injury, Neuroprotection, Oxidation

Supplements: Algae, Astaxanthin, Beta-carotene, Carotenoids, Lutein

Foods: Crustaceans, Fish

Miscellaneous: UV (ultraviolet) light

Omega-3, DHA, and EPA for Cognition, Behavior, and Mood.

Posted on March 14, 2009 by Dr. Gary Pack

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are omega-3 fatty acids which are conditionally beneficial. They function on cell membranes where they are attached to phospholipids. Cell membranes are the “pacemakers of metabolism.” Increasing the unsaturated fatty acids in the membranes improves “fluidity” of cell membranes and improves cellular functioning. This is important in such […]

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Nutrition and Autoimmune Disease.

Posted on December 18, 2008 by Dr. Gary Pack

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory condition of the joints. It is believed to be an autoimmune disease. It is characterized by the movement of lymphocytes and other inflammatory cells into the joint tissues and fluids, causing pain and swelling. The main dietary omega-6 fatty acid, arachidonic acid, produces inflammatory eicosanoid chemicals in cells. High […]

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Conditions: Autoimmune disease, Inflammation, Pain, Rheumatoid arthritis

Supplements: Docosahexanoic acid (DHA), Eicosapentanoic acid (EPA), Fish oil, Omega-3 fatty (linolenic) acid, Omega-6 fatty (linoleic) acid

Foods: Fish

Miscellaneous: Anti-inflammatory, Arachidonic acid, Eicosanoids, Prolactin, Resolvins

Functional Foods and Health Promotion.

Posted on March 15, 2008 by Dr. Gary Pack

Hippocrates said “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” 2,500 years ago. Today, “functional foods” are foods which have been shown by science to be highly nutritious and improve human health. Awareness grew in 1997 that increased intake of fruits and vegetables reduced cardiovascular risk. Increasing numbers of plant and animal chemicals […]

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Conditions: Cancer, Cardiovascular disease

Supplements: Bifidobacterium sp., CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), Fiber, FOS (fructooligosaccharide), Inulin, Omega-3 fatty (linolenic) acid, Prebiotics, Probiotics

Foods: Dairy, Fermented foods, Fish, Fruits, Functional food, Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus), Vegetables

Miscellaneous: Chicory (Cichonium intybus), Hippocrates

Selenium and Mercury in Pelagic Fish in the Pacific Near Hawaii.

Posted on March 13, 2008 by Dr. Gary Pack

A recent British study showed that maternal consumption of fish resulted in improved neural development in their children. Maternal avoidance of fish seemed to cause harm to the neural development of the offspring. This is in contrast to a historic mercury (Hg) poisoning of Minamata Bay in Japan which caused severe neural damage when the […]

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Conditions: Mercury poisoning, Neuroprotection

Supplements: Arginine, Selenium

Foods: Albacore tuna, Bigeye tuna, Blue marlin, Escolar, Fish, Mahimahi, Mako shark, Opah, Sickle pomfret, Skipjack Tuna, Spearfish, Striped marlin, Swordfish, Thresher shark, Wahoo, Yellowfin tuna

Miscellaneous: Hair analysis, Japan, Minamata Bay, Pelagic fish

Strong Poison Revisited.

Posted on January 28, 2008 by Dr. Gary Pack

Selenium was identified as a toxin before trace amounts of selenium were recognized to be essential. Selenocysteine is a form of selenium necessary for health, for proteins and in other roles. Some plants, such as Astragalus (Astragalus bisulcatus) accumulate large amounts of selenium that can cause toxicity in animals, which causes pain in horses and […]

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Conditions: Arsenic toxicity, Cancer, Heavy metal toxicity, Mercury poisoning, Selenium deficiency

Supplements: Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), Glutathione, Selenium, Selenocysteine

Foods: Fish

Miscellaneous: Arsenic, Custer (Gen. George Armstrong), Mercury, Pelagic fish

Toxicology of Mercury.

Posted on April 12, 2007 by Dr. Gary Pack

Chronic low dose mercury exposure and the disease states which result have not been well studied. The role of low dose mercury in chronic disease is controversial, especially in regard to the use of mercury dental amalgams, mercury-containing thiomersal in vaccines and the consumption of mercury containing fish. There has been speculation about the role […]

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Conditions: Alzheimer's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Autism, Mercury poisoning, Multiple sclerosis, Neuroprotection, Parkinson's disease

Supplements: Alpha lipoic acid, Apple pectin, Chelation therapy, Dietary fiber, DMPS, DMSA, Glutathione, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), Selenium, Zinc

Foods: Apple, Fish, Wheat bran

Miscellaneous: Blood-brain barrier, Homocysteine, Ligand, Metabolite, Thiols, Thiomersal, Toxicology, Vaccines

Cardiovascular Disease Benefits of a Hunter-Gatherer Diet.

Posted on February 23, 2007 by Dr. Gary Pack

Evolution over millions of years has determined the nutritional and exercise needs of today’s humans. Our diets and lifestyles have changed a great deal over the past 10,000 years while our genomes have changed very little. The results of these changes have been more obesity, hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The Paleolithic diets included wild, […]

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Conditions: Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, Hypertension, Inflammation, Metabolic syndrome, Obesity, Osteoporosis, Rickets

Supplements: Omega-3 fatty (linolenic) acid, Omega-6 fatty (linoleic) acid

Foods: Fish, Fruits, Grass, Green tea (Camellia sinensis), Leafy green vegetables, Meat, Nuts, Olive oil, Vegetables, Wild meat

Miscellaneous: Hunter-gatherer diet, Paleolithic diet, Trans fats

Diet at the Onset of Neolithic.

Posted on December 28, 2006 by Dr. Gary Pack

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the switch from a marine-based to a terrestrial diet in Britain during the Neolithic period occurred suddenly or slowly (over a millennium). This shift occurred between 5,200 and 4,500 years ago. Richards measured stable carbon isotopes of ancient bones to study dietary patterns of the past. […]

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Conditions: Autoimmune disease, Cancer, Chronic diseases

Foods: Fish, Wild cereals

Miscellaneous: Archaeology, Britain, Hunter-gatherer diet, Lifestyle, Marine diet, Neolithic diet, Paleolithic diet, Terrestial diet

Mediterranean Diet and Longevity in the Elderly.

Posted on October 4, 2006 by Dr. Gary Pack

Longevity is believed to be the result of consuming a Mediterranean diet and this study was an attempt to evaluate that belief. Elderly people were studied in Greece, Spain, Denmark, and Australia, which their diets being followed up to their death or to the end of the study. There are a number of common factors […]

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Conditions: Aging, Cancer, Coronary heart disease, Diabetes, Mortality

Supplements: Bioflavonoids