IT IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST HEALTH THREAT FACED BY YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
CATEGORY: 2: Inflammation
https://lynncapehartwellness.com/2013/09/01/blog-30-essay-2-the-seven-categories-of-illness/
RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENT: BETA CAROTENE
I had planned to talk about preventing and eliminating cancer in this blog, but it occurred to me that first I should discuss inflammation, which is how cancer and many other diseases begin. No inflammation, no cancer.
Inflammation is a localized immune response, your body’s protective reaction to irritation, injury, infection, or toxin. It is characterized by tenderness, swelling, redness, and in most cases, pain. For sure, if you experience pain anywhere, it is due to inflammation.
In the following, I’ve used analogy, oversimplified the physical processes, misspelled antioxidant, and written twice as much as usual, in an attempt to make things clearer. I hope that by the time you finish this post you will have a better understanding of how cancer and other inflammation based diseases begin and proceed inside your body. If you do nothing more than learn to fend off inflammation for yourself and your family, you will have gone a long way toward remaining cancer free.
In order to understand inflammation, it helps to comprehend the roles played by (a) free radicals, (b) oxidation, and (c) anti-oxidants. These are words you’ve heard before probably, but do you really know what they mean?
Inflammation begins with cell damage by way of free radicals, so let’s start there.
FREE RADICALS
Your body is comprised of cells. Inside a cell, each electron has to have a partner electron in order for the cell to remain stable and healthy. In other words, the two electrons have to remain together, or there will be trouble.
Trouble comes when something happens to damage the bond between the partnered electrons in a healthy cell. If they become separated, or one of them is destroyed, the single electron(s) left behind becomes a free radical, unstable and dangerous.
The single electron/free radical goes berserk when it finds itself suddenly alone, without its partner electron. (How do you feel when you get dumped?) It turns and immediately attacks a nearby healthy cell that has both electrons. It desperately tries to break them apart, so it can steal one and become stable and healthy again itself. If it is successful it once again becomes stable with its stolen electron, but the cell it disrupted becomes a free radical and continues the angry process. A cascade effect can lead to severe cellular damage, and mutations like cancer.
As an analogy, think of the two bonded electrons in a healthy cell as a married couple in a social system where being single is prohibited. In this system, two people (electrons) who are part of a marriage are stable, acceptable. No problem. Live long and prosper.
But a single person (electron) without a partner is a free radical who can only prosper by breaking up another married pair. Like a single hussy or cad who breaks up a marriage and runs off with one of the partners, single electron/free radicals seek to destroy other nearby stable cells for their own benefit.
Cells are damaged and free radicals created in many ways: (a) naturally, as a result of metabolism, but also from (b) irritation, like that from a tight bracelet that leaves the skin red and tender at the end of the day, (c) injury, like banging your shin as you’re getting out of the tub, causing a lump that hurts and shows a bruise, (d) infection, anywhere in the body, (e) toxins, like air pollutants and radiation that bombard first responders, (f) poor diet, insufficient in anti-oxidants to control and neutralize free radicals, and (g) other stressors specific to an individual.
Although free radicals are a natural part of living, like the hussy and cad, when too many of them build up due to the factors listed above, you have oxidation and the beginning of inflammation–a precursor to cancer.
OXIDATION
The simplest way of thinking about oxidation is that it is spoilage, aging, decay–due to contact with oxygen. We live in an oxygen rich environment. You know what happens to an avocado slice left out in the open air. The exposed meat turns brown from contact with oxygen. It oxidizes, spoils, due to an excess of free radicals. Something similar happens inside your body. When you return to the kitchen later, the avocado will be rotting and you won’t eat it. That’s a good instinct, because you would literally be eating free radicals! That is why you should never eat salad that has browned, or other food that is obviously past its prime, unless you absolutely have to. Think of every bite as a mouthful of cancer.
You can even see free radical damage in the mirror. Broadly speaking, aging is another form of oxidation caused by free radicals.
LET’S FOLLOW THE DISEASE GROWTH CURVE IN A HYPOTHETICAL FIRE FIGHTER, FROM INJURY EVENT TO INFLAMMATION AND DISEASE:John sustains massive cellular damage from exposure to pollution and radiation while fighting fires at ground zero, but has no idea what is happening to him. Inside many of John’s cells, the electrons break their bond and separate, due to damage from the toxin exposure.Large amounts of single electrons are let loose in John’s system as free radicals.Free radical growth continues and finally cascades, leading to oxidation (spoilage and decay), in many parts of John’s system.John’s immune system fights back with localized inflammation. There is some pain but he ignores it.The localized inflammation worsens, as does John’s pain. His cell production begins to mutate and malignant tumors develop on his liver and gallbladder. New arterial pathways grow to nourish the new mutations and help them survive. Free radical growth continues unabated and new tumors form. _______________________ We know that John’s cancer is due to (e) toxins, from his exposure to pollutants and radiation after 911, and (f) poor diet, insufficient in anti-oxidants to neutralize the free radicals in his system. Enough anti-oxidants would have prevented the free radicals from cascading and resulting in inflammation and cancer. |
ANTI-OXIDANTS
Okay, we’re all on the same page, right? We know that almost any harm that comes to a cell can lead to its electrons separating and turning into free radicals. Get too many of those mean little nasties and you have oxidation, which we know as spoilage and decay. It makes sense then that in order to counter oxidation, you need strong anti-oxidation. You can get this by way of eating certain foods, and taking Beta Carotene. Just remember, food alone is not enough to protect you.
FOODS HIGH IN ANTIOXIDANTS THAT YOU SHOULD EAT MORE OF INCLUDE:FRUITS: acai berry, blueberry, blackberry, cranberry, raspberry, rose hips, strawberry, apple, prune, grape, plum, cherry, orange, lemon, lime, bilberry, watermelon, and others. VEGETABLES: spinach, kale, red cabbage, peppers, parsley, artichoke, Brussels sprout, carrot, red beet, ginger, potato, tomato, watercress, broccoli, and others. DRIED FRUITS: apricot, prune, date, raisin, cranberry, cherry, pineapple, and others. LEGUMES: red bean, black bean, pinto bean, lima bean, soybean, edamame, and others. NUTS: peanut, pecan, walnut, hazelnuts, and others. OTHER: red wine and dark chocolate. |
Anti-oxidants protect you from free radical damage because they have a unique characteristic. Unlike the married electrons in a healthy cell that become free radicals when separated, anti-oxidants give up one of their electrons without becoming a free radical. Think of an anti-oxidant as benevolent, selfless, who like a Mother Teresa wants only to help others in need.
That’s how anti-oxidants neutralize free radicals, by donating one of their own electrons to the free radical, helping it stop being a free radical and become healthy again. The anti-oxidant ends the electron stealing chain reaction discussed above, because anti-oxidants are stable in either form, as a single electron, or a married pair.
The first thing a sous chef does after cutting avocado slices, and before serving them with your grilled chicken sandwich, is to sprinkle on some lemon or lime juice. She does this because the anti-oxidants in the citrus keep the meat from turning brown and decaying right in front of you. The same thing happens in your body, because anti-oxidants neutralize free radicals, stopping oxidation.
You have a choice therefore, to either let free radicals run loose in your system and hope they don’t turn into inflammation and cancer. Or send in anti-oxidants to partner with the free radicals and return them to normalcy, thereby avoiding disease.
You should never use a food supplement to replace eating a wide variety of foods. But besides the foods listed here, you need a strong anti-oxidant supplement like Beta Carotene to avoid inflammation and cancer.
FIGHTING INFLAMMATION GENERALLY WITH BETA CAROTENE
In other blogs I will address specific inflammatory diseases, like cancer and Crohn’s. Here, I’m going to prescribe a minimum maintenance dose for preventing inflammation generally. Since cancer has become a child’s disease, I am including doses for children. Even a toddler has free radicals in her system.
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INFLAMMATION REMEDY AT A GLANCE CHART (Maintenance Doses) (Adults, and Children 12 and Over.)
SUPPLEMENTS | BREAKFAST | DINNER | BRAND | STRENGTH |
BETA CAROTENE (softgels only) | 10-15 softgels (or more) | 10-15 softgels (or more) | Puritan’s Pride #1223 | 25,000 I.U (Equivalent to 15 mg) |
VITAMIN D3 (softgels only) | 1 softgel | 1 softgel | Solgar | 1000 I.U. |
Aloe Vera Gel (softgels only) | 2 softgels | 2 softgels | Puritan’s Pride #2682 | 200:1 extract (equivalent to 1 teaspoon) |
INFLAMMATION REMEDY AT A GLANCE CHART (Maintenance Doses) (Children 7-11)
SUPPLEMENTS | BREAKFAST | DINNER | BRAND | STRENGTH |
BETA CAROTENE (softgels only) | 5-8 softgels | 5-8 softgels | Puritan’s Pride #1223 | 25,000 I.U (Equivalent to 15 mg) |
VITAMIN D3 (softgels only) | 1 softgel | 1 softgel | Solgar (visit vitaminlife.com) | 400 I.U. |
Aloe Vera Gel (sofootgels only) | 2 softgels | 2 softgels | Puritan’s Pride #2682 | 200:1 extract (equivalent to 1 teaspoon) |
INFLAMMATION REMEDY AT A GLANCE CHART (Maintenance Doses) (Children 4-6)
SUPPLEMENTS | BREAKFAST | DINNER | BRAND | STRENGTH |
BETA CAROTENE (softgels only) | 2-4 softgels | 2-4 softgels | Puritan’s Pride #1223 | 25,000 I.U (Equivalent to 15 mg) |
VITAMIN D3 (softgels only) | 1 softgel | 1 softgel | Solgar | 400 I.U. |
Aloe Vera Gel Liquid | 1 teaspoon | Puritan’s Pride #1600 | 99.3% |
NOTES
Maybe the Beta Carotene prescribed here sounds like a lot for a maintenance dose. As a reference, I take 50 twice daily for maintenance, more if I’m hurt—up to 200 softgels daily for several days after surgery, to stop pain and discomfort and speed healing. Since they’re small, it takes only two or three swallows to get 50 down. And I have a zero tolerance approach to illness and pain. I don’t want it to be better; I want it to be gone.
Other vitamins like C and E are known to be good anti-oxidants, but they are not as effective as Beta Carotene. You can continue to take them, but to ensure against serious inflammation based diseases, use Beta Carotene.
Vitamin D is also being prescribed as an assist for Beta Carotene, which uses Vitamin D in its processes. If you can’t find D3 it’s okay to use plain Vitamin D.
Aloe Vera Gel is being prescribed specifically for your colon, because this is such an easy spot for cancer and other inflammations like Crohn’s disease to flourish. You know how soothing Aloe Vera feels on a cut, sunburn, or patch of irritated skin. It does the same thing in your intestines, soothes and cleanses. You will notice that after a few days taking the gel, your movements won’t smell as bad, nor will your various expulsions of air. Think of the colon as the body’s dumping ground, its garbage can. Extra care must be taken to keep the intestines clean and healthy.
If you take more Beta Carotene than your body can process you might get a mild, dull headache. It lasts as long as it takes your body to utilize the Beta Carotene, usually a couple hours. Some people get an itchy rash for a couple hours that can be relieved with Benadryl. There are no other side effects because Beta Carotene will not harm you. It will not turn your skin or the whites of your eyes orange, but if you take enough it will turn your feces that color.
If you take Beta Carotene without also taking Vitamin D, you will deplete your stores of Vitamin D and develop a Vitamin D deficiency. It usually manifests as sores on the inside of the mouth. Be sure to take Vitamin D every time you take Beta Carotene and there will be no problem.
Don’t use Mixed Carotenoids. They are a marketing gimmick and will not work the way I have described here. Only straight up Beta Carotene will work.
Please be nice to each other, and look for my next post: Blog 4: CANCER, where I tell you how to prevent and eliminate it anywhere in the body.
PLEASE DONATE. Your support is greatly appreciated. Lynn Capehart Wellness Foundation is a non-profit corporation. All donations are tax deductible. We appreciate your support for our Vitamin Scholarship Program to provide supplements to those who can’t afford them. Make donations in the name of lynncapehartnonprofit@outlook.com at www.paypal.com using any credit card or bank. Contact me: lynncapehart@gmail.com Thank you. |
Lynn, This might be hard to believe but I have recently found a couple of people at our super market trying to sub Victim A for beta carotene. I told them, they aren’t the same. As you know Vitamin A in the dosage we need to take beta carotene is toxic Just wanted to pass this info to others. Keep up the good work. John
Lynn, Your beta carotene regiment has helped me get rid of a boil that just kept returning. Also my ear infections are gone. You’re an angle. Thanks so much. I have read that if a person is taking D3 that person should also be taking Vitamin K2-mk4. K2 will remove calcium from the blood and send it back to the teeth and bones where it belongs. What do you think?
Hi John,
So happy that my beta carotene treatment worked for you. Do you realize that it will also cure cancer, and any inflammatory disorder, or any infection?
No you do not have to worry when taking D3. No you do not need to take any other vitamin like K2 or any other supplement to get D3 to work in your body. You need D3 when taking beta carotene, because the body utilizes D3 to assimilate beta carotene. Anything else you’re hearing is non essential to treating yourself with supplements. Ignore it.
Thanks for writing, Lynn
Hi! I am new to the blog. I started reading it because of hair loss. I am wondering if I can take the regimen for hair loss that you talk about in Blog 2, with the beta carotene you talk about here.
Thanks,
Shanon
Hi Shanon,
Welcome to my blog. Yes you can take the supplements for hair loss at the same time you are taking beta carotene for inflammation. Since supplements are simply concentrated nutrition it’s like asking if it’s ok to eat turkey at the same time you are eating an orange. It’s only food.
If you want you can subscribe and get my new postings or follow me on twitter @lynncapehart.
Thanks for writing, Lynn.
Hi, Lynn. Hope you are well. Saw that you have published your book … congrats!!
Just an FYI: I am unable to take more than 3-4 BC caps at a time, as more gives me hives … go figure!
Kenny Lee
Hi Kenny,
Thanks, Kenny,
Do you take the Beta Carotene with Vitamin D3 each time? I cannot figure out what is making your body react like that unless it’s a simple allergy. Why don’t you try taking a Benedryl with a larger dose and see what happens. If the Benedryl stops the reaction then you only have to get some bee pollen or royal jelly to take regularly and you won’t have anymore allergic reactions from Beta Carotene.
Thanks for writing, Lynn
Lynn
Hi, Lynn. Yep. Been taking D3 way longer than the law allows! I’ll try the Benedryl and the bee pollen and see how it do! Thanks!
Kenny Lee
Good thinking, Kenny. Take care, Lynn
Hi Lynn,
Hope you are doing well. I had a quick question about beta carotene. I am needing it for a sports injury (shoulder pull). I usually use the puritans pride brand which is good and good price. I do try to stay away from soy though. I noticed the 10,000 Solgar brand is soy free. It’s a dry beta carotene (not sure what that means). Could that be a good substitute to avoid soy and would the amount be the same? (It’s a little pricey).
Thanks for any help, Kathleen
Hi Kathleen,
Long time no hear. I must recommend against taking the Solgar brand of 10,000 IU Beta Carotene. First, I state in the posts that you must use softgels only, which would preclude using a dry product, which will NOT work like the softgels. Expect no results if you use a dry BC. Second, look at the dosage level. I tell you to take 25 plus softgels at 25,000 IU strength. How many of those Solgars will you have to take to make up the recommended dosage? A lot! Third, have you seen the size of most BC products? Except for Puritan’s Pride, which are so small you can swallow 12 at a time, they are too large given the recommended dosage. Fourth, the little bit of soy that gets into a product like this is negligible, and you should neither worry about it nor let it stop you from this remarkable supplement. If you take enough your shoulder will cease hurting. Zero tolerance.
Hope this helps. Take care of yourself and thanks for writing. Lynn
Thanks so much for the fast reply Lynn. It has been a while. I find when I do have any problems in the end your remedies always do the trick. I ordered the Puritan’s Pride BC softgels yesterday. I also like that I can take so many at once. I finished the last bottle I had and I already feel some relief. I am relieved to know there is minimal soy in the BC. I try to avoid processed soy as much as possible as I was told it contributes increasing chances of breast cancer. Hope you are well. Thanks again for all your good advice on this blog. It’s the best.
Good news, Kathleen,
I’m glad the Beta Carotene is helping you. Please remember two things: 1. You cannot possibly get cancer while taking large daily doses of BC, I don’t care what other habits you have. BC transforms free radicals back into normal cells. Without free radicals there can be no cancer, or other inflammatory disorder. 2. The soy you are worried about cannot possibly have enough estrogen in it to contribute to breast cancer.
Takek care, Lynn.
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Hi, Lynn. Thanks so much for all the great information. What is your opinion regards the D’Adamo blood type diet? According to his belief, a lot of the fruit and veggies you list would not be right for my type. Just wondering.
Also, will any of the supplements you recommend be helpful for a bulging spinal disc that causes pain in front and back of legs? Thanks!
Hi Lee,
I don’t know a lot about the D’Adamo blood type diet, but I’m suspicious. My experience is that the human body is a simple machine and that blood type diet sounds way too complicated. Have you discovered that using or not using certain fruits and vegetables has made you feel better or worse? I know some people can’t eat certain foods because of allergies, but I’m not certain that it has anything to do with the blood type.
Anything that causes you pain indicates that inflammation is present. And it is the precursor to thousands of diseases. If the word inflammatory is used with any disorder, you know that it is a Category 2 illness that can be treated with Beta Carotene. That includes your bulging disc, which pain can be alleviated with large enough doses of Beta Carotene and its support supplement, D3. Have you seen a chiropractor for your spine problems? There are also some exercises you can do once the pain is lessened that will strengthen your back muscles. A lot of back problems come from the fact that we are such a sedentary society. I exercise regularly and never have any back problems. Let us know how you are doing in the future.
Thanks for writing. Lynn
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