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.
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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.
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Since free radical growth can in some cases exceed millions per second, it is vital to take high enough doses of beta carotene in supplement form to ensure that anti-oxidant consumption will always equal or exceed the amount of free radicals that are present in the body at any given time. Any free radicals left behind unpaired will continue the growth and proliferation of other free radicals. If you can control free radical growth you never have to worry about cancer in your lifetime.
Lynn Capehart Wellness Project 
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