You can help support healthy urination and prostate function by using natural solutions. For example, for more than 28 years, the Swiss have used flower pollen to help men with less-than-optimal urinary and prostate health.

Flower pollen is rich in health-boosting vitamins, minerals, nucleic acids, enzymes and peptides. It helps support relaxed muscles in your urinary tract, as well as helping relax the smooth muscle tone of your urethra which enhances urine flow… supports optimal bladder muscle contraction to push urine out… and promotes relaxation of the sphincter muscles, which helps hold urine in your bladder. Flower pollen also promotes a healthy normal inflammatory response to help support a healthy urinary tract and enhance urine flow, and helps promote healthy hormone levels within the body.

However, there are other natural ways to support your prostate and urinary tract. In his book on ways to support prostate health, , Larry Clapp indicates that your prostate needs a steady supply of vitamins, mineral amino acids, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids and enzymes. And these can be found in fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh fish, whole grains, unsalted pumpkin seeds, kelp, flaxseed oil and green tea.

The fact is, many men will have some sort of prostate or urinary concern in their lives, and most men over 40 worry about the possibility. But with some natural precautions, you can support your prostate and urinary health for years to come.

Dear Health Conscious Individual,

Welcome to House Calls with Dr. Cutler™!

In this week’s issue I will outline some of the dangers of pesticides. These harmful chemicals can enter your body through the skin, the air or ingested in foods, so make sure you’re taking the maximum precautions!

Plus, I have some life-saving information about prostate cancer. Don’t let this deadly disease—of which 218,800 NEW cases are reported each year—affect you or your loved ones!

And keep reading to discover how you can reduce your allergies, asthma and rashes by adding THIS to your diet.

Yours for healthy living,

Michael Cutler, M.D.
Medical Advisor, True Health™

The Dangers of Pesticide Contamination

When it comes to knowing the dangers of insecticides and herbicides, there are noticeably no long-term studies on the effect of average exposure and chronic disease. Does that mean they are safe? I’ll let you answer that question after reading this information.

Organophosphates and carbamates are the more common active ingredients of household, garden and farm insecticides. They are highly toxic to all animals and humans—in high enough doses. These compounds can enter the body via skin contact, inhalation or orally.

Would you like to know what happens in acute exposure to organophosphate chemicals? Out of 54 children who went to a South African emergency department with insecticide poisoning, half were “decontaminated” prior to arrival and still the complications were quite severe. They included coma (31 percent), seizures (30 percent), shock
(9 percent), heart arrhythmias (9 percent), respiratory failure requiring ventilation (35 percent) and death (7 percent).

A prevalent environmental chemical cause of autoimmune hypersensitivity that goes undetected is 2,4-Toluene diisocyanate
(2, 4 D). It is used as a chemical intermediate in the production of polyurethane products (quite prevalent in America) and is extremely toxic in acute exposures.

Also, dioxin, which is an unintentional by-product of chlorine waste incineration, is prevalent and extremely toxic to humans. It bioaccumulates the further up the food chain you go—so that it is found in beef, milk, chicken, pork, fish and eggs (in decreasing order). Not surprisingly, dioxin levels in fish are 100,000 times that of the surrounding environment.

An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report describes dioxin as a serious public health threat. Some estimate it to be as much of a threat as was dichloro-diphenltrichlorethane (DDT) in the 1960s before it was banned. But what about the safety of pesticides in smaller doses, over time? Do they accumulate?

Theo Colborn, Ph.D., who is highly published in the peer-reviewed literature on pesticides, gave some revealing insights into the persistence of these toxic chemicals in the body. He found that the herbicide 2,4 D (the most widespread herbicide) was detected in 50 percent of the semen samples taken from a group of Canadian men ages 20 to 59, and that the pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) was detected in 82 percent of the urine samples tested. These are just two that were tested out of more than 1,400 known pesticides that have been developed!

And you thought you were pretty safe from environmental toxins? Now that you know this, it may shock you to know that more than 60 percent of the poundage of all agricultural herbicides and up to 90 percent of a typical pesticide product is capable of disrupting animal (and presumably human) endocrine and/or reproductive systems.

Don’t forget that one of the major hormone imbalances underlying heart disease and diabetes is cellular resistance to the hormone insulin. Who knows, pesticides may be one major “hormone disruptor” causing the high prevalence of hypothyroid disorders. These synthetic chemical compounds are fat-soluble and therefore store nicely in human fatty tissues of the skin and deeper organs.

Remember, the brain is made up of 60 percent fat. To me, there is no question that pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and possibly even the genetically modified foods (implanted DNA that make the food kill off insects much like the insecticide itself) should be eliminated from the environment as much as realistically possible.

As you know, it takes wisdom to maintain optimal health in an ever-increasing toxic world. Most of you have enjoyed great health for many years despite the environmental chemicals in which you may have been exposed.

Yet for others who suffer from chronic conditions with “no known cause,” keep abreast of all the latest information related to your best health right here! And look for valuable advice in next week’s issue relating to testing for chemical contamination.

Life-Saving Information About Your Prostate

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among males. According to research performed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than 70 percent of all diagnosed prostate cancers are found in men aged 65 years or older.

The American Cancer Society reports that in the United States, more than 27,000 men died from the disease in 2007, with more than 218,800 NEW cases reported last year. Sadly, in the United States, prostate cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in men. These chilling statistics indicate a need for lifestyle changes in order to prevent—and save the lives of thousands!

There are several signs indicating your prostate may be in trouble. If you experience frequent urination—especially at night… difficulty starting or stopping a urinary stream… blood in your urine… weak urinary flow… painful urination… or even erectile dysfunction, you should see your doctor for a prostate screening test.

It’s important to note that a man will not have alerting symptoms until the prostate is either enlarged by benign hypertrophy or by cancer. So, if you’re a man over 40, DON’T wait until you have symptoms to have the basic screening tests—the digital rectal exam (DRE) and the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test.

Furthermore, it’s important to be aware that in up to 25 percent of cases, PSA levels do not rise—meaning the test may not detect cancer that is present. Thus, regular testing is recommended. If your doctor finds abnormal screening tests indicating cancer, a recommendation for further testing will follow.

The tests may be one or more of the following: Urine Analysis (UA); Prostatic Acid Phosphatase (PAP) and other bio-markers such as the carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA); transabdominal or transrectal ultrasound (U/S); Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP); and eventually cystoscopy with transurethral biopsy of prostate tissue.

Once it is determined how far the cancer spreads beyond the prostate, and a tissue grade is assigned (Gleason score for how close to normal it appears under a microscope), then your doctor may recommend a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), bone scan or Positron Emission Tomography (PET) to image the size and spread of cancer.

Finally, if the evidence points to cancer that is still contained within the prostate, there is a decision to be made as to what type of treatment should follow. For clearly advanced stages of cancer, doctors recommend one or more of the following:

• Radiation with external beam or targeted 3D conformal beam
  (for accuracy)
• Radiation with internal pellets or implants (brachytherapy)
• Hormonal therapy with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists (Leuprolide, Goserelin and Buserelin)
• Hormonal therapy with anti-androgens (Flutamide and Bicalutamide)
• Hormonal therapy with adrenal-inhibiting drugs (Aminoglutethimide)
• Total androgen blockade (two above combined)
• Cryosurgical Ablation of the Prostate (CSAP)
• Surgery: transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
• Surgery: radical prostatectomy with variable extent of lymph node dissection

Each of the conventional treatments listed above have harmful side effects. For example, in the case of radiation therapy, permanent loss of sexual function is a side effect that is highly likely.

An interesting study lead by Richard Valicenti,M.D., assistant professor of radiation oncology at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia followed men for four years after radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer. The results? Of the 128 patients that had 3D conformal therapy
(a targeted 3-dimensional radiation beam), 33 percent of them reported significantly impaired sexual function. Of the 60 patients that had brachytherapy (radiation implants), 44 percent reported impaired function. And of the 26 who received a more rigorous treatment of external beam therapy plus implants, 74 percent of them lost sexual function!

Natural Alternatives
As an alternative to costly surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, I’d like to share some powerful remedies proven to help fight prostate cancer. In many cases, aggressive natural therapy interventions make all the difference—without the harmful side effects—and many patients have been able to successfully reverse the effects of cancer!

• Serenoa Repens (Saw Palmetto) inhibits the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and blocks the adverse effects of estrogen in men. Furthermore, it has been proven to reduce the growth effect of prolactin on prostate cancer cells (prolactin increases conversion of testosterone to DHT).
• Pygeum Africanum (Bitter Almond) is an evergreen tree native to Africa with similar properties to Saw Palmetto. It blocks the effects of prolactin on prostate cells.
• Urtica Dioica (Stinging Nettle) extracts have been proven to decrease prostate cancer cells in the laboratory.
• Micronized Progesterone blocks conversion of testosterone to di-hydro testosterone (DHT).
• Lycopene (tomatoes) has been shown in several studies to be a potent antioxidant that favors prostate tissue and reduces prostate cancer.
• Selenium has been shown to cut mortality rates in lung, prostate and colorectal cancers.
• Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 have been shown to slow the progression of early stages of prostate cancer.
• Vitamins A, C, E, B6, and B12, folate, zinc, copper (low dose), Coenzyme Q10, quercetin, green tea, indole-3-carbinol, and omega-3 fatty acid are all proven to have immune system boosting effects.

Before any treatment options are decided upon, the risks of treatment should be cautiously weighed against the expected benefits. The truth is—surgery, radiation and chemotherapy do nothing to reverse the underlying cause of the cancerous growth.

Moreover, cancer will likely return somewhere else in the body if this is your only treatment strategy. In many cases, aggressive natural therapy interventions make all the difference—WITHOUT the harmful side effects!

Can Whole Foods Reduce Allergies, Asthma and Skin Rashes? YES

High fiber, low animal protein, nutrient-rich, plant-based diets prevent and treat many chronic diseases. Allergies, anxiety, chronic fatigue, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis are ALL improved with such foods.

As it takes years to develop many illnesses, you can expect the more difficult ones to take from several months to a few years to reverse. The fact is most, if not all, medications can be eliminated through implementing the principles of true health. Here are some studies that show the benefits of whole food diets on such classic allergic conditions as skin rashes, asthma, hay fever and food allergies.

Researchers in a 2001 study done in Osaka, Japan, demonstrated that participants on vegetarian diets, who experienced skin rashes known as eczema, had “striking improvement” in just eight weeks because of their vegetarian diet.

In another trial reported in the Journal of Asthma, researchers followed 35 patients with moderate to severe asthma that went on a vegan diet for one year. These patients had been suffering with moderate to severe asthma for an average of 12 years and all of them were receiving long term medication, with 20 of them on intermittent corticosteroid treatments. Twenty four of the 35 patients, or 69 percent, stayed on the diet for a full year.

Of these 24 patients, 71 percent reported improvement at four months, and 92 percent of them reported improvement after one year to the extent that in almost all of these cases, medication was withdrawn or drastically reduced. Not only were their symptoms reduced, but they also experienced significant improvement in the allergy antibody markers, plus a reduction in cholesterol and triglycerides in their blood!

So now you can see the close relationship your diet can have not only on your overall health, but on specific ailments such as allergies and asthma!

Q & A

Each week in the Q & A section of House Calls with Dr. Cutler™, I will share with you some of the many questions I get every week from subscribers to my monthly advisory newsletter, Easy Health Options™”. For more information on Easy Health Options™”, visit www.easyhealthoptions.com.

Natural Options for Aspirin

Dear Dr. Cutler,

I take an 81 mg aspirin each day for heart health. I also have arthritis. A friend mentioned white willow bark would be better to eliminate any side effects the aspirin might cause—what are your thoughts on this supplement?
—Sandra P.

Dear Sandra,

White willow bark is the original aspirin. The medicinal use of willow bark dates back to the Greek physician Hippocrates (400 B.C.), who advised his patients to chew on willow bark to reduce fever and inflammation.

It became really popular in the 1800s—so popular that it caught the interest of the German company Bayer. Bayer created a synthetic derivative called acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) and mass-produced it. So, after consulting with your physician, you may want to consider replacing your aspirin with willow bark instead of adding it to your aspirin.

All the best!,
Michael Cutler, M.D.

Welcome to House Calls with Dr. Cutler!

If you are hoping to improve your overall health, one of the best things you can do is to improve your diet. The need for medications and the frustration of ongoing health problems can be alleviated simply by eating the right whole foods.

In today’s issue, I’ll give you some simple tips for eating out and provide useful information about diets for prostate health. I’ll also explain why taurine is a mineral you won’t want to do without.

Yours for healthy living,

Michael Cutler, M.D.
Medical Advisor, True Health™

Fast Food Salad Bait & Switch

Everyone likes a salad because it’s healthy, right? If you want to eat fast, but healthy food, remember to order the lowfat, low calorie salads without any fried chicken or taco shells. Below are the calories and fat for a few popular salads:

McDonald’s

Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad with Newman’s Own^® Ranch Dressing
520 cal 31 fat

Crispy Chicken Caesar Salad with Newman’s Own^® Caesar Dressing
490 cal 31 fat

Better option: I recommend ordering these with the grilled chicken and the vinaigrette dressing—these two things alone will cut the calorie and fat numbers by HALF. If you are still hungry after this, please add a natural food (non-processed) rather than fill up on fries or a soft drink.

Wendy’s

Chicken BLT with Blue Cheese Dressing
570 cal 43 fat

Better option: Use the low fat or fat free dressing and don’t eat the cheese.

Taco Bell

Fiesta Taco Salad with Citrus Salsa
870 cal 45 fat

Better option: You get a lot of protein with this salad, but it’s not worth the high calories and fat (unless, of course, this is your only meal for the entire day; I certainly hope not). If you still choose to eat here, opt for the Fresco Express Taco Salad without chips.

Diet for Prostate Health: Improve Yours Today!

I regularly see patients who are concerned about prostate cancer. Fortunately, prostate cancer is one of those health problems that is highly preventable.

My best recommendation is that you improve your diet to a “prostate-healthy” diet. Much of how your organs, glands and systems perform is influenced by the type of nutrients you provide them. Eating correctly cannot be emphasized enough, and yet Americans continue to ignore this crucial and simple recommendation.

Researchers have found a link between prostate cancer and a high-fat diet that is low in fruits and vegetables. Heavy fat intake, especially animal fats and heated fats that are chemically changed or hydrogenated for better preservation, reduce the efficiency of the cardiovascular system. Use of these oils also increases the likelihood that cancer cells will develop over a long period of time.

Without the fiber content of fruits and vegetables to help keep your digestive system moving freely, impurities, toxins and metals are not expelled as regularly as the body requires. In addition to aiding digestion, fruits and vegetables also provide key vitamins and antioxidants naturally into the system.

I recommend that all males eat as much whole foods as possible—wheat, oats, bran, whole grains, raw nuts and seeds (keeping in mind calorie density). You should eat plenty of cruciferous vegetables rich in color—carrots, squash, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and salads with romaine lettuce, not iceberg lettuce. You should also, taking into account stomach sensitivity, consume berries, grapes, lentils, chickpeas, plums and red beans. All of these rich foods are good for helping heal and prevent cancer.

Finally, be sure to include high zinc foods in your diet. Zinc is vital for immune functions, but not a lot is needed, and can be easily gleaned from regular helpings of mushrooms, seafood, spinach and sunflower seeds. Zinc nourishes the prostate gland and is one of the key influencers on its health.

Taurine: Essential for Healthy Muscle Tissue and
Proper Electrical Balance

Taurine is an amino acid that comes from mother’s milk when we are young. Scientists originally thought it was only there to aid in the digestion of the fatty acids found in the milk, and later to aid in the digestion of other fat soluble vitamins and a key component of bile.

After more research scientists learned that taurine is really there to help in the development of tissues required for vision and the function of several important glands. That’s why it’s essential to health to continue to consume Taurine throughout our lives.

Three-fourths of our taurine is in our muscles. Taurine keeps things in electrical balance. It even has a protective effect against seizures!

Heart muscles are especially dependent on correct nerve and muscle fiber interaction, and taurine is essential for this.

Also, taurine’s role in tissue function is so important that its protective ability to neutralize dangerous toxins is usually overlooked.

To get the right amount of taurine in your diet, you need 200 to 400 milligrams daily. Your body can make its own taurine if there is enough lean protein in the diet. Vegans (those who avoid all animal products) run a risk of not getting enough good quality protein. Foods with taurine include:

• Beans
• Nuts
• Fish and shellfish
• Pasta
• Meat and poultry
• Soy protein
• Milk and dairy products
• Soybean flour
• Mushrooms
• Tofu

Q & A

Each week in the Q & Asection of House Calls with Dr. Cutler, I will share with you some of the many questions I get every week from subscribers to my monthly advisory newsletter, Easy Health Options”. For more information on Easy Health Options”, visit www.easyhealthoptions.com.

Acidic and Alkaline Foods

Dear Dr. Cutler,

There are some things I do not understand regarding your list of acid and alkaline foods.

• In the acid foods list are black beans, kidney beans, lima beans, pinto beans, red beans and white beans. In the alkaline foods list is beans. What do you mean by beans in the alkaline list?
• In the acid foods list are sugar and artificial sweeteners. In the alkaline list are stevia and sweeteners. What do you mean by sweeteners in the alkaline list?
• Am I to understand that freezing a food will alter its digestive ash? Can the same be said for drying the food (raisins were not on either list)?
• Does this also mean that okra, onion, pumpkin, spinach, turnips, zucchini, etc. will become acid forming if they are cooked?

As a chemical engineer, I am curious on how “digestive ash” is obtained in order to measure its pH. —Larry I.

Dear Larry,

Green beans would be alkaline. Herbal low glycemic sweeteners can be alkaline.

Also, freezing foods will alter some of the natural cellular architecture and therefore the body will not get the same effect from it as if it were fresh.

The same can be said for drying foods, but to a much smaller extent, as water leaves, but freezing EXPANDS and disrupts.

I believe okra, onion, pumpkin, spinach, turnips, zucchini, etc., do become much more starchy (lose fiber structure) when they are cooked. They are still whole foods and can be mixed with raw foods to balance your alkalinity.

I am aware of two methods to measure alkaline ash and acid ash.

1. One is the bioimpedance analysis, a German machine looking at saliva, blood and urine in three areas, not just pH.
2. Simpler methods have always been done by measuring the pH of urine (elimination fluid) and saliva (fluids that result from food consumption).

I have learned that so many acids being produced by human cells, uric acids in urine, lactic acids in tissues, etc., and the fact that the dying person comes to the ER extremely acidic (not alkalkine), tells me there is an alkaline balance that must be maintained.

All the Best!

Respectfully,
Michael Cutler, M.D.