Blog - Page 2 of 24 - Dan Hammer Health LTD

Posted by Dan Hammer //

10/22/2020

If you don’t know about the power of ORAC to help you fight free radical damage, then it’s time that you learned. Free radical damage is one of the leading causes of inflammation and contributes to the aging process.

So let’s start with a definition.

ORAC is an acronym for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. That’s just a fancy way of measuring how effective a food is in delivering needed antioxidants to help your body fight free radical damage.

The ORAC Value is the number assigned to a food and represent its ability to provide antioxidants. The higher the ORAC value, the greater the number of antioxidants that food can provide.

Currently, the United States Department of Agriculture recommends a diet of fruits and vegetables that will allow you to consume between 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC units per day. This will help you maintain an optimal level of antioxidant protection.

Learning how to apply the ORAC value of foods is one of the most effective tools you can use to slow down the aging process. And help your body prevent degenerative diseases.

There are several key factors that cause our body to age. Free radical damage is one of them. Not only does it cause us to age prematurely, but it’s also a leading contributor to inflammation and the development of degenerative diseases.

Just the act of respiration to produce energy creates free radicals. Add in environmental factors, cooking techniques, and unhealthy habits like smoking, and your body is bombarded every second by thousands of unstable molecules called “free radicals.”

To become stable each free radical will steal an electron from another atom or molecule resulting in a new free radical, which then repeats the process. Eventually, this chain reaction ends when free radicals steal their electrons from your body’s cells causing cellular damage. Over time this results in, or greatly contributes to, the development of most diseases.

Antioxidants are one of the keys to stopping free radical damage. They are molecules that freely give away an electron and remain stable after they do so. This effectively stops the chain reaction and spares your body’s cells from potential damage.

And while fruits and vegetables can be powerful sources of antioxidants, wouldn’t it be useful to know which ones provide the greatest antioxidant protection or ORAC score? Read More →

5 Key Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper!

Posted by Dan Hammer //

10/15/2020

I was talking with one of my long-standing clients and he reminded me of the health benefits of cayenne pepper. He uses this ingredient to help him with both digestive and cardiovascular health concerns.

And he believes that cayenne pepper has been a key ingredient for a long and healthy life.

He is not the only person who believe in the health benefits of cayenne pepper. Many consider this herb to be the “King of Medicinal Herbs.” For example:

“If you master only one herb in your life, master cayenne pepper. It is more powerful than any other.” – Dr. Schulze

“Cayenne pepper – prized for thousands of years for its healing power. Folklore from around the world recounts amazing results using cayenne pepper in simple healing and in baffling health problems. But cayenne pepper is not just a healer from ancient history. Recent clinical studies have been conducted on many of the old-time health applications for this miracle herb. Again and again, the therapeutic value of cayenne pepper has been medically validated.” – Dr. Patrick Quillin from The Healing Power of Cayenne Pepper.

Of these two quotes. Dr. Patrick Quillin is the more recognizable name. Dr. Quillin served from 1990 to 2000 as the Vice President of Nutrition for Cancer Treatment Centers of America. His 15 books have sold over 1 million copies and include the best sellers Healing Nutrients and Beating Cancer with Nutrition.

Before we look at the 5 key health benefit of cayenne pepper, it’s important to note its nutritional value. One tablespoon or 5 grams contains the following:

44% of the RDI for Vitamin A

8% of the RDI for Vitamin E

7% of the RDI for Vitamin C

6% of the RDI for Vitamin B6

5% of the RDI for Vitamin K

5% of the RDI for Manganese

3% of the RDI for Potassium

3% of the RDI for Riboflavin

And the active ingredient that gives cayenne pepper its potency as a medicinal herb is capsaicin. This ingredient also gives this herb its hot taste. The higher the amount of capsaicin, the hotter the taste.

Which is one of the reasons why people do not use cayenne pepper as part of their daily food intake. However, there are ways around this. But before we discuss this, let’s look at the following health benefits of cayenne peppers: Read More →

Health Benefits of Serrapeptase

Posted by Dan Hammer //

10/08/2020

Here in America most people are completely unfamiliar with the health benefits of Serrapeptase. But in Europe and Asia, this proteolytic enzyme is prescribed for a wide range of health issues, especially as an anti-inflammatory that is without side effects. But more on this later.

In fact I had never heard of Serrapeptase until a doctor friend of mine suggested I research it for one of my health articles. He personally uses it as a way to lower his risk for cardiovascular disease, while protecting himself from infections.

As stated Serrapeptase is a proteolytic enzyme. This type of enzyme breaks down proteins into amino acids.

It is produced in the gut of silkworms to help them digest their cocoons. Hence the image at the top of this article.

When isolated and coated for human consumption, this enzyme acts as an anti-inflammatory and pain-blocker. Similar to aspirin and ibuprofen, this enzyme eases inflammation and may prevent pain.

But without side effects like ulcers, stomach bleeding, and blood thinning.

Multiple studies have shown it to be extremely effective in reducing inflammation in the ears, nose, and throat.

While much still needs to be leaned about the health benefits of Serrapeptase, it is thought to work in three ways: Read More →

Health Benefits of Onions

Posted by Dan Hammer //

10/01/2020

Today we’re going to look at the health benefits of onions. Just as there are multiple layers to this vegetable, with multiple ways you can cook it, there are also multiple health benefits of onions.

Onions belong to the allium family of vegetables, which include garlic, shallots, chives, and leeks. This means they are a good source of sulfur, which help in both detoxification and protein formation. But they also have important antibacterial and immune-boosting properties.

And while modern day medicine is beginning to acknowledge these health benefits, onions have been used since the beginning of recorded history as key to treating a wide range of health concerns.

Nutrient Dense

A medium onion is only 44 calories but packed with key vitamins and minerals. It is high in vitamin C, which is a key nutrient in helping to regulate your immune system. And as a powerful antioxidant, it helps to protect you from free radical damage. This means that it can aid in reducing cellular membrane damage and inflammation.

Onions are also a good source of both B6 and B9, which aid in regulating your immune system. Plus these two B vitamins play a key role in metabolism, nerve function, and the production of red blood cells.

And like bananas, they are a good source of potassium, which is key for proper muscle relaxation.

Heart Health

As already noted onions help to fight inflammation. Inflammation is at the heart of almost all cardiovascular health issues.

A key antioxidant found in onions is the flavonoid quercetin, which has been shown to be a powerful anti-inflammatory ingredient that helps to reduce heart disease risk factors. One of which is helping to reduce cholesterol levels.

Antioxidant Powerhouse

As I’ve shared many times in my health articles, antioxidants protect you from free radical damage. Plus they inhibit oxidation. It is oxidized LDL cholesterol that typically starts plaque formation in the vascular system.

Onions contain over 25 different flavonoid compounds, which all act as excellent sources of antioxidants.

Particular to red onions is the flavonoid called anthocyanins. There are multiple population studies that show how a diet rich in anthocyanins can lower the risk of a heart attack in men by 14% and for women by 32%. Read More →

Statin Drugs and CoQ10

Posted by Dan Hammer //

09/22/2020

If you are on cholesterol lowering medication, then you need to know about statin drugs and CoQ10. Statin drugs are designed to interfere with the liver’s production of cholesterol. This interference can significantly reduce the cholesterol levels in your blood stream.

Statin drugs also have some significant side effects like fatigue and muscle pain.

But what usually gets overlooked is that statins deplete CoQ10 from your body. The same pathway that produces cholesterol in the liver also produces CoQ10.

CoQ10 is a needed energy source for multiple organ system. Two of which are your heart and kidneys.

As you age your body’s ability to naturally produce CoQ10 declines with age. For example, on average CoQ10 levels decrease by the following percentage when compared to age 20:

For Your Kidneys: 27% reduction by age 40 and a 35% reduction by age 80.
For Your Heart: 32% reduction by age 40 and a 57% reduction by age 80.

If your physician has you on a statin drug, then this can drive your CoQ10 levels even lower.

To help you better understand this decrease, there is a 2004 study that looked at the effects statin drugs had on CoQ10 blood levels. The average age of the study participants was 70 years old. At the start of the study the baseline levels of blood CoQ10 was 1.26 mcg/mL.

After 14 days on a statin drug the CoQ10 blood levels dropped to .67 mcg/mL. And at the 30 day mark they were down to .62 mcg/mL.

This was a 49% reduction. And most of this reduction occurred in the first two weeks.

Optimal blood levels of CoQ10 for normal people without heart disease should be between 2 – 3 mcg/mL. And for heart failure patients, it is recommended that their CoQ10 blood levels be around 4 mcg/mL or higher.

As you can clearly see by this study, statin drugs lowered blood CoQ10 to dangerously low levels.

This is why statin drugs and CoQ10 is a very serious matter.

Additionally, statin drugs also interfere with the synthesis of vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 is needed to regulate calcium levels in the blood stream.

It does this by keeping calcium in the bones where is belongs.

Without proper vitamin K2 levels, calcium can enter epithelial cells causing hardening of arteries, heart, and kidneys.

All of these statin effects can lead to other health issues like muscle pain, cramps, weakness, and a feeling of tiredness.

In a 2018 meta-analysis of 12 randomized, controlled trials two key observations were noted: Read More →

Health Benefits of Quercetin

Posted by Dan Hammer //

09/15/2020

Today we’re going to talk about the health benefits of quercetin, which is a plant flavoniod that helps to address multiple health issues.

Quercetin is found in a wide range of foods such as grape skins, red onions, green tea, and tomatoes. And while this ingredient is naturally abundant in plant foods, most people do not get enough quercetin through their daily diets.

Part of the reason why is that the American diet is centered on high protein from animal sources. Or high in carbohydrates from processed grains, which strips out needed nutrients.

This is unfortunate because the research clearly shows the health benefits of quercitin on a wide range of concerns.

Cardiovascular Disease

The number one killer of all people is cardiovascular disease. Quercetin can be a significant help in this area. In a study of 805 men that ranged in age from 65-84 years old, those with the highest intake of quercetin were 68% less likely to die from coronary heart disease when compared to those with the lowest intake.

Other studies in this areas showed a reduction in death rates of 31% for women and 24% for men, when all causes were factored. And scientists attribute this reduction to several key factors, which include the following:

Reduction of dangerous accumulations of abdominal and liver fat.
Reduction in total cholesterol.
Reduction in LDL (Bad) cholesterol.
Increase in HDL (Good) cholesterol.
Reduction in blood sugar.
Reduction in blood pressure.
Increased plasma levels of nitric oxide.
Inhibits platelet aggregation to reduce potential for blood clots.
Inhibits the oxidation of LDL cholesterol.

This last benefit of inhibiting the oxidation of LDL cholesterol is significant because oxidized LDL cholesterol causes vascular inflammation that leads to plaque formation and the disease know as atherosclerosis.

In one human study, those who supplemented with just 30 mg/day of quercetin had a 28% reduction in LDL oxidation in as little as two weeks.

Cancer

The second leading cause of death in the United States is cancer. This is another area that the health benefits of quercetin show up. Numerous research studies have shown those with the highest intake of quercetin had a significantly lower risk for most of the leading causes of cancer. For example: Read More →

What is Convalescent Plasma

Posted by Dan Hammer //

09/08/2020

Given the current CoVid19 pandemic, and new treatment programs from the FDA, a lot of people have been asking:

What is Convalescent Plasma?

I hope to give you a non-political answer. As well as links to key resources to help you make your own decision about whether this treatment program is safe and effective.

Now the following definition for convalescent plasma is taken from Cedars-Sinai:

“This is plasma that is collected from people who have recovered from a disease, whose blood is presumed to have antibodies for that disease. These antibodies are what helped the person fight off the initial infection.”

As people are exposed to new viruses or pathogens, they can be infected. Once that happens, the Adaptive part of your immune system kicks in to create specific immune cells to help destroy these viruses or pathogens.

Part of this process is to create antibodies.

Antibodies surround the infected cells to prevent the virus or pathogen from spreading. This gives your body time to ramp up its ability to create the specific immune cells that then destroy these inflected cells. And help to prevent further spread in your body.

Once a person has fully recovered from their illness, these antibodies float in their blood plasma, which is the liquid component of the blood.

Qualified medical personnel can than harvest this plasma and its antibodies. Test it for safety. Then purify it to isolate the antibodies to create “convalescent plasma.”

This convalescent plasma can than be injected into another patient sick with that same type of virus. The antibodies in the convalescent plasma can help fight the virus. And give the patient time for their own immune system to generate antibodies in sufficient quantities to then overcome the virus or pathogen.

This is where the controversy surrounding convalescent plasma comes in.

When do you give it to an inflected person to help their bodies produce the needed immune cells to overcome the infection?

I’m going to use an analogy here to help you understand this.

Starter Yogurt

Starter yogurt is a balanced blend of bacteria that consume the lactose in milk. They convert the lactose to lactic acid, which then gives the yogurt its taste and texture.

Now you don’t put starter yogurt into yogurt.

Instead you but starter yogurt into milk to help start the process of converting that milk to yogurt.

And the same with convalescent plasma.

To improve your outcome (which is to keep the illness from causing death) you give the convalescent plasma as early as possible once the virus or pathogen has been identified in the person’s system.

Recently, the FDA gave an Emergency Use Authorization or EUA for the use of CoVid19 convalescent plasma to treat people hospitalized with CoVid19.

Much of the work in this area has been spearheaded by the Mayo Clinic.

They released data in June of 2020 showing that this type of plasma treatment was safe. Their findings suggested that using convalescent plasma to treat patients with CoVid19 was associated with a lower likelihood of death.

The controversy about this treatment program is when to administer it to have a positive outcome.

When given within three days of a CoVid19 diagnosis, the seven-day death rate was 8.7%. When the convalescent plasma was given at day four or more, the seven-day mortality rate increased to 11.9%.

And the other factor that was not completely assessed was how long have these patients been inflected.

Once you test positive for CoVid19, that doesn’t mean that you just got the virus. It could have been in your system for several days before your symptoms causes you to go get tested.

And like “starter yogurt” the sooner you introduce it into the process the better the results.

Here are some excellent links for additional information on this topic. They will provide you with more information on the FDA’s decision to issue a EUA allowing doctors to prescribe this use of convalescent plasma to treat CoVid19.

https://www.fda.gov/media/141478/download

https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/investigational-new-drug-ind-or-device-exemption-ide-process-cber/recommendations-investigational-covid-19-convalescent-plasma#:~:text=Convalescent%20plasma%20that%20contains%20antibodies,with%20COVID%2D19.

https://www.webmd.com/lung/covid-recovery-overview#1

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/convalescent-plasma-therapy/about/pac-20486440

Blessing Lives Through Nitric Oxide Therapy!

Dan Hammer

3 Key Vitamins for the Immune System

Posted by Dan Hammer //

08/31/2020

There are 3 key vitamins for the immune system that everyone should know about. And be supplementing with. They are:

Vitamin D

Vitamin C

Vitamin B

I’ve listed them in what I believe are their importance. Not to your general health. But to improve the function of your immune system. In today’s blog post I’ll provide you with additional information on why these 3 key vitamins for the immune system are so important.

Let’s start with Vitamin D.

According to the National Institutes of Health from their article titled “Vitamin D and the Immune System” they state the following:

“Vitamin D can modulate the innate and adaptive immune responses. Deficiency in vitamin D is associated with increased autoimmunity as well as an increased susceptibility to infection.”

In my article “Understanding Your Immune System” I cover both the Innate and Adaptive components of the immune system. Here’s a link to this article.

https://www.danhammerhealth.com/understanding-your-immune-system/

In looking over the information from the National Institutes of Health, the critical role that vitamin D plays is in the communication process of the immune system.

When to turn it on and off. As well as which of the immune cells of the Innate and Adaptive systems would best serve the direct needs of your body.

Thus helping to make sure that your immune system doesn’t overreact. As well as making sure that it properly recognizes pathogens so that your body can respond.

A good example of this is how proper levels of vitamin D in the bloodstream help to prevent respiratory infections. This makes proper vitamin D levels extremely important during cold and flu seasons.

And with the CoVid19 pandemic there is new research showing how normal vitamin D levels help to prevent catching this disease. Read More →

Beta Glucans and Your Immune System

Posted by Dan Hammer //

08/22/2020

Today we’re going to look at beta glucans and your immune system. If you’re interested in optimal health, then you need to supplement your diet with beta glucans.

But before we talk about beta glucans and your immune system, you need to understand that your body does not produce this natural compound. It can only be attained through diet or supplementation. If you choose to use diet as your source for beta glucans, then the following are your best choices:

Baker’s yeast
Mushrooms such as Maitake and Reishi
Cereal Grains such as Oats, Bran, Wheat, and Barley

Beta glucans are natural polysaccharides that are also soluble fibers. As a soluble fiber it aids in slowing down digestion while helping to regulate blood sugar levels.

There are excellent research studies slowing how beta glucans benefit heart health. One such study conducted by the US Department of Agriculture’s Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center in Maryland, showed how a diet rich in beta glucans can significantly lower total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL cholesterol).

This is significant because oxidized LDL cholesterol causes vascular inflammation that leads to plaque formation and atherosclerosis.

But since this article is about beta glucans and your immune system let’s focus on this area of improving your health.

When it comes to your immune system, beta glucans are classified as Immuno-Modulators. This means that beta glucans help to make positive improvements in your immune system.

Specifically, they stimulate the activity of macrophages. Macrophages are immune cells that ingest and help destroy invading pathogens. Macrophages also stimulate other components of your immune system, which aid in attacking these disease causing pathogens. Read More →

Understanding Your Immune System

Posted by Dan Hammer //

08/15/2020

Understanding your immune system will help you take the needed steps to strengthen its ability to protect you from disease causing pathogens, like harmful viruses, bacteria, and mutated cells that can lead to cancer.

While your immune system is extremely complex, and involves multiple organ systems, it overall function is pretty simple. It’s designed to protect you from infection and “unhealthy cells.”

Unhealthy cells are cells that have been damaged in some way. They can be inflated by microbes such as viruses and bacteria. Or by DNA damage leading to precancerous and then cancer cells.

And while the mission of your immune system is to protect you from illness, the deployment of your immune system is like a military operation. This involves numerous cell types that either circulate throughout your body. Or reside in specific areas as an early warning defense system.

What is key to this whole operation is communication.

Like in a real war, the first places that are targeted for destruction are the communication operations. If these areas are destroyed or damaged, then the enemy (in this case the pathogen) increases its ability to cause cellular destruction.

To help you in understanding your immune system let’s first start with the various bases of operation.

Bone Marrow: Your immune system starts in the bone marrow from stem cells that then develop into mature immune cells. This conversation can take place in the bone marrow. As well as other key locations throughout the body.

These stem cells will go down one of two pathways.

Pathway One is the myeloid lineage which fuels the innate immune system. This branch of the immune system is for general protection against common pathogens. And through this branch or pathway we get the following immune cells:

Basophils
Mast Cells
Eosinophils
Neutophils
Monocytes
Macrophages
Dendritic Cells

These cells are considered “the first responders” to infection.

Pathway Two is the lymphoid lineage while fuels the adaptive immune system. This branch of the immune system develops throughout our lives. As we are exposed to specific harmful viruses and bacteria, your immune system will develop specific cells that are designed to destroy these invaders.

This branch of your immune system gives rise to: Read More →