peptides Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Melt Away Stubborn Belly Fat with this Peptide

The AHA! Team — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 09:43:47 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – For decades, you’ve been given bad advice about how to get rid of stubborn belly fat… Most fitness “gurus” will tell you to do more cardio so you can enter your “fat-burning zone.” But that’s the last place you want to be… Burning fat while exercising signals to your body that it needs fat. Then it trains your body to make more fat. I’ve found a better way to help my patients eliminate abdominal fat and keep it off. I’m talking about safe and effective peptide therapy. Peptides will play an essential role in the future of regenerative medicine. Peptides are made up of short-chain amino acids. You can think of them as small pieces of protein that send messages to a cell, telling it what to do. At the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine, we use a unique peptide known as AOD 9604 to help patients eliminate excess abdominal fat. AOD 9604 is a tiny fragment of human growth hormone (HGH). It stimulates the pituitary gland to speed up the metabolism without increasing appetite. But the benefits don’t stop there. AOD 9604 can also… Activate lipolysis, the process your body uses to break down fat Prevent the creation of new fat cells, a process known as lipogenesis Trigger the release of fat from fat cells Stop non-fatty foods from turning into body fat The research backs up what I’m starting to see in my practice. Australian researchers tested AOD 9604 on 300 obese individuals. Each patient received the peptide daily for three months. The results stunned even the scientists… Compared to patients who got a placebo, the peptide participants lost three times as much weight.1 And their weight loss remained steady and stable throughout the study trial. This indicates that continued treatment would result in even more significant weight loss. A second study was done on mice genetically prone to obesity. This research found that AOD 9604 may indirectly activate apoptosis – or cell death – in white fat cells.2 As I mentioned, white fat is the flabby, bad-for-you fat that holds onto excess calories as lipids. If the only thing AOD-9064 did was to help burn fat, that would be enough. But there’s more… Apart from its fat-burning properties, this peptide can also: Relieve joint pain3 Lower your heart attack risk4 Reduce diabetes risk5 Improve bone mineral density6 Reduce diabetes and regulate blood sugar7 Increase muscle mass8 It’s important to emphasize that the amino acids found within AOD 9604 are bioidentical to those found within human growth hormone. This means there are no side effects when taken properly. Use PACE to burn belly fat. All weight- and fat-loss therapies work much better when combined with the right workout. Earlier, I told you that cardio tells your body to store fat. On the other hand, my PACE principle tells your body to dump fat. PACE stands for “Progressively Accelerating Cardiopulmonary Exertion,” It uses brief but vigorous daily routines of increasing intensity. A study at Laval University in Canada compared long- and short-duration exercise programs. Researchers found those who did a short-burst workout lost the most fat.9 In fact, the short-burst group dropped 9 times more fat than the endurance group for every calorie melted! Everyone can do a PACE workout. It doesn’t matter what your age or physical condition is. You can choose any exercise that makes you stop and pant for breath. It could be as simple as going up and down the stairs, biking, walking or swimming. The important thing is to increase your challenge gradually over time. Here’s a simple walking workout to get you started… First, walk as far as you can for each of the three sets. Walk the first set a bit faster than you normally do. Then rest until your heart rate returns to normal. Next, walk as far as you can again for three sets – but go a bit faster. Rest again between sets, but make the rest period a tiny bit shorter. Then walk your sets again. But this time, go even faster and really pump your arms. Then push yourself to do one more set. To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS References: 1. Zieba R, et al. “Obesity: a review of currently used antiobesity drugs and new compounds in clinical development.” Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2007 Oct 19;61:612-26. 2. Heffernan M, et al. “The effects of human GH and its lipolytic fragment (AOD 9604) on lipid metabolism following chronic treatment in obese mice ANDβ 3-ar knock-out mice.” Endocrinology. 2001;142(12)–5189. 3. D. R. Kwon and G. Y. Park, “Effect of Intra-articular Injection of AOD 9604 with or without Hyaluronic Acid in Rabbit Osteoarthritis Model,” Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci., vol. 45, no. 4, pp. 426–432, Jul. 2015. [PubMed] 4. M. D. Jensen, “Potential role of new therapies in modifying cardiovascular risk in overweight patients with metabolic risk factors,” Obes. Silver Spring Md, vol. 14 Suppl 3, pp. 143S-149S, Jun. 2006. [Wiley Online Library] 5. Stier H, et al. “Safety and Tolerability of the Hexadecapeptide AOD 9604 in Humans.” J Endocrinol Metabolism. 2013;3(1-2):7-15. 6. Biotech Peptides. “Peptides BPC157, AOD960 improve bone mineral density for osteoporosis.” 2021. https://biotechpeptides.com/2021/08/13/peptides-bpc157-aod960-improve-bone-mineral-density-for-osteoporosis/. Accessed on Feb 7, 2022. 7. Stier H, et al. “Safety and Tolerability of the hexadecapeptide AOD 9604 in humans.” J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;3(1-2):7-15. 8. Stier H, et al. “Safety and Tolerability of the hexadecapeptide AOD 9604 in humans.” J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;3(1-2):7-15. 9. Tremblay A, et al. “Impact of exercise intensity on body fatness and skeletal muscle metabolism.” Metabolism. 1994;43(7):814-818. To read the original article click here.

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New Discovery Could Yield a Potential New Treatment for Breast Cancer

AHA Publisher — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 07:00:23 +0000

Geisinger Health System via News-Medical – A discovery by a team of researchers, led by a Geisinger professor, could yield a potential new treatment for breast cancer. In a study published this month in Cell Reports, the team used small molecules known as peptides to disrupt a complex of two proteins, RBM39 and MLL1, that is found in breast cancer cells but not in normal cells. The research team discovered that the abnormal interaction between RBM39 and MLL1 is required for breast cancer cells to multiply and survive. The team developed non-toxic peptides that prevent these proteins from interacting in breast cancer cells, disrupting their growth and survival. “Because these proteins do not interact in normal cells, the peptides we developed are not harmful to them. This offers promise for future non-toxic cancer treatment.” Anne M. Moon, MD, PhD, Study Senior Author and Professor, Department of Molecular and Functional Genomics, Geisinger Health System Further laboratory tests are needed before the treatment could be trialed in humans, Moon said. To read the original article click here.

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Digestive Enzymes Offer POWERFUL Benefits to Improve Digestive Health

AHA Publisher — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 07:00:21 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – If you frequently experience bloating and flatulence (gas), and the physical and … ahem… social discomfort that can ensue, you may be wondering if digestive enzymes could help. You’re definitely not alone. The use of over-the-counter digestive enzymes is growing by leaps and bounds, with some experts predicting that the global market for these supplements will balloon to a shocking $1 billion industry by the year 2025. While digestive enzymes – proteins that help break down and absorb nutrients from food – are created naturally in the body, sometimes the supply is outstripped by the body’s demands. The result is digestive discomfort. (This is often the case when certain foods, such as beans, legumes, and dairy products, are consumed, and the body lacks the proper enzymes to digest them). For a closer look at the “nuts and bolts” of supplementary digestive enzymes – and a reviewfrom the Mayo Clinic – keep reading. Here Is What You Need to Know About How Digestive Enzymes Perform Their Incredible Functions There are three primary types of digestive enzymes – proteases, lipases, and amylases. Proteases, or proteolytic enzymes, break down protein into small peptides and amino acids. At the same time, lipases work with liver bile to break down fats into fatty acids (plus a molecule called glycerol). As you can imagine, lipases are particularly necessary for your body to access essential fat-soluble nutrients such as vitamin D, E, A, and K. Finally, the amylase family of enzymes breaks down carbohydrates – such as starch – into simple sugars. Although the lion’s share of digestive enzymes is produced in the pancreas, the mouth, salivary glands, stomach, and small intestine get in on the act too. Once the enzymes have done their work and the food is broken down, the nutrients are absorbed through the small intestine wall and then distributed throughout the bloodstream. There are also a host of specialized digestive enzymes such as cellulase, which breaks down fiber, and lactase, which breaks down milk into milk sugars. Similarly, maltase, a type of amylase, breaks down maltose – or malt sugar – into simple sugars, while alpha-galactosidase can help break down sugars in vegetables. Prescription and Over-the-Counter Formulations Both Have Their Place Sometimes, shortages in digestive enzymes result from specific and serious problems, such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, pancreatitis, pancreatic cysts, and pancreatic cancer. These deficiencies can cause malnutrition, shortage of essential vitamins, and severe gastrointestinal issues – and should be managed by a physician, who will often advise prescription digestive enzymes. But, for routine bloating and flatulence that follow the ingestion of certain foods, over-the-counter supplements may be the way to go. For example, researchers and natural health experts have gone “all in” on the incredible disease-fighting and health-preserving effects of cruciferous vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale. Their cancer-fighting isothiocyanates and their healthy cargo of fiber, carotenoids, and polyphenols make them a true boon to health. But, they can be notoriously hard to digest. You could choose to simply avoid these superfoods, but another solution may be available. The answer could be as simple as taking alpha-galactosidase supplements, commonly sold under the brand name Beano. These enzymes excel at breaking down cruciferous vegetables and legumes. Another common problem is a deficiency in lactase, which is designed to break down lactose or milk sugar. This enzyme may offer relief to lactose-intolerant individuals who would otherwise suffer from cramping, nausea, and diarrhea after ingesting cows’ milk. These Useful Proteins Can Join Forces With Probiotics and Proper Nutrition for Better Digestive Health Not only do proponents of digestive enzymes say that these supplements can relieve digestive discomfort – but they also believe they may help probiotic and prebiotic interventions be more effective. Does this mean that probiotics and digestive enzymes are the same? Not exactly. Probiotics are live organisms that promote the health of beneficial bacteria in the gut, while digestive enzymes actively help the body digest proteins, fats, and carbs. However, the benefits and functions of digestive enzymes and probiotics can overlap, as the appropriate probiotics can replenish gut bacteria to help break down fiber and restore normal digestive function. In addition, it turns out that certain dietary choices are naturally high in digestive enzymes. These include raw papayas and pineapple, which contain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and proteolytic digestive enzymes known as papain and bromelain. And, avocados have the advantage of not only contributing healthy monounsaturated fats to the diet but also contain lipases, which help turn fats into fatty acids – and are particularly useful after a high-fat meal. (So much for the outdated belief that avocados, themselves, are a “fattening” food. They are anything but!) Other enzyme-rich foods include bananas (which contain amylases and glucosidases), raw honey (which contains amylases and proteases), ripe mangoes, and unpasteurized sauerkraut – which has the added advantage of being probiotic. As always, it’s best to seek out non-GMO, organic fare. A Wealth of Digestive Enzymes Exist, Many Tailored to Specific Uses Over-the-counter enzyme supplements are made from animal pancreases or assorted molds, yeast, bacteria, fungi, and fruit. They are available in a wide variety of combinations and formulations. Some even contain prebiotic ingredients – such as inulin – and probiotics specifically added to enrich gut bacteria in the microbiome. (Tip: for maximum benefit, look for strains such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. plantarum, and L. salivarius). In addition, some digestive enzyme products contain time-honored carminatives (gas relievers) such as fennel, ginger, turmeric, and peppermint. Natural health experts advise seeking out digestive enzymes free of wheat, gluten, egg, peanuts, magnesium stearate, hydrogenated fats, artificial sweeteners, and dyes. Tip: when possible, opt for products that have been certified by the Natural Products Association or USP Quality Supplements. For best results, digestive enzymes should be taken before meals. Of course, check with your knowledgeable integrative doctor before supplementing, as digestive enzymes can interact with certain medications. In a review published in Proceedings of the Mayo Clinic, the authors noted that the use of enzyme supplements seems to be increasing. Not only that, but “emerging clinical data seem to support many of (digestive enzymes’) purported benefits.” While more study is needed, it seems clear that digestive enzymes are emerging at the forefront of the field of improved digestive health. Editor’s note: I highly recommend the digestive enzymes from LuvByNature. I use them every day and really enjoy the taste of the chewable tablets. Click here to learn more. Sources for this article include: VeryWellHealth.com Healthline.com Healthline.com Healthline.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Bovine Collagen Benefits for Skin, Sleep & Muscle Repair

AHA Publisher — Thu, 06 May 2021 07:00:56 +0000

Annie Price, CHHC via Dr. Axe – Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies, and that’s because it’s vital to many aspects of our health. Unfortunately, there are many things that can decrease our collagen levels, which is why supplementing with something like bovine collagen is a good idea. First of all, we naturally start to lose collagen as we age, but we can also lose collagen due to: hormonal changes drugs alcohol processed foods white sugar hydrogenated oils overwork radiation fluoridated water excess sun nutritional deficits dehydration stress trauma This is why it’s important to supplement with outside collagen sources as well, like bovine collagen. While collagen sources in food exist, it can be hard to consume the parts of the animals where the collagen is concentrated. One way to obtain bovine collagen from food sources is by making homemade bone broth. The benefits of bone broth are truly awesome so this is a great option. Another smart and convenient choice is the use of collagen supplements. Since it delivers a dense collagen punch to your cells, a bovine collagen supplement is one of the most beneficial and straightforward ways to up your collagen intake. When you use high-quality, hydrolyzed collagen supplements, the protein breakdown is already halfway there, so to speak, because the usable small chain peptides and amino acids are ready to go — your body just has to put them to work for you. So what exactly does that mean, what is bovine collagen and why should you make sure to add it to your health regimen? Let’s find out. What Is Bovine Collagen? Bovine collagen is also known as bovine cartilage or beef collagen. Gelatin is a form of hydrolyzed beef collagen, which means it’s essentially a part of broken-down collagen. Where does bovine collagen come from? It’s a naturally occurring protein found in the cartilage, bones and hides of cows. This type of collagen is very similar to what we have in our bodies and provides a healthy dose of types I and III collagen. Type I collagen and type III collagen are the major components of skin, hair, nails, muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, gums, teeth, eyes and blood vessels. Together, types I and III collagen make up more than 90 percent of the collagen in our bodies. Bovine collagen is rich in the amino acid glycine, which is necessary for building healthy DNA and RNA strands. These are the essential genetic building blocks for properly functioning body cells. Glycine is also one of the three amino acids that form creatine. Creatine is known to promote healthy muscle growth and aid in energy production during workouts. Last but not least, bovine collagen also provides the amino acid proline. Proline plays a critical role in the body’s ability to produce its own collagen. Hydrolyzed beef collagen was produced as a food supplement after scientists learned to break the long chain triple helix protein into shorter pieces and then separate the three helices from each other. The resulting short individual peptides make up hydrolyzed collagen. Benefits 1. Helps Treat Osteoarthritis Research continues on collagen’s value in treating bone and joint diseases like arthritis, but there is growing evidence that collagen hydrolysate might be able to help patients with osteoarthritis (OA). When you have OA, it causes joint cartilage to become stiff and lose its flexibility. This decline in joint health makes a sufferer even more susceptible to joint damage. Over time, this degenerative joint disease can cause cartilage to wear away, leading to pain, and eventually the bones could even rub against each other. Multiple studies have shown collagen hydrolysate to be safe and to provide improvement in some measures of pain and function in men and women with OA or other arthritic conditions. Since cartilage is made up of collagen, it makes sense that supplementing with this building block could help the strength and framework of the cartilage itself. Collagen hydrolysate (which is the same thing as hydrolyzed collagen) is of interest as a potential medical treatment for osteoporosis as well. Some researchers believe its high level of safety makes it an excellent long-term treatment for osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, which are both chronic disorders. If you suffer from either condition, you should include bovine collagen as part of your arthritis diet and/or osteoporosis diet treatment plan. 2. Can Improve Gut Health Collagen contains vital amino acids, which have been shown to be beneficial to the entire gastrointestinal system. That includes the stomach as well as the intestines. Studies show that one of these amino acids, glycine, actually improves digestion by increasing gastric or stomach acid. This acid is an essential digestive liquid produced in the stomach. Through the use of collagen to increase low stomach acid levels, you’re able to better digest your food, which can prevent and help troubling heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease. It can also help leaky gut syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, which also tend to involve low stomach acid. Research indicates that glycine is also helpful with detoxification, which is excellent for your digestive health as well as your overall health. Glycine is actually one of the precursor amino acids to glutathione, a major antioxidant and detoxifying agent in the body. 3. Builds Muscle and Repairs Tissue Beef collagen is a structural protein found in cows so it’s inherently a super-high protein source. More specifically, beef collagen contains types I and III collagen, which are the best types of collagen to consume when it comes to workout and muscle recovery. Collagen types I and III specifically support the tendons and ligaments that you use every time you exercise. By consuming collagen pre- and post-workout, you can help your body recover better and faster from physical exertion of all kinds. Bovine pericardium also is used extensively in medical applications, including bio-prosthetic heart valves, dural closure, bone and dental membranes, and surgical buttressing. Because it’s mostly collagen, bovine pericardium is both strong and elastic. In fact, lyophilized bovine collagen matrix has even been used in postoperative wound healing. One pilot study found that “type I bovine collagen matrix provided a safe, readily available alternative to traditional methods of second intention healing.” However, another study concluded that using porcine collagen (from a pig) does not appear as safe, according to the research. 4. Promotes Deeper Sleep The most abundant amino acid in collagen is glycine, an immunonutrient that supports healthy inflammation response and also promotes deeper, more restorative sleep. Human and animal studies have shown that glycine affects neurotransmitters in a way that promotes better quality sleep, making bovine collagen a natural sleep aid. In animals, findings show that oral administration of glycine increases extracellular serotonin release in the prefrontal cortex. The results of three human trials demonstrate that glycine improves sleep quality in a subjective and objective manner with no serious adverse effects. 5. Improves Skin Quality When taken internally, collagen can really improve the overall health of your skin, making for an excellent natural skin care product. It helps form elastin and other compounds within skin that are responsible for maintaining skin’s youthful tone, texture and appearance. Collagen is accredited with helping reduce the visible signs of wrinkles, decreasing puffiness and fighting various other signs of aging. Many people report a decrease in cellulite when consuming foods and supplements containing collagen, since cellulite forms due to a lack of connective tissue, allowing skin to lose its firm tone. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigating the anti-aging properties of collagen conducted by the University of Kiel’s Department of Dermatology found that 2.5—5 grams of collagen hydrolysate used among women aged 35–55 once daily for eight weeks supports skin elasticity, skin moisture, transepidermal water loss (dryness) and skin roughness. At the end of only four weeks, those using collagen showed a statistically significant improvement in comparison to those using a placebo with regard to skin moisture and skin evaporation, plus noticeable decreases in signs of accelerated aging. 6. Works as a Topical Treatment Bovine collagen is also typically used to help with several common issues. One study suggests that a topical ointment and bovine type I collagen spray are effective in the treatment of acute anal fissures (or small tears) in children. For itchiness near the anus (anal pruritus), a cream with 5 percent bovine collagen applied two or more times daily can offer relief. Beef collagen might also help reduce symptoms of hemorrhoids when applied externally on the rectum. A facial cream that includes bovine collagen can also help improve acne. Apply the cream twice a day to clean skin. Are your gums sore after having a tooth pulled? It sounds strange, but people have found relief from beef collagen. Simply combine a powdered bovine collagen with salt water to form a paste, and pack it into the dry socket after a tooth extraction. Types and Supplements With the rising popularity of collagen supplements, there are many varieties of powders, capsules and drinks on the market. So how you know what type of collagen is best for you? Although humans naturally produce collagen, production decreases with age. This can lead to skin aging and changes with muscle and joint health. Collagen supplements are derived from a number of sources, with bovine collagen (specifically from cows) the most popular. Other forms include marine collagen and collagen from eggshell membranes. While bovine collagen features types I and III collagen, marine collagen offers types I and II. This is why using a multi-collagen complex that features several sources is ideal. Another important factor to consider when you’re shopping for collagen supplements is digestibility/absorption. When you consume collagen through foods and supplements, as either marine collagen or one derived from cows or egg shells, your body has to be able to break down and properly utilize this complex protein. The digestive system has to go to work breaking the collagen down into simpler, more usable forms of peptides and amino acids. Then, these smaller molecules get absorbed in the small intestine into the blood. Finally, these molecules go to all of the many places they’re needed and get reassembled into collagen. Sounds like quite the process, right? Additionally, digestion of dietary collagen can often be incomplete and result in very large peptide chains, which are not well-utilized by the body. There is a way to make it easier, and it’s to make sure that you purchase a collagen supplement that is already hydrolyzed. This means that the collagen has already been broken down into more easily digestible and usable forms. I highly recommend a bovine hydrolyzed collagen supplement in powdered form. This collagen powder is a light yellow to off-white color. It’s easy to add the collagen to smoothies and other drinks, as well as soups, stews and baked goods. Compared to gelatin, which has long chains of amino acids, hydrolyzed collagen has shorter chains of amino acids that are more easily digested. In case you’re getting confused, gelatin is the cooked form of collagen that’s in the foods you eat (think the childhood favorite jello). Related: Fish Collagen: The Anti-Aging Protein with the Best Bioavailability Nutrition This is an example of the nutritional content found in two scoops (20 grams) of a high-quality, grass-fed bovine collagen supplement: 72 calories 18 grams protein 108 milligrams sodium A serving a bovine collagen contains the following amino acids: 1,462 milligrams alanine 1,517 milligrams arginine 1,192 milligrams aspartic acid 2,239 milligrams glutamic acid 3,719 milligrams glycine 144 milligrams histidine* 217 milligrams hydroxylysine 2,058 milligrams hydroxyproline 271 milligrams isoleucine 524 milligrams leucine* 614 milligrams lysine* 108 milligrams methionine* 379 milligrams phenylalanine* 2,076 milligrams proline 614 milligrams serine 342 milligrams threonine* 90 milligrams tyrosine 433 milligrams valine* *Essential amino acids How to Use (Recipes) Bovine collagen supplements come in three different forms: Real foods like bone broths Gelatin Hydrolyzed collagen supplements All forms of collagen are good for your health, but the absorption rate of hydrolyzed collagen is said to be over 90 percent compared to only 27 percent or less in food. If you’re looking to get your collagen from major food sources, then you definitely want to start consuming bone broth. Check out my recipe for making homemade Beef Bone Broth. As this delicious and...

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Lab Study Reveals Effective Treatment for COVID-19

AHA Publisher — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 08:00:22 +0000

Rush University Medical Center via News-Medical Net – A new potential therapy for COVID-19 developed by researchers at Rush University Medical Center has shown success in preventing the disease’s symptoms in mice. In a study, mouse models with COVID-19 showed positive results when a peptide (chain of amino acids) was introduced nasally. The peptide proved effective in reducing fever, protecting the lungs, improving heart function and reversing cytokine storm -; the immune system overreacting to an infection and flooding the bloodstream with inflammatory proteins. The researchers also report success in preventing the disease from progression in the report of their results published Jan. 11 in the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, binds to an enzyme called ACE2 to enter and infect human cells. In response, the research team designed a hexapeptide (a peptide with six amino acids) that inhibits the virus from binding with ACE2. “This could be a new approach to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and protect COVID-19 patients from breathing problems and cardiac issues,” said Kalipada Pahan, PhD, the Floyd A. Davis Professor of Neurology at the Rush University Medical Center and a research career scientist at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, who led the study. Many patients with COVID-19 in intensive care units suffer from cytokine storm, which affects lungs, heart and other organs. Although anti-inflammatory therapies such as steroids are available to treat the problem, very often these treatments cause suppression of the immune system. The peptide inhibits cytokines that only are produced by the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, not other inflammatory stimuli, indicating that this peptide would not cause immunosuppression.” (Kalipada Pahan, PhD, Floyd A. Davis Professor of Neurology, Rush University Medical Center) Although vaccines for COVID-19 are becoming available, their distribution nationally and globally will take months and possibly years in some part of the world. In addition, vaccines may not entirely prevent the spread of COVID-19. For example, despite flu vaccination, about 40,000 to 50,000 people die each year in United States from the flu. Therefore, a specific medicine for reducing inflammatory events and treating respiratory and cardiac problems caused by COVID-19 will be necessary for better management of the disease even in the post-vaccine era. “If our peptide results can be replicated in COVID-19 patients, it would be a remarkable advance in controlling this devastating pandemic,” Pahan said. To read the original article click here.

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Novel Way to Protect Your Lungs

AHA Publisher — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 08:00:50 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – The recovery rate from Covid-19 is about 99.75%. Fortunately, most people who have had it won’t have any long-lasting damage. Unfortunately, in about 5% percent of critical cases, the virus triggers an overreaction of the immune system in what is known as a “cytokine storm.” This leads to inflammation that can damage the walls and lining of the air sacs in your lungs. The result is acute respiratory distress syndrome – or ARDS. But there’s a novel way you can protect your lungs. A new study published in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine found that CBD can reduce – and even reverse – this lung damage by normalizing levels of an inflammation-causing peptide called apelin. Apelin is made by cells in the blood, brain, heart, fat and lung tissue. It plays a major role in regulating your blood pressure, while also keeping inflammation down. When you’re infected with coronavirus, your levels of this peptide plummet. But researchers say that even when levels were close to zero in patients with ARDS, treatment with CBD increased apelin blood levels by 20 times – and restored lung function back to normal levels. The study authors found that using CBD also:1 Relaxed cells lining blood vessels Reduced excessive lung inflammation Increased oxygen levels Repaired damage to the lungs, including scarring and swelling This study backs up an earlier study that found CBD helps open bronchial passes allowing patients with COPD to breathe more easily and avoid low blood oxygen levels.2 Heal Your Lungs With the Right Kind of CBD When it comes to CBD, you want to get the greatest – and fastest – benefit. And that means increasing its bioavailability. Like most medications and supplements, it’s best to take CBD with a meal because it increases the absorption. And the more CBD you absorb in your bloodstream, the more potent the effect. You know CBD can be taken a lot of different ways: in tinctures, capsules, vaping, balms, edibles and more. Each method has benefits, but some allow for more CBD to be directly absorbed than others. For example, eating or swallowing CBD requires digestion, which means some of the CBD gets broken down by your liver before circulating into your bloodstream. Tinctures, on the other hand, get absorbed more quickly into your bloodstream under your tongue. I’ve found that an oral spray that uses nanotechnology is the most bioavailable. That’s because it’s a quicker, more direct route to the bloodstream, and it avoids the liver’s “first pass” effect, which lowers CBD bioavailability. In fact, nanotechnology gets 1,500% more CBD past your cell membranes.3 When you’re having trouble with your lungs, that’s pretty important. To get maximum benefit, spray the liquid under your tongue, hold it without talking for 60 seconds and then swallow. 3 More Ways to Increase Bioavailability Look for an emulsified product. Some products emulsify their CBD using nanotechnology. This breaks CBD down into even smaller molecules. The smaller and more dispersed the molecules are, the more bioavailable they are, because they pass more easily through cell membranes and into the bloodstream than larger CBD particles.4 Take it with healthy fats. CBD is a fat-soluble compound, meaning it dissolves in fats. This breaks CBD down into smaller molecules that are more easily absorbed by the body. One way to increase CBD’s bioavailability is to mix it with a healthy high-fat snack or meal. A recent study found that people who took CBD with high-fat foods increased their absorption up to 14 times more than those who took it on an empty stomach.5 Look for full-spectrum CBD. Terpenes are fatty oils found in the essential oils of almost all plants. They occur naturally in hemp and are extracted along with CBD and other compounds to create full-spectrum CBD products. These compounds work together and amplify each other’s benefits, a synergy known as the “entourage effect.” Terpenes increase CBD bioavailability and enhance the therapeutic effects of cannabinoids. Note: There is one method of taking CBD I don’t recommend and that’s vaping. That’s especially true if you already have lung damage. It’s true that there aren’t a lot of studies. But with so many other safe, effective and fast ways to get your CBD, why take the risk? To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS 1. Khodadadi H, et al. “Cannabidiol modulates cytokine storm in acute respiratory distress syndrome induced by simulated viral infection using synthetic RNA.” Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2020; 5(3): 197–201. 2. Makwana R, et al. “The effect of phytocannabinoids on airway hyper-responsiveness, airway inflammation, and cough.” J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2015 Apr;353(1):169-80. 3. Cherniakov I, et al. “Piperine-pro-nanolipospheres as a novel oral delivery system of cannabinoids: Pharmacokinetic evaluation in healthy volunteers in comparison to buccal spray administration.” J Control Release.2017;266:1-7. 4. Bruni N, et al. “Cannabinoid delivery systems for pain and inflammation treatment.” Molecules. 2018;23(10). 5. Birnbaum AK, et al. “Food effect on pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol oral capsules in adult patients with refractory epilepsy.” Epilepsia. 2019;60(8):1586-1592. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Al Sears, MD click here.

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