The State of Fungus in the US - A History, Part 2

Okay, here's the answer to the Trivia Question from yesterday's blog:

The first person to develop an antifungal agent was actually a collaborative effort by two women, Rachel F. Brown, an organic chemist, and Elizabeth L. Hazen, PhD. in Bacteriology and Immunology. In 1950, their 'fungicidin' to specifically combat C. neoformans and C. albicans, was presented to the National Academy of Science. Four years later it was approved by the FDA for sale as an antifungal agent, and the name was changed to nystatin, in honor of the state in which it was discovered - New York State.

The development of other antifungal agents in the United States followed suit, with geographical, military, CDC and other opportunities influencing their need. Unfortunately, the role of antibiotics masked the importance of antifungal agents, yet had not eliminated their need completely.

Concurrently, information regarding the presence of Aspergillis and Candida in medical reports for patients who had taken antibiotics started surfacing quietly. In fact, the AMA Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry mandated pharmaceutical agencies to report on packaging the hazard of using antibiotics and the association of Candida growth. Reports of mycotic disease related to antibiotic use continued to rise into the 60's, as did reports of fungal infections in patients taking hormone therapies.

Research on antibiotic use and its correlation with fungal pathogens helped urge the formation of the first Medical Mycology Society of Americas (MMSA) in the early 1960's, and elevated credibility of the United States in medical mycology and research as one of the top countries in the world.

The first image above left is Aspergillus. The second image above right is Candida albicans.

Resources: http://www.aspergillus.org.uk/secure/articles/pdfs/MM44supplement1/17050419.pdf

The State of Fungus in the US - A History, Part 1

The United States has taken a back seat to Europe in the study of medical mycology (study of fungi). It wasn't until the late 1940's that the United States focused on medical mycology as a separate science, not because pathogenic fungi was not studied by clinicians and researchers, but because mycology had been previously classified under pathology, microbiology, dermatology and bacteriology.

In 2003, Ana Victoria Espinel-Ingroff published Medical mycology in the United States: A historical analysis (1894-1996), a publication that became the milestone in the history of medical mycology in the United States. According to Espinel-Ingroff, "Lewis David von Schweinitz, of German origin, is regarded as the first American mycologist for his description and collection by the 1820s of over 1,300 fungi. However, it was not until the late 1890s that medical scientists began systematically to investigate fungi implicated in human disease."

One of the most well-known studies of fungal infection, first noted in the late 1890's and carrying into the 1940's by physicians and researchers, was "valley fever". It was isolated to the region of the San Joaquin Valley in California, and affected over 450 farm labourers and trainee soldiers. Studies found the fungal pathogen Coccidioides immitus had became airborne and entered the body through inhalation. This research was significant for medical mycology history because it encouraged other researchers to study the effects of fungal pathogens on humans, and brought attention to fungal disease as a major player in human disease.

Tune in tomorrow for more on The State of Fungus in the US - A History....
Here's a trivia question, "Who was the first person to develop an antifungal agent (drug)?"

Spring Fungus

Many people in the northern United States feel mid-March is a good time for the snow to stop falling and for the sun to shine to melt the snowbanks. It is well worth the puddle-jumping and accumulation of mud to feel a rise in temperature and give the spirit a boost. The feeling of optimism, renewal and warmth far outweighs the problems with moisture, until the allergies start and mold and mildew appear inside and out.

Changes in the weather and increased humidity can stimulate the growth of buds on trees and shrubs, and also create the perfect environment for moisture-friendly fungi to take up residence. This is why a household should keep their hot, humid, wet bathroom as dry as possible by venting excess moisture, to control areas where fungi infiltrate. It's easier to work at preventing mold than to continue to clean areas where mold is present. Fungus is hearty.

To stay healthy at this time of year, avoid overly moist areas where you may breathe in or come in contact with fungal spores. Once the fungal spores are in the body or penetrate the skin, once again, it's hard to get rid of them. If you believe you have a fungus problem, there are a number of antifungals (olive leaf extract, apple cider vinegar, garlic, undecylenic acid, grapefruit seed extract, caprylic acid, oil of oregano, curcumin), probiotics (it should contain 3 billion or more a day) and fiber (psyllium, flaxium, organic kamut grass leaf powder) to eliminate it. Also, keep sugar in the diet to a minimum. Sugar only feeds fungus.

Be aware of your surroundings and how they may affect you. Fungus symptoms of the skin are systemic or topical, and appear in the form of a rash, cracking, peeling, itching or raised bumps. Fungal lung conditions are due to inhalation of fungal spores and can cause fatigue, brain fog, coughing, and flu-like symptoms. Natural antifungal supplements will be effective within the first few weeks if your diet is extremely low carbohydrate. Remember, fungus loves sugar and won't leave if you keep feeding it.

A Fungal Secretion

Approximately 8 months ago, Japanese researchers reported their findings on how fungus creates a guise in their attack on the immune system of plants, animals and humans. The guise is called chitin fragments - particles deposited around a fungus, which warns a host of a potential attack, stimulating its immune system. Once the immune system is warned, a protein is secreted by the fungus which collects the chitin fragments and makes them invisible to the plant, animal or human. The immune system backs down because it lacks recognition of the fungus and the attack begins. Pretty smart, those fungi.

"This knowledge may enable scientists to design novel methods to combat fungal diseases in agriculture (leaf mould, root and stalk rot, smut, wilt disease, apple scab, rust, tree cancer) and in health care (dandruff, athlete's foot, candida-infections, aspergillosis, etc.)."1

What the statement above fails to recognize are the numerous other diseases, potentially life-threatening, that are prevalent in many facets of society. Fungal related disease can strike anyone, at any time, especially those with weakened immune systems. These fungi have the capability of developing strategies to avoid an attack by white blood cells in humans, and create a very complex environment in the host body for any researcher to pinpoint the most effective counterattack. Another problem with a fungal disease is its ability to invade the body, multiply quickly and harbor itself before being recognized by a healthcare professional.

One well known fungal strain causing attention in the Northwestern United States is Cryptococcus gattii. Due to cold temperatures and the strain being of tropical origins, it has taken approximately twelve years to spread from Vancouver, British Columbia, down the coast to northern California. This particular strain causes severe respiratory and brain infection, however, is still pretty rare.

Other strains of fungal infections and disease are Candida glabrata (a skin fungus that rapidly mutates once in the blood stream); Chromoblastomycosis; Zygomycosis; Onychomycosis (the most common nail infection); and Endophthalmitis. There are way too many to list here.

The bright side to all this? A person can protect themselves from fungal infection and disease by eating a very low carbohydrate diet, taking probiotics and taking a series of antifungals to kill off any potential invasive organisms. The low carbohydrate diet is just as critical as supplementation because the lack of sugars in the body will starve fungus, keeping it from multiplying. Here's a little evidence to prove it.


1Wageningen University and Research Centre (2010, August 20). Smart fungus disarms plant, animal and human immunity. ScienceDaily.

Bye, Bye Weight

Here's a little story:

Approximately thirty years ago, a man named Doug Kaufmann started taking the fungus and disease correlation quite seriously, and because of him, and the resolve of many other pioneer fungal experts, research on the subject has become more prevalent, and interest is finally webbing outside of the tiny community. The frustration of chronically sick people receiving the same answers from mainstream healthcare professionals, has also created a backlash of determined knowledge collectors with independence to taking their health into their own hands.

Fungal-related disease today should be a commonplace consideration for anyone who has become discouraged in the lax response to finding a solution to a condition or disease. Those who are frustrated over weight loss and the constant dieting road blocks are no different. All that is needed is an alternate approach to weight loss than the past. If you think about it, your body has been exposed to many elements throughout its life, some more than others depending on choices that were made, foods eaten, environments lived in. There is so much that has built up internally, no wonder it rebels in the form of disease.

As Dr. David Holland explains in Doug Kaufmann's book, The Fungus Link, volume 2, Tracking the cause, "...to lose weight, you need to consider both weight training and doing something aerobic....And, you need to cut down on the amount of grains and fatty meats you eat." Dr. Hollands reason for cutting down on grains and fatty meats? Farmers feed their livestock grains, which are carbohydrates, to fatten them, and give them antibiotics when the livestock are sick. Grains and the antibiotics feed fungus in the livestock, then we eat the livestock. Some of that fungus enters us through consumption, and the same goes for having a diet high in carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates role is feeding the fungus we have already consumed or ingested. The amount of fungus differs per person, however, and its safe to presume, through research, that the more overweight, the higher the fungal content in a persons body.

An alternative solution to combat weight would be:

• Decrease carbohydrates and simple sugars, foods contaminated with mycotoxins or fungus, foods containing yeast or yeast products;
• Take antifungal supplements, such as probiotics (to build the health of the gut), olive leaf extract (at least 16% oleuropein content), caprylic acid, oil of oregano, curcumin, apple cider vinegar, garlic, grapefruit seed extract, a good multivitamin/multimineral, and dietary fiber;
• Exercise regularly, according to what a healthcare professional would recommend.

With all these suggestions in place, a good support system, and determination, you'll be on your way to feeling good in a matter of weeks. The transformation in physical and mental health will amaze you, and think of the years added to your life!

D for deficiency

Who would have thought vitamin D would become anything more than calcium's friend in absorption and be so diverse in human physiology? Recently, vitamin D has been popping up everywhere in the news. The news ranges from the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency to the abundance of it's positive effects. Here are some examples:

Three highly respected medical journals (see below), among many others, have stated there are approximately 1 billion people worldwide who are vitamin D deficient. One billion? The world's population is 6,900,372,014 as of February 16, 2011 in the afternoon. So, approximately 1/7th of the world does not receive enough vitamin D.

The current role of this humble vitamin in daily nutrition has increased dramatically. Research has uncovered its necessity in flu protection, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, depression, muscle weakness, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune thyroid disease and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). This is only the beginning.

So, how does this research affect vitamin D recommendations? According to the February 2011 issue of Better Nutrition (and they aren't the only ones), people should be taking far more than the amount suggested by the National Institute of Medicine - 600 IU's daily. Better Nutrition says, "The committee's recommendation to take 600 IU of vitamin D daily is probably sufficient to maintain strong bones; however, if you want to reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, depression, pain, and colds and flus, you would most likely do better taking at least 1,000 to 2,000 IU of vitamin D each day, maybe more."

When it comes down to brass tacks, it's up to you to decide who is right about how much to take and if you want to believe the vast research that's appeared everywhere, from credible to not-so-credible sources alike, over the past few years. Remember, it's a vitamin that has quickly raised the conservative upper intake levels by the Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health, to 4000 IU's for anyone over the age of 9. There must be something to all this buzz.



Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:266–281.

Gordon CM, DePeter KC, Feldman HA, et al. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158:531–537.

Lips P, Hosking D, Lippuner K, et al. The prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy amongst women with osteoporosis: an international epidemiological investigation. J Intern Med. 2006;260:245–254.

Dietary Guidelines

Didja' Know the USDA is required by law to review and, if necessary, update the Dietary Guidelines for Americans every 5 years? The nutrition industry has been trying to bring good health to Americans for decades, and the government-based health organizations are finally seeing that "eating and physical activity patterns that are focused on consuming fewer calories, making informed food choices, and being physically active can help people attain and maintain a healthy weight, reduce their risk of chronic disease, and promote overall health?" Well, this is not a news flash to many of us, however, we can be thankful it has come to fruition. We could use a little help spreading the word on good health.

The Dietary Guidelines are meant for persons aged 2 and older, for America's multifaceted groups, and account for food preferences, customs and cultural traditions. Consideration has also been made for the 15% of American households unable to acquire the proper foods to sustain adequate levels of nutrition to maintain good health. The arms of the USDA are trying to extend their reach to include all Americans, however, realistically there are people who are indifferent to good health and making it a priority.

There are key recommendations set up in the Dietary Guidelines that should be in the forefront of improving public health, regardless of age, culture or economics. The recommendations include:

• Balancing Calories to Manage Weight
• Foods and Food Components to Reduce
• Foods and Nutrients to Increase
• Building Healthy Eating Patterns

Our favorite recommendation is listed under 'Foods and Nutrients to Increase:'

• Choose foods that provide more potassium, dietary fiber, calcium, and vitamin D, which are nutrients of concern in American diets. These foods include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and milk and milk products.

Overall, the Dietary Guidelines put forth by the USDA are a great checklist for anyone looking to improve their health and the health of their family. Improving the health of vast numbers is daunting, as the supplement industry has found out, but with increased acceptance of higher health standards and the ability to widely promote these standards, in time we can all help make America a healthier nation. Let's do it!

SuperHealth Awards for BioActive Nutrients

Good is good, but exceptional is better. 2010 was a great year for BioActive Nutrients. The Wisconsin based supplement company has snagged 8 different awards for 4 of their quality products - Whey Protein, Beyond Colostrum, Oil of Oregano, and Green Sweep.

Here's some background on the accredited SuperHealth Group:

The SuperHealth Group began as a local health radio show in Oklahoma City 4 years ago by Mickey O'Neill and Kyle Drew. Mickey and Kyle are growing it into a network of professionals in media, health freedom advocacy, clinical nutrition counseling, product formulation, and nutrition industry watchdogging.

They are exposed to and evaluate nutritional products each year. Their goal in giving awards is to point people to the finest, most cost-friendly, effective products available in several different categories. They believe that if people would spend their nutrition dollars with companies like BioActive Nutrients, the remaining remnants of "snake oil salesmen" would be forced out of business, and the true effectiveness of dietary supplements would be realized. Their ultimate goal, as an organization, is to inspire people to SuperHealth and help turn the tide of massive chronic disease in America through great nutrition, superior supplementation, exercise, and healthy habits, and to reduce the demand for potentially dangerous prescription medications.


Congratulations, BioActive Nutrients! Winner in 8 categories!

Protein of the Year: Whey

I'm Sick Remedy of the Year: Oregano

Immune Health Product of the Year: Beyond Colostrum

Fiber of the Year: Green Sweep

Innovation of the Year: Beyond Colostrum

Best New Product of the Year: Beyond Colostrum

Product of the Year: Beyond Colostrum

Value Priced Company of the Year: BioActive Nutrients

Try them out!

A Butterfly

...shaped gland at the base of the neck is the thyroid gland, which excretes a hormone that controls how energy is used by our cells. Abnormal function of the thyroid gland can exhibit excessive or insufficient amounts of hormones in the bloodstream. Insufficient amounts of the thyroid hormone is called hypothyroidism and is the most common thyroid problem. It also affects more women and people over the age of 60 than any other groups.

According to the American Thyroid Association, the major causes of hypothyroidism are:

• Autoimmune disease,
• Removal of all or part of the thyroid, resulting in a decrease of thyroid hormone production,
• Radiation treatment,
• Congenital hypothyroidism,
• Inflammation of the thyroid gland caused by an autoimmune attack or infection,
• Reaction to medication,
• Too much iodine,
• Damage to the pituitary gland,
• Disease that impairs thyroid function.

The symptoms of hypothyroidism are not consistent from individual to individual, and can develop very slowly over a period of time. Symptoms can be difficulty in losing weight, dry skin, lethargy or fatigue, hair loss, recurrent infections and sensitivity to cold. They should be unusual to typical daily feelings to consider them a thyroid issue. Also, check with family members for a history of thyroid disease or problems, because it is genetic.

If you think hypothyroidism is the problem, get tested. A simple TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) blood test can determine if you suffer from low levels of the hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). The T4 hormone is the most critical because of its affect on every cell in the body. If the results show a hypothyroid issue, take the initiative to start controlling the disorder.

To control hypothyroidism, thyroxine (T4) needs to be replaced. Sounds simple, however, it will be a lifelong commitment. Controlling hypothyroidism can be done by supplementation with a natural Thyroid Formula to balance hormone levels, or there are other alternatives. For individuals with a minor hypothyroid disorder, symptoms should subside within a few weeks after taking a TSH, but a more severe thyroid imbalance may take longer with other factors influencing relief.

Good health should be taken seriously, so if you haven't focused on symptoms in your body, start paying closer attention. Consistent feelings of lethargy, weight gain, and sensitivity to cold may not be because you're going through the normal aging process, but because that butterfly-shaped gland in the base of your neck is, well, gradually becoming more than just a pain in the neck.

From Eeyore to SpongeBob

Oh-h-h-h, bother! And it is for people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Their daily life is overcome with fatigue, depression, hopelessness, lack of interest and social involvement, weight gain possibly due to carbohydrate cravings and irritability, or any combination of the symptoms. SAD, or the "Winter Blues," affect people most often in the winter months, due to the lack of sunlight and shorter days, particularly people who live north of the equator, but can also affect people in spring through fall. The disorder during the warmer, sunnier days of the year, has the opposite effects, creating insomnia, loss of weight, agitation and normal to high mood swings.

The shorter days during the winter have an affect on the majority of the population in northern climates, and are not considered a disorder unless symptoms persist for days at a time. If eating and sleeping habits change, and social activities are avoided for days and weeks, SAD may be the issue. The difference between feeling down on overcast days and having a problem with SAD is the ability to change your mood.

The main reason for SAD is unknown, but can be linked to age, genetics and a person's chemical makeup. According to mayoclinic.com, the disorder may be from a disruption in a person's biological clock, an increase in melatonin and a decrease in serotonin levels, which change with shorter days and the lack of  sunlight.

So, what are some solutions to SAD?

1) Create a bright environment, at work and home. Let the sun in to brighten overall mood.

2) Eat right. Stay away from foods high in sugars that will give temporary highs and send the mood into a downward spiral shortly after.

3) Exercise. Exercising increases serotonin levels which are known to relieve stress and anxiety, and improve mood.

4) Supplement with vitamin D, a good multivitamin/multimineral and fish oil.  Research has shown low vitamin D levels to be linked to SAD and other forms of depression, and a number of other well-known diseases. Improper diet results in improper nutrient intake to keep a body functioning properly. When one area of the body is weakened, others are affected. EPA and DHA in fish oil, taken daily, has shown many benefits in boosting brain health.

So, with all this in mind, look at winter in a more positive light. It doesn't have to be the same dreary season year after year. All it takes are some minor changes to make any season look optimistic and go from thinking like Eeyore to feeling like SpongeBob.

Resveratrol Benefits Discovered...At Last!

In November of 2006, the announcement was made that resveratrol kept mice from gaining weight, increased their energy and muscle strength and kept them from aging prematurely. Wow. That sounds perfect for every thirty-something and over who have been searching for the fountain of youth. This newsworthy topic certainly creates advantages and disadvantages for any supplement company who carries a resveratrol supplement.

According to Christoph Westphal, a venture capitalist turned biotech, and David Sinclair, a Harvard medical school researcher, resveratrol "may retard the onset or progression of a whole slew of age-related diseases, from diabetes to Alzheimer's to cancer. The drugs may also have an extremely provocative side effect: They might extend life span." The difference between the two men and one CEO of a tiny supplement company? It's not just the $82 million that backs Westphal's company Sirtris, but the idea that resveratrol as an anti-aging drug will most likely be accepted by the FDA, probably before the clinical human trials are completed, and promoted heavily by a multi-million dollar pharmaceutical company. On the flipside, supplement companies scratch and claw, and cautiously advertise their products, to avoid being stricken by lightning from the black cloud that constantly lingers over their heads - the FDA and government legislation.

Here's something else to think about. Will the resveratrol being produced be strictly resveratrol, or will it contain impurities, such as chemicals or additives, that will create side effects like many of the well-known prescription drugs on the market? Research, so far, hasn't made it apparent whether the 'wonder resveratrol drug' will be purely natural, synthetically made, or a combination of the two. Time will tell.

To the supplement world, it is frustrating to know that a nutrient such as resveratrol can be around for decades, and suddenly become the 'in' product because a business giant's money and influence says it may stop age-related disease. On the other hand, we can ride on their shirttails of multi-media advertising and actually get a quality product to be seen. In the end, as hard as it may be, supplement companies may be thanking the two doctors who 'discovered' resveratrol and it's overwhelming benefits, and the pharmaceutical company that manufactures the product. Wouldn't that be ironic?

Will the Real Olive Leaf Please Stand Up?

I've received several calls over the last few days regarding "harsh chemicals and solvents" in our Olive Leaf Extract. Unfortunately, there is some confusion surrounding this issue and I feel the need to set the record straight.

First, our number one priority is to kill fungus - so we try to make each product as powerful as possible. In order to do this, we concentrate the active ingredients. I have no problem with a company that sells whole herb products - but don't market them as extracts and don't make false claims about other extracts.

The best way to concentrate the active nutrients, is by using alcohol. The reason is that alcohol will break down fibers and other parts of the plant that don't do anything, concentrating the active nutrients and leaving parts of the whole plant in the product. Then it evaporates. There is little or no alcohol in most herbal extracts. The only "harsh chemical or solvent" that is used is ethanol. Once it has done it's job, it evaporates. Every batch of every extract we use is tested for heavy metals and alcohol - the result is always virtually zero - less than you would get from eating ripe fruit.

Science has also proven that we don't always want to completely isolate active ingredients. As an example, it is commonly believed that oleuropein is the most antifungal component of Olive Leaf Extract. However, by itself, oleuropein is ineffective. It needs it's derivatives and other parts of the plant to be effective. On the other hand, if you concentrate the oleuropein and it's derivatives, you can make the product stronger.

Think of it this way. If you take the gas out of your car, it will not go anywhere. But if you use a higher octane gas, you will get better gas mileage and better performance. That's what we want - the best possible antifungal nutrients available.

Again, I have no problem with whole plant or herb products. In fact, I'm a big fan. But when it comes to killing fungus, I want to have the strongest, most concentrated product I can.

Here are a couple things to think about...

*You can eat 5 lbs of yogurt - or you can take a couple of probiotic capsules.

*You can eat 2 bushels of broccoli - or you can take one tiny capsule of chromium picolinate.

*It is nearly impossible to get all the nutrients you need from food alone - that's why we take a multivitamin. The ingredients in multivitamins are extracts! How else would they be able to get individual nutrients out of the plant?

A whole herb (not "extract") olive leaf contains about 1% oleuropein - ours contains 18%. Not to mention that we have 800mg in a capsule - the strongest you can buy.

We Have a Leak!

Instantly images come to a persons mind of water spraying somewhere under the kitchen or bathroom sink, but this leak is referring to a different kind of leak - one that affects your health. The leak is in your intestines and not only allows some good nutrients to seep into your system, but also undigested food particles, toxins and waste that will have a negative effect on your health. And if this sounds gross, well, the name for leaking intestines isn't any better - Leaky Gut Syndrome!

And what causes a weakened intestinal lining which leads to Leaky Gut Syndrome? The answer varies and depends on stress level, type of diet, antibiotics or other medications taken, and exposure to fungus.

The unfortunate thing about Leaky Gut Syndrome is that it often goes undiagnosed and will persist for years, causing any number of symptoms and diseases. It may cause heartburn, abdominal pain, gluten intolerance, malnutrition, allergies, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn's, and psychological problems.

The first course of action would be to strengthen the intestinal lining to stop any leakage. This may require a series of antifungals to kill off the yeast and other toxins in the body. Also, a probiotic is a must, to help force out any negative bacteria, fungus or parasites that have made the intestines their home and love to punch holes in the walls. Fiber products should be used to help absorb toxins and flush them out of the body. Lastly, but one of the most critical steps is take L-glutamine powder. L-glutamine is an essential amino acid which is abundant in the body, helps build the immune system, and works extremely well for healing wounds - like an intestinal lining that has deteriorated.

If you know you eat a lot of processed foods, sugars, drink alcohol, have taken antibiotics in the past or have a stressful lifestyle, consider making a change. All aspects of your mental and physical health depend on it, and the results will be so rewarding if an overall balance is achieved. It won't be easy, but then fixing a major leak under the sink for most people isn't easy either!

The More the Merrier!

This statement is questionable when it comes to medications and health. There are so many people, especially older people, who take more than one prescription medication on a daily basis. Many seem to be unclear of the reasons for taking half their medications. The scenario usually starts with a visit at the doctors office which continues to spiral downhill over the years.

Doctors are definately necessary and may have chosen their profession to help others. Just like any other issue in the world, the reasons for over-prescribing medications doesn't rest solely on their shoulders. Many patients expect to get more than an explanation while at a doctor visit - a fast, easy cure-all for whatever condition they may have, something to help them feel better immediately. Forget about what lifestyle changes or dietary changes they should make to feel better - that's too difficult. Society has through the years placed an urgency and decreased work ethic on individuals, and this is the backbone of more than just over-prescribing medications in America.

America is now riddled with health problems, increased medical costs and the pressure to find solutions to other unhealthy trends that have developed before the turn of the century.

The solutions? Well, this is just one opinion, but start taking ownership and responsibility for your own health issues and quit relying so heavily on doctors to fix everything. Granted, there are some people who are unable to do this, but for those who are mentally and physically able to positively change their health, they should start right now.

How? First, ask your doctor which medications are necessary. Tell him or her you want to help yourself get off medications. You may be surprised at your doctor's response. Then, tell them what physical activity you would like to start to get your body healthy - relying on it's natural functions rather than the help of medications. And, lastly, make an honest effort to eat right and get your body the proper nutrients to help daily functions.

The hardest part of the process may be making the decision to start and telling yourself you may not need a medication anymore as a security blanket. Whenever the decision is made, just remember, to talk to your doctor first. Tell them you want to take the 'more' out of your medicated daily routine, and become free to dictate your health. Try it! Your future could be a lot 'merrier' for it!

Do Not Disturb

The summer in our part of the country has been fairly nice. For humans, it's been a good balance of weather. It hasn't given us much time to stew over "this hot, humid weather" or "too much rain." Each week has produced a few good swimming, boating or fishing days, and a few rainy days to replenish the moisture lost during the hot days.

One unusual difference this summer over past summers, has been the overabundance of mushrooms. They have mysteriously poked their heads out of odd places in yards, on forest floors, on trees, and about anywhere else they decide to cling. Interesting as they may be, they are most likely not edible and certainly don't look like your basic maiitake or button variety. Some look downright frightening and some beckon a person closer with their color or odd shape.

For the curious type, researching lawn and garden mushrooms on the web is a must. On one website, over 40 different varieties were identified as growing in a backyard or wooded area. The majority of them were non-poisonous, and eating a couple varieties would result in mild to acute gastrointestinal symptoms. These symptoms are due to ingestion, but what other health symptoms can their presence create?

When you have a moist climate, you generally have mushrooms and other fungal inhabitants. The spores of the fungus can be disturbed easily, sending them airborne, and causing health problems ranging from cough, fever, shortness of breath, fatigue, skin disease, thrush, inner ear infection, and sinus infection. If left untreated, some symptoms of fungal infection may progress to central nervous system malfunction, and potentially major organ and brain infiltration.

Fungal infections related to airborne fungal spores, from mushrooms and other fungi, have occurred for centuries. Within the past two decades, a complex fungus has emerged in the Western United States. It's name - Cryptococcus Gattii (C. gattii). This problematic fungus was discovered in isolated cases on Vancouver Island in the 1990's, and over the past few years is appearing in Washington, Oregon, and northern California. Fortunately, there have been few deaths amongst the hundreds infected by the spores.

These fungal spores typically come from the soil and trees, where the conditions are perfect for the growth of fungus. Some of these fungal spores may stay in isolated areas, some may spread rapidly due to disturbance of the growing environment. Some fungal infections appear only in immunocompromised individuals, and some randomly target healthy individuals with no similar characteristics. With this in mind, the one thing of importance is to monitor your health - if you've had a sharp, irritating cough, persistent fever, and other fungal symptoms for a prolonged period of time - see your healthcare professional. It may take 2-4 months before symptoms occur, too. And, be wary of the environment you are in - step lightly and do not disturb the fungus!

Change

Some days we have it, some days we don't. Fatigue that is. Occasional drowsiness during the day or lack of interest is a common symptom of fatigue that effects the general population, and doesn't necessarily mean there is a physical, emotional, or psychological problem of any kind. It may mean you worked too hard in the garden yesterday or had a decision that wore you out mentally. These can be overcome easily by changing the habit or process in which you do that particular task. If you've made the change and your everyday responsibilities return without an abundance of fatigue, then you most likely don't suffer from chronic or persistent fatigue.

There are a number of factors that point to a reoccurring fatigue problem. Chronic fatigue usually lasts for six months or longer and interferes with daily function. The number one problem is an overgrowth of microorganisms in the body. After years of taking antibiotics or other medications, eating processed foods and sugar, and being exposed to chemicals, airborne particulates and other irritants, the body becomes less efficient, weakens and becomes a breeding ground for fungus. The longer a body is fed additives, sugars, and medications, the worst symptoms become. The body weakens according to the level of abuse throughout the years and what the body is exposed to. This is why there is a tendency for older people to develop disease.

Symptoms are the result of a buildup of fungus in the body, which alters the function of many internal organs and processes. In other words, fungus throws a wrench into typical human physiology. People reach a certain age - symptoms occur at varying ages - and they start to feel aches, pains, sluggishness, mild depression, and sleep disorders to name a few. The body is telling you a major change is necessary.

The number one step to take is change your diet - eliminate 99% of carbohydrates, eat plenty of vegetables, nuts and meat for at least six months. This change alone should increase energy levels. Also, take antifungals to kill off any microorganisms that have accumulated in the body and are causing problems for specific functions.

Fatigue has so much to do with inactivity, which is why exercise is so critical. If you are not used to physical activity, try something you enjoy doing, motivation will not be as difficult. There are so many different kinds of exercise available even if you live in a remote area where a gym is nonexistent. If you have stairs, try walking up and down them for 20 minutes a day. Get an exercise ball and work every part of your body, along with some type of cardio workout like walking or hiking.

Keep your mental health strong by surrounding yourself with others who are positive and active. Also, set up goals, short term and long term. Sometimes the last thing someone wants to do is the best thing for them. Schedule weekly visits with friends, join a knitting club, join a basketball league or golf league, meet relatives for a picnic. There are so many opportunities to break out of a rut and turn your thought process into a brighter outlook on life.

This is not intended to oversimplify a common, sometimes very debilitating disease. There are many factors that play a role in chronic fatigue. The advice above is a list of general techniques that, if tried, have helped others in the same situation. Sometimes all it takes is just a little advice to help change your life.

A Month-Long Amtrak Ride

The main reason for the long absence with this blog - family. A very broad category, but an important one.

First of all, a person can learn so much about health conditions when someone in the family has one, whether it is yourself or another person close to you. Some may be small, minor and easily treatable health conditions, and then there are those that will turn a person's world upside down and backwards.

Every day there are people having heart attacks, aneurysms, kidney failures, head trauma, suffering severe burns and so on. These people definitely suffer to varying degrees and either have persistent or chronic problems, which eventually leads to death, they adjust to a new way of living, or recover and go back to life as they had lived it.

All families are different. Here is mine - although I try to not take this blog to a personal level. Within the last few months there have been family members and two friends who suffered either a stroke, a heart attack, both, a severe foodbourne illness, have come out of remission from cancer, or lost their battle with cancer. This alters everything we like to call normal everyday routine. These people who are suffering may never get to go back to the 'normal everyday routine', or have to rearrange their idea of what normal is. And it doesn't matter how hard a person may fight for their lives or against the unknown, nature will play it's role in which road will be taken and how that road is travelled. It's like getting on an Amtrak train and telling the conductor you'll get off at whatever stop he determines. Just don't give any one of us the itinerary.

And, as far as the ages of the people each disease has affected? A niece, 20 years old; a father-in-law, 74; a cousin, 45; a friend's 12 year-old daughter; and a another friend, 72. A pretty broad range of ages, testifying to the 'it can happen to anyone' theory.

This is not a plea for sympathy, just an observation, and a vision of the hardship so many people go through daily when they're dealing with disease and trauma. Sometimes it takes going through tough times yourself to see - REALLY see - the physical, emotional and psychological pain both the sick and their families experience. It's not an easy road, but you know, it really does heighten a person's empathy and builds a stronger, more responsive self. And, in the grand scheme of things in life, being there for family is the best, most rewarding trip anyone could ever take!

Between the Lines

Wielding Microbe Against Microbe, Beetle Defends Its Food Source,
(Oct. 10, 2008)

New Sequencing Technique Could Boost Pine Beetle Fight, Improve Cancer Research (Sep. 29, 2009)

Parasite Causes Zombie Ants To Die In An Ideal Spot (Aug. 13, 2009)

Visualizing Brain Invasion by a Fungus (Apr. 27, 2010)

Efficient Consumption Of Copper Allows Fungus To Infect The Brain (Feb. 9, 2007)

HIV-Related Death: Predicting Fatal Fungal Infections (July 4, 2009)

Killer Fungus Threatening Amphibians (November 24, 2009)


All of these headlines, taken from the ScienceDaily website are specifically about fungus, however, are diverse in the biological chain and have further implications than the average person realizes.

One article focuses on how a particular insect secretes a fungus to feed its larvae and an antibiotic-producing bacterium to fight the fungus of a potential enemy mite. To some people this means nothing, but looking at overall potential "...this suggests the antibiotic could have broad-spectrum activity against other fungi and parasites, a possibility the team is now investigating. And the discovery of a novel antifungal compound is especially exciting because many of these agents can serve double-duty as anticancer drugs," says, University of Wisconsin-Madison evolutionary biologist and symbiosis expert, Cameron Currie.1

Focus on the mountain pine beetle unearths a new approach to halting the epidemic in the Northwestern U.S. and British Columbia. This article researches the fungus that attacks the pine trees in these regions turning the wood of the pine a bluish color, which then attracts the beetle, rendering the wood less marketable in the building sector. Studying the function the fungus' makeup can help the timber industry and also, according to Dr. Steven Jones, Head of Bioinfomatics at the BC Cancer Agency’s Genome Sciences Centre, “This study has much wider research implications. What we learned from assembling the draft sequence of a fungus, we can now apply to sequencing human genomes...We're now using this novel approach to decode cancer tumours.”2

The fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is known for causing meningitis and encephalitis, yet isn't harmful until it leaves the blood stream and enters the brain. Through new intravital microscopy scientists may see how the fungus enters the brain. Once the fungus stopped from traveling through a capillary, it is pushed by a protein urease into the brain. A team of researchers from the University of Calgary, Canada, suggest "...that therapeutics that inhibit urease might help prevent meningitis and encephalitis caused by infection with Cryptococcus neoformans."3

There are innumerable articles that justify plainly why some people believe the fungus theory to disease. Reading researched articles can unveil so much in the scientific world, yet sometimes its what isn't said that says so much more.


1 University of Wisconsin-Madison (2008, October 10). Wielding Microbe Against Microbe, Beetle Defends Its Food Source. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 24, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com? /releases/2008/10/081002171921.htm
2 University of British Columbia (2009, September 29). New Sequencing Technique Could Boost Pine Beetle Fight, Improve Cancer Research. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 24, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com? /releases/2009/09/090915154851.htm
3 Journal of Clinical Investigation (2010, April 27). Visualizing brain invasion by a fungus. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 24, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com? /releases/2010/04/100426212910.htm

Not Just Physical

Good physical health is important. It is also very important to have good psychological health to defray the various physical problems that can stem from psychological issues. In certain cases, the psychological may need to be addressed for the physical symptoms to be eliminated. Mental status is a process that takes hours, days and often months of analyzing why an individuals brain responds the way they do. Until ghosts of the past or stress is chipped away and exposed, many people go through life in a state of denial, anxiety or unsatisfactory existence, constantly searching for the balance in their lives. Most likely, all that person needs is a release and a feeling of freedom. This sounds simple, but is usually a very complicated process.

Many of you have probably experienced stress, trauma or tragedy in your life. Reflecting on that time, weakened physical health may have occurred simultaneously. Did you start overeating which caused weight gain? Did depression set in and enthusiasm disappear? Did you experience exhaustion and not want to get out of bed? Become irritable, short-tempered or lose focus on the future? Did you have a heart attack, increase in blood pressure, or increase in substance abuse? Psychologists have determined that hardiness and resiliency levels determine how a person responds to life changes and whether they can easily overcome the adversity.

Over the past decade there has been larger, worldly issues that create stress, depression, and anxiety - the war, fear of attacks in the U.S., and a large number of natural disasters. It is difficult for people to be resilient when their home has been destroyed by water, an earthquake, or a family member dies in the war. These all add to the growing psychological problems in the country.

According to the American Psychological Association, "trauma disorders are a common and costly problem in the United States. An estimated 5.2 million American adults ages 18 to 54, or approximately 3.6 percent of people in this age group in a given year, have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). In 1990, anxiety disorders cost the U.S. an estimated $46.6 billion. Untreated PTSD from any trauma is unlikely to disappear and can contribute to chronic pain, depression, drug and alcohol abuse and sleep problems that impede a person's ability to work and interact with others."

This growing need for solutions to psychological health will also affect a population physically. People can currently address their psychological problems more openly because of increased acceptance in the past few decades. And helping a person's psychological health will also help their physical problems, too.

C. gattii Invasion!

In mid-April online news broadcast a story about a species of fungus which migrated from its usual tropical and subtropical climates to the northwestern coast of the United States. It was first discovered when 200 people became infected with the fungus on Vancouver Island in British Columbia in the late 90’s. Experts say it may have arrived in North America by importation of trees and plants, and more than a decade later has travelled along the coast of Oregon and Washington. Northern California is potentially the next target.

The airborne fungal spores - Cryptococcus gattii, or C. gattii - can harbor themselves in the body for 2 to several months, and cause some life-threatening symptoms. Researchers are mainly concerned about the intensely toxic fungal spores inhabiting a non-specific group - any age range, different backgrounds, non-smokers, and has also affected some domestic and wild animals.

For humans, the symptoms include shortness of breath, an extremely painful persistent cough, headache, fever, and night sweats. Antifungal treatments are the most effective, taking 10 to 12 months to eliminate symptoms. One woman told CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp.) the cough was severely painful and it took a year to build her energy levels to normal.

There isn’t a preventative for infection, but don’t let this alarm you. Anyone living on the Northwestern coast of the United States should be aware of the symptoms and should be tested for the C. gattii fungal infection, beginning an antifungal regimen immediately. Or, for precautionary measures, start taking daily doses of antifungals and probiotics to decrease the severity of the infection or keep it from initially taking over your body.