Obesity has been classified as a global epidemic by the World Health Organization with over one billion people worldwide being overweight, 300 million of them obese. There are a number of complications associated with [...]]]>

“Healthy Curb is the most effective stimulant free product we have seen for decreasing sugar cravings.”        -John Casey, CEO Nutritional Therapeutics, Inc.

Obesity has been classified as a global epidemic by the World Health Organization with over one billion people worldwide being overweight, 300 million of them obese. There are a number of complications associated with being overweight, including; cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, hypertension, insulin resistance and a variety of other chronic illnesses and conditions.

Healthy Curb with NT Factor is a unique herb and stimulant free formulation containing White Kidney Bean Extract that:

• Gently curbs your appetite

• Decreases cravings for sugar and carbohydrates

• Provides energy needed for diet and exercise regiments

Healthy Curb® is a safe product made entirely from food and food extracts that can kick start your weight loss. Just take two Healthy Curb® tablets 20 minutes before each meal and notice a decrease in appetite.
Excess accumulation of body fat is caused by a chronic imbalance between food consumption and energy expenditure and can cause oxidative stress that damages our cells and mitochondria, limiting our body’s ability to produce energy necessary to sustain it’s overall health and function. NT Factor is a unique phospholipid formula used for Lipid Replacement Therapy to restore optimal function to our cells and mitochondria. NT Factor has over 15 years of proven research that show its overall effectiveness for restoring efficient energy production and transer. The combination of NT Factor and White Kidney Bean extract found in NTI’s Healthy Curb is the key to your lifestyle change.

White Kidney Bean Extract, also known as phaseolus vulgaris, is the only FDA approved nutrient to specify weight loss.

http://ntfactor.com/healthy-curb-weight-management/

Achieve your Weightloss Goals in 2012

Metabolic Syndrome affects 22% of the population and is associated with other disturbances of glucose and lipid metabolism, such as; Type 2 Diabetes, Vascular Inflammation, Arthrosclerosis as well as fatiguing illnesses that create excess oxidative stress. Oxidative damage results in a decrease in efficiency of the mitochondria’s ability to produce energy and the cell membranes [...]]]>

Metabolic Syndrome affects 22% of the population and is associated with other disturbances of glucose and lipid metabolism, such as; Type 2 Diabetes, Vascular Inflammation, Arthrosclerosis as well as fatiguing illnesses that create excess oxidative stress. Oxidative damage results in a decrease in efficiency of the mitochondria’s ability to produce energy and the cell membranes ability to protect energy creation and transfer, causing fatigue, damaging our DNA and furthering the progress of degenerative diseases. Major risk factors of MS include; abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, lipid dysfunction and high blood pressure. When insulin levels in your body are not sufficient to monitor glucose and amino acid concentration, insulin resistance occurs. Insulin resistance is the primary cause of MS and its associated diseases. The ability to metabolize fats is diminished if insulin levels are insufficient causing glycerol and free fatty acids can accumulate in tissues.

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked to insulin resistance, which results in a reduction of glucose utilization causing cell dysfunction. Cell dysfunction reduces electron transport chain activity and energy production and increases free radical levels resulting in further cell membrane damage and fatigue. When mitochondria function at optimal levels the amount of oxidative molecules produced as a by-product of energy production are neutralized by naturally occurring intracellular antioxidants. Unfortunately, in Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes, excess free radicals are produced in excess of antioxidants, and damage is caused to our cells and mitochondria by lipid peroxides produced when free radicals attack fatty acids. Fatty acids are especially susceptible to free radicals, those who are obese, insulin resistant and pre-diabetic have higher concentrations of fatty acids resulting in progressive damage to their cells even before they are diagnosed with a glucose related disease.

Fatigue is a common condition in those diagnosed with MS, Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease and is related to the decreased efficiency of mitochondrial energy production caused by oxidative damage. Mitochondria can also be affected by disease, infection and the natural progression of aging that all create excess oxidative damage that exceed our body’s natural ability to neutralize. The degradation of cell and mitochondrial membranes causes premature aging that manifests physically as fatigue. Preventing damage to cellular and mitochondrial membranes is important to maintaining energy production, electron transport activity and energy transfer.

Arthrosclerosis is thought to begin with abnormalities in lipoprotein subclasses which are highly susceptible to oxidation, and involves chronic inflammatory damage to blood vessels due to lipid accumulation, inflammatory response, vessel cell death and thrombosis which can result in heart damage. Arthrosclerosis is the leading cause of Cardiovascular Disease and strokes; when oxidized lipoproteins interact with blood vessel walls plaques are created that when broken off occlude the blood vessels in the heart.

In MS associated diseases, supplementations has been used with antioxidants and vitamins such as; Vitamins C, E, A and CoQ10, to neutralize free radicals and inhibit the progression of the disease. However, antioxidants cannot repair the damage already done to our membrane lipids. Lipid Replacement Therapy can reverse oxidative damage done to our cells and mitochondria and can restore energy product, electron transport activity and energy transfer. Combining LRT with antioxidants repairs the damage done by excess free radicals, restores cell function and prevents further damage.

In clinical studies, LRT has been used in combination with the complete nutritional system in Propax with NT Factor that includes healthy lipids to repair cell and mitochondrial membranes, antioxidants to neutralize free radicals, healthy bacteria to create an optimal environment for the healthy lipids and restore healthy intestinal flora levels as well as other essential vitamins, minerals and omegas to support overall health. Propax with NT Factor has shown to reduce the fatigue, the physical side effect of cell degradation, by up to 40% in 8 weeks.

http://researchednutritionals.com/FactSheets/Metabolic%20Syndrome%20Journal%20Cellular%20Biochemistry.pdf

60-70% of people over the age of 70 have some degree of Osteoarthritis (OA).  So learning what starts the process and the inflammation that comes with it are important.

The bottom line may be your cells; in particular, your mitochondria.  So what are these little things, and how do they relate to you.  The mitochondria regulate [...]]]>

60-70% of people over the age of 70 have some degree of Osteoarthritis (OA).  So learning what starts the process and the inflammation that comes with it are important.

The bottom line may be your cells; in particular, your mitochondria.  So what are these little things, and how do they relate to you.  The mitochondria regulate the cells very survival, and the way it functions.  But more specifically how does that affect such an important age related disease as arthritis?  Is there a way to deal with this?

Mitochondrial mutations, and oxidative stress (free radical damage), are commonly the cause of age related diseases.  Among those diseases, is osteoarthritis, a related rheumatic disease, most commonly seen in the degradation and loss of joint cartilage.  The death of joint cells is a prominent feature of the process of decline.  As these cells are damaged they can’t replace your joint cartilage at the rate it used to. That leads to loss of cartilage.  It also leads to inflammation, the basis for most OA pain flare ups.

The danger to all mitochondria is nitric oxide (NO).  It is this that causes the damage the synovial fluid in your joints and the joints cells.  The higher the amount of NO is the greater the cell damage, and death.

Now several studies are pointing out this important role mitochondria play in both OA and Rheumatoid Arthritis.  They point to the idea that it is this dysregulation in cartilage cells that may be the most basic root of the overall problem.

From the beginning to the end your cells are the key to your good health.

One of the key elements to NT Factor, and its core products, is to help your cells regulate themselves and be healthy.  NT Factor repairs those damaged cell membranes, which protect your mitochondria. This allows the cells to live a normal life cycle and function to their peak efficiency.

References:

Journal of American College of Rheumatology, 2008 58:8 2217-18

Mitochonrion 2004 Sept4: (5-6): 715-28

BMC Musculselet Disord. 2011 Feb 8;12-42

Mol Cell Proemics, 2009 Jan;8(1); 172-89

Department of Molecular Pathology,

The Institute for Molecular Medicine,

Huntington Beach, California (www.immed.org)

Professor Nicolson is on the Board of Scientific Directors of the Road Back Foundation (www.roadback.org), a nonprofit educational organization that provides information on rheumatic diseases, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, and their treatments.  He also serves on the editorial boards of 15 medical [...]]]> By Prof. Garth Nicolson

Department of Molecular Pathology,

The Institute for Molecular Medicine,

Huntington Beach, California (www.immed.org)

Professor Nicolson is on the Board of Scientific Directors of the Road Back Foundation (www.roadback.org), a nonprofit educational organization that provides information on rheumatic diseases, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, and their treatments.  He also serves on the editorial boards of 15 medical and scientific journals.

Arthritis is group of autoimmune/degenerative diseases that have been around since prehistoric times and now afflict approximately 50 million Americans.  These diseases are characterized by inflammation, the body’s natural response to injury, and/or degeneration, especially of the joints and other tissue structures.  These diseases most often present with joint tenderness, pain, swelling, stiffness and reductions in joint mobility and range of movement.  With time, degeneration and enough destruction of the joints can result in a condition that requires joint replacement. Typically, arthritis pain and degeneration of joints persist over many years, and generally, they slowly increase over time.  However, certain events, such as trauma or infection(s), can cause sudden increases in severity of arthritic signs and symptoms.

Some Common Types of Arthritis

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and it can affect both large and small joints of the body, including the hands, feet, back, hips or knees. The disease is essentially due to daily wear and tear of the joints and their protective coverings; however, Osteoarthritis can also occur as a result of injury or infection. Osteoarthritis begins in the cartilage and eventually leads to opposing bones eroding toward and into each other, narrowing the gap between joints, and eventually causing pain and reductions in joint mobility. Osteoarthritis typically affects the weight bearing joints, such as the back, spine, and pelvis. Unlike Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis is most commonly a disease of the elderly. More than 30 percent of females have some degree of Osteoarthritis by age 65. Risk factors for osteoarthritis include: prior joint trauma, obesity, infections and sedentary lifestyle.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

In Rheumatoid Arthritis, an autoimmune disease, the body’s own immune system attacks the joints, mostly the joint lining and cartilage as well as other body tissues. This eventually results in swelling and erosion of opposing bones, often in the joints in the fingers, wrists, knees, elbows and ankles. The disease is usually symmetrical and can lead to severe deformity in a few years if not treated. Rheumatoid Arthritis occurs mostly in people aged 20 and above, and in contrast to Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis is a systemic or system-wide autoimmune disease affecting many other tissues and organs.

Infectious Arthritis

This form of arthritis is related to Rheumatoid Arthritis in that elements of infection are involved, and patients with Infectious Arthritis show evidence of Lyme Disease, Mycoplasma and other infections.

Juvenile Arthritis

Juvenile Arthritis refers to a systemic arthritis-related condition that develops in children or teens.  Approximately 300,000 children under the age of 18 have this disease.  This type of arthritis is a umbrella term for several types of arthritis previously known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis among others. Patients usually exhibit a variety of symptoms, including muscle and soft tissue tightening, bone erosion, joint, fevers, rashes and changes in growth patterns.

There are also other chronic diseases that can present with elements of rheumatic or arthritis symptoms, such as Gout, Lupus, Scleroderma, Reiter’s Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia Syndrome and other less common diseases and syndromes.

All of the rheumatic diseases, and especially arthritis, have been associated with the presence of one or more bacterial and viral infections (see next section) [1, 2].

Possible Causes of Arthritis and their Treatments

Although the causes of various common forms of arthritis are considered to be generally unknown, there appears to be a link to genetics.  If a close family member has the disease, you are more likely to have it. Most researchers feel that there is no one single cause for the various forms of arthritis, and they are likely to conclude that multiple factors are involved, which are probably different in each patient and type of arthritis.

For the most part, treatments for rheumatic diseases have depended on treating symptoms, such as treatments for the alleviation of pain and other symptomatic treatments, and such treatments are usually not directed at possible causes of the disease.

Infections are extremely important in rheumatic diseases and are a major cause of various chronic illnesses [1, 2].  Bacterial and viral Infections have been found in a variety of autoimmune and degenerative diseases, and in particular in rheumatic diseases, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Infective Arthritis, Juvenile Arthritis, Lupus, Scleroderma, and other rheumatic disorders [1, 2].  We and others have gathered substantial evidence that chronic bacterial and viral infections are commonly associated with these conditions [1, 3], and these same infections have been found in the synovium of arthritic joints [4].

Importantly, rheumatic disease patients respond to anti-infective therapy [2, 5].  For example, for many years investigators have found that systemic intracellular bacterial infections (Mycoplasma, Borrelia, Chlamydia, etc.) are commonly found in rheumatic diseases, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis [1].  These diseases can be treated with antibiotics, and indeed, several controlled clinical trials have shown the benefit of long-term antibiotic therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis [6, 7].  Successful treatments for the infections found in Arthritis patients have resulted in resolution of signs and symptoms.

Bacterial infections appear to be especially important, because they can stimulate immune reactions to joints and other structures.  Microorganisms like Mycoplasmas can kill cells and damage cartilage, but when they exit cells, such as synovial cells, nerve cells, among others that can be infected, they can stimulate autoimmune responses. This can occur by different mechanisms. One mechanism that has intrigued us is that when certain microorganisms, such as certain species of Mycoplasmas, exit from invaded cells, they carry part of the host cell membrane on their surface. This may trigger the immune system to respond to the host antigens on the foreign microorganism but this also results in an autoimmune response to the host antigens. Alternatively, some microorganisms display surface antigens that mimic host cell surface antigens, and these may stimulate autoimmune responses.  When these microorganisms exit synovial cells in the joints, they can stimulate immune responses against the cells in the joints and related cells, causing joint inflammation and degeneration [5].

Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Arthritis

Another important property of tissues involved in arthritis is that energy functions inside cells, and in particular the cells of the joints, are dysfunctional.  This has been found in the most common forms of arthritis, such as Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis [8, 9].  These conditions, probably the result of chronic intracellular infections, result in increased oxidative stress and the excess production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) or free-radical oxygen species that can directly damage cellular membranes [10].

The lipids in cellular membranes involved in providing an essential environment for energy production are inside the mitochondria—our cells’ batteries that produce high energy molecules necessary for life—and mitochondria are particularly susceptible to ROS damage.  Once the mitochondrial lipids are oxidized by ROS, they no longer function properly.  Cumulative oxidative stress and excess ROS, such as seen in arthritis and other chronic diseases, can damage mitochondria, at a higher level cause fatigue as well as nerve cell damage at their synapses, the communication regions between nerve cells. Thus changes in mitochondria can influence both the onset and severity of arthritis and the fatigue and pain that accompany arthritis.

Arthritis and Lipid Replacement Therapy

Since arthritis patients have mitochondrial and other membrane impairments, Lipid Replacement Therapy with NT Factor^® is an especially attractive, all-natural approach to replace cell membrane damage and reverse the effects of excess ROS damage to cellular lipids [11].  NT Factor^® provides cells with the specific types of membrane lipids that can repair mitochondria and cell membranes and make them functional again.

The uniqueness of NT Factor^® over other lipid supplements is that NT Factor^®’s lipids are required by mitochondrial membranes and other cellular membranes for their function, and NT Factor^® lipids are protected from damage by ROS and other factors that damage most dietary lipids before they even reach our cells.

Thus Lipid Replacement Therapy with NT Factor^® is an effective way to reduce the effects of excess oxidative damage to the cells in our joints and nerve and other cells and restore mitochondrial function.  By restoring mitochondrial function and repairing cellular membranes, fatigue is reduced and cellular function can be restored.

References

1. Nicolson GL, Haier J. Role of chronic bacterial and viral infections in neurodegenerative, neurobehavioral, psychiatric, autoimmune and fatiguing illnesses: Part 1. British Journal of Medical Practitioners. 2009; 2(4): 20-28.  Part 2. British Journal of Medical Practitioners. 2010; 3(1): 301-311.

2. Brown TM.  Basic concept of rheumatic mechanism. Posted at www.roadback.org.

3. Haier J, Nasralla M, Franco AR, Nicolson GL.  Detection of mycoplasmal infections in blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.  Rheumatology 1999; 38: 504-509.

4. Johnson S, Sidebottom D, Bruckner F, Collins D. Identification of Mycoplasma fermentans in synovial fluid samples from arthritis patients with inflammatory disease. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 2000; 38(1): 90-93.

5. Nicolson GL. The role of microorganism infections in chronic illnesses: support for antibiotic regimens. CFIDS Chronicle 1999; 12(3):19-21.

6. O’Dell J, Haire C, Erickson N, Palmer W, Churchill M, Drymalski W, Blakely K, Wees S, Eckhoff J, Doud D, Weaver A, Dietz F, Olson R, Klassen L, Moore G. Successful Treatment of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) with Minocycline: Results of a Double-Blind Trial.  Arthritis & Rheumatism 1995; 40(5): 842-848.

7. O’Dell JR, Blakely KW, Mallek JA, Eckhoff PJ, Leff RD, Wees SJ, Sems KM, Fernandez AM, Palmer WR, Klassen LW, Paulsen GA, Haire CE, Moore GF. Treatment of early seropositive rheumatoid arthritis: a two-year, double-blind comparison of minocycline and hydroxychloroquine. Arthritis & Rheumatism 2001; 44(10): 2235-2241.

8. Blanco FJ, Rego I, Ruiz-Romero C. The role of mitochondria in osteoarthritis.  Nature Review of Rheumatology 2011; 7(3): 161-169.

9. Seven A, Güzel S, Aslan M, Hamuryudan V. Lipid, protein, DNA oxidation and antioxidant status in rheumatoid arthritis.  Clinical Biochemistry 2008; 41: 538-543.

10. Sun G, Xu X, Wang Y, Shen X, Chen Z, Yang J. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection induces reactive oxygen species and DNA damage. Infection & Immunity 2008; 76: 4405-4413.

11. Nicolson GL, Ellithrope R. Lipid replacement and antioxidant nutritional therapy for restoring mitochondrial function and reducing fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome and other fatiguing illnesses.  Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 2006; 13(1): 57-68.

About the Author:

Professor Garth L. Nicolson is the President, Chief Scientific Officer and Research Professor at the Institute for Molecular Medicine in Huntington Beach, California and is an Emeritus Professor of Laboratory Medicine.  Professor Nicolson has published over 600 medical and scientific papers, edited 16 books, and served on the Editorial Boards of 30 medical and scientific journals and Senior Editor of four journals.  Professor Nicolson has won many awards, such as the Burroughs Wellcome Medal of the Royal Society of Medicine (United Kingdom), Stephen Paget Award of the Metastasis Research Society, the U. S. National Cancer Institute Outstanding Investigator Award, and the Innovative Medicine Award of Canada.  He is also a Colonel (Honorary) of the U. S. Army Special Forces and a U. S. Navy SEAL (Honorary) for his work on Armed Forces and veterans’ illnesses.

It has become almost common sense that exercise [...]]]> As a health conscious person you try and do all the right things to insure your health.  You watch what you eat, take your vitamins, and most of all, you exercise.  But are you doing more damage to your body?  Is what you’ve believed all these years wrong?

It has become almost common sense that exercise is good for you.  Most people know it improves health and mental clarity, while it reduces weight and relaxes us.  However, one thing it also does is damage body tissue.  The key is to balance stress and health.

Vigorous exertion exercises cause a dramatic increase in reactive oxidative stress (free radical damage) to your body and skeletal muscle.  What researchers have been discovering over many years is that any form of exercise will cause harm to the mitochondria of your cells.  But, that damage increases with the amount of exercise you do.  Exhaustive exercise, such as running, however, will cause a dramatic increase of the impact free radicals have on our cells (cell membrane damage).  We have always known that stress causes damage. But now there is a way to reverse that damage.

However, NT Factor ® will increase your energy levels, and relieve the damage, now making it easier for you to find the get up and go to finding a healthier you.  By replacing the damaged cell membranes with new healthy ones, NT Factor ® allows the cell to produce the proper levels of energy you need naturally.  When your cells function at their maximum allowable levels it takes in all sources of energy and uses them.  By doing this you feel an increased amount of energy.  The energy you need to find your sneakers, and begin a little exercise.

Never think exercise is all bad.  Research has also found that supplementing with antioxidants, such a Co-Q10, resveratrol, and others, can suppress the breakdown of mitochondria regardless of the amount, or level of training.  Anti-oxidant’s can downgrade the progression of damage to a slower pace, suppressing the amount of cell membrane damage done.  NTFactor, however, goes beyond mere antioxidants, but in a much more beneficial way.  It does this by working directly on the cells to replace the damaged layer of cell membrane with new healthy ones.  This inhibits further damage, and more refined layer of protection of the mitochondria on a continuous cycle.

The key is always going to be energy, and healthy cell life.  A healthy cell produces energy at its peak level.  This allows you to do the things you want to do.  It also allows for all multitudes of other processes your body requires to remain healthy and vital.  Begin living your active life today.

References:

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011 Jun;43(6):1017-24

African Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 5(1), pp. 50-56, 4 January, 2011