The Autoimmune Cure – by Dr. Sara Gottfried
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We’ve featured Dr. Gottfried before, as well as another of her books (“Younger”), and this one’s a little different, and on the one hand very specific, while on the other hand affecting a lot of people.
You may be thinking, upon reading the subtitle, “this sounds like Dr. Gabor Maté’s ideas” (per: “When The Body Says No”), and 1) you’d be right, and 2) Dr. Gottfried does credit him in the introduction and refers back to his work periodically later.
What she adds to this, and what makes this book a worthwhile read in addition to Dr. Maté’s, is looking clinically at the interactions of the immune system and nervous system, but also the endocrine system (Dr. Gottfried’s specialty) and the gut.
Another thing she adds is more of a focus on what she writes about as “little-t trauma”, which is the kind of smaller, yet often cumulative, traumas that often eventually add up over time to present as C-PTSD.
While “stress increases inflammation” is not a novel idea, Dr. Gottfried takes it further, and looks at a wealth of clinical evidence to demonstrate the series of events that, if oversimplified, seem unbelievable, such as “you had a bad relationship and now you have lupus”—showing evidence for each step in the snowballing process.
The style is a bit more clinical than most pop-science, but still written to be accessible to laypersons. This means that for most of us, it might not be the quickest read, but it will be an informative and enlightening one.
In terms of practical use (and living up to its subtitle promise of “cure”), this book does also cover all sorts of potential remedial approaches, from the obvious (diet, sleep, supplements, meditation, etc) to the less obvious (ketamine, psilocybin, MDMA, etc), covering the evidence so far as well as the pros and cons.
Bottom line: if you have or suspect you may have an autoimmune problem, and/or would just like to nip the risk of such in the bud (especially bearing in mind that the same things cause neuroinflammation and thus, putatively, depression and dementia too), then this is one for you.
Click here to check out the Autoimmune Cure, and take care of your body and mind!
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Too Much Or Too Little Testosterone?
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One Man’s Saw Palmetto Is Another Woman’s Serenoa Repens…
Today we’re going to look at saw palmetto. So, first:
What is it?
Saw palmetto is a type of palm native to the southeastern United States. Its scientific name is “Serenoa repens”, so if that name appears in studies we cite, it’s the same thing. By whichever name, it’s widely enjoyed as a herbal supplement.
Why do people take it?
Here’s where it gets interesting, because people take it for some completely opposite reasons…
Indeed, searching for it on the Internet will cause Google to suggest “…for men” and “…for women” as the top suggestions.
That’s because it works on testosterone, and testosterone can be a bit of a double-edged sword, so some people want to increase or decrease certain testosterone-related effects on their body.
And it works for both! Here be science:
- Testosterone (henceforth, “T”) is produced in the human body.
- Yes, all human bodies, to some extent.
- An enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase converts T in to DHT (dihydrogen testosterone)
- DHT is a much more potent androgen (masculinizing agent) than T alone, such that its effects are often unwanted, including:
- Enlarged prostate (if you have one)
- Hair loss (especially in men)
- New facial hair growth (usually unwanted by women)
- Women are more likely to get this due to PCOS and/or the menopause
To avoid those effects, you really want less of your T to be converted into DHT.
Saw palmetto is a 5α-reductase inhibitor, so if you take it, you’ll have less DHT, and you’ll consequently lose less hair, have fewer prostate problems, etc.
^The above study showed that saw palmetto extract performed comparably to finasteride. Finasteride is the world’s main go-to prescription drug for treating enlarged prostate and/or hair loss.
See also: Natural Hair Supplement: Friend or Foe? Saw Palmetto, a Systematic Review in Alopecia
Hair today… Growing tomorrow!
So, what was that about increasing T levels?
Men usually suffer declining T levels as they get older, with a marked drop around the age of 45. With lower T comes lower energy, lower mood, lower libido, erectile dysfunction, etc.
Guess what… It’s T that’s needed for those things, not DHT. So if you block the conversion of T to DHT, you’ll have higher blood serum T levels, higher energy, higher mood, higher libido, and all that.
(the above assumes you have testicles, without which, your T levels will certainly not increase)
Saw Palmetto Against Enlarged Prostate?
With higher DHT levels in mid-late life, prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperlasia) can become a problem for many men. The size of that problem ranges from urinary inconvenience (common, when the prostate presses against the bladder) to prostate cancer (less common, much more serious). Saw palmetto, like other 5α-reductase inhibitors such as finasteride, may be used to prevent or treat this.
Wondering how safe/reliable it is? We found a very high-quality fifteen-year longitudinal observational study of the use of saw palmetto, and it found:
❝The 15 years’ study results suggest that taking S. repens plant extract continuously at a daily dose of 320 mg is an effective and safe way to prevent the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia.❞
Want a second opinion? We also found a 10-year study (by different researchers with different people taking it), which reached the same conclusion:
❝The results of study showed the absence of progression, both on subjective criteria (IPSS, and QoL scores), and objective criteria (prostate volume, the rate of urination, residual urine volume). Furthermore, patients had no undesirable effects directly related to the use of this drug.❞
- IPSS = International Prostate Symptom Score
- QoL = Quality of Life
❝But wait a minute; I, a man over the age of 45 with potentially declining T levels but a fabulous beard, remember that you said just a minute ago that saw palmetto is used by women to avoid having facial hair; I don’t want to lose mine!❞
You won’t. Once your facial hair follicles were fully developed and activated during puberty, they’ll carry on doing what they do for life. That’s no longer regulated by hormones once they’re up and running.
The use of saw palmetto can only be used to limit facial hair if caught early—so it’s more useful at the onset of menopause, for those who have (or will have) such, or else upon the arrival of PCOS symptoms or hirsuitism from some other cause.
Take The Test!
Do you have a prostate, and would like to know your IPSS score, and what that means for your prostate health?
(takes 1 minute, no need to pee or go probing for anything)
Bottom Line on Saw Palmetto
- It blocks the conversion of T into DHT
- It will increase blood serum T levels, thus boosting mood, energy, libido, etc in men (who typically have more T, but whose T levels decline with age)
- It will decrease DHT levels, thus limiting hair loss (especially in men) and later-life new facial hair growth (especially in women).
- It can be used to prevent or treat prostate enlargement
- Bonus: it’s a potent antioxidant and thus reduces general inflammation (in everyone)
Want To Try Saw Palmetto?
We don’t sell it (or anything else), but for your convenience…
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- Testosterone (henceforth, “T”) is produced in the human body.
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Asparagus vs Edamame – Which is Healthier?
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Our Verdict
When comparing asparagus to edamame, we picked the edamame.
Why?
Perhaps it’s a little unfair comparing a legume to a vegetable that’s not leguminous (given legumes’ high protein content), but these two vegetables often serve a similar culinary role, and there is more to nutrition than protein. That said…
In terms of macros, edamame has a lot more protein and fiber; it also has more carbs, but the ratio is such that edamame still has the lower glycemic index. Thus, the macros category is a win for edamame in all relevant aspects.
When it comes to vitamins, things are a little closer; asparagus has more of vitamins A, B3, and C, while edamame has more of vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, and B9. All in all, a moderate win for edamame, unless we want to consider the much higher vitamin C content of asparagus as particularly more relevant.
In the category of minerals, asparagus boasts only more selenium (and more sodium, not that that’s a good thing for most people in industrialized countries), while edamame has more calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. An easy win for edamame.
In other considerations, asparagus has a good amount of quercetin specifically, but edamame has more than 2x the polyphenols in total. So both are good, but we say edamame wins this round too.
Adding up the sections makes for an overall win for edamame, but by all means enjoy either or both (unless you have a soy allergy, because edamame is young soy), as diversity is great!
Want to learn more?
You might like:
Why You Can’t Skimp On Amino Acids ← edamame is excellent for a full set of essential amino acids, too!
Enjoy!
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Morin: Your Mouth’s New Best Friend
10almonds is reader-supported. We may, at no cost to you, receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.
There is a problem with most oral hygiene options, and the problem is, as Dr. Fernanda Brighenti explains:
❝We have a constant flow of saliva. We produce, on average, 1 milliliter of saliva per minute.
Anything we put in our mouths is quickly removed by saliva, especially because it has a smell and taste, which stimulates salivary flow.❞
“Anything we put in our mouths” includes oral hygiene products.
So, what to do about that?
The oral hygiene helper that sticks around
Dr. Brighenti and her team were investigating morin, a flavonoid found in guava leaves, apple peel, fig peel, teas, and almonds, for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
See also: Are You Getting The Right Kinds Of Flavonoids?
This is relevant, as gum disease is caused by bacterial biofilm buildup, and (inconveniently) current rinses to try to deduce that often have side effects (taste changes, tartar buildup, stains), and antibiotics are definitely not an option you want unless absolutely truly necessary.
See also: Antibiotics: Useful Even Less Often Than Previously Believed (And Still Just As Dangerous) ← includes, halfway down the article, the four ways that antibiotics can kill you!
What they discovered: dried morin powder can be added to oral hygiene products—and it works. Tests on multispecies bacterial biofilm showed strong antimicrobial action, and treated biofilms appeared less stained too.
See also: Make Your Saliva Better For Your Teeth
In the study, more things were tried too: encapsulation with sodium alginate and gellan gum improved solubility, stability, and adherence in the mouth despite saliva washout, but that’s certainly not something most of us can do at home unless we happen to live in a lab—is more something we can expect to see added to commercial products in the future.
What this means: per the researchers’ conclusions, morin provides a safe, natural, inexpensive alternative to antibiotics, and can reduce the side effects of existing treatments.
While this is great news for anyone who has teeth and would like to keep them*, it’s expected to be particularly useful for people with reduced motor skills (older adults, patients with special needs), and people who are sensitive to current oral hygiene products.
*That’s not the only reason, of course; the impact goes far beyond the teeth. Remember, for example, that periodontal disease is the sixth most common chronic condition worldwide; nearly half of the global population has oral disease, and none of us are immune (and it has big implications in turn for cardiovascular disease risk).
To read the paper in full, see: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial evaluation of morin
Want to learn more?
We did a three-part series on oral hygiene:
- Toothpastes & Mouthwashes: Which Help And Which Harm?
- Flossing, Better (And Easier!)
- Less Common Oral Hygiene Options ← this writer is personally a big fan of the miswak stick! While she wouldn’t want to replace the other options entirely, it’s a great quick-and-easy on-the-go way to give one’s teeth a quick clean after a coffee or snack or such, without having to go to a bathroom and use a toothbrush and toothpaste etc.
Take care!
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Ham Substitute in Bean Soup
10almonds is reader-supported. We may, at no cost to you, receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.
It’s Q&A Day at 10almonds!
Have a question or a request? You can always hit “reply” to any of our emails, or use the feedback widget at the bottom!
In cases where we’ve already covered something, we might link to what we wrote before, but will always be happy to revisit any of our topics again in the future too—there’s always more to say!
As ever: if the question/request can be answered briefly, we’ll do it here in our Q&A Thursday edition. If not, we’ll make a main feature of it shortly afterwards!
So, no question/request too big or small
I am interested in what I can substitute for ham in bean soup?
Well, that depends on what the ham was like! You can certainly buy ready-made vegan lardons (i.e. small bacon/ham bits, often in tiny cubes or similar) in any reasonably-sized supermarket. Being processed, they’re not amazing for the health, but are still an improvement on pork.
Alternatively, you can make your own seitan! Again, seitan is really not a health food, but again, it’s still relatively less bad than pork (unless you are allergic to gluten, in which case, definitely skip this one).
Alternatively alternatively, in a soup that already contains beans (so the protein element is already covered), you could just skip the ham as an added ingredient, and instead bring the extra flavor by means of a little salt, a little yeast extract (if you don’t like yeast extract, don’t worry, it won’t taste like it if you just use a teaspoon in a big pot, or half a teaspoon in a smaller pot), and a little smoked paprika. If you want to go healthier, you can swap out the salt for MSG, which enhances flavor in a similar fashion while containing less sodium.
Wondering about the health aspects of MSG? Check out our main feature on this, from last month:
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The 28-Day DASH Diet Weight Loss Program – by Julie Andrews RDN & Andy De Santis RD
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“Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension”, or DASH, is a Mediterranean-adjacent way of eating that, as the name suggests, is focussed on cardiovascular health.
By “Mediterranean-adjacent”, we don’t mean Anatolian or such, we mean: it’s basically the Mediterranean diet with a few tweaks, such as eliminating red meat (of which the Mediterranean allows for a small amount) and moving fish up the list in terms of worthy protein sources.
In this book, we get an overview of what makes up the DASH diet and why, what proportions of various food groups we want to aim for, and for those who want to still include red meat, there’s advice on how to make it less bad (e.g. portion size capped at 1oz and fat trimmed off, etc).
You may be wondering about sodium; they use the 2.3g daily limit to start, working toward a 1.5mg daily limit. Which, considering the various international bodies’ recommended limits on sodium, are quite generous while still representing a reduction for most people, and especially for most Americans.
The recipes themselves are varied, easy without being uninteresting, and plants-forward while still including many recipes that have animal products. We will mention though, that most of them don’t have pictures, which will be a downside for people who prefer such.
The subtitle mentioning “recipes and workouts” makes it sound like equal amounts of both; in reality there are a few pages devoted to exercise (within a chapter devoted to exercise, stress management, and sleep) and aside from that one chapter, we get 10 chapters about diet.
Bottom line: if you’d like to take up the DASH diet and aren’t sure where to start, this guide will get you up-and-running with its 28-day program.
Click here to check out The 28-Day DASH Diet Weight Loss Program, and take care of your heart!
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If You Have Gum Disease… Do This!
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Gingivitis can be reversed much more easily than periodontitis, so try to catch it before it progresses that far!
Here’s how:
Gums are the foundation of healthy teeth
First, arm yourself well: an electric toothbrush provides thousands of strokes, better plaque removal, more gum stimulation, and less user error than a manual brush, especially when angled towards your gums and guided tooth to tooth.
Next, expand your arsenal: a water flosser helps reduce swelling and bleeding by stimulating your gums and can reach deeper gum pockets that string floss cannot, making it especially useful against gingivitis or even more advanced gum disease.
That said, she does also say that even with daily water flossing, string floss is still needed to clean the tight contact points where two teeth meet. However, when water flossing daily, a floss pick used quickly between teeth is sufficient.
Another option is interproximal brushes: these clean between teeth using bristles rather than string, and can be very effective. Despite looking rather fiddly, they’re quite simple to use and can reduce missed areas compared with string floss, particularly for larger gaps or awkward angles.
For more on all of this, enjoy:
Click Here If The Embedded Video Doesn’t Load Automatically!
Want to learn more?
You might also like:
Take care!
Don’t Forget…
Did you arrive here from our newsletter? Don’t forget to return to the email to continue learning!
Learn to Age Gracefully
Join the 98k+ American women taking control of their health & aging with our 100% free (and fun!) daily emails:
