Some benefits of Flaxseed Oil:
Flaxseed Oil contains the 3 EFA’s (essential fatty acids). ALA, Omega 3 and Omega 6, these are key healing components. Our body cannot produce these on it’s own.They must obtained through food or supplement. EFA’s work to protect cell membranes, keeping them efficient at admitting healthy substances, while eliminating damaging substances from our body.
Flaxseed is rich in ALA,(alpha-linolenic acid) which is a precursor to Omega 3. Omega 3 fatty acids are used to produce series 1 and 3 prostaglandins which are anti-inflammatory hormone like molecules. Omega 3 can help reduce inflammation that can be associated with MPS diseases, asthma, arthritis, migraine headaches and such. Omega 3’s also have shown to have benefit in heart disease by providing substances that help reduce the formation of blood clots. It also has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure. You can find many more benefits of Flaxseed oil on webpages all over the internet. The best product in my opinion to buy, would be one that contains Lignans and has to be refrigerated. Lignans have been shown, in various studies, to contain anti-platelet-activating factor activity and possess antioxidant properties. Flaxseed oil is usually a very balanced source of EFA’s. The average beneficial dose is 1 – 3 tablespoons daily. There are many benefits to taking flaxseed oil. I have mentioned only a few here, mainly because these are the ones that have benefited my son with MPS III. (inflammation and heart) He has no swollen joints and minimal stiffness. His heart has been stable the past two years, even though he has an insufficiency.
My next article will be about Fish Oil benefits. Both Flaxseed Oils and Fish Oils have excellent benefits.
Feel free to leave comments below or leave a request in the comments section. (a new window will pop up when you click on comments.
Have a blessed day!
A journal of things that have provided a longer and better quality life for my child with MPS III, by doing things with all Natural therapies. MPS III presently has no treatments or cures. Only a premature death sentence!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Saturday, May 26, 2007
L- Carnosine
Thanks for stopping by Carrie!
In reference to L- Carnosine here is our experience. I first found about this supplement through Austism research while looking for things to restore brain function. All the research I have found on Pubmed and through Dr. Chez and a few others, showed this to be a very safe supplement to try. Original does with Autistic children were showing to be 400 mg -2x a day. It is also of benefit if the child is already receiving Vitamin E and Zinc supplement in small doses. As it is believed to help make the absorbtion/action of carnosine better. Children with Autism have shown both cognitive and speech improvement in the majority of the cases. So I decided to try this supplement. I started out with 250 mg one time a day. All went well, then after several days 250 mg - 2 x a day. (with meals breakfast and dinner) We all noticed more babble from Jesse. This was exciting of course. So after a week I upped the dose to 400 mg in the AM and 250 mg at dinner. The reaction was not too bad, but Jesse did seem a bit agitated at times and frustrated. This leveled off some so I went ahead and upped the dose again to 400 mg in both AM and PM. Well, this put Jesse over the edge in agitation. He still slept well, and wanted to be happy, but he couldn't stop tapping and sit still for long without tapping on something, or fidgeting and occasionally whining. So I gave it a week to see if he would settle in, But he did not. So I decreased the dose gradually back to a where he seemed happiest and still cognitively improving. This dose turns out to be 250 mg 2 x a day for him. Within 5 weeks on L-Carnosine Jesse started showing interest in the bathroom. Walking in out at times. (we tried to potty train him for 8 years and finally gave up) Well I noticed that each time he was walking in and out the bathroom that shortly thereafter he would have a BM. So I started putting him on the potty each time he went in the bathroom. Usually within 2 - 5 minutes he will have a BM on the potty now.
We now can say that 95% of the time, Jesse has BM's on the potty now. I and others also have noticed since Jesse has been on L-Carnosine that he is more aware of many things cognitively. Including when I leave to go somewhere. He now shows emotion and will sometimes cry, until I explain to him that I will be back shortly. Also he does not like wet diapers, he will complain immensely about them, but this we have not mastered number 1 on the potty yet. He only knows after he has gone and not before. (unlike the BM's) He also now relays his hunger pains when he has them with actions of getting his bowl from the table and or tapping on the table yelling at us. He has never done these things since he started losing skills when he was 8 years old. So these are good things seeing more activity in his brain and associating it with the proper things. We are still praying for speech recovery in time.
Jesse has been on L- Carnosine since January 19th 2007. Witihn 5 weeks we started changes and still do see new things happening. Here is some overview about L- Carnosine below and a few web links as well.
Carnosine, or L-carnosine, is an amino acid made naturally in the body, which was discovered more than 100 years ago. It is thought to be a powerful anti -aging supplement, with benefits that researchers have only recently begun to explore. Carnosine helps protect the body from glycation, one of the two main processes that cause symptoms associated with the breakdown, or aging of the body. Recent studies have indicated that glycation works together with oxidation to create free radicals, the destructive oxygen atoms that damage other healthy cells in the body. While oxidation is a result of oxygen use in the body, glycation is driven by the body’s use of sugar. The glycation process attacks the proteins in the body and converts them into Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs). As AGEs accumulate throughout the body, they generate more compounded free radicals that break down tissues in the body, resulting in damage to the skin, eyes, nervous and circulatory system, and vital organs. The result is the wrinkled skin, mental decline, and other complications often associated with aging.
Carnosine supplements also combat cellular damage by helping the body rid itself of toxic metals, a process known as chelation. Excessive levels of pro-oxidative metals, such as copper and zinc and toxic heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, and nickel, have been linked to a host of illnesses, including Alzheimer’s, autism, Parkinson’s, dementia, ADHD, and schizophrenia. Supplementing with carnosine may help protect against these disorders, because it helps keep these substances from accumulating in your system.
L-carnosine has been shown to slow the glycation process in laboratory rats. In one study, carnosine was found to improve the rats’ lifespan, brain function, and physical appearance.
Do not confuse L-carnosine with L-carnitine, a supplement used to protect the heart and help stabilize blood sugar. These supplements are in no way related and serve entirely different purposes in the body.
http://www.nutritionreview.org/library/autism.carnosine.html < an excellent article
In reference to L- Carnosine here is our experience. I first found about this supplement through Austism research while looking for things to restore brain function. All the research I have found on Pubmed and through Dr. Chez and a few others, showed this to be a very safe supplement to try. Original does with Autistic children were showing to be 400 mg -2x a day. It is also of benefit if the child is already receiving Vitamin E and Zinc supplement in small doses. As it is believed to help make the absorbtion/action of carnosine better. Children with Autism have shown both cognitive and speech improvement in the majority of the cases. So I decided to try this supplement. I started out with 250 mg one time a day. All went well, then after several days 250 mg - 2 x a day. (with meals breakfast and dinner) We all noticed more babble from Jesse. This was exciting of course. So after a week I upped the dose to 400 mg in the AM and 250 mg at dinner. The reaction was not too bad, but Jesse did seem a bit agitated at times and frustrated. This leveled off some so I went ahead and upped the dose again to 400 mg in both AM and PM. Well, this put Jesse over the edge in agitation. He still slept well, and wanted to be happy, but he couldn't stop tapping and sit still for long without tapping on something, or fidgeting and occasionally whining. So I gave it a week to see if he would settle in, But he did not. So I decreased the dose gradually back to a where he seemed happiest and still cognitively improving. This dose turns out to be 250 mg 2 x a day for him. Within 5 weeks on L-Carnosine Jesse started showing interest in the bathroom. Walking in out at times. (we tried to potty train him for 8 years and finally gave up) Well I noticed that each time he was walking in and out the bathroom that shortly thereafter he would have a BM. So I started putting him on the potty each time he went in the bathroom. Usually within 2 - 5 minutes he will have a BM on the potty now.
We now can say that 95% of the time, Jesse has BM's on the potty now. I and others also have noticed since Jesse has been on L-Carnosine that he is more aware of many things cognitively. Including when I leave to go somewhere. He now shows emotion and will sometimes cry, until I explain to him that I will be back shortly. Also he does not like wet diapers, he will complain immensely about them, but this we have not mastered number 1 on the potty yet. He only knows after he has gone and not before. (unlike the BM's) He also now relays his hunger pains when he has them with actions of getting his bowl from the table and or tapping on the table yelling at us. He has never done these things since he started losing skills when he was 8 years old. So these are good things seeing more activity in his brain and associating it with the proper things. We are still praying for speech recovery in time.
Jesse has been on L- Carnosine since January 19th 2007. Witihn 5 weeks we started changes and still do see new things happening. Here is some overview about L- Carnosine below and a few web links as well.
Carnosine, or L-carnosine, is an amino acid made naturally in the body, which was discovered more than 100 years ago. It is thought to be a powerful anti -aging supplement, with benefits that researchers have only recently begun to explore. Carnosine helps protect the body from glycation, one of the two main processes that cause symptoms associated with the breakdown, or aging of the body. Recent studies have indicated that glycation works together with oxidation to create free radicals, the destructive oxygen atoms that damage other healthy cells in the body. While oxidation is a result of oxygen use in the body, glycation is driven by the body’s use of sugar. The glycation process attacks the proteins in the body and converts them into Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs). As AGEs accumulate throughout the body, they generate more compounded free radicals that break down tissues in the body, resulting in damage to the skin, eyes, nervous and circulatory system, and vital organs. The result is the wrinkled skin, mental decline, and other complications often associated with aging.
Carnosine supplements also combat cellular damage by helping the body rid itself of toxic metals, a process known as chelation. Excessive levels of pro-oxidative metals, such as copper and zinc and toxic heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, and nickel, have been linked to a host of illnesses, including Alzheimer’s, autism, Parkinson’s, dementia, ADHD, and schizophrenia. Supplementing with carnosine may help protect against these disorders, because it helps keep these substances from accumulating in your system.
L-carnosine has been shown to slow the glycation process in laboratory rats. In one study, carnosine was found to improve the rats’ lifespan, brain function, and physical appearance.
Do not confuse L-carnosine with L-carnitine, a supplement used to protect the heart and help stabilize blood sugar. These supplements are in no way related and serve entirely different purposes in the body.
http://www.nutritionreview.org/library/autism.carnosine.html < an excellent article
New to this blogging!
I have been asked to start a blog and or write a book by many families who have children with neurological problems. Mainly a lysosomal storage disease called MPS. (otherwise known as mucopolysaccharidoses) I have a son who was diagnosed with one of these disease in 2001. He has MPS IIIA or also called Sanfilippo Type A. Traditional medicine gave us no hope or cure for him. Average life expectancy I was told would be 10 -12 years old. He is now 12 years old and physically doing wonderful. Mentally he had regressed to that of about 2 years old. Fortunately due to vitamins, minerals and amino acids we have slowed the progression of the disease it seems. We have not seen any regression since June 2005. (that is a full 2 years now) We have actually seen cognitive awareness and improvement over what he had previously. You can read much more about MPS storage diseases at the National MPS Society's website. http://www.mpssociety.org
Parents with children with these diseases go through much more than most parents. Our children's regression has no rhyme or reason in timing of when things will regress. Some seem to get worse much earlier in life than others do. But one thing I have experienced, is that my childs metabolism is nothing like a normal person. His system does not break things down as easily as our body does and also metabolises other things much more quickly and not as efficiently. Therefore it has become very important to be aware of everything that goes into his body. We have made ourselves aware the food additives in processed foods, preservatives that can be toxic to a child like him, and also food sensitivities that he may have that seem okay for most kids. Sugars and dyes are of equal importance to stay away from also. Many of the children also have dairy and or wheat/gluten intolerances.
With these children it is very helpful to start a diary of everything they eat, and any reactions that happen daily. (even behavior reactions) Some foods can cause a reaction up to 48 hours later. Organic foods are a wonderful way to go if you can afford it. I find it is easier to start the changes gradually as you learn what choices to make in reference to your child.
We have learned to control behavior issues through vitamins and routine structure along with foods. We also have controlled sleep problems, and gastrointestinal problems. We also have controlled mild seizure activity through vitamin supplementation.
My goal here is to try and cover a topic each week. Give you links to the products that have worked for us, and why. At present our goal is to restore clear meaningful speech again. Our child lost all of his speech when he was 8 1/2 years old. We now have laughing and noises and ocassional complaining, LOL! Especially if he has wet diaper. He has never cared about that before in his entire life. Now he even gives us warning of BM's just prior to having one. So as long as we pay attention we can have BM's in the potty! This is an awareness he has never had before. I truly believe these are happening because of the measure of things we are doing to try to restore brain funtion and repair brain cells.
So if you have a topic of interest you would like to know more about in as far my experiences go, please leave me a note or question. I will give my experiences and what I did to help the situation. The more detailed your questions are the better I can help. Ex. Age of child, what type of diet, any meds they may be on currently, and of course present diagnosis. I am not a doctor, but the info. I have learned and used has helped many families thus far. I also recommend that any info I give be discussed with your childs doctor as well.
Here is picture of my 12 year son. When he was 6 years old, I was told he would not be with us by this age! I hope to hear from some you soon, and please feel free to share this blog with anyone who may benefit from it!
Parents with children with these diseases go through much more than most parents. Our children's regression has no rhyme or reason in timing of when things will regress. Some seem to get worse much earlier in life than others do. But one thing I have experienced, is that my childs metabolism is nothing like a normal person. His system does not break things down as easily as our body does and also metabolises other things much more quickly and not as efficiently. Therefore it has become very important to be aware of everything that goes into his body. We have made ourselves aware the food additives in processed foods, preservatives that can be toxic to a child like him, and also food sensitivities that he may have that seem okay for most kids. Sugars and dyes are of equal importance to stay away from also. Many of the children also have dairy and or wheat/gluten intolerances.
With these children it is very helpful to start a diary of everything they eat, and any reactions that happen daily. (even behavior reactions) Some foods can cause a reaction up to 48 hours later. Organic foods are a wonderful way to go if you can afford it. I find it is easier to start the changes gradually as you learn what choices to make in reference to your child.
We have learned to control behavior issues through vitamins and routine structure along with foods. We also have controlled sleep problems, and gastrointestinal problems. We also have controlled mild seizure activity through vitamin supplementation.
My goal here is to try and cover a topic each week. Give you links to the products that have worked for us, and why. At present our goal is to restore clear meaningful speech again. Our child lost all of his speech when he was 8 1/2 years old. We now have laughing and noises and ocassional complaining, LOL! Especially if he has wet diaper. He has never cared about that before in his entire life. Now he even gives us warning of BM's just prior to having one. So as long as we pay attention we can have BM's in the potty! This is an awareness he has never had before. I truly believe these are happening because of the measure of things we are doing to try to restore brain funtion and repair brain cells.
So if you have a topic of interest you would like to know more about in as far my experiences go, please leave me a note or question. I will give my experiences and what I did to help the situation. The more detailed your questions are the better I can help. Ex. Age of child, what type of diet, any meds they may be on currently, and of course present diagnosis. I am not a doctor, but the info. I have learned and used has helped many families thus far. I also recommend that any info I give be discussed with your childs doctor as well.
Here is picture of my 12 year son. When he was 6 years old, I was told he would not be with us by this age! I hope to hear from some you soon, and please feel free to share this blog with anyone who may benefit from it!
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