Supplental help for migraine/headache relief and possilbe breast cancer prevention

Most of my friends know that I have suffered from headaches/migraines for most of my life and they got worse last year after my "surgical menopause" surgery that I had at the same time I had my breasts removed. I have been searching for and experimenting with different supplements with some success. I thought I had them under control until October. I came down with the flu for a few days. After it was over, my headaches returned EVERY DAY for a week and a half and were not showing any signs of disappearing any time soon. I went to my library and began searching for supplements that might help. I found one. It helped out better than ANY of the previous remedies that I had tried. It turns out that this supplement has an added benefit. What is this supplement and what does having headaches and migraines have to do with Minimizing Your Risk of Getting Breast Cancer? I will tell you.
The supplement is called Co-Enzyme Q-10. I had heard of it many years ago. I knew of some of the protective benefits that offers for your heart. What is Co-Enzyme Q-10? I will share this information and definition from my book, "Disease Prevention and Treatment. It says, "Co-Enzyme Q-10 is synthesized in humans from Tyrosine through a cascade of eight pre-cursors. These pre-cursors require 8 vitamins which are vitamin c, B2, B3 (niacin), B6, B12, folic acid, pantothenic acid, and tetrahydrobiopterin as their enzymes.

"Since the 1960's, studies have shown that cancer patients often have decreased blood levels of Co-Enzyme Q-10. In particular, breast cancer patients (with infiltrative ductal carcinoma) who underwent radical mastectomy were found to have significantly decreased tumor concentrations of CoQ10 compared to levels in normal surrounding tissues. Increased levels of reactive oxygen species may be involved in the consumption of CoQ10. These findings sparked inerest in the compound as a potential anticancer agent. Cellular and animal studies have found evidence that CoQ10 stimulates the immune system and can increase resistance to illness.

CoQ10 may induce protect effect on breast tissue and has demonstrated promise in treating breast cancer. Although there are only a few studies, the safe nature of CoQ10 coupled with this promising research of it bioenergetic activity suggest taht breast cancer patients should take 100 mg up to 3 times a day. It is important to tak CoQ10 with some kind of oil such as fish or flax, because dry powder CoQ10 is not readily absorbed.

In a clinical study, 32 patients were treated with CoQ10 (90 mg) in addition to other antioxidants and fatty acids; 6 of these patients showed partial tumor regression. In one of these cases the dose of CoQ10 was increased to 390 mg and within one month the tumor was no longer palpable, within two months the mammography confirmed the absence of the tumor. In another case, the patient took 300 mg of CoQ10 for residual tumor (post non-radical surgery) and within 3 months there was nonresidual tumor tissue. This overt complete regression of breast tumors in the latter two cases coupled with further reports of disappearance of breast cancer metastases (liver and elsewhere) in several other cases demonstrates the potential of CoQ10 in the adjuvant therapy of breast cancer.

There are promising results for the use of CoQ10 in protecting against heart damage related to chemotherapy. Many chemotherapy drugs can cause damage to the heart, and initial animal studies found that CoQ10 could reduce the adverse cardiac effects of these drugs."

I have been taking 50 mg of CoQ10 twice a day with fish oil. Once in the morning after I eat breakfast and once in the evening after I have dinner. My headaches are almost completely gone unless I eat something that I am not supposed to. The supplement does not give me a license to eat anything that I want. I still have to be careful.
When I read the above information, I made the decision that the cost of the CoQ10 is worth every penny. Not only as a benefit for alleviating my headaches but also as a preventative remedy for breast cancer and heart disease.

How to get rid of headaches and migraines

Some of you may know that I am a breast cancer survivor.  This blog is NOT about breast cancer, but it is about health and how you can prevent or eliminate headaches and migraines from your life and start living.

You may also ask yourself what does breast cancer have to do with headaches and migraines? The breast cancer that I HAD was "Estrogen positive." Which means that my cancer was caused by estrogen. I had a partial hysterectomy when I was 38. My Dr left my ovaries because, as he said, "38 was too young" to go into menopause. I knew that I was having "periods" every 14 days for the better part of 5 years. Mainly due to the fact, that aside from the "normal" changes to my breast when my periods would have occurred, I was suffering from migraines every 2 weeks. They were my "blessing and my curse" in that regards.

I am going to begin with saying that diet IS a major contributor to headaches and migraines. Several years ago I learned that when I eat cold cuts like bologna or hot dogs that I would get severe migraines within 24 hours. They contain nitrates and nitrites. Certain cheeses also contain them. I also noticed that my "once a month" craving for Dorito's and salty snacks were also contributing to them. What ingredient does Dorito's contain that causes headaches and migraines in some people? Monosodium glutamate, also known as MSG. It is a preservative that manufacturers add to their food to make it taste better and add to the shelf life. Some manufacturers are getting wise that some people are not purchasing their products that contain msg and have stopped using that ingredient. They are now substituting an ingredient called, "autolyzed yeast extract or yeast extract." It IS essentially the same thing as msg and also has the same effects on the body that msg does.

If you are looking for a delicious, healthy, all-natural snack that does not contain any harmful ingredients that are known to cause headaches or migraines, click HERE.
 
Eating too much sugar can also contribute to headaches and migraines. Consuming high quantities of salt, which has been proven to increase blood pressure can also cause headaches and migraines.

Some prescription drugs also cause headaches and migraines. I began taking one of those drugs in March to prevent my cancer from returning. I will be on that drug for 5 years. My headaches started coming more often and with greater intensity until last month. I will tell you what I did soon.

I also recently discovered that chocolate, which contains magnesium and is good for you, also contains copper. Some people are allergic to copper and are not aware of it. I believe that dark chocolate, which is "supposedly" better for you contains more copper than milk chocolate can also contribute to headaches and migraines. This is based on my own personal experience. I can eat milk chocolate in moderation, but dark chocolate, even in small quantities gives me migraines.

Now, back to my breast cancer story. When I went in for my follow up visit with my gyn, who removed my ovaries, I told him that my migraines were getting worse. (Which happens to about 50% of the women who enter menopause naturally or surgically). I asked him what I could do to prevent them. He told me "nothing," because my cancer was Estrogen positive. He also told me to do "what works for me." and walked away. It took me 6 months of trying different things before I came upon the solution.

I mentioned in my profile, that I collect books. I came across a book titled, "The Vitamin Bible" by Earl Mindell. It has been sitting on one of my book shelf's for at least 5 years. Most of the books that I use for reference material have listed magnesium deficiency as a possible reason for headaches and migraines. For several years, I have been taking 500 milligrams of magnesium and 250 milligrams of calcium.  I believed that I was, at the very least, minimizing the frequency and intensity of my symptoms. I was wrong. It turns out, that according to the information that I found in Earl Mindell's book, that headache and migraine sufferers can benefit from taking twice as much calcium as magnesium. I made the switch. I am currently taking 500 mg of calcium twice a day. Within 2 days, my headaches and migraines completely disappeared. I also take 1,000 milligrams of Vitamin D3 and a Super B-Complex every day. For the record, your body NEEDS magnesium and vitamin D3 to help your body absorb calcium.

The only time that I suffer from headaches and migraines now is when I "accidentally eat something" that triggers them.

Also, for tension headaches and for overall health, you can't go wrong by doing 30 minutes of aerobic activity every day. Adding a pilates, yoga or tai chi works great for preventing headaches and migraines as well.

If you found this blog useful and informative, please leave a comment and share it with your loved ones who are suffering from headaches and migraines.

What's the difference between Organic and All-Natural?

In order to be an informed consumer, it pays to read labels.

Most food labels use the terms Organic and All-Natural interchangeably. The products containing these labels often appear in the same grocery isle. What is the difference?

By law, products that are organic must be grown and processed according to strict government standards. The companies that produce organic products are subjected to rigorous announced and unannounced inspections by 3rd party inspectors to ensure that the product is preserved and protected from the farm to your family's home. This is why organic products cost more.

When the USDA Organic label appears on a product, it must have been grown and processed without any pesticides, antibiotics, growth hormones and genetically modified organisms (GMO's) or artificial ingredients. The soil they are grown must not have been treated with toxic chemicals and pesticides for 3 years prior to harvesting.

As far as organic meat is concerned, federal regulations require that the animals are raised in living conditions that accommodate their natural behaviors; such as grazing on pasture and being fed 100% organic feed. They must not have had any antibiotics or growth hormones administered to them.

The term All-Natural assures the consumer that the product has had minimal processing and contains no artificial ingredients such as: preservatives, nitrates or nitrites, added msg, added hormones or sodium erythrobate.

If you would like to try Organic or All-Natural, great-tasting snacks, check out Jerky Direct.

It also makes a FATHER'S DAY GIFT for that FAVORITE MAN in your life!

Cancer needs 3 things to survive

I had mentioned in my previous blog that I had been away for a while. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November of 2011. It has been a life-changing experience. It has also raised the question in my mind: Is cancer preventable? With all of the talk and hype about finding a cure for breast cancer, I can't believe more research hasn't been done on the concept of preventing breast cancer.

For me, that concept is late in arriving. But, perhaps I can help someone who may not have this disease prevent that from happening to them or someone they love.

Some things you can't control-like genetics and hormones that are found in almost everything that we eat. BUT, we can control WHAT WE EAT! 

I have been known to go to book sales at my local library. A few years ago, I found a book titled: The Breast Cancer Prevention Diet. It was written by Dr Bob Arnot. Some of you may remember that he used to be a regular on the TV show: 20/20 many years ago.

I discovered 3 things that breast cancer needs to survive. A high-fat diet; a diet that is high in sugar; and a person who is known to keep their emotions bottled up. I am also reasonably certain that stress plays a pretty big role in the last of the previous statements. 

With most of the population of the USA being over-weight or obese, I believe that there is A LOT that WE can do to prevent ourselves and our families from getting this dis-ease. Most people consume far too much soda pop. If we could eliminate that one thing from our diet and replace it with water, I believe we could considerably reduce our risk of getting breast cancer or any other cancer for that matter.

We could also take steps each day to exercise. It can be as simple as purchasing a pedometer and walking 10,000 steps a day-every day. This will also help to reduce our stress levels as well.

Eating a diet low in fat can also go a LONG WAY in reducing our risk. Eating more fruits and vegetables and minimizing our intake of saturated fats can help too. I, personally have taken margarine and red meat completely out of my diet during the past few months. It has made  HUGE difference in how I feel. I can honestly say that I am in better shape physically than I have been in in the last four years.

If you are looking for a healthy snack to add to your diet that is low in fat, high in nutrition and tastes delicious, you might want to check out Jerky Direct. Their jerky is BEST that my family has EVER TASTED! It does not contain any msg therefore it does not give me migraines like most of the jerky that is sold in my local supermarket. There are forty different flavors to choose from. There is even jerky for your pet.

I'M BACK!

I have been away from my blog for a while. I have had some important health problems to address, and it appears that the worst is now behind me.

I have had some time these past few months to do some serious evaluating of my priorities and have come to the following conclusions:

1. When you have your health, you have EVERYTHING!

2. When you are given trials in your life, the only way that you truly benefit is to share your experiences with EVERYONE that you come into contact with. You never know who your experiences and insights will help. 

3.The most important things in my life are: my faith, my family and my friends. The friends that I have right now, and the new friends that I will make.

I took some time tonight to update my previous blogs. I hope that you will take the time to read them and give me any constructive criticism that will not only help me, but will also help those individuals who will visit my blog in the future. For those of you who have been following my blogs, or visiting my site, I want to say, "Thank you!"