How to be human

Research notes on medicinal mushrooms

rjdollen — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:19:41 -0700

I asked my research gurus at Fancy Hands to do a little intro research on medicinal mushrooms. Here’s what they found:

Not all mushrooms are created equal. Weil advises seeking out the more exotic varieties that are becoming increasingly available on supermarket shelves. Here are four that Weil says are particularly good for you:

• Shiitake: Animal studies have shown that these flavorful and readily available mushrooms have anti-tumor, cholesterol-lowering, and antiviral properties. Weil recommends fresh and dried shiitakes.

• Enoki: These slender, mild-flavored mushrooms appear to have significant anti-cancer and immune-enhancing effects, Weil says.

• Maitake: Also known as ‘hen of the woods,’ these mushrooms may have anti-cancer, antiviral, and immune-enhancing properties. They may also reduce blood pressure and blood sugar, says Weil, who likes to grill maitakes with teriyaki sauce.

• Oyster: Less expensive — and less flavorful — than shiitakes, these mushrooms may also provide some protection against cancer, Weil says.

Common Mushrooms

Weil is less enthusiastic about white, or button, mushrooms, a species of mushroom that also includes Portobellos and criminis.

“Button mushrooms do possess some health benefits, but not the general health benefits found in Asian mushrooms,” Weil says.

Weil also says that these commonly available mushrooms contain natural substances called agaritines, which studies show may increase the risk of tumors in animals.

Mushrooms offer so much that is good for you, says New York dietician Marjorie Nolan, MS, RD. They are a good source of protein as well as antioxidants such as selenium, which helps to prevent cell damage, and copper, a mineral that aids in the production of red blood cells. In fact, mushrooms are the only produce that contains significant amounts of selenium.

For those who don’t like bananas, consider the Portobello mushroom. It has more potassium and fewer calories, says Nolan, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. Criminis are particularly high in vitamin B12, which is good news for vegetarians, Nolan says, because that’s a vitamin more often found in animal products. In general, mushrooms are a decent source of B vitamins. They are also cholesterol free and very low in fat.

White mushrooms are also an increasingly good source of vitamin D because growers are exposing their crops to small amounts of ultraviolet light, which increases their D content dramatically, Nolan says.

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/types-of-mushrooms

Mushroom researchers assert that no chemical or natural compound can promote health the way mushrooms can. Because mushrooms contain thousands of health promoting compounds, their benefits are far superior to pharmaceutical drugs which are only single synthetic compounds and usually not well tolerated by the body. Medicinal mushroom formulas today draw upon hundreds of years of traditional use, as well as extensive scientific research which demonstrates how mushrooms can:

• support and strengthen the immune system

• support healthy responses to inflammation

• provide anti-oxidant properties

• inhibit angiogenesis (blood vessel growth) used by abnormal cells — a crucial step for cellular health

• promote apoptosis (cell death) of unhealthy cells

• exhibit antiviral properties

• inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria

• work synergistically with prescription drugs

The Benefits of Mycelium and Beta Glucans
The use of the underground cellular system of mushrooms, called the mycelium, for medicinal purposes is also a well know strategy for harnessing their healthful properties. New data shows that the mushroom mycelium is a significant source of potential antimicrobial compounds. Extensive research has likewise proven that the beta-glucans present in mushrooms activate two types of immune defense cells: natural killer cells and macrophages, a type of white blood cell found in human tissue. By awakening these vital immune fighters, your immune system is stronger and more alert against pathogens.

http://blog.econugenics.com/2012/01/20/the-superior-health-benefits-of-medicinal-mushrooms/

Recent studies in New Zealand show that a combination of Reishi and Cordyceps extracts had beneficial effects on the quality of life for some advanced cancer patients. Researchers believe that a mixture of the active ingredients from different mushrooms maximizes the immune response by providing multiple stimuli to the body’s natural defenses.

Medicinal mushrooms have latent cancer preventative properties. Studies in Japan and Brazil strongly suggest that regular consumption over prolonged periods significantly reduce the levels of cancer incidence. Cancer Research UK also found increasing experimental evidence that medicinal mushrooms can have a cancer preventative effect, demonstrating both high anti-tumor activity and restriction of tumor metastasis. A 14-year survey in Japan revealed cancer rates of workers at medicinal mushroom farms were 1 in 1000 compared to 1 in 600 for the general population.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/29068.php

Animal studies have shown some positive results regarding the antitumor, cholesterol-lowering, and virus-inhibiting effects of several active compounds in shiitake mushrooms.

There have been some studies in humans. At least one randomized clinical trial of lentinan has shown it to prolong life of patients with advanced and recurrent stomach and colorectal cancer who were also given chemotherapy. Lentinan is a beta glucan (sometimes called beta glycan) that is found in several mushrooms, yeasts, and other foods. Beta glucan is a polysaccharide, a large and complex molecule made up of smaller sugar molecules. The beta glucan polysaccharide is believed to stimulate the immune system and activate certain cells and proteins that attack cancer, including macrophages, T-cells, and natural killer cells. In laboratory studies, beta glucan appears to slow the growth of cancer in some cell cultures.

Several potential cancer-fighting substances have been found in shiitake mushrooms, and purified forms of these compounds are being studied as treatment for stomach and colorectal cancer. It is not known whether any of these results will apply to the mushrooms bought in supermarkets or the extracts that are sold as supplements. One nonrandomized study published in 2002 looked at use of shiitake mushroom extract by men with prostate cancer but did not find any positive effect. Sixty-two men took the extract 3 times a day. After 6 months, they did not have any significant decrease in their level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein in the body that typically increases as prostate cancer grows, and nearly a quarter of them had increases in their PSA level. More human clinical trials are under way to understand which, if any, compounds in shiitake mushrooms may be effective for which types of cancers.

http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/DietandNutrition/shiitake-mushroom

Clearly we are all being watched, all of the time. (via...

rjdollen — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:00:05 -0700

Clearly we are all being watched, all of the time.

(via AppleInsider | WikiLeaks founder claims iTunes flaw allows for covert iPhone surveillance)

Q: Why are people so against partially hydrogenated corn syrup?

rjdollen — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:00:06 -0700

A: There is no such thing. You’re confusing partially hydrogenated corn oil with high fructose corn syrup.

High fructose corn syrup is VERY high is sugar, so its very bad for people when they consume it. Plus, it is highly processed, so our bodies really don’t know how to deal with it. A diet high in high fructose corn syrup can lead to diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Partially hydrogenated corn oil is also highly processed and contains trans-fats which cause heart disease and cancer.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090223104611AABN3Dy

Hydrogenated oils
Unsaturated vegetable fats and oils can be transformed through partial or complete “hydrogenation” into fats and oils of higher melting point. The hydrogenation process involves “sparging” the oil at high temperature and pressure with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst, typically a powdered nickel compound. As each carbon-carbon double-bond is chemically reduced to a single bond, two hydrogen atoms each form single bonds with the two carbon atoms. The elimination of double bonds by adding hydrogen atoms is called saturation; as the degree of saturation increases, the oil progresses toward being fully hydrogenated. An oil may be hydrogenated to increase resistance to rancidity (oxidation) or to change its physical characteristics. As the degree of saturation increases, the oil’s viscosity and melting point increase.

The use of hydrogenated oils in foods has never been completely satisfactory. Because the center arm of the triglyceride is shielded somewhat by the end fatty acids, most of the hydrogenation occurs on the end fatty acids, thus making the resulting fat more brittle[citation needed]. A margarine made from naturally more saturated oils will be more plastic (more “spreadable”) than a margarine made from hydrogenated soy oil[citation needed]. While full hydrogenation produces largely saturated fatty acids, partial hydrogenation results in the transformation of unsaturated cis fatty acids to trans fatty acids in the oil mixture due to the heat used in hydrogenation. Since the 1970s, partially hydrogenated oils and their trans fats have increasingly been viewed as unhealthy.

In the U.S., the Standard of Identity for a product labeled as “vegetable oil margarine” specifies only canola, safflower, sunflower, corn, soybean, or peanut oil may be used.[3] Products not labeled “vegetable oil margarine” do not have that restriction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetable_oil#Hydrogenated_oils

A study with hydrogenated corn oil
Effect of dietary hydrogenated corn oil (trans-octadecenoate rich oil) on plasma and hepatic cholesterol metabolism in the hamster.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8461065

Corn Syrup in it’s many liquid forms

rjdollen — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:00:05 -0700

Corn syrup has been a staple of American kitchens for well over 100 years and is the basis for such popular favorites as pecan pie, fudge and candy. It is formed after the separation of the starch from the corn. The starch is broken down and treated with enzymes to form corn syrup, which consists of dextrose, or glucose, and other sugars, such as fructose. There are several different types of corn syrup and they appear in nearly every processed food sold in the United States.

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)
There has been a lot of controversy about HFCS since the mid 2000s. Scientists have split on their opinions of HFCS—-some say it is nutritionally the same as sugar, while others blame HFCS specifically for problems such as obesity and diabetes. It is used in products that used to contain sugar, like soft drinks and cereals, since it is specially formulated to emulate the sweetness of cane sugar but at a lower cost. It is sweeter than regular corn syrup due to the amount of fructose, which is manipulated to bring the sweetness in line with sugar. Sugar is a 50 percent fructose/50 glucose ratio, while HFCS is produced at either a 42 percent fructose or 55 percent fructose ratio. Most colas contain the 55 percent fructose HFCS.

Light Corn Syrup
This type of corn syrup is called light, or white, corn syrup due to its clear color. It has a delicate sweetness and typically contains some vanilla for flavor. It is used in recipes that require sweetness without a lot of flavor, like jellies and jams. Along with dark corn syrup, it is about 75 percent of the sweetness of sugar of HFCS. It does not crystallize in the cold like sugar syrup does.

Dark Corn Syrup
This dark brown syrup is made from white corn syrup with the addition of some refiner’s syrup, a form of molasses made from cane sugar. Caramel flavoring and coloring also contribute to dark corn syrups color and distinctive taste. It is a prime ingredient in pecan pie and is present in many baked goods, where it imparts moisture along with sweetness.

Corn Syrup Solids
This is dehydrated corn syrup, with up to 97 percent of the water removed. It is added to many foods to inexpensively enhance the natural sweetness and mask saltiness without changing the liquid content. It is also used in flavoring powders, like those on flavored potato chips.

References and resources:
Read more: Types of Corn Syrup | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_6319490_types-corn-syrup.html#ixzz1lkUPWWdD

Hydrogenated Corn Syrup
21 CFR 573.530 - Hydrogenated corn syrup.
http://cfr.vlex.com/vid/573-530-hydrogenated-corn-syrup-19713056

Corn Syrup
21 CFR 184.1865 - Corn syrup.
http://cfr.vlex.com/vid/184-1865-corn-syrup-19707703

High Fructose Corn Syrup
21 CFR 184.1866 - High fructose corn syrup.
http://cfr.vlex.com/vid/184-high-fructose-corn-syrup-19707710

What are the effects of a Vitamin D deficiency?

rjdollen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:39:40 -0700

With just about everyone in the USA suffering for a vitamin D deficiency, it begs the question “what are the effects of a vitamin D deficiency? We put our @Fancyhands to the task of researching it and boiled it down to this:

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/vitamin-d-deficiency-symptoms.html
Vitamin D deficiency symptoms show up as disorders. It is a result of lack of sunlight reaching the skin. Here are a few vitamin D deficiency symptoms for your knowledge.

Depression
Over the last 80 years, it has been found that the rate of depression has been on the rise. Scientists attribute this rise to lack of vitamin D. They say, due to urbanization, tall building, clothes, industrialization and pollution, inadequate sunlight reaches the skin. This reduces the 25(OH)D levels in the body, leading to depression. It is also found that during winter, many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) due to lack of exposure to sunlight. A hormone known as the parathyroid hormone is known to be responsible for vitamin D deficiency symptom - depression.

Rickets
Rickets is the most commonly observed vitamin D deficiency symptoms in children. Due to vitamin D deficiency, the bones become weak and the legs begin to bow down due to the body’s pressure exerted by the weight. As the vitamin D is in deficit, the bone tissues do not mineralize, which makes them soft and deformed.

Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is similar to ricket. However, this medical condition is seen as vitamin D deficiency symptoms in adults. It is a disease of the bone, wherein the bones become prone to fractures. Osteoporosis occurs due to lack of vitamin D metabolism leading to poor calcification in bones. Due to low vitamin D in the body, the bones become soft and brittle.

Fatigue
Fresh air and sunshine are the age-old remedies for good health. Lack of synthesis of vitamin D in the morning can lead to fatigue. It increases tiredness, as proper mineralization of bones does not take place. In the western culture, people mostly stay indoors during winters. It has increased the possibility of vitamin D deficiency symptoms like fatigue.

Hyperparathyroidism
Hyperparathyroidism results from hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia is a blood condition, which has abnormally low levels of vitamin D. This leads to hyperparathyroidism, which further hinders the absorption of vitamin D due to loss of phosphate through excretion.

Obesity
Lack of vitamin D is linked to obesity. Low levels of vitamin D retard the production of hormone leptin, which is responsible for fat regulation in the body. This hormone informs the brain when the stomach is full. However, when the exposure to sunlight in inadequate, functioning of this hormone gets disrupted, causing the person to eat more than what is required for the body, leading to weight gain.

Chronic Backache
The back bone is an important part of the body. Sometimes, lack of vitamin D can lead to chronic backache

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health-conditions/mental-health-and-learning-disorders/depression/
•A lifetime history of depression may be a risk factor for later development of Alzheimer’s disease. Depression may increase the risk of mild cognitive impairment that turns into Alzheimer’s. Patients with Alzheimer’s and depression have more pronounced hallmarks of the Alzheimer’s brain than patients with Alzheimer’s who are not depressed. Studies indicate vitamin D deficiency may also be a risk factor in Alzheimer’s.
•One study showed that, in the United States, vitamin D deficiency occurred more often in certain people. These people were African-Americans, living in cities, obese, and depressed. People with vitamin D levels below 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L) had an 85% increased risk of depression compared to those with vitamin D levels greater than 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/L).

http://www.webmd.com/diet/vitamin-d-deficiency
Symptoms and Health Risks of Vitamin D Deficiency

Symptoms of bone pain and muscle weakness can mean you have a vitamin D deficiency. However, for many people, the symptoms are subtle. Yet even without symptoms, too little vitamin D can pose health risks. Low blood levels of the vitamin have been associated with the following:
Increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease
Cognitive impairment in older adults
Severe asthma in children
Cancer

Research suggests that vitamin D could play a role in the prevention and treatment of a number of different conditions, including type1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, and multiple sclerosis.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/news/20110330/most-americans-get-enough-vitamin-d
March 30, 2011— Two-thirds of Americans are getting enough vitamin D, according to a new analysis by researchers from the National Center for Health Statistics.

Vitamin D is often called the “sunshine vitamin” because our bodies make it when exposed to sunlight. It is found in some fatty fish such as salmon and tuna, and in cheese and eggs. It is often added to milk.

In recent years, vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a host of diseases and conditions, including brittle bones, heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and autoimmune diseases.

The analysis shows that from 2001 to 2006, 67% of Americans age 1 or older had blood levels of vitamin D that fell between 50 to 125 nanomoles per liter, which is considered adequate. Another 24% were at risk for inadequate levels of vitamin D, with blood levels of 30 to 49 nmol/L; 8% were at risk of deficiency, which is defined as less than 30 nmol/L. Just 1% of the population has blood levels that were too high.

In November 2010, an Institute of Medicine (IOM) panel called for a modest increase in vitamin D, raising the recommended daily intake to 600 international units (IU) for everyone aged 1-70 and to 800 IU for adults older than 70 to improve bone health

In the study, those who were at the lowest risk for vitamin D deficiency or inadequacy were children, males, non-Hispanic whites, and women who were pregnant or breastfeeding. The risk of deficiency was lowest in children ages 1 to 8 and increased with age until about age 30, the study showed.

The analysis was based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys that includes about 5,000 Americans each year.

Strangely, it seems that like so many thinks ailing the American public getting off your ass and being active is a great start to getting healthy.

10 Awesome Design Documentaries

rjdollen — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:27:48 -0700

People like to pretend that things just happen in life, and to be fair, sometimes things do just happen all by themselves. But, more often that not thee things happen by design. Be it exposure, suggestions, advertising, marketing, photography, industrial design, architecture… someone designed almost every experience you’ll have in an average day. With that in mind we’ve collected 10 documentaries (mostly netflix.com online) that cover the vast ranges of design in our lives.

Researched by Fancy Hands for Howtobehuman.com

What can you learn from your urine?

rjdollen — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:33:57 -0700

On the heels of the Talking Shit research its seems only right to follow up with urine self analysis. After all, we are what we eat and drink, and that consumption has to be processed and discarded by the body. So why not find out how it’s going inside that human body of yours. Maybe you can learn a thing or two about your diet and health with something your certain to do every day.

Research provided by Fancy Hands with http://www.howtobehuman.info guidance.

Various Urine Colors
http://www.urinecolors.com/

Blue urine color
Blue urine color is most likely caused by foods you have eaten lately or medications you are taking.

Clear Urine
Clear urine CAN mean you’re healthy. Typically, the healthier you are, the lighter your urine color.

Dark Yellow Urine
Typically, this is a sign that you are not drinking enough water.

Green Color Urine
Green colored urine is most likely caused by foods you have eaten lately or medications you are taking.

Light Yellow Urine
A light yellow urine color typically signifies a very healthy urine. The light straw yellow urine will have a low odor, few bubbles in the urine, little to no foam in urine, and have a clear urine consistency.

Pink Urine
Pink urine color can be caused by eating certain foods. Foods with dyes can cause a pink hue in your urine.

Red Urine
Much like pink urine color, a red urine color can sometimes be caused by certain foods you have eaten, especially when those foods have heavy dyes.
Blood in urine can also cause red urine. Alternatively, red urine color can be caused by Hematuria.

Orange Uriine
Many foods that may cause an orange urine color.

Urine Odor
http://www.bettermedicine.com/article/urine-odor
Healthy urine may have a mild smell but generally does not have a foul odor. In some cases, an unusual or strong urine odor may be due to benign conditions that are not harmful, such as eating certain foods or taking certain medications. When urine persistently smells bad or has a foul, strong or unusual odor, it may be caused by an underlying disease, disorder or condition.

Urine Consistency/ Appearance

Cloudy Urine
http://www.urinecolors.com/cloudy_urine.php
Cloudy pee can be a sign of very serious conditions, but that doesn’t mean you should immediately assume the worst.

Foamy Urine
http://www.urinecolors.com/foamy_urine.php
Foamy urine is not so much a color issue as it is typically a symptom of when you’ve ingested more protein than your body can efficiently absorb. If you have a lot of protein in your urine, the protein reacts with the air and water, creating the foamy urine.

Urine & Health

Blood in Urine
http://www.urinecolors.com/blood_in_urine.php
If there is blood in your urine, you are experiencing a symptom known as hematuria. Hematuria, or blood in your urine is not usually a condition in and of itself, but rather it is usually a symptom of a something else happening in your body.

Dark Urine
http://www.urinecolors.com/dark_urine_color.php
If you don’t notice any other health symptoms with dark urine, such as painful urination, fever, fatigue, then you’ll want to look at some of the foods you’ve been eating recently.

Frequent Urination
http://www.urinecolors.com/frequent_urination.php
If you urinate more than 3.5 quarts a day, that is higher than normal. The average person does not urinate more than 2 cups every two hours.

Urination Pain
http://www.urinecolors.com/painful_urination.php
There are two main types of pain associated with urinating. One kind is the burning urine or burning pee. This has been described as feeling hot and / or stinging while you urinate. The burning pain is usually localized near the opening of the urethra. Another kind of pain may not necessarily be associated with urine, but it takes place in your urinary tract.

Urinary Incontinence
http://www.urinecolors.com/urinary_incontinence.php
Urinary incontinence is not limited to only one type, and they each are little different in how they are caused and how they affect your body.

UTI Urinary Track Infection
http://www.urinecolors.com/urinary_tract_infection_UTI.php
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001549/
Urinary tract infections are caused by germs, usually bacteria that enter the urethra and then the bladder. This can lead to infection, most commonly in the bladder itself, which can spread to the kidneys.

Urine Tests - Urinalysis
http://www.urinecolors.com/urinalysis_urine_test.php
A urine test, or urinalysis is used for most any health checkup and annual physical. Also a urine test may be required as part of the a job application. Most of the time, your body can get rid of these bacteria.

How to read your urine (Table)
Fortunately, no one still practices the medieval art of assessing health by tasting the urine. But changes in your urine or your urinary habits can provide warning signs of danger from disease or certain drugs—or they may be harmless changes caused by food, supplements, or certain other drugs. This table can help you make that distinction. In general, consult your physician promptly about a urinary change if you have not consumed any of the benign substances listed below, or if you have any of the potentially harmful conditions or are taking any of the drugs listed. http://www.consumerreports.org/health/healthy-living/health-safety/kidney-disease-silent-killer-on-the-rise-3-08/how-to-read-your-urine/how-to-read-your-urine.htm

How To Read Your Pee Video - it contains some interesting information/ perhaps a giggle too. :)
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/how-read-your-pee

WebMd’s Urine Test
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/urine-test

15 Interesting Facts About Urine.
http://www.medicalbillingandcoding.org/15-things-you-didnt-know-about-urine/

Talking Shit (What you can learn from your stool)

rjdollen — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:09:16 -0700

As strange as it is to inspect your handy work in the bathroom you can learn a lot about your diet and how your body is digesting the food and drink you consume. Or, as Dr. Amy Foxx-Orenstein, president of the American College of Gastroenterology puts it “What comes through it is reflective of how well or how ill the body is.” Here’s a collection of what you might find in your toilet and what it might mean:

Heathy stool
First, what does a healthy stool look like?

“An ideal stool looks like a torpedo—it should be large, soft, fluffy and easy to pass,” says Dr. Amy Foxx-Orenstein

Juli Keene, B.S.c, CN, A Licensed Clinical Nutritionist

A healthy bowel movement should be light to medium brown, shaped like a small banana but without the curve, light enough to float and not drop to the bottom of the toilet bowl, it should be formed (not liquid or runny) and easy to pass with no pain or straining. If this sounds like your stools, you are doing well. If not, maybe you recognize some of the issues below.

Turns out that a health stool is pretty simple, but the various signs of an unhealthy digestive tract are vast and many. Here’s our curated collection.

Deer poop (Pellets) also from Juli Keene, B.S.c, CN, A Licensed Clinical Nutritionist

Stools that are hard and pebble like can be a sign of poor liver and gallbladder function and or a lack of digestive enzymes. Both large and hard stools as well as diarrhea can lead to straining and possibly hemorrhoids.

Dr. Amy Foxx-Orenstein, president of the American College of Gastroenterology some more extensive explanation:

Hard and dry

The amount of time it takes for the food you eat to make its way through the gastro-intestinal system and exit into the toilet will have an impact on the consistency of your stool. “Intestinal transit averages 40 to 45 hours from when you eat to when it comes out,” says Foxx-Orenstein. If it stays in the GI tract for longer than that, fluid is re-absorbed into the body and the stool becomes harder and dryer. Certain medications—like blood pressure drugs, antidepressants and histamines—can slow down the GI tract. Constipation, which has a myriad of causes, will lead to harder, drier stools (since you’re going less often, your stool will stall in the system and the fluid re-absorbed).

This “floater” information is particularly interesting after learning about Celiac Disease

It floats (and stinks!)

Those ideal torpedo-like poops should sink when they hit they hit the toilet. But when the body isn’t properly absorbing fat from the food you eat, it ends up being excreted in your stool. The result: stool that’s yellowish in color, greasy in consistency, foul smelling, and that floats in the toilet. Certain medical conditions, like celiac disease, can cause these malabsorption problems. And since essential nutrients could also be lost along with the un-absorbed fat, it’s important to see your doctor if you experience this problem. These fatty, smelly stools are also one of the more unpleasant side effects of eating foods that contain Olestra (the faux fat found in some chips and other fried snacks) or of taking the weight loss drug Xenical or its over-the-counter cousin, Alli.

Too liquid (squirts)

Your body secretes about eight liters of fluid during the course of a day—from the stomach, salivary glands and pancreas—to help your food get broken down and make its way through the digestive system. Under normal, healthy conditions, the majority of that fluid is absorbed along the way, resulting in those sought-after soft, fluffy stools. But if food passes through too quickly, there isn’t enough time for all of that liquid to absorb, and the stool emerges in a too-soft state. The reasons for such super-quick transit could include a sudden increase in fiber in the diet, or a bacterial or viral infection. “When there is an infection, the body produces toxins which cause water to be released,” says Dr. Michael Farber, director of the Executive Health Program at Hackensack University Medical Center. “Things move through very quickly through your system because the body wants to get rid of them.”

Pencil thin

Thin may be the preferable state for many things—figures, cell phones, television screens—but when it comes to bowel movements, thin is definitely not a good thing. Specifically, thin stools could be an indicator of colon cancer, or its precursor, polyps in the colon. “Whenever you have mass in the colon that creates blockage, anything that needs to be pushed past that mass will become thinner,” Farber says. “If you are seeing thin stools on a consistent basis, that it something you should have looked at by your doctor.”

Looking pale or gray

Normal stool can come in a range of colors (influenced by what you eat and what medications you take, among other factors). But if your stool has an unhealthy hue, particularly if it’s pale or grayish in tone, you could have problems somewhere along your digestive tract. The liver excretes bile to help break down fats in the food you eat, and that bile also adds color to the stool. But if there’s a blockage in the liver—or in the tubes through which the bile travels—the stool might take on a too-pale appearance. Also, if you are suffering from a pancreatic disorder, the stool might look gray because it will be lacking the color imbued by the digestive enzymes produced in that organ.

Bright red

Your first instinct upon seeing red-colored stool in the toilet would probably be to panic. But before you speed-dial your doctor, think about what you ate several hours ago—if it was beets or bright red popsicles, that might be the culprit for creating those colored stools. But if it’s obviously a streak of red blood in the stool, in the toilet, or on the toilet paper, then it’s a given that you’re bleeding somewhere inside. There’s still not necessarily any reason to panic—the cause could be something as benign as a hemorrhoid or just a small fissure caused by straining to go. That said, it’s a wise idea to discuss with your doctor if you are straining often since that can lead to painful hemorrhoids. Also, if you’ve never seen blood before it’s definitely worth having your doctor rule out more serious causes—like colon cancer.

Too dark

If your stool is suddenly black and looks sort of tar-like, the culprit could be lurking in your daily vitamin pill. Iron supplementation (on its own or when it’s included in a multi-vitamin) can have that effect on the stool. But if you haven’t recently started taking extra iron and you see this sort of change, you should make an appointment to see your doctor. “If there is bleeding higher up in the GI tract—like the stomach or esophagus—the result can be stool that looks black and tar-like,” says Foxx-Orenstein. “It’s very useful information for the doctor to know if what you’re seeing is black or bright red because that gives a clue to the location of the bleeding.” In either case, she strongly urges anyone who is seeing blood in their stool to get checked out by their doctor.

It floats (and stinks!)

Those ideal torpedo-like poops should sink when they hit they hit the toilet. But when the body isn’t properly absorbing fat from the food you eat, it ends up being excreted in your stool. The result: stool that’s yellowish in color, greasy in consistency, foul smelling, and that floats in the toilet. Certain medical conditions, like celiac disease, can cause these malabsorption problems. And since essential nutrients could also be lost along with the un-absorbed fat, it’s important to see your doctor if you experience this problem. These fatty, smelly stools are also one of the more unpleasant side effects of eating foods that contain Olestra (the faux fat found in some chips and other fried snacks) or of taking the weight loss drugXenical or its over-the-counter cousin, Alli.

Not going

How often is normal? How much is too much? Or not enough? Everyone wonders if they’re spending too much—or too little—time on the toilet. Turns out, there is no one right answer. “There is no true ideal for how frequent your bowel movements should be,” Foxx-Orenstein says. “What’s ‘normal’ is going to be different for different people.” Once a day, three times a day, every other day—all of these could very well fall within the definition of normal and healthy bowel movements. But if you experience a change in your normal pattern, then you need to look at what might be causing it. If you’re suddenly going too much, it could be because you’ve recently increased the amount of fiber in your diet. That’s a good thing, but it will take the body a little while to adjust to the change. And if you are suddenly dealing with constipation, look first at what changes you’ve made to your diet. “If you’re not eating enough fiber, not eating breakfast [which helps get things moving in the morning], or just not eating enough food, you may be constipated because your body’s not able to produce enough waste,” says Foxx-Orenstein.

Stool That Sinks Quickly

Rapidly sinking stool can indicate that a person isn’t eating enough fiber-rich foods, such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, or drinking enough water. This stool is often dark because they have been sitting in the intestines for a prolonged time. Learn 5 tips to boost your water intake.

Soft, Smelly Stool

Soft, foul-smelling stool that floats, sticks to the side of the bowl, or is difficult to flush away may mean there is increased fat in the stools, called steatorrhea. Stool is sometimes also pale. Learn more about the causes of soft, foul-smelling stool.

Mucus in Stool

Whitish mucus in stool may indicate there is inflammation in the intestines. Mucus in stool can occur with either constipation or diarrhea. Read more about the causes of mucus in stool.
Green Stool
The liver constantly makes bile, a bright green fluid, that is secreted directly into the small intestine or stored in the gallbladder. Continue reading about the causes of green stool.

Resources and References: The information provided here is based on the research done by Fancy Hands for http://www.howtobehuman.info. It’s just info, go see your doctor if you’re ill.

What the hell is fasting all about?

rjdollen — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:12:12 -0700

I recently saw a documentary called Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead that got me interested in fasting. Up until now I’ve always looked at fasting as an extreme measure for those that don’t want to adjust their life-style to loose weight. After watching the two-plus hour long Fat Sick and Nearly Dead I was curious enough to want to learn a little more.

General Research by Fancy Hands (My tag-team)

History of Fasting
Fasting has been used for thousands of years as a medical therapy to help the body detoxify and rejuvenate from all kinds of health problems. It is loosely defined as “voluntarily not eating food for various lengths of time.” Many of the world’s oldest systems of health relied upon fasting for healing and as a way to prevent disease. The father of Western medicine, Hippocrates, found that fasting helped the body to heal itself, and he extolled its tremendous healing potential in his writings. Most world religions have used fasting as a way to improve physical and spiritual clarity. The Bible makes frequent references to the benefits of fasting, combined with prayer. Currently, fasting is becoming a more accepted method of detoxification for health practitioners throughout North America.

How Does Fasting Work?
The primary way in which fasting is beneficial is by simply giving the body time to rest. Specifically, the digestive organs are given a break from digesting food. A tremendous amount of energy is required for digestion, and the body can use this “saved” energy for healing and regeneration. In addition, a time of fasting prevents more toxic substances from entering the body and simultaneously allows for the expulsion of toxins. This is particularly true for the liver, which has to break down and metabolize all the toxic substances that enter the body. In addition, the immune system is also given a break from dealing with toxins from our food and water supply, as well as from our environment.

Types of Fasting

Dry fasting. Also known as Absolute Fast, Black Fast, and Hebrew Fast is the most extreme of the types of fasting. Dry fasting has spiritual roots, and consists of foregoing food and water for short periods. While not necessarily recommended, it is interesting to read about.
Liquid fasting. As the name implies, this is fasting on liquids only. The liquid fasting page offers an overview of the variety of liquids used in this type of fasting both today and in the past.
Water fasting is the simplest and perhaps the oldest form of liquid fasting. It delivers the greatest level of therapeutic benefit physically and in a short period of time, as detox occurs more quickly. But a water fast can be more difficult to commit to for the beginner.
Juice fasting is extremely popular and offers a modicum of nutritional support in a pure and natural form. Almost any fruit or vegetable can be juiced with the powerful juicers on the market.
The Master Cleanse or Lemonade Diet is a relatively new approach, becoming popular in the 1970s. It includes calories in the form of pure maple syrup. Intestinal cleansing is a major part of the methodology.
Partial fasting. Also sometimes called selective fasting, partial fasting includes some solid food—anywhere from a very little to a lot of solid food. It’s not the amount of food, but the exclusion or limitation of certain foods that makes it a partial fast. Cleansing diets and mono-diets, like rice fasting, are partial fasts.

Benefits of Fasting
Fasting helps in weight loss and can also be good for health if it is done in a controlled manner. Fasting not only helps in weight loss but fasting also helps in balancing the digestive system.

Negatives of Fasting
People stretch themselves and do a lot of fasting to reduce weight but as we know that protein, vitamin, minerals, fat, carbohydrates are required for energy in the body and lack of these things may harm your body. Therefore, an excess amount of fasting is also not good for health and a balance of protein, vitamin, minerals, fat, carbohydrates etc is advised.

Fasting Regimens

One day fast or 24-hour fast. This is the recommendation for beginners. But don’t discount even shorter fasts if you’ve never fasted before. Sixteen hour fasts can be helpful, as can adhering to the natural nightly fast of 10-12 hours.One day fasts are good when you feel something coming on, at the first sign of illness. It allows the body the resources to fight it off early.
Three-day fast. Good to perform monthly as a sort of “maintenance” routine, to keep toxins cleansed regularly.
One week fast. Often used as a quarterly (seasonal) cleansing detox.
10-day fast. This is the standard recommended length for a Master Cleanse fast. Also, many use this length as a yearly maintenance detox and cleansing..
Several week fast. These are only for the seasoned or those under close professional supervision. It’s best to have plenty of experience under your belt before tackling a long-term fast. You need to be familiar with your own body and it’s unique reactions to the fasting process.

Resources:

Fasting: Pros & Cons

http://www.steadyhealth.com/articles/Fasting__Pros_and_Cons_a139.html

How Fasting Works

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4610578_fasting-work.html

Healthy . net - Fasting

http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.aspx?Id=1996#2

Fasting Diets

http://www.webmd.com/diet/fasting

Fasting

http://falconblanco.com/health/fasting.htm

Fasting Center International

http://www.fasting.com/

All about Fasting

http://www.allaboutfasting.com/

The Best Scientific Journals in Nutritional Sciences - US and UK

rjdollen — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:08:00 -0700

With so little information readily available regarding #nutrition, #supplements and #nootropics you’ll need to have some good and reputable sources to do your homework. Here’s a list of reputable publications to use as a good starting point.

1. Journal of Nutrition:

Mission: The first journal in its field, The Journal of Nutrition continues to have as its goal the publication of papers based on original nutrition research in humans and other animal species. In circulation since 1928, it is distributed to more than 4,500 subscribers worldwide.

Publisher: The American Society for Nutritional Sciences

Frequency: monthly

Contents available online:

Tables of Contents (free)

Abstracts (since 1997, free)

Full text (since 2000)

Website:

www.nutrition.org

2. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition:

Mission: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition is the most highly rated peer-reviewed journal in ISI’s nutrition and dietetics category and publishes the latest worldwide basic and clinical studies relevant to human nutrition in topics such as obesity, vitamins and minerals, nutrition and disease, and energy metabolism.

Publisher: The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Frequency: monthly

Contents available online:

Tables of Contents (free)

Abstracts (free)

Full text

Website:

International access: http://intl.ajcn.org/

US access: www.ajcn.org

3. British Journal of Nutrition:

Mission: The British Journal of Nutrition is an international, peer-reviewed journal publishing papers and articles on human and clinical nutrition, general nutrition, and animal nutrition. Topics covered include: Molecular Nutrition and Gene Expression, Metabolism and Metabolic Studies, Nutritional Immunology, Body Composition, Dietary Surveys and Nutritional Epidemiology, Neurobiology and Behaviour, Nutritional Energetics, Nutrient Requirements, Obesity

Publisher: Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

Frequency: monthly

Contents available online:

Tables of Contents (free)

Abstracts (free)

Full text

Website:

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=bjn

4. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition:

Mission: The primary aim of this unique international journal is to integrate food science with nutrition. Topics covered include: impact of nutritional science on food product development, nutritional implications of food processing, bio-availibility of nutrients, nutritional quality of novel foods, food-nutrient interactions, use of biotechnology in food science/nutrition.

Publisher: Taylor & Francis Health Sciences

Frequency: 8 issues a year

Contents available online:

Tables of Contents (free)

Abstracts (free)

Full text

Website:

www.tandf.co.uk

5. Journal of the American Dietetic Association:

Mission: The Journal’s purpose is to: provide a distinguished site for the publication of original articles prepared by scholars and practitioners in the field and reviewed by qualified peers, publish manuscripts that advance knowledge across the range of research and practice issues in nutrition and dietetics and that support the professional growth of Association members.

Publisher: American Dietetic Association

Frequency: monthly

Contents available online:

Tables of Contents (since 1993, free)

Abstracts (since 1993, free)

Full text (limited to ADA members and print subscribers)

Website:

http://www.adajournal.org/

http://scholar.google.com/ is another good source for technical/papers. Just type in nootropics for an overwhelming amount research papers.

Intro to Celiac Disease = Gluten Free

rjdollen — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:53:00 -0700

First and formost, there is a difference between having Celiac Disease and having a wheat allergy. Celiac is for life! Wheat allergies can be outgrown as you become an adult. That said, here’s a straight-forward information on Celiac Disease.

Many thanks as always to my research team at: Fancy Hands

1. Cause of Celiac Disease:

Celiac Disease (CD) is a lifelong inherited autoimmune condition affecting children and adults. When people with CD eat foods that contain gluten, it creates an immune-mediated toxic reaction that causes damage to the small intestine and does not allow food to be properly absorbed. Even small amounts of gluten in foods can affect those with CD and cause health problems. Damage can occur to the small bowel even when there are no symptoms present.

Gluten is the common name for the proteins in specific grains that are harmful to persons with celiac disease. These proteins are found in ALL forms of wheat (including durum, semolina, spelt, kamut, einkorn and faro) and related grains rye, barley and triticale and MUST be eliminated.

http://www.celiac.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=9

2. Celiac Disease Symptoms:

CLASSIC SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE

•Abdominal cramping, intestinal gas

•Distention and bloating of the stomach

•Chronic diarrhea or constipation (or both)

•Steatorrhea – fatty stools

•Anemia – unexplained, due to folic acid, B12 or iron deficiency (or all)

•Unexplained weight loss with large appetite or weight gain

http://www.celiac.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=12

3. Treatment of Celiac Disease:

The only treatment is the lifelong adherence to the gluten-free diet. When gluten is removed from the diet, the small intestine will start to heal and overall health improves. Medication is not normally required. Consult your physician regarding specific nutritional supplementation to correct any deficiencies. The diagnosed celiac should have medical follow-up to monitor the clinical response to the gluten-free diet.

Adapting to the gluten-free diet requires some lifestyle changes. It is essential to read labels which are often imprecise, and to learn how to identify ingredients that may contain hidden gluten. Even small amounts of ingested gluten can affect those with CD and cause health problems.

Dietary compliance increases the quality of life and decreases the likelihood of osteoporosis, intestinal lymphoma and other associated illnesses.

Because osteoporosis is common and may be profound in patients with newly diagnosed CD, bone density should be measured at or shortly after diagnosis.

Potential harmful ingredients include:

•unidentified starch

•binders

•fillers

•excipients

•extenders

•malt

Gluten may also be used as a binder in some pharmaceutical products. Request clarification from food and drug manufacturers when necessary.

http://www.celiac.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=14

ALLOWED FOODS:

Grains/Flours

Rice, corn (maize), soy, potato, tapioca, beans, garfava, sorghum, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, arrowroot, amaranth, teff, Montina®, flax, and nut flours

Oats

Research indicates that pure, uncontaminated oats consumed in moderation (up to 1/2 cup dry oats daily) are tolerated by most celiacs. Gluten-free oats are currently available in the United States. Consult your physician or dietician before including oats in your diet and for regular monitoring.

NOT ALLOWED IN ANY FORM

Wheat (einkorn, durum, faro, graham, kamut, semolina, spelt), rye, barley and triticale

Frequently overlooked foods that may contain gluten and need to be verified:

•Brown rice syrup

•Breading & coating mixes

•Croutons

•Energy Bars

•Flour or cereal products

•Imitation bacon

•Imitation seafood

•Marinades

•Panko (Japanese bread crumbs)

•Pastas

•Processed luncheon meats

•Sauces, gravies

•Self-basting poultry

•Soy sauce or soy sauce solids

•Soup bases

•Stuffings, dressing

•Thickeners (Roux)

•Communion wafers

•Herbal supplements

•Drugs & over-the-counter medications

•Nutritional supplements

•Vitamins & mineral supplements

•Play-dough: a potential problem if hands are put on or in the mouth while playing with play-dough.

http://www.celiac.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138&Itemid=239

Interesting side notes:

One of the toughest parts of any diet is having the discipline to follow the rules of the diet. Whit Celiac, you either do it, or you get sick. Now that is motivation.

Gluten Free diets are not just for those with Celiac Disease. Many have chosen to remove gluten from their diets for general health reason. Others are just following the “flavor of the month” diet plan and have little valid reason to go gluten free.

A few interesting articles to read:

Study of a potentially fatal food-triggered disease has uncovered a process that may contribute to many autoimmune disorders

Progressive Muscle Relaxation* (PRM) Sleep Cycle Continuing on...

rjdollen — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 16:28:26 -0700

Progressive Muscle Relaxation* (PRM) Sleep Cycle

Continuing on the PRM studies and modernization I took some time to create a PRM for relaxing at bed time or just before sleeping. This is done in the same Hollywood/Matrix like sci-fi theme.

It turns-out that Tumblr has a 10MB cap on audio so it’s just a sample of the full version, about 30MB and 15 minutes. Perfect to help you relax and start to recharge.

I’ve been studying various methods of relaxation and in...

rjdollen — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 23:31:00 -0700

I’ve been studying various methods of relaxation and in particular I’ve been looking into Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PRM). While I’m still leaning a lot about PRM and discovering new ideas and methods everyday, one thing has become painfully clear. You have to love the idea of a stranger whispering in your ear to really get into the process and get your body & mind totally relaxed. — Not really my thing.

So I decided to explore some new and different options. What if you took a more Hollywood like approach to PRM and replaced the mystical whispering with something modern and even sci-fi? Think futuristic computer guided relaxation. Think Matrix…

Sensory deprivation tanks, and the lack thereof

rjdollen — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:56:00 -0700

I’ve long wanted an iso-tank/sensory deprivation tank and after doing a little research I’ve found that many others are also interested. Joe Rogan has become an unlikely spokesman for the iso-tank industry and just about any web search for sensory deprivation, iso-tank or float-tank will include Joe Rogan talking about the benefits of iso-tanks. He gave away his first isolation tank with the disclaimer “you’ll have to buy your own salt.” I would have gladly bought the salt to get my hands on that tank.

So, I did a little research and if you too would like an iso-tank you can expect to find limited resources/suppliers and manufactures as well as hefty, inflated prices. Seems to me this is an industry ripe for renovation and an Apple like approach to bringing an insanely great idea/product to the masses at a reasonable price. Maybe even the Joe Rogan iso-pod.

Research below: Provided by Fancy Hands

The only sensory deprivation tank manufacturers in the US are the following. Unfortunately there are no manufacturers of these tanks in Colorado. However, you can order these tanks online or by phone and they can ship them to your location.

California, Nevada City Samadhi Tank Company, Inc.

PO Box 2119

Nevada City, CA 95959 Lee Perry

phone: 530 477-1319

fax: 530 477-1953

email: float@samadhitank.com

http://www.samadhitank.com

California, San Deigo Oasis Relaxation Systems

PO Box 15669

San Diego, CA 92175

David Wasserman

phone: 619 265-9391

fax: 619 265-8491

email: info@oasisrelaxation.com

http://www.oasisrelaxation.com

California, Venice Beach Float Lab Technologies

801 Ocean Front Walk Suite 5

Venice Beach CA. 90291

Crash

phone: 310 396-3336

email: crash@floatlab.com

http://www.floatlab.com

Pennsylvania, Penndel High-Tech Floatation

173 Robbins Ave

Penndel, Pennsylvania 19047 Andy Vendetti

phone: 215 785-4228

fax: 215 785-4227

email: hightech@snip.net

http://www.thefloatspa.com

http://www.floatation.com/tankmanufacturers.html

Cloning Alpha Brain

rjdollen — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 23:20:00 -0600

If you’re a listener of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast you’ve heard all about Alpha Brain. Joe is quick to hook his guests up with a bottle of Alpha Brain and praise the nootropic concoction on just about every show. I think it may even be an official sponsor of the podcast along with some strange sex toy called the flesh-light. I get the idea Joe probably has a stake in the company but don’t know for sure. Regardless, I am interested in the idea of Alpha Brain and wanted to see what it would take to make your own Alpha Brain clone. Joe’s said more than once “look, if you want to go out and buy all of the ingredients… and make your own, go ahead” and to his credit he’s being about as transparent as you can be. The Onnit.com site has all of the ingredients listed with dosage amounts and really makes it pretty easy to clone. But is it worth it? I decided to find out. I asked Fancy Hands (awesome personal assistant service) to do the math. Here’s what they found:

*Be human, assess the information and make a decision for you. I don’t endorse Alpha Brain and haven’t tried it yet. This is just a bit of research I did and am sharing with anyone who cares. If you have tried it, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.

From FancyHands.com

I am sure their “you can buy the ingredients separately for half the price” slogan would depend on whether or not you plan to buy in bulk. There are a few places I have found that list most of these ingredients as ones they stock. The catch being you have to order 5kg or more, which, will probably not be what you are looking for. Just in case, here is a reputable raw ingredient wholesaler:

http://www.nutritionmanufacturer.com/raw_materials.html

This company carries an A+ Rating with the BBB

If you are trying to create a cocktail of vitamins and minerals that mimic the Alpha Brain Supplement, there are two things that will hinder you.

1. The ingredients are generally available to purchase, but the price of all of them well exceeds the price of one bottle of the Alpha Brain Supplement.

2. It seems almost impossible to find ready made capsules/pills that are in the dosages you need. This will not make the mixture you create exactly mimic the Alpha Brain Supplement.

Here are the links you asked for: (Note, I did not choose the cheapest ones, however, that would still put you over the price tag of $34.95)

___________________

GPC Choline - $23.74 / 300mg / 60 Capsules

Now Foods Alpha GPC

Carries a 5 star rating

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RYKA3U/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0045WBGPM&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=019H640CWMN7C3WWKT72

Huperzia Serrata - $13.99 / 200mcg / 120 Tablets

Source Naturals Huperzine A, 200mcg

Carries a 4 star rating

http://www.amazon.com/Source-Naturals-Huperzine-200mcg-Tablets/dp/B000WJH2HI/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319690436&sr=1-1

Vinpocetine - $9.89 / 30 mg / 60 Capsules

Triple-Strength Vinpocetine

http://www.amazon.com/Triple-Strength-Vinpocetine-30-60-Caps/dp/B0017OFRWY/ref=sr_1_4?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319690618&sr=1-4

AC-11 - $13.37 / 5000mg / 120 Capsules

From what I understand, Cat’s Claw is AC-11.

Now Foods CAT’S CLAW

http://www.amazon.com/Foods-CatS-Claw-5000-Vcaps/dp/B0013OXCJI/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319690729&sr=1-1

Bacopa - $8.49 / 20% Bacosides / 100 Capsules

Vitamin Shoppe - Bacopa, 100 capsules

Carries a 5 star rating

http://www.amazon.com/Vitamin-Shoppe-Bacopa-100-capsules/dp/B00013Z196/ref=sr_1_5?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319691004&sr=1-5

Pterostilbene - $7.49 / 50mg / 30 Capsules

Swanson Ultra Pterostilbene

http://www.amazon.com/Pterostilbene-50-30-Veg-Caps/dp/B0051T9YLG/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319691137&sr=1-2

Mucuna Pruriens - $12.60 / n/a / 90 Capsules

Now Foods Mucuna DOPA 15% Extract (was not able to find %50)

http://www.amazon.com/Foods-Mucuna-Support-L-Dopa-400mg/dp/B001QG5F0W/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319691228&sr=1-1

GABA - $8.78 / 750mg / 100 Capsules

Now Foods GABA

http://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-Gaba-750mg-Vcaps/dp/B0013OVZAG/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319691447&sr=1-1

Oat Straw - $11.34 / 1lb

Starwest Botanicals Oatstraw C/S Organic

http://www.amazon.com/Starwest-Botanicals-Oatstraw-Organic-1-pound/dp/B003AYEHK2/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319691520&sr=1-1

Vitamin B6 - $10.89 / 100mg / 250 Tablets

Spring Valley - Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine)

http://www.amazon.com/Spring-Valley-Vitamin-Pyridoxine-Tablets/dp/B001RBLASC/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319691577&sr=1-1

As it would seem, the cost of the actual supplement is far more appealing in terms of creating the supplement (dividing ingredients into proper dosages). While I did not see if in taking the time to divide the ingredients, it would be more cost effective, it does seem easier to just go with the supplement.