Cold Hands and Feet?

Following a (trap shooting) match on a chilly October afternoon,

Jim and Jimmy shook hands. Jimmy commented that Jim’s hand was warm – despite the fact he didn't wear gloves. Jim replied that he takes cayenne pepper (active hot ingredient is capsaicin) once or twice daily.

I recalled that Cayenne pepper has a long history as a supplement support for cardiovascular and digestive health. For those who’d like more details about the reported benefits of cayenne (capsaicin) see Webmd.com for an extensive list of possible uses.

There’s a powerful sinus relief nasal spray (Sinus Buster) that is also known to quickly relieve headaches, even migraines.  I've used it often and can attest to its effectiveness. There’s a sharp initial burn that quickly subsides. The innovator of the product was a self-defense teacher who accidentally got a blast from a pepper spray during a demonstration. He reports that his migraine disappeared almost immediately after inhaling the pepper. That experience led him to develop and market the Sinus Buster product. The Compounder has stocked it for many years.

These pieces of data led to a simple experiment with someone who seems to always have cold hands. Ingesting cayenne pepper with meals is easy and it seems to be effective at raising the temperature of her hands. While I wouldn't claim that using cayenne would work for everyone, it certainly seems like a reasonable idea. Cayenne has a long history of safe use. The main warnings are about getting it in the eyes (people who use cayenne pepper in a topical cream should be particularly careful).

The Compounder stocks capsule form of Cayenne Pepper, 500 mg capsules.

It isn't expensive and it might work. 
An alternative is to eat more hot peppers.
Would you opt for the capsules or a few plates of heat daily?

Is Vitamin D a Fad?

I receive numerous health articles every week. As expected, the topics vary widely from acne

medicines to zinc deficiency. In the past few weeks, though I've noticed a steady stream of articles that declare the benefits of vitamin D and point out the many problems that can occur when our vitamin D levels are too low.

Interest in Vitamin might be a coincidence or a reflection of writing that gravitates toward a popular topic - a fad. It is also possible that research and study is pointing to a valuable lesson, that vitamin D (actually a seco-steroid, not a true vitamin) is one of the most important substances in our body.

We make vitamin D ourselves - and we can adsorb it in foods and supplements (the D3 form). In addition to recognizing how valuable it is, we must investigate why so many of us are sufferiong from the effects of a deficiency.

The basic issue seems to rest with two health theories that scare us into action. 

• One, cholesterol is bad for us. 
• Two, sunshine can cause cancer.

The fact remains that we make vitamin D in our skin through the interaction of cholesterol with sunlight. Making every effort to lower our cholesterol levels and avoid the sun might be exerting negative influence on our vitamin D production. Ya think? Therefore, blindly following modern medical wisdom is probably making us ill. 

Think about it.

The Compounder offers several quality Vitamin D products.

Here's a list of recent articles I've received.

• Vitamin D Deficiency Aggravates Asthma
• Vitamin D Might Help Kids With Eczema
• Finally: Missing link between vitamin D, prostate cancer
• More Evidence: Vitamin D Protects Cognition
• Vitamin D Deficiency May Be Linked With Aggressive Prostate Cancer

What Might be CAUSING Low-T?

Chances are good that chemicals in the environment are responsible for the increasing numbers of men reporting symptoms of Low T. 

According to the study published on August 14, 2014 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism there is “… evidence of reduced levels of circulating testosterone were associated with increased phthalate exposure…" study author John Meeker, of the University of Michigan School of Public Health in Ann Arbor, said in a journal news release.

The findings "may have important public health implications, since low testosterone levels in young boys can negatively impact reproductive development, and in middle age can impair sexual function, libido, energy, cognitive function and bone health in men and women,".

• Phthalates are used in many products, from enteric coatings of pharmaceutical pills and nutritional supplements to viscosity control agents, gelling agents, film formers, stabilizers, dispersants, lubricants, binders, emulsifying agents, and suspending agents.
• Products include adhesives and glues, agricultural adjuvants, building materials, personal-care products, medical devices, detergents and surfactants, packaging, children's toys, modelling clay, waxes, paints, printing inks and coatings, pharmaceuticals, food products, and textiles. 
• Phthalates are also frequently used in soft plastic fishing lures, caulk, paint pigments, and sex toys made of so-called "jelly rubber".
• Phthalates are used in a variety of household applications such as shower curtains, vinyl upholstery, adhesives, floor tiles, food containers and wrappers, and cleaning materials.
• Personal-care items containing phthalates include perfume, eye shadow, moisturizer, nail polish, liquid soap, and hair spray. They are also found in modern electronics and medical applications such as catheters and blood transfusion devices. 
• The most widely used phthalates are DEHP, DIDP, and DINP. DEHP is the dominant plasticizer used in PVC. Phthalates are used as solvents in perfumes and pesticides.

Approximately six million tons of plasticizers are consumed globally every year, most of which is in the United States. Assume this is true – and the evidence seems clear that it is – what can we do about it? The sad truth is practically nothing. We can’t avoid all of the sources and it is unlikely that all the makers and users phthalates will change their ways just because the chemicals are destroying our health. Why, then, is it important to bring this to our attention?

This discovery supports many other studies that repeat the same warnings over and over again – the environment is degrading at an ever-escalating rate. 

While it is wise to be concerned about GMOs, it is unwise to ignore all of the other toxic substances that are everywhere. 

Merely adding testosterone supplements or applying creams/gels is not the answer to declining levels./ However, that seems to be the current trend, especially if you are inclined to  trust all the advertising for prescription replacements. Advertising is designed to sell something, not necessarily solve a health problem.
Buck the trend. 

• Eat better - steer clear of GMO, products packed in plastic, hot beverages in plastic/foam cups, organic. 
• Exercise - three to four days of moderate exercise (brisk walk) per week. 
• Drink clean water us use a reverse osmosis filter to remove as many toxins as possible. 
• Don't take drugs. 
• Avoid phthalates in its many sources.

Every little change can add up to improved health. 

Nothing is insignificant.