So I've cancelled my MRI appointment and will now faithfully takingthis product daily. Oh and by the way, I did some independent researchon the product. The product does have powerful anti-oxidant properties.As we've discussed previously, inflammation is the cause of many diseasesthat we currently treat. I was one of the principle investigators for theJupiter trial which showed that HS-CRP is an important marker for coronaryartery disease. I had to personally contact Dr. Paul Ridker to participatein that study, but I am so glad that I did. That study had to be stoppedearly due to ethical concerns because the treatment group had significantlyfewer cardiac events because they had lower HS-CRP's. The statin in thatstudy was one of the first "Super statins" Crestor. I becamea speaker for Astra-Zeneca based on my participation in that study. Ifyou can get me some data showing this product to lower HS-CRP some of mycolleagues would probably be interested as well. We have many patientsthat can't take a statin or won't take a statin.

When I was medical director for Radiant Research in Eugene, we studiedseveral medicines that had anti-inflammatory properties for a wide varietyof conditions. The upside potential for a nutritional product with anti-inflammatroyproperties is huge. I've already talked to my brother who wants to getstarted on this product and he never gets excited about anything. Thanksagain for sharing this product and if you would like me to speak to a smallgroup of people about this product please let me know. I just want to letyou be the first one to know that I intend to make the most of this uniqueopportunity and replace my income as the Chief Hospitalist for Salem Hospitalwithin the next two years. Please let me know when you get the informationon reductions of HS-CRP.

See you on the golf course!!!

Mark Walker, DO

Inflammation and Autoimmune Diseases

We are a people on fire!

Less than a hundred years ago the common health challenges we facedwere infections. With the discovery of pathogenic bacteria and the adventof proper hygiene, death from these problems became less common. Inflammationhas become the new epicenter of disease, disability and death.

Inflammation and the immune system Our immune system uses heat to destroyinvading bacteria. A specialized cell called a macrophage douses the invaderwith inflammatory enzymes (like acids) and the heat generated in this battledestroys the invading bacteria.

Sometimes our own healthy cells become the focus for disease. This oftenhappens because of toxic exposure. When we eat, drink or breathe a toxin,or if it is absorbed through our skin, our detoxification system worksto remove it before the poison can compromise our health. Unfortunately,many of today’s poisons are simply too strong and they overwhelm our detoxificationsystem and enter healthy cells. These cells now become the target of disease,infection and inflammation. Our immune system must treat them as hostileand use heat to destroy them.

Autoimmune diseases arise when our immune system becomes so overworkedthat it can no longer tell the difference between healthy cells and sickcells. It attacks all cells of a particular type equally. This body systemis never able to heal and chronic inflammation sets in.

The weakest link A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Youare only as healthy as your weakest body system. How robust you are dependsmostly on lifestyle choices, somewhat on your environment and a littleon your genetics.

When a toxin overwhelms your detoxification process it will likely settlein your weakest system. The immune system melts these polluted cells inan effort to save healthy cells. This is acute inflammation. With chronictoxicity comes the opportunity for chronic inflammation. In the case ofchronic inflammation, the immune system attacks any sick cell as well asany healthy cell that looks like the sick one. If the immune system attacksconnective tissue we say a person has lupus. If it attacks the beta cellsof the pancreas we say they have type 1 diabetes. If it attacks the jointswe say they have rheumatoid arthritis.

These are only a few of the more than 200 autoimmune diseases. Yet theyall share one common attribute: inflammation.

Putting the fire out Inflammation arises because of: Toxins InjuriesEmotional distress Nutrient deficiency We simply must reduce our toxicexposure to reduce the chances of developing an autoimmune disorder. Andwe must also develop emotional coping strategies and have all of the nutrientswe need in our body in the right quantity – every moment of every day.These are the first steps to reducing inflammation.

We can directly douse the fire with anti-inflammatory Betalains suchas those found in TriVita's Nopalea. A Betalain is a protein-antioxidantcomplex found in certain plants grown in hot climates. The hotter the climate,the more Betalains the plant needs to survive and the more we can benefit.

Nutrient strategies According to most authorities, everyone needs tobe taking a multiple vitamin and mineral supplement every day. This iseven more important for people trying to tame their immune system in anautoimmune flare-up. We also need to eat foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acidsand take Omega EFA supplements. These fats not only reduce inflammationbut they also make your immune system work smarter, not harder. Antioxidantsare critical to putting out the fire of inflammation. Betalain “protein-antioxidants”are extremely powerful anti-inflammatory nutrients. Finally, Vitamin B-12and adaptogens form a bulwark against the blues and physical stress.

We are a nation on fire. This is at the heart of the near epidemic ofautoimmune disorders we are facing. Strategies of nutrients and nurturingwill help us fight inflammation and help us with what we do best: heal!

TheScience Behind Nopalea: Video ClickHere