Generics Blog|Medical-Care News

Bite into a fresh-picked, ripe strawberry. It’s tender, juicy, and sweet, right? Not like those huge, waxy, and largely flavorless blobs that have been picked before they’re fully ripe and then shipped thousands of miles before they get to the grocery store. Even worse, unless they’re organic, those supermarket berries have been produced with more toxic chemicals than just about any other food in the produce aisle.

But you don’t have to worry about that. You’re an organic gardener, and strawberries are easy–fun, even–to grow. You can pack them into tight spaces (they love container culture), and they’re quick producers, often giving you ready-to-eat fruit within weeks of planting. Plant a few different varieties, and you’ll be picking your own strawberries for weeks in spring and summer.
Type Cast

You can choose from three main types of strawberries:

June-bearing varieties produce just one large crop of fruit per year, generally in June or early July. These are sometimes referred to as short-day strawberries, because the short day-lengths of early fall stimulate them to make flower buds. The berries tend to be the largest of the types; however, they are often the most sensitive to soilborne diseases.

Everbearing plants produce a spring and fall crop with medium-sized fruit. The plants generally don’t send out runners–shoots that grow on the surface of the soil and become new plants. After about three years, the fruit production will decline and you’ll need to replace everbearers. Among the all-time favorites are ‘Quinault,’ ‘Ft. Laramie’, and ‘Ogallala’.

Day-neutral varieties bear fruit continuously as long as temperatures are below 90°F. In mild areas of the country, they fruit most of the year, but elsewhere they produce berries from late May until frost. The berries are medium to large size, and the plants are more disease-resistant than the other two types. They don’t produce many runners, and they thrive in tight spaces like containers. Day-neutrals are often used for commercial production, especially in organic growing, because fruit production lasts longer, says Curtis Gaines, a strawberry specialist at the University of California, Davis. “The new day-neutral ‘Albion’, for instance, is excellent for organic growing because it resists many soil diseases. It’s also large and has an excellent flavor.” Other notable new varieties introduced by the University of California include ‘Aromas’, ‘Monterey’, ‘Portola’, and ‘San Andreas’.
Berry Basics

No matter where you garden, strawberries need a few conditions to stay healthy and productive. I’ll explain those now and then share experts’ recommendations for your specific region.

The right site. As they say in real estate, location is everything. Strawberries need full sun–southern exposure, except in the hottest, driest conditions, is ideal. Also, strawberries are prone to the diseases that afflict tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and potatoes. Reduce the risk by planting strawberries where you have not grown those crops in the past three or four years.

Prep the soil. Strawberries require slightly acidic soil. “The pH should fall somewhere between 5.5 and 6.8,” says Joe Masabni, extension vegetable specialist at Texas A & M. Drainage also is critical. If your soil tends toward soggy, plant strawberries in raised beds. Amend the soil with compost, which not only provides nutrients but helps disperse moisture in the soil. Better yet, grow a soil-building cover crop such as buckwheat, hairy vetch, oats, or clover before planting strawberries.

Keep it clean. “Weeds compete with shallow-rooted strawberry plants for water and nutrients and often harbor insects and disease,” says Gail Nonnecke, a horticulture professor at Iowa State University, who has researched strawberries for more than 25 years. Eradicate all weeds from the site before planting and then make sure to remove all new invaders as soon as they appear.

Mulch matters. A layer of straw or pine needles spread on the soil suppresses weeds and helps retain moisture. Particularly important when the plants are producing fruit, the mulch forms a protective barrier between the soil and the berries, keeping the fruit clean, dry, and safe from diseases, such as fruit rot, which can ruin your harvest.

Water wisely. Strawberries require consistent moisture to produce to their maximum. Just be sure to water the plants directly at the root zone–wet leaves and fruit are most susceptible to fungal diseases.

Feed sparingly. Strawberries do need a steady supply of nutrients but overfeeding especially with high-nitrogen fertilizers, leads to lush foliage and little fruit. At planting time and then monthly during the growing season, give your strawberries a well-balanced organic feeding. “I get great production by fertilizing with a combination of seaweed and fish emulsion throughout the growing season, says gardener Geraldine Cibellis of Villa Park, California, who has grown the day-neutral ‘Seascape’ for several years.
West Coast

California is the center of the commercial strawberry-growing industry, with roughly 80 percent of strawberries sold in U.S. stores produced here. And no wonder: The berry-growing regions have the fruit’s ideal climate, with average temperatures of 55°F at night and 75°F during the day. These tips will help you grow the best berries possible.

Sun protection. While a full-sun location is ideal most of the year, in inland areas provide temporary shade in the hot summer months when temperatures get near the triple digits.

A mite-y challenge. When your strawberry patch is dry and dusty, watch out for mites, tiny but destructive relatives of spiders. “Rinse leaves regularly with water and pick off affected leaves,” says Molly Gean of Harry’s Berries in Oxnard, California, who grows organic crops of ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Seascape’ for local markets and restaurants. If you bye in a mild-winter climate and order fresh plants in the fall and early winter months, ask the nursery to chill them in the refrigerator for approximately three weeks to help the plants fight off spider-mite infestations, Gaines adds. Powdery mildew is also common in this climate. When you see the dry white powder on leaves, Immediately remove infected plant parts and treat the remainder with sulfur.
Pacific Northwest

The cool wet spring weather in this region can make growing strawberries challenging but rewarding, says Bernadine Strik, berry crops researcher at Oregon State University. June-bearing berries that do well in this region include ‘Totem’, ‘Tillamook’, ‘Puget Reliance’, and ‘Independence.’

Higher ground. Choose an elevated planting site, avoiding low-lying frost pockets where cold air can be trapped. If you must plant in such a location, protect your plants with row cover when frost is predicted.

Dodging disease. In this climate, botrytis fruit rot can spoil your berries if you leave them on the vine too long. Harvest as soon as the berries are ripe, especially in rainy weather. Verticillium wilt is a soilborne disease that afflicts many crops here, including Strawberries., Planting your strawberries in a spot where you have not grown tomatoes and their kin is a simple way you can help protect your strawberries from the disease.
Midwest

The Midwest’s frigid winters and variable summers are not an obstacle to growing strawberries, thanks to well-adapted varieties, such as June-bearers ‘Allstar’ and ‘Earliglow’, and day-neutral strawberries ‘Tribute’ and ‘Tristar’. Plant those varieties and bear in mind these tips to enjoy a healthy strawberry harvest.

Straw security. Protect your strawberry plants in fall and winter with 4 inches of straw mulch, applied before temperatures dip below 20°F. When you spread mulch, cover the plant crowns thoroughly. Remove it in spring when plants resume growth.

Weed free. The common diseases in this climate include botrytis fruit rot and anthracnose, the latter of which causes stem and fruit lesions and fruit decay on day-neutral berries. Prevent these problems and minimize disease and insect pressure, Nonnecke advises, by eradicating weeds before you plant. They harbor diseases and insects that ruin the fruit.
Southwest

Searing hot, dry weather and alkaline soil test the mettle of strawberry varieties and the gardeners who plant them. ‘Chandler’, ‘Sequoia’, and ‘Allstar’ have proved themselves well adapted and reliable in the Southwest. Where the soil is highly alkaline, try another crop, Masabni urges.

Sweet or sour soil. Before planting, check the soil’s pH with a lab test or a simple at-home kit. “If your soil is highly alkaline–in the 9 to 10 range–then plant strawberries in a raised bed or container, because no amount of amending is going to lower the pH enough,” says Masabni.
South

In this region’s hot, humid climate, you want varieties that resist fungal disease, says John Strang, horticulture professor at the University of Kentucky. “June-bearers that grow well in this climate include ‘Earliglow,’ ‘Red Chief,’ and ‘Allstar’,” Strang says. “We’ve also had great luck with day-neutrals such as ‘Seascape’.” With any variety, these tips will help keep them healthy and productive.

Stop slugs. The slimy pests snack on strawberries. They are abundant when conditions are wet, says Strang, whose preferred control method is beer traps.

Warm blankets. On frosty spring nights, blanket plants with a row cover or other protection to safeguard flowers.
Northeast

“In this region, ‘Jewel’ is the standard to which other June-bearers are compared, but some of the newer day-neutral strawberries like ‘Albion’ also do quite well,” says Marvin Pritts, Cornell University professor and small-fruit specialist.

Winter safe. Timely mulch application is critical, says Pritts, who recommends protecting plants with straw in late fail before the ground freezes solid, then uncovering them after the risk of extremely cold weather (below 20°F) is past in spring. Winter-hardiness is a major factor in choosing the right variety to grow, and surprisingly, it’s not snow that threatens strawberry plants. “We hope for a good snow cover that lasts until spring, because it helps protect the plants,” says David Handley, small-fruit specialist at the University of Maine. Ensure that your plants don’t get damaged by cold weather, and, even as far north as Maine, you can enjoy successful harvests of June-bearers such as ‘Earliglow’, ‘Red Chief’, ‘Allstar’, and ‘Sparkle’.

Sloped site. Keep away from areas that remain wet late into the spring. Plant on a site with a gradual slope, which helps prevent frost injury by draining cold air away from the plants.

Disease defense. Avoid infestations of red stele and verticillium wilt by planting resistant varieties. Keep the strawberry beds weed-free to discourage insect pests such as tarnished plant bugs and strawberry bud weevils. Also, allow for steady air circulation and mulch between rows to prevent attacks of gray mold.

Master Gardener Julie Bawden-Davis is author of four gardening books, Including The Strawberry Story: How to Grow Great Berries In Southern California. She gardens in Orange, California,

Visit OrganicGardening.com to see recommended varieties for your region’s growing conditions and find links to organic mail-order sources.
In a Pot

With their pert white blossoms and attractive green foliage, strawberries Look great in containers and give you a steady supply of fresh fruit. Growing strawberries in pots makes soil prep and pest and disease control easy on you.

1. Choose day-neutral varieties, which flower and fruit all season long.
2. Plant in a container with drainage holes. Don’t put gravel, broken pottery, or anything else that will take up root space in the bottom of the pot.
3. For planting mix, use a blend of one part compost to two parts organic potting soil,
4. Space plants about 2 to 4 inches apart.
5. After planting, water well with a weak solution of compost tea. Keep the soil in the container consistently moist, but never soggy.

Stale Bed = Eresh Berries

Weeds harbor pests and diseases, and compete with strawberry plants for water and nutrients. Time spent eliminating weeds before planting strawberries Is well worth it, says Bill Nunes, OG test gardener in Gustine, California, and an experienced strawberry grower. He’s found the “stale-seedbed” technique to be the most effective strategy. Till or cultivate the soil early in the season and allow weeds to germinate. When they are a couple of inches high, cut them down with a stirrup hoe while disturbing the soil as little as possible, or kill them will an organic herbicide or flame weeder. Repeat this process until few, if any, weed seeds germinate. Now you are ready to plant your strawberries.
MASTER’S TIP

Continually renew your strawberry patch by propagating the runners. Encourage the “daughter” plants to take hold near the “mother” plant, and once the new plants root, cut them from the original, Or root the new plants in small containers and transplant them elsewhere.
NEWBIE HINT

When planting strawberries, center the crown (the center of the plant from where the roots extend) above- and belowground, which usually means ? to ? inch in the ground and ? to ? inch aboveground. If the crown is too high. the roots dry out; if it’s too low, the plant will rot.

Over the past several years, a perceptible shift in healthcare paradigm has emerged. No longer are chronic diseases seen as fait accompli to be awaited passively and treated willy-nilly only when the symptoms present themselves with uncompromising ferocity. Rather, preventive measures have assumed central importance in avoidance of disease. The broader emphasis on nutritious diet is but one index of this changing mind-set as individuals more assertively take control of their health. In a sense, it is coming full circle for the role of diet in traditional societies was seen for eons as the basic insurance against debilitating disease, irrespective of chronological age.

Diet as a critical factor in management of health and disease has a long history. Supplementation with vitamins was deemed appropriate several decades ago with the implication that diet alone does not supply all the nutrients necessary for good health. Extrapolation of this basic premise has brought metals, trace minerals, herbals, antioxidants and metabolic cofactors (such as CoQ10) with rather complex biochemistry under the umbrella of nutritional supplementation. It is understandable, therefore, that an estimated 72 percent of consumers have changed their diet for health reasons.

Literally, a fundamental evolution is afoot, the signs of which include calcium-fortified orange juice to help prevent osteoporosis, herbal tea with antioxidants to lower the risk of cancer, eggs with fish-derived fatty acids to manage heart disease and, among many others, phytochemicals in oats to mitigate muscle soreness after heavy workout.( n1) These so-called functional foods contrast from the foods previously marketed, which touted having lower fat, cholesterol and salt as the “lesser-evil” foods. Accordingly, the focus in the design of functional foods is more pragmatic–namely, to enhance the “good” and minimize the “bad.”

In spite of these encouraging trends and availability of reasonably wholesome choices, the health benefits of supplemental nutrients differ from individual to individual. That is to a large extent due to the genetic makeup of a given person along with age, the state of general health and, in fact, dietary habits. Increasing evidence suggests that diet is considerably more important in maintenance of health than is normally discerned. Indeed, in a rather odd coalescence, the technology-intense molecular biology, as the human genome is deciphered, and technology-insensitive nutrition have joined hands to help better understand human health and disease. This is a fitting tribute to Hippocrates, the father of allopathic medicine, who said: “Let your food be your medicine and let your medicine be your food.”

Intense research efforts continue to establish causal links between nutrition and degenerative diseases. In fact, recent scientific and clinical research has shed light on how nutrition itself may be the culprit in the onset of chronic diseases.( n2) While it may appear counter-intuitive, it is actually not. It is widely appreciated that the risk of cardiovascular disease can be lowered by sensible nutrition and dietary habits. As a counterpoint, there is ample evidence suggesting a strong correlation between the consumption of “junk food” and type II diabetes, even in teenagers. Thus the role of nutrition in the onset of degenerative diseases is being critically re-examined.

Osteoporosis is one of the few human diseases which proves that people truly are what they eat. Many a time eloquent case has been made that a deficiency in each and every nutrient involved in bone metabolism could contribute to the onset, or aggravate the severity, of osteoporosis. One aspect of this debilitating disease however, has been neglected–namely, the effect of nutrition on bone health and integrity. Thus the findings that even nutritious foods may have deleterious effects have only now begun to be more completely understood. How so? Evidence suggests that commonly ingested foods–such as meat, grains and dairy products, including cheese–precipitate osteoporosis by increasing systemic acidity in the body. As acidity increases, physiological mechanisms are triggered that leach out minerals from bone, especially calcium, to increase alkalinity. These observations corroborate what has been known for quite some time now that “acidic” nutrients–for example, caffeine and carbonated beverages–increase the rate of mineral leaching from the bone with a concomitant increase in the risk of osteoporosis.

How does that come about? It has been well within the precinct of classical nutrition that foods do produce acid in the body.( n3) Thus, carbonic and lactic acids are produced by the aerobic and anaerobic metabolism of glucose, respectively. Likewise, acidic ketone bodies accumulate during the incomplete breakdown of dietary fats. These compounds increase the acidity in varying amounts in the extracellular fluid bathing the cells and influence acid-base balance. Toxic accumulation of acidic ketone bodies, for instance, is a common complication in untreated diabetes mellitus.

Minerals that remain after the food has been metabolized are referred to as either acidic or basic, depending upon whether they contribute to formation of an acid or basic medium in solution. Acid-forming elements include chlorine, sulfur and phosphorus, and are quite abundant in high-protein foods such as meat, fish, poultry and eggs. Accordingly, these foods are designated as acid-forming foods. After metabolism is complete, most mixed diets contain a surplus of acid-forming minerals that must be continually buffered to maintain the acid-base balance. On the other hand, minerals such as potassium, calcium, sodium and magnesium are alkaline, or basic. All of these minerals are found in vegetables and fruits, which nutritionists term as base-forming foods. These predominantly basic residues that result after metabolism of a strict vegetarian diet may tax the body’s ability to maintain optimal acid-base balance or pH.

Ordinarily, the body has the ability to maintain the balance by controlling the pH of body fluids. The symbol pH indicates the degree of acidity or alkalinity; thus as the pH goes down, the acidity goes up and, conversely, as the pH goes up, the alkalinity is increased. The most poignant evidence of the effectiveness of the pH control mechanism is the quite narrow range of blood pH, which varies between the values of 7.36 to 7.41. Irrespective of that, physiological buffering against untoward escalation of acidity and alkalinity is accomplished by the respiratory system, which presents itself as hyper- or hypo-ventilation, and the kidney excretion of acids and bases. Inasmuch as physiological response is rather slow, rapid changes in the buffering can be achieved by chemical buffers, such as sodium bicarbonate or calcium carbonate that are used in antacids.

Even though disturbances in the acid-base balance, from a clinical standpoint, can be considered largely dependent upon the relative amounts of carbonic acid and bicarbonate, persistent imbalances can induce metabolic acidosis or alkalosis. If allowed to fester, either of these conditions can pose serious consequences for general health. Again, osteoporosis provides a compelling example of the contribution of diet-induced acidity in the pathogenesis of a chronic disease. In essence, persistent acidity can cause alkaline minerals, such as calcium, to begin to be leached out of the bone. In such cases as much as 60 milligrams of alkaline minerals can be extracted every day from the skeleton to neutralize blood pH. That computes to a loss of roughly 250 grams of alkaline metals over a decade, which is equivalent to the mineral content of an arm or leg bone.

If the skin is a model of external flexibility, the human skeletal structure embodies internal rigidity. It allows mobility while simultaneously protecting internal organs. To accomplish this task, the bone consists of mineral deposits, principally calcium taking about 45 percent of its volume, in addition to roughly 30 percent of soft tissue and 25 percent water. The bone, although extremely strong, is nary a static structure. In fact, the inner scaffold of the bone is continuously resculpted, whereby the older components are replenished with newer ones. Two types of cell in the bone carry this out: Osteoclasts generally degrade (resorb or demineralize) solid bone matter whereas osteoblasts build the bone anew (Fig. 1). The equilibrium between demineralization and remineralization is central in maintenance of bone integrity, regardless of what mechanisms trigger its disintegration.

The loss of bone strength is not a smooth process as it progresses rather nonuniformly. Even though women, particularly those in menopause, are more susceptible to bone thinning, the onset of bone loss is quite slow and typically starts around the age of 39. After that there is a progressive increase in bone loss with time.

With the caveat that osteoporosis is a multi-factorial disease with several physiological pathways contributing to its etiology; progressive loss of calcium is the most obvious factor amenable to intervention. As such, calcium supplementation appears the most effective modality to fend against and delay bone loss.

Importantly, recent observations underscore the fact that calcium supplementation as early as the teen years helps individuals to strengthen the bones sufficiently to retard bone loss when it does eventually start. It is for this reason that calcium supplementation continues to be a subject of intense research–in part, because it is the first mineral approved by the FDA in prevention of a specific disease.

While the recommended daily amount of calcium supplementation is broadly agreed upon (Table 1), the requisite amounts are apparently not being absorbed. The sheer numbers of people suffering from osteoporosis bears testimony to that. Much has been said about the various chemical forms and sources of calcium. The discussion has revolved mostly around solubilization of calcium with the tacit assumption that an easily soluble salt is more readily absorbed. This assumption is being reconsidered, however, as the amounts of elemental calcium ingested do not correlate with adequate levels of calcium in the body.

An intriguing approach to increase calcium absorption and its enhanced bioavailability would be to couple its mode of absorption with the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Two mechanisms account for calcium absorption: An active transport that takes place in the upper intestine, and absorption by passive diffusion, which is largely operative in the lower intestine (the colon). It stands to reason then that if fermentative ability of the colon were to be increased, the amount of calcium absorbed would escalate as well.

Latest research demonstrates that calcium supplementation is substantially increased when taken in conjunction with inulin, a prebiotic.( n5) A prebiotic is a substrate for the so-called beneficial bacteria resident in colon. Inulin specifically initiates the multiplication of beneficial colonic flora. Thus, when calcium supplementation in teenaged female athletes was fortified with inulin, the amount of calcium absorbed exceeded that of the group administered calcium alone.( n6)

These results persuasively corroborate the concept that absorption of calcium can be maximized by jumpstarting proliferation of colonic flora. In that sense, active uptake of calcium complements its absorption by passive diffusion and, therefore, delivers this critically crucial mineral to the body. The more complete the absorption of elemental calcium, the more robust the bone remineralization to maintain its integrity.

It could be correctly argued that other factors such as vitamin D may be required for calcium absorption. While that is true, it can be safely assumed that in a vast majority of people there is dietary adequacy of vitamin D and other minerals or biomolecules. A balanced, nutritious diet along with an optimally functional GI system ensures a requisite supply of additional factors to enhance the preventive function of calcium supplementation. While many types of diets claim to confer a variety of benefits, if a balance is not struck between the acid-forming and base-forming foods, serious long-term consequences for health is inevitably the result. For instance, a dietary regimen skewed toward either protein exclusively or composed solely of carbohydrates, despite lucrative promises, cheats the body of nutrients required to mobilize its innate healing potential. There is a measure of wisdom, after all, to the maxim that health begins in the gut. Perhaps the time is ripe for a redefinition of a food pyramid that helps maintain the body fluids within physiological pH range as one way to hold degenerative diseases at bay.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

(n1.) Stipp, D. “Engineering the Future of Food,” Fortune. September 28, (1998) p. 128 ff.

(n2.) Guengerich, F. “Functional Genomics and Proteomics Applied to the Study of Nutritional Metabolism,” Nutr. Rev. Vol. 59, p. 259 (200l).

(n3.) Whitney; E. and Hamilton, E. Understanding Nutrition. St. Paul, Minnesota. West Publishing Company; Second Edition (1981).

(n4.) Latusseck, R. “Haerter Kaese, Weiche Knochen,” Die Welt. March 18, (2002). www.welt.de

(n5.) Ahmed, A. “IBS: The Unsettled Gut,” Nat. Pharmacy (2002). Vol. 6(4), p. 8.

(n6.) Anonymous, “Low-Calorie Fat Substitute Boosts Calcium Absorption,” www.bcn.tmc.edu/cnrc/lowcalorie.htm
Table 1: Calcium Supplementation

Legend for Chart:

B - RDAs(a)
C - DRIs(b)

A B C

INFANTS

0-0.5 Year 400 mg 210 mg
0.5-1 Year 600 mg 270 mg

CHILDREN

1-3 Years 800 mg 500 mg
4-8 Years 800 mg 800 mg
8-10 Years 800 mg

MALES

11-14 Years 1,200 mg
15-24 Years 1,200 mg
19-24 Years 1,200 mg

25-50 Years 800 mg
51+ Years 800 mg

9-18 Years 1,300 mg
19-50 Years 1,000 mg
51+ Years 1,200 mg

FEMALES

1-24 Years 1,200 mg
5-50 Years 800 mg

Post Menopausal

Estrogen Therapy 1,000 mg
No Estrogen Therapy 1,500 mg
Over 65 Years 1,500 mg

Pregnancy/Lactation 1,200 mg

9-18 Years 1,300 mg
19-50 Years 1,000 mg
51+ Years 1,200 mg

Pregnancy/Lactation

Under 18 Years 1,300 mg
19-50 Years 1,000 mg

(a.) RDA: Recommended Daily Allowances; Recommended Dietary
Allowances, Subcommittee on the Tenth Edition of the RDAs,
Food and Nutrition Board, Commission on Life Sciences.
National Research Council, National Academy Press,
Washington, D.C., 1989.

(b.) DRI: Recommended Daily Intake (1998); Dietary Reference
Intake (DRI), Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition
Board, based on Adequate Intakes (AI), National Academy
of Sciences, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1998.

Figure 1: The Dynamics of Bone Growth

DIAGRAM: Osteoblasts Make Bones

DIAGRAM: Osteoclasts Erode Bones

DIAGRAM: These Activities Remodel the Skeleton

Sixty-eight million Americans suffer from various urinary conditions involving overactive bladder, urgency, frequency and pelvic pain. unfortunately, there is a lack of effective treatments for these debilitating chronic problems but with a new therapy pioneered by a company called pH Sciences, there may be hope for people like Mary Smith.

Mary suffers from interstitial cystitis. She plans her entire day around how close she’ll be to a bathroom. She often has to urinate over 40 times a day. She endures frequent pain and near-constant urgency. Her dream is to spend a whole day at the beach with her grandchildren. She takes a variety of medications and watches her diet very closely. The medications don’t work very well and have some unpleasant side effects. Eating acidic foods like tomato sauce or drinking acidic beverages like coffee throw her symptoms into overdrive. She, as with so many others like her, feels trapped.

Mary’s experience with acidic foods is consistent with recent research suggesting that a condition known as chronic, low-grade metabolic acidosis may play a significant role in the severity of the symptoms associated with these urinary conditions. Metabolic acidosis occurs when the level of acidity in the body is destructively high. Actively managing the acid-alkaline balance in the body may help urinary condition sufferers reduce the severity and frequency of their symptoms.

An innovative natural, alkalizing compound, Alka-Plex(â„¢), was tested by a group of people diagnosed with interstitial cystitis (IC) and shows extremely positive results in reducing pain, urgency and frequency. Interstitial cystitis is among the most difficult of all chronic urinary conditions. This study’s results form the basis of a new research agenda into the ill effects of chronic, low-grade metabolic acidosis, and the launch of a line of natural, science-based products to counteract the effects of destructive levels of acidity in the body.
Interstitial Cystitis

One of the most debilitating diseases related to excess acidity is interstitial cystitis. Interstitial cystitis is a painful disorder that affects well over a million people in the U.S. Interstitial cystitis is an inflammatory chronic pain pelvic disorder that results in recurring discomfort or pain in the bladder and pelvic region. More than 90 percent of those affected are women.

There are two commonly recognized types of interstitial cystitis. The most common type is known as “non-ulcerative IC.” The second and less common type of IC is known as “ulcerative IC.”

Symptoms include urinary urgency, frequency and pain. Pain may vary in intensity as the bladder fills or empties with urine. For some the pain of IC is excruciating. Frequency is not always related to bladder size and many people with IC have normal bladder capacity. Those with severe IC may urinate as many as 60 times a day and more than a dozen times a night. In women, symptoms are often reported to be worse during menstruation.( n1) The causes of interstitial cystitis are not fully recognized. One theory considers IC to be an autoimmune disease, while other theories include the suggestion that its origin might lie in bladder scarring stemming from recurrent antibiotic use. In all cases it can be said that IC always involves inadequate bladder tissue repair, resulting in chronic inflammation of the bladder lining.
Interstitial Cystitis and Urine pH

In interstitial cystitis patients the bladder wall becomes hypersensitive and extremely vulnerable to the corrosive effect of highly acidic urine. Myself and other researchers and clinicians have long noted that moving towards a more alkaline pH of the urine provides considerable symptom relief for interstitial cystitis sufferers.( n2)
Interstitial Cystitis and Chronic, Low-Grade Metabolic Acidosis

Unwittingly the vast majority of those consuming the modern Western diet labor under chronic, low-grade metabolic acidosis. This metabolic acidosis stems from our dietary patterns (diets which are high in protein and refined foods which create metabolic acids and are low in vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds which contain compounds capable of neutralizing metabolic acids).

Chronic low-grade metabolic acidosis hampers the body’s function in many ways. In particular, metabolic acidosis limits the body’s self-repair mechanisms and in this way contributes to the development of “repair deficit” disorders such as autoimmune disease and interstitial cystitis.
Available Treatments for Interstitial Cystitis

In addition to mechanical stretching of the bladder, instillation of the bladder with DMSO, use of oral drugs such as Elmiron, antidepressants, antihistamines and surgery, interstitial cystitis patients report that diet is important. No scientific studies have assessed the relationship between diet and interstitial cystitis or the severity of its symptoms. Nonetheless, IC sufferers have long noted that certain foods can greatly aggravate their condition. Thus an “Interstitial Cystitis Diet” has evolved which suggests that elimination of spicy foods, caffeinated and citrus beverages, highly acidic foods and other items that are often reported to increase inflammation and pain.
A Novel Approach to Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Reduction

Given the severity of the symptoms experienced by those with interstitial cystitis and the limited value of conventional therapies, there is a need for new symptom reduction and healing therapies. In the remainder of this article I discuss a pilot research project looking at one such new and promising alkalizing product developed by pH Sciences, Inc.

The approach to interstitial cystitis symptom relief discussed here concerns a natural, nutritional therapy aimed at:

• Reducing the acid content of aggravating foods and beverages

• Reducing the acidity of the urine, and

• Lowering the systemic burden of chronic, low-grade metabolic acidosis.
Two Year Follow-Up Report on The Use of the Alka-Plex Formula for Interstitial Cystitis

Between November 2000 and April 2001 Tamer® Laboratories, the parent company to pH Sciences, conducted an informal study of 18 interstitial cystitis patients using the patented Alka-Plex compound.

After three months’ use of Alka-Plex, the interstitial cystitis patients reported that there was a 50 percent decrease in bladder and abdomen pain, a 31 percent reduction in urgency and 37 percent reduction of frequency. These results were impressive, particularly given the difficult nature of IC.

In February 2003, a two-year follow-up assessment was conducted on the long-term benefits of Alka-Plex used among the original Interstitial Cystitis Study participants. This assessment was designed and implemented by the Nutrition Education and Consulting Service in East Syracuse, New York.

Fifteen of the original 18 participants were located and interviewed. Thirteen were female and two were male. Five of these no longer continued to use Alka-Plex. While one might expect that the “dropouts” did not benefit from product use, this was not the case. Four of the five subjects who discontinued use reported significant symptom relief with Alka-Plex. Due to various circumstances they did not continue use of Alka-Plex.

The 10 that were still using the formula had developed their own use pattern which met their needs.
Long-Term Sustained Benefits of Alka-Plex Use Among Interstitial Cystitis Patients

Over two years use the symptom relief benefits are not only sustained but substantial. Bladder pain was reduced by 43 percent, urgency of urination reduced by 35 percent, frequency of daytime urination reduced by 38 percent and frequency of night-time urination reduced by 37 percent.

After comparing product use for the short term and then the long term, it is evident that symptoms improved over time. In fact the reduction of frequency of day and night urination was greater over the two-year period.
Symptom Relief

Given the level of pain experienced by interstitial cystitis sufferers, all participants considered a 34 percent to 43 percent reduction in pain to be very significant. One participant detailed that she was so desperate she considered bladder removal. She couldn’t standup or eat without pain, nor could she sleep as she was “up all night” urinating. Her case was the most striking of all, as she reported 100 percent recovery of bladder health and full symptom relief with the use of Alka-Plex.

Another remarkable case of pain reduction involved a male subject with radiation cystitis. He had undergone radioactive “seed treatment” for prostate cancer. Treatment resulted in burning with urination. The pain continued to worsen until he found he would burn up to six hours after urination. Within one week of taking Alka-Plex, and the IC medication Elmiron, he experienced complete relief. He stopped taking Elmiron after a month and used only Alka-Plex with continued complete relief. This man attributes his recovery to the use of the Alka-Plex formula.

Urinary urgency and frequency are devastating symptoms that are also alleviated by Alka-Plex use. One woman reported that before starting Alka-Plex she had to urinate 40 times a day. With the products this was reduced to 25 times a day. In another case one male participant reported urinating 30 to 40 times a day even while using the conventional interstitial cystitis medications (Elmiron and Atarax). When he added Alka-Plex, his daytime urination was reduced by 30 percent and night time by 40 to 50 percent.
Additional Benefits

All users reported important collateral benefits from Alka-Plex use. The most mentioned was improvement of digestion with a correction of acid reflux and less bloating. For many participants, reduced nocturnal urination meant much better sleep. The benefits of more restful sleep appeared to have far reaching healing effects both physically and emotionally. Finally, it is worth remembering that not just IC, but all types of cystitis would likely benefit from Alka-Plex. The dramatic recovery of the man suffering from radiation cystitis illustrates this point.
Conclusion

This investigation concludes that the Alka-Plex formula provides immediate, significant and enduring benefits for those suffering from the symptoms associated with interstitial cystitis.

pH Sciences, under an exclusive license from Tamer Laboratories, is developing a line of Alka-Plex products to counter the effects of destructive acidity in body. Their first product, pH Control, helps reduce levels of urinary acid. By reducing the level of acidity in urine and promoting a healthier environment for the bladder, this enhances the bladder’s overall repair/healing capacity and in this way plays an important role in tissue healing for those suffering from interstitial cystitis.

For more information on pH Sciences and the Alka-Plex formula call toll free 877-363-2243 or visit www.phsciences.com

PHOTO (COLOR): … drinking acidic beverages like coffee can throw symptoms into overdrive…
References:

(n1.) National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, NIH Publication No. 02-3220, March 2002.

(n2.) Brown, Susan. “Immunology and Nutrition: Casting A Broader Net.” Paper presented at the National Interstitial Cystitis Meetings, Washington D.C., 1997.

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By Susan E. Brown, Dr. Ph.D, CCN

Susan E. Brown, Ph.D., CCN, is a medical anthropologist and certified clinical nutritionist. She directs the Nutrition Education and Consulting Service and the Osteoporosis Education Project (OEP), both located in East Syracuse, New York. Dr. Brown conducts primary research and lectures widely on health regeneration and osteoporosis.

Dr. Brown’s publications include Better Bones, Better Body: Beyond Estrogen and Calcium: A Comprehensive Self-Help Program for Preventing, Halting & Overcoming Osteoporosis (New Canaan: Keats, 2000) and The Mend Clinic Book of Natural Remedies for Menopause and Beyond (Dell, 1997), coauthored with Dr. Paula Maas. Information on Dr. Brown’s work can be found at betterbones.com or susanbrownphd.com or by calling 315-432-1676.

Everyone is bothered by gastric acidity occasionally. Many individuals regularly experience heartburn when consuming highly acidic foods and beverages such as coffee, teas, tomato products, wine and citrus fruits. It is estimated that as many as 200 million Americans suffer chronic illness, including gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome and periodontitis (see chart), related to acidity and the body pH (the scale used to describe the acidity or alkalinity of our blood, urine and saliva).

It would be safe to assume that all of us have consumed an over-the-counter antacid such as Rolaids, Mylanta, Tums and Maalox. Millions of individuals are also being prescribed acid blockers including Pepcid, Zantac and Tagamet. While these approaches may be effective in either blocking the release of the acid or neutralizing its effects, many may either contain ingredients known or suspected to be adverse to one’s health or promote an addictive type of dependence on the product.

Today there is an exciting new natural alternative to the current antacid and acid blockers which are available over-the-counter or by prescription. Tamer Nutraceuticals has recently introduced a line of patented natural supplements proven to help balance the body’s pH naturally.

Two of these products, Coffee Tamer and Food Tamer can be added prior to preparation or consumption and reduce the acidity to an acceptable level prior to ingestion. The third, Tummy Tamer, can be taken after meals or any time you are experiencing heartburn or stomach discomfort.

Tamer supplements are recommended for:

* People who consume too much acidic foods and beverages.
* Older people whose bodies become more acidic with age.
* People who experience heartburn or stomach discomfort.
* People who use antacids on a regular basis.
* People who suffer from certain diseases–see sidebar.

The Tamer Nutraceuticals were born from a pound of highly acidic French Roast coffee and a strong case of heartburn. Macit Gurol, chairman of Tamer International, Ltd. realized the potential for an acid-reducer for coffee and applied his scientific insight to the problem. If heartburn was caused by acids and relieved by consuming an antacid, why couldn’t there be an antacid for coffee? In other words, why not stop the problem before it starts?

Gurol, an electrical engineer with an M.S. from the University of Michigan, had spent 30 plus years managing research and development products in the area of complex measuring, switching and control devices for cutting edge high-tech electronic devices. These include cruise control and air bag crash sensors, printed circuits, high accuracy resistor networks and computer touch screen panels. Along the way it was also necessary to assimilate a fairly sophisticated knowledge of chemical engineering in order to execute a number of these projects.

In 1990 Gurol began running experiments looking for ways to effectively develop a product which would reduce coffee acidity. First he established certain goals for the project. The product had to be effective, it had to be healthy, it should not affect the taste of the food or beverage and it should achieve all three within a reasonable cost structure. His first task was to break down the chemical structure of the coffee and identify the acidic elements and develop a natural path to neutralizing them.

By 1995 Gurol had run 350 experiments and developed five formulas which, according to pH meter readings, reduced the coffee acids to an acceptable level. He then conducted numerous tastings and found that consumers consistently chose one particular formula over the regular coffee by a wide margin. That product was awarded a U.S. patent in 1998.

Subsequent research showed the Tamer formula to be effective in reducing the acid level of food and also confirmed it was a potent antacid when taken orally. The line was then expanded to include Food Tamer and Tummy Tamer to accommodate requests from customers.

Tamer Nutraceuticals soon began to realize that their unique calcium, potassium and magnesium formula provided benefits broader than just lowering the preconsumption acid levels of food and beverages or when used as an ingestible antacid.

As we age most individuals experience an increasing decline in bone mass. This problem is manifested in osteoporosis and other conditions which threaten the integrity of the bones. Older persons tend to have a lower pH because of the symptoms of aging. The older body becomes more sluggish, including the digestive system, and loses the ability to absorb the calcium from the food we eat. The over acidic system then leaches the calcium it needs from the bones. However when you are older you need more calcium both for the support of the bones and for the muscles which use calcium to process the protein they need to function properly.

If you are not able to absorb calcium from the food you eat, the body will access it from the bones. This is the beginning of osteoporosis and advanced age disease. Acidosis is also a partial cause of osteoporosis. It is important to understand that the body can only absorb a certain amount of calcium. The idea is not to gorge the body with calcium at one time but with a small amount on a steady basis all the time. The potassium hydroxide in Tamer also helps neutralize acidity. Consequently Tamer could be considered for use as an effective daily supplement for older individuals.

Possibly the most exciting application of the Tamer formulas is its potential as an adjuvant therapy for diseases or conditions. Soon after the introduction of its coffee, food and tummy tamer products, Tamer International began receiving what is now hundreds of testimonials from health care providers who treat patients and individuals who suffer from a variety of diseases that were either attributed to or exacerbated by acidic conditions. These diseases include:

Acidity related diseases:

Gastroesophageal Reflux disease (GERD), Barrett’s disease, Gastritis, Irritable Bowel syndrome (IBS)

Those related to high blood acidity:

Interstitial Cystitis (IC), gout, fibromyalgia (FM), muscle pain after strenuous exercise, hangover after heavy alcoholic beverage consumption.

Those related acidic environment in the mouth:

Gingivitis, periodontitis, Carries.

Others:

Vulvar Pain (anecdotal)

As it became more apparent that there were potential medical benefits to the consumption of the Tamer formulas, Gurol initiated a search of medical journals and the Internet for data on the benefits of raising pH levels for treating disease. With the exception of positive data on interstitial cystitis and periodontal disease, there was very little information available. While the company does not represent its product as therapy for disease, the growing indications of its efficacy in numerous health areas has prompted a series of formal studies at the University of Washington-Seattle to ascertain the benefits of stabilizing pH levels in both avoiding the onset and in treating chronic disease.
Symptoms and illness related to acidity and your body’s pH
COLITIS

A serious, chronic, inflammatory disease of the colon characterized by ulceration and episodes of bloody diarrhea. The ulcerated areas are inflamed and may form abscesses in the lining of the large intestine.
DIVERTICULITIS

Diverticulosis is the presence of small, saclike swellings (diverticula) in the wall of the colon. Diverticula may be present without any symptoms. Diverticulitis is the inflammation of the diverticula.
FIBROMYALGIA

Inflammation or pain of muscles, muscle sheaths and connective tissue layers of tendons, muscles, bones and joints.
GASTRITIS

Mild irritation, inflammation, erosion or infection of the stomach lining. The illness may be acute, occurring as a sudden attack or chronic, developing gradually over a long period of time. Gastritis is part of a spectrum of diseases that include erosion and gastric ulcer.
GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX (GERD)

A reflux (backward or return flow) of fluid of gastric or intestinal contents into the esophagus. Normally the esophagus transports food from the pharynx to the stomach by coordinated contractions. Heartburn (pyrosis) is a symptom of this disorder.
GINGIVITIS

Inflammation or infection of the gums.
GOUT

Recurrent attacks of joint inflammation caused by deposits of uric-acid crystals in the joints, especially the base of the big toe. Gout is a form of arthritis.
INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS

A chronic inflammation of the interstitium (the area between the bladder lining and the bladder muscle).
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS)

An irritative and inflammatory disorder of the intestine. It is not contagious, inherited or cancerous.
PERIODONTITIS

Inflammation and infection of the gums causing loss of supporting bone. Periodondtis is responsible for more tooth loss than tooth decay.
CHEMOTHERAPY

Treatment of cancer by injecting medications that kill cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It is used to treat cancers that cannot be completely cured or treated with surgery or radiation.
RADIATION THERAPY OR TREATMENT

Use of high-energy waves (generated by special x-ray machines, cobalt machines and other devices) to treat some forms of cancer. Radiation destroys cancerous tissue but does little harm to healthy tissue.
TAMER Effectiveness Compared to Antacids (Independent test conducted by Pacific Testing Laboratories)

The amount of Tamer and popular antacids required to raise the
pH of 150 ml of a hydrochloric acid solution from 2.0 to a
pH 6.0

Amount of Antacid (mg)

Tamer 373
Rolaids 892
Mylanta 1110
Prelief 1920
Tums 4320
Maalox 6280