The

Blaylock Wellness Report

Living a Long, Healthy Life

May 2012

Key Points
Hormone excesses can
lead to depression, cancer,
Alzheimers
Most immunity comes
from the gut
Poorly digested food leads
to allergies
Bad fats dramatically
damage brain health
Dental health plays a key
role in reducing brain
inflammation
PLUS
Vitamin D3 protects the
brain against injury
The frightening link
between glutamate and
cancer
ASK DR. BLAYLOCK
Nutrients that help
fight cancer and aid
chemotherapy

Edited by Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.

Vol. 9, No. 5

The Immune System:

Your Personal Body Guard
Most of us are familiar with the idiom cant see the forest for the
trees, which refers to people who get so involved with details that
they lose sight of the larger issue.
Philosophers of science have identified this as a particular
problem in their field for example, scientists who like to break data
or examination into its smallest parts and then subspecialize with
dozens of disciplines such as cell physiologists, membrane chemists,
and specialists in mitochondrial function.
The same problem can arise in medicine. Indeed, I am often asked,
What is important to know to be healthy? as though there is a single
key detail that might unlock the door to overall good health.
Yet when we focus on the minutia of such questions, we often fail
to see the big picture about how to remain healthy.
The complex interplay of various systems of the body is
increasingly being recognized by scientists and healthcare
practitioners. Unfortunately, mainstream physicians have not, at
least for the most part, caught on. In fact, one physician joked
that it was all becoming so complicated that he wished he could
just specialize in diseases of the left foot.
In this issue of The Blaylock Wellness Report, I will discuss one
of the human bodys major systems the immune system and
tell you how it coordinates with all parts of the body to guard against
infections and guarantee better health.

Immune System Breakdown Can Lead To

Memory Loss, Alzheimers, and Parkinsons

Next to the nervous system, the immune system is perhaps the

most complex and enigmatic system in the body. While many of its
secrets remain to be discovered, we have learned much over the past
20 years.
Personally, I have spent a great deal of time studying the
immune system, and find it another example of Gods incredible
creativity that most of us do not fully appreciate.
We live in a world of deadly organisms that constantly assault our
bodies. Yet we rarely get sick usually only when this miraculous,

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The Blaylock Wellness Report

complex immune system fails.

While most people know that the immune
system protects us from infections, viruses, and fungi,
few know that it also can protect us from harmful
chemicals as well.
What is less well understood is the fact that
there is an intimate interaction between the
immune system and the brain. In fact, they are
constantly communicating with each other and
influencing each others functions.
For example, excessive stimulation of the
immune system as occurs with repeated
vaccination or persistent, recurrent infections can

About Dr. Blaylock

Dr. Russell Blaylock is a nationally

recognized, board-certified
neurosurgeon, health practitioner,
author, and lecturer. He attended
the Louisiana State University
School of Medicine in New Orleans
and completed his internship
and neurosurgical residency at
the Medical University of South
Carolina in Charleston, S.C. For
26 years, he has practiced neurosurgery in addition to
having a nutritional practice.
He recently retired from his neurosurgical duties
to devote his full attention to nutritional studies and
research. Dr. Blaylock has authored four books on nutrition
and wellness, including Excitotoxins: The Taste That
Kills, Health and Nutrition Secrets That Can Save Your
Life, Natural Strategies for Cancer Patients, and his
most recent work, Cellular and Molecular Biology of
Autism Spectrum Disorders, edited by Anna Strunecka.
An in-demand guest for radio and television programs, he
lectures extensively to both lay and professional medical
audiences on a variety of nutrition-related subjects.
Dr. Blaylock has been appointed to serve on the
Scientific Advisory Board of the Life Extension Foundation.
He is the 2004 recipient of the Integrity in Science
Award granted by the Weston A. Price Foundation.
He serves on the editorial staffs of the Journal of the
American Nutraceutical Association, Surgical Neurology
International, and the Journal of American Physicians
and Surgeons, official publication of the Association of
American Physicians and Surgeons. He is also a lecturer for
the Foundation on Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine.
Dr. Blaylock previously served as clinical assistant
professor of neurosurgery at the University of Mississippi
Medical Center in Jackson, Miss., and is a visiting professor
of biology at Belhaven University, also in Jackson.

May 2012

actually alter the way the brain functions and can

lead to a whole range of cognitive problems such as:
Depression
Learning and memory problems
Mental fatigue
Confusion
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Autism spectrum disorders 1,2
As we age, our immune systems begin to
break down, especially if we have poor nutrition
and excess abdominal fat, which secretes
proteins called cytokines. These proteins, in turn,
trigger inflammation in the brain, initiating
immunoexcitotoxicity, a chronically destructive
process that can lead to Alzheimers, Parkinsons,
and ALS, as well as age-related memory loss.
These inflammatory chemicals can also
produce less severe problems such as brain fog,
confusion, and poor attention. People with food
allergies and intolerances can experience these
symptoms because of the release of cytokines and
leptin.
It is also why you experience such problems
during an infection we call this sickness
behavior.3
This interaction between the immune system
and the brain is currently under intensive study.4

Hormone Excesses Cause Cancer,

Depression, and Alzheimers

Of course, the reverse is also true: The brain has a

profound effect on immune system function as well.
For example, being under continuous,
unrelieved stress causes the brain to secrete high
levels of a hormone-releasing factor called ACTH,
which in turn stimulates the adrenal gland to
release high levels of the hormone cortisol.
These hormone excesses, especially if
prolonged, suppress immunity and can increase
ones risk of developing an uncontrollable
infection or even cancer.
Cortisol especially damages the part of the brain
concerned with learning and memory. We see this in
people suffering from major depression.5
The brain can also stimulate another set of
immune-related chemicals called catecholamines
(epinephrine and norepinephrine). These hormones
also have a dampening effect on the immune system.
Both cortisol and the catecholamines play a vital

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May 2012

The Blaylock Wellness Report

Immunity and Vitamin D3

The skin also plays a major role in immune function.
Exposure to the sun generates vitamin D3, which
regulates immunity. It boosts immunity if it is deficient
and suppresses immunity if it is overactive.
Vitamin D3 also stimulates the body to produce a
protective antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal chemical
called antimicrobial peptides, which protect against
autoimmune diseases.
This explains the finding that the autoimmune disease
multiple sclerosis is much more common in the northern
latitudes, where the sunshine is less intense and
prolonged.
The same is true for flu complications and other
communicable infections. Children with higher vitamin
D3 intakes have far fewer infections and recover faster
when they are infected.
Interestingly, exposure to excessive UV light (sunlight)
also can suppress immunity in the skin and even overall
immunity. This is a common symptom with sunburns.
People with acne also often notice that their condition
can get worse with sun exposure.

role in protecting the brain and body from excessive

immune responses. We see low catecholamine levels
in people with Alzheimers disease, which is an
inflammatory brain disorder.
There is also evidence that stimulating
certain areas of the brain can selectively affect
the immune system. For example, stimulating the
frontal lobes, cingulate cortex, or limbic system
can alter the number and effectiveness of white
blood cells.
Some think that this is the mechanism by which
meditation and prayer strengthen the immune
system against cancer and infections, and how
excessive stress impairs immunity.

Environmental Toxins Impair

Our Natural Defenses

Every day, we are exposed to a great number

of environmental agents that can lead to disorders
such as immune deficiency, which is also linked to
autoimmunity, a condition that causes the body to
attack its own cells and tissues.
For example, mercury and aluminum (which are
both used in vaccines) can have devastating effects
on the immune system, causing various autoimmune

Page 3

disorders such as:

Macrophagic myofascitsis (a painful muscle and
brain disorder involving white blood cells)
Thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland)
Lupus
Optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve)
Encephalitis (acute inflammation in the brain)6,7
Now, a new syndrome has linked the mercury
and aluminum in vaccines with a series of
devastating autoimmune disorders called the
autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced
by adjuvants, or ASIA syndrome.
The chemicals used to manufacture vaccine
adjuvants (immune activators) cause a prolonged
overactivation of certain aspects of immunity, often
leading to an autoimmune disease.
Everyone should consider this disorder when
making a decision about taking a vaccine.8
Another source of environmental exposure is
nicotine. Immune cells contain nicotine receptors,
and stimulation of these receptors profoundly
suppresses cellular immunity.9
Some years ago, a friend of mine wanted to try
nicotine patches, because hed heard they might
prevent Parkinsons disease. But after a week of
using the patches, he developed a severe case of
shingles (herpes zoster).
What happened? The nicotine in the patches
suppressed his cellular immunity and allowed the
normally dormant chicken pox virus in his spinal
ganglia (nerve cells) to suddenly erupt along a
nerve and spread throughout his body.
Some researchers are convinced that this is how
smoking causes cancer by chronically suppressing
cellular immunity, the most important part of the
immune system for fighting cancer.
It also explains why smokers get so many
infections, such as colds, sinusitis, bladder infections,
and flu, and have so much more difficulty than nonsmokers in getting over these infections.
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Poorly Digested Food Leads To

Allergies, Intolerances
Normally, foods are broken down by digestion to
prevent immune activation. It is large, poorly digested
food particles that trigger an immune reaction in the
bloodstream.
Such reactions cause food allergies and food
intolerance. Symptoms of food allergies are usually
pretty obvious cramping, diarrhea and/or breaking
out in hives.
However, severe reactions can be life-threatening. The
leading food allergies include:
Cows milk
Soy products
Peanuts
Chocolate
Grain products (gliadin/gluten)
Food intolerances are more difficult to diagnose, as
the symptoms can be more subtle, slower to develop,
and often have unconventional presentations such as
headaches, confusion, difficulty with attention, and even
criminal behavior.
The medical profession did not recognize food
intolerances until recently new research clearly
demonstrates it occurs and does so frequently.

Majority of the Bodys Immunity

Comes From the Gut

Over 80 percent of immune system activity is

located in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, especially
the intestines and colon. This makes sense because
the GI tract is the entry point for most invading
organisms and toxins that come from the foods we
eat.
This is the gateway to the body, and the immune
system is the guardian at the gates. The mucosal
linings of the nose, mouth, trachea and lungs
other common sites of invasion also constitute a
good portion of the immune system.
The cells lining the GI tract and the
respiratory tract (nose, mouth, trachea, and lungs)
secrete an antibody called IgA, which binds
potential invaders and can prevent them from
gaining entry into the body.
People with very efficient IgA secretion are the
ones who never seem to catch a cold or flu. And the

May 2012

opposite is also true poor IgA secretion means

you will catch just about everything that comes
along. What most dont understand is that it may
be those people with high levels of IgA (who never
seem to get infections) who are at a greater risk of
developing cancer later in life. I have often observed
this over the past 40 years in medicine.
This seeming paradox is explained by the
fact if a person never gets sick from an infection,
their internal immunity never gets a chance to
strengthen itself. The immune system needs to be
stimulated every so often to keep it in fighting
shape, so to speak. While this has never been
proven, it is something I have seen many times.
To correct this problem, people can take a
cellular immune stimulant, such as beta-1,3 glucan,
once a week.
More information on immune supplements was
included in the April 2012 issue of The Blaylock
Wellness Report.

Bacteria Are Essential

A healthy colon contains a variety of bacteria,

such as:
Lactobacillus sporogenes
Lactobacillus salvitaris
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Bifidobacterium species
Candida species (fungi)
These organisms which can be found in
a good probiotic dietary supplement play a
major role in nutrient health, estrogen hormone
metabolism, and protecting the colon from
overgrowth of pathogenic (disease-causing)
bacteria and fungi.
In addition, these organisms keep the immune
system in fighting shape and prevent immune
overactivity.

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Of particular importance is the Candida

species of fungi, which contain within their cell
walls a chemical called beta-glucan a powerful
stimulant for cellular immunity.
However, the amount of beta-glucan in the
immune system has to be carefully controlled
because if it becomes too high, the system will
be overwhelmed and instead of being stimulated
cellular immunity is actually suppressed.
This is what happens when there is an
overgrowth of Candida species in the colon
caused by the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics
and chemotherapy. There is so much of the fungi,
and hence beta-glucan, that the immune system is
overwhelmed and functions poorly.
And like food allergies, excess Candida can
cause inflammation in the nervous system,
leading to headaches, confusion, attention deficit
problems, and learning and memory difficulties.
Once again, proper health is all about balance.
New research is showing that a number of
antibiotics actually suppress immunity, including
cellular immunity. This is especially true for
the tetracycline group of antibiotics, such as
doxycycline.10
In fact, the suppression of cellular immunity is
so efficient by these antibiotics that they are used
to treat conditions where there is excessive cellular
immune activity, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus,
and MS.

Immune Function and Aging

We know that as we age our immune system

starts to go haywire. The greatest impairment is to
cellular immunity. This might explain the rising
incidence of cancer as people age.
What is actually happening is that an older
immune system becomes badly out of balance. As
a result, the body and brain become progressively
more inflamed,11 resulting in:
Achy joints
Acceleration of atherosclerosis
Greater risk of heart failure and arrhythmia
Failing kidneys
Difficulty with infections
Shortness of breath
Failing vision
All of these symptoms are things we associate

Page 5

Stress Hormone
Increases With Age
Normally, cortisol levels rise in the morning and fall
near bedtime. Stress causes the level to rise, but can
quickly fall once things calm down.
However, as we age our cortisol rises higher and
remains elevated longer than when we were young.
Cortisol is a stress hormone and when properly
controlled is a major form of protection against stress
and excessive immune activation.
But with age the body can develop cortisol receptor
resistance, which means that not only will our
cortisol rise higher, it is less able to reduce excessive
inflammation. This puts us in a very precarious position
and puts our brain at risk of degeneration developing
Alzheimers dementia or Parkinsons disease.

with old age. In fact, they are symptoms of a poorly

balanced immune system.
An aging immune system will also elevate levels
of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines.
Within the brain there is a special immune
system, called the microglial system, that operates
much like the cellular immune system of the
body, except it can secrete very high levels of toxic
chemicals called excitotoxins (mainly glutamate
and quinolinic acid).
When the bodys immune system is stuck
in an inflammatory state, it sends signals to the
brain and activates the microglia.
If this occurs repeatedly as we see with
recurrent infections, food allergies, or with regular
vaccinations the microglial immune cells in the
brain shift into high gear and release extremely high
levels of excitotoxins. As noted earlier, this reaction is
called immunoexcitotoxicity.
As a result of this condition, we begin to
experience new problems, such as memory loss, poor
attention, disorientation, and bouts of confusion.
We call this age-related memory loss, which in
some is a sign of impending dementia.
For most, the condition just leads to
embarrassing memory lapses. Things are still
reversible at this stage.
But for an unlucky few, these inflammatory
processes are occurring at a much higher rate. They
are at a greater risk of developing dementia.

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Page 6

Inflammation: Fuel for Alzheimers

Studies have shown that activation of brain

microglia is an early event in the development of
Alzheimers disease, and that it worsens as the disease
progresses.12
These studies have also shown that chronic
immunoexcitotoxicity can produce all the
pathological findings commonly seen with
Alzheimers, such as:
Dying neurons in selected areas of the brain
Amyloid plaques
Neurofibrillary tangles
Brain atrophy (shrinkage)
A number of factors can contribute to this
BLAYLOCK TIP

What You Need to Know

About Strokes
Some 90 percent of all strokes are ischemic, that is,
they are caused by a simple blockage of one or more
blood vessels that supply the brain. Only 10 percent of
strokes are due to a ruptured blood vessel.
Embolic strokes result when a blood clot or debris is
carried from other vessels or the heart to the smaller
vessels of the brain or eye. Most often the embolism
originates in the heart and is caused by atrial fibrillation,
an abnormal beating of the heart muscle.
Sometimes, flecks of plaque break off and travel to
brain arteries or arteries of the eye and can result in
sudden blindness in one eye.
The ultimate effect of the stroke depends on a
number of factors:
Size and location of the vessel occluded
Ones health before the stroke
Existence of previous stroke damage
Age
For more information on strokes and stroke
prevention, see my book Nutrition Secrets That Can
Save Your Life.

May 2012

terrible brain-inflaming disorder, such as exposure

to mercury, aluminum, lead, pesticides, herbicides,
and fungicides, repeated brain trauma, and repeated
inflammation or vaccinations.
The reason so many different factors are
associated with Alzheimers disease is that they
all trigger or worsen brain inflammation and
excitotoxicity mainly by activation of microglia.
Indeed, infections or vaccination can trigger
brain inflammation and degeneration, especially
in critical areas controlling memory, learning,
language, and behavior.
It is absolutely critical that people appreciate the
link between what happens in the body and what
happens in the brain because even today most
mainstream doctors remain unaware of this critical
connection.
For example, we know that inflammation of the
gut, as seen with ulcerative colitis, Crohns disease,
and allergies to gliadin/gluten, rapidly stimulates
microglial activation in the brain, resulting in brain
inflammation.13, 14
Good nutrition reduces gut inflammation and
therefore reduces brain inflammation and the risk of
neurodegenerative diseases.
Studies have shown that even minor surgery, such
as having a mole removed, can temporarily activate
brain inflammation.15
This also explains the link between repeated
infections, vaccination and depression in the
elderly.16 The gut plays its role because in many
elderly people protective bacteria and yeast are out of
whack and no longer provide the necessary immune
protection.
When the proper probiotic organisms are
supplied to the colon, it helps prevent excessive
brain inflammation.
Few practicing physicians understand this vital
link between healthy gut bacteria and regulation of
brain inflammation.

A note from Dr. Blaylock: Advertisements for various supplements may appear in the newsletter or
attached to the newsletter. I have nothing to do with these advertisements and do not endorse them. The
only supplements I endorse are those that I list in the newsletter. This is not to say that I object to the
supplements; its just that I am not familiar with the supplements being advertised.
Please note that this advice is generic and not specific to any individual. You should consult with
your doctor before undertaking any medical or nutritional course of action.
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The Blaylock Wellness Report

May 2012

Your Gums and

Brain Inflammation
Dental health also plays an important role in brain
inflammation, as chronically infected gums act as a
stimulus for microglial activation, which also fuels
atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
The gum infection not only affects the brain via bloodborne inflammatory chemicals (cytokines), but also by
chronically stimulating certain cranial nerves such as the
trigeminal nerve.
Most people who suffer from dementia have
advanced atherosclerosis in the blood vessels supplying
the brain. This robs the brain of its oxygen and
glucose, and this triggers even more inflammation and
immunoexcitotoxicity.
Believe it or not, infected gums represent a major
stimulus for aggressive atherosclerosis in blood vessels
throughout the body.

This also explains why the risk of Alzheimers

disease goes from around 5 percent at age 70 years to
almost 50 percent after age 80 years.
These numbers show the brain becoming
progressively more inflamed and vulnerable to
excitotoxicity with aging.

The Dangers of Bad Fats

There is also a link between what we eat, dental

health, vascular health, and inflammation and our
risk of neurological diseases. Several fats, such as the
omega-6 vegetable oils and trans-fats, are significantly
inflammatory if eaten in excess.
The Western diet contains about 50-fold
higher amounts of omega-6 fats than are
allowable, and massive amounts of trans-fats
continue to contaminate processed foods, despite
labels that suggest they have been removed.
Studies have clearly shown that consumption of
these fats in excess dramatically increases ones risk
of a neurodegenerative disorder.
This explains, in part, the frightening increase
in a number of neurological diseases in the United
States, as well as the fact that they are occurring in
people at younger ages than in the past.
Saturated fats are not nearly as harmful as the
omega-6 fats, which continue to be promoted by
health authorities. However, excess saturated fats

Page 7

can also promote inflammation.

The real problem with saturated animal fats is
that they contain a number of industrial chemicals,
as well as pesticides/herbicides, because most of
these atmospheric contaminants are fat-soluble and
concentrate in the animals fat.
Also of concern are the water we drink and
products made from that drinking water. Public
drinking water contains many toxins and infectious
contaminants, the worst of which are aluminum and
fluoride.
There is evidence to suggest that both of these
elements, which combine to form a very powerful
toxin called fluoroaluminum, cause damage to
brain microvessels and trigger chronic brain
inflammation (immunoexcitotoxicity) even in
concentrations at or below those being added to
drinking water.17
Numerous studies have linked fluoride to cancer,
bone fractures, lowered IQ, reproductive problems,
and chronic brain degeneration.18 In addition, many
fruit drinks contain fluoroaluminum in toxic levels
and represent a special danger to small children and
pregnant women.
Fluoride is best removed by reverse osmosis
filters and distillation. The filter has to be changed
every three months because the highly reactive
fluoride burns holes in it.

The Immune System and the Heart

The cardiovascular system which includes the

heart, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels is also
linked to the immune system, as well as the nervous
system.
Increasingly, medical professionals are
learning that there is a critical interplay between
these three systems. Yet again, the central tenet of
good health is keeping these systems in balance.
Studies have shown that inflammation plays
a major role in cardiovascular diseases, especially
atherosclerosis and heart failure (also called
congestive heart failure).19
In fact, the progression and prognosis in
heart failure patients can be followed with the
measurements of inflammatory markers such as
hsCRP, TNF-alpha, and IL-6.
There is also compelling evidence that high
blood pressure is related to chronic inflammation.20
Interestingly, an elevated hsCRP, a sensitive measure

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The Blaylock Wellness Report

of inflammation, can predict who will develop high

blood pressure.
This also explains why blood pressure was
lowered in people with hypertension when they
took antioxidants and anti-inflammatory flavonoids
such as quercetin and curcumin.
However, a question then arose: Was
inflammation causing heart disease, or was it just
a response to the heart disease?
Growing evidence suggests that inflammation
may be an early event and plays a major role in
causing the damage to the heart.21
Studies in which drugs were given to block TNFalpha seemed to help the condition initially, but then
appeared to make things worse. (Long-term use of
these drugs for other conditions has also been shown
to cause serious problems, so it may have been a drug
effect.)
However, if TNF-alpha is a major culprit in
developing heart disease, why didnt lowering it help
the condition?
Another recent study suggested that when
TNF-alpha is elevated, it causes the heart cells to
become depleted of one of its major antioxidants,
called glutathione, which protects the heart against
damage from charged ions called free radicals. It was
concluded that lowering the TNF-alpha left the heart
muscle cells vulnerable to free radical damage.
In yet another study, researchers added a
supplement called N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) to
subjects diets. This corrected glutathione deficiency
and greatly improved the patients heart disease.22
In fact, the NAC prevented pathological
damage to the heart and lowered TNF-alpha
levels to normal, which makes it far superior to
drug treatment.
NAC is available as an over-the-counter
supplement. The usual dose is 500 to 750 mg a day.
It should always be taken with food as it can cause
stomach cramping if taken on an empty stomach.

Millions of People Are Suffering

Unnecessarily From Heart Disease

Studies using vitamin D3 have been even more

impressive at treating heart disease. Low blood
levels of vitamin D3 have been seen in virtually all
cases of cardiovascular disease, especially in cases of
congestive heart failure.23. 24
One study found a low vitamin D3 level was

May 2012

also an independent risk factor for strokes. In fact,

some 74 percent of heart failure patients in a large
study were found to have very low serum vitamin D3
levels.25
A low vitamin D3 level (from lack of sun
exposure) has been proposed as an explanation
for the higher death rate from heart failure
during the winter months.26
Not only is low vitamin D3 associated with heart
failure, it is also strongly associated with coronary
heart disease and heart attacks. In fact, studies have
shown that low vitamin D3 can cause calcification of
blood vessels in the heart and elsewhere, a strong risk
factor for heart attacks.27
What all this means, especially in face of the
fact that the vast majority of adults are deficient
in vitamin D3, is that millions of people may be
unnecessarily suffering from heart disease and
hundreds of thousands are dying each year purely
on the basis of this deficiency.
Despite the extensive number of studies
confirming the importance of vitamin D3 for
cardiovascular health, most physicians even most
cardiologists continue to ignore this critical
association.
References

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2. Blaylock, R.L. and Maroon, J., Surg Neurol Inter 2011; 2: 107.
3. Cunningham, C., et. al., J Neurosci 2005; 25: 9275-84.
4. Combrinick, M.L., et. al., Neuroscience 2002; 112: 7-11.
5. Brydon, L., et. al., Brain Behav Imun 2009; 23: 217-24.
6. Charleston, J.S., et. al., Neurotoxicology 1996; 17: 127-38.
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19. Parish, R.C. and Evans, J.D., Ann Pharmacolther 2008; 42(7): 1002-16.
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21. Aukrust, P., et al. Ann Med 2005; 37(2): 74-85.
22. Adamy, C., et. al., Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss 2005; 98(9): 906-12.
23. Dobnig, H., et. al. Arch Intern Med 2008; 168(12): 1340-9.
24. Pilz, S., et. al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2008; 93(10): 3927-35.
25. Kim, D.H., et. al. Am J Cardiol 2008; 102(11): 1540-4.
26. Barnett, A.G., et. al. Aust N Z Public Health 2008; 32(5): 408-13.
27. Zitterman, A. and Koerfer, R., Curr Opin Nutr Metab Care 2008; 1(6): 752-7.

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The Blaylock Wellness Report

May 2012

Page 9

Health and Nutrition Updates

Vitamin B3 Protects
Against Brain Injury

models, we might save tens of thousands of people

from serious injury and permanent disability every
year.

In a series of experimental studies, vitamin B3,

also known as niacinamide or nicotinamide, has
Glutamate and Cancer: The
been shown to protect brains injured by strokes or
Frightening Link
trauma.
Most people are at least aware that monosodium
In one such study, published in 2008 in the
glutamate
(MSG) can cause some serious damage to
journal Neuroscience, researchers found that rat
the brain and produce a number
models mimicking human brain
of neurological problems such
trauma benefited significantly if
Glutamate receptors are
as severe headaches, seizures,
given large doses of niacinamide
exactly
like
nervous
system
and exacerbation of existing
within four hours of being injured.
receptors.
A
growing
number
neurological disorders like multiple
In a follow-up study, they found
of researchers are finding that sclerosis and Parkinsons disease.
that the protection was greatest
stimulating these glutamate
However, newer studies have
if the vitamin was given within
receptors can cause cancer
shown
that glutamate receptors
15 minutes of the injury, but
cells to grow much faster and
the part of the cell membrane
significant protection was also seen
become more invasive and
where the glutamate triggers its
at four hours, eight hours, and even
therefore more deadly.
mischief exists on the surface
24 hours after the injury.
of cells and organs throughout
Niacinamide not only improved
the body, including skin, blood vessels, the heart,
recovery in terms of sensory and motor function
pancreas, the gastrointestinal tract, liver, lungs,
it also improved overall thinking ability.
prostate, breast tissue, immune cells, and even bone
Niacinamide has also been used in animal
cells.
models of human strokes with impressive results.
These receptors are exactly like nervous system
In these studies, researchers found a rather wide
receptors,
and can affect how cells function. A
window of opportunity from 2 to 4 hours after
growing number of researchers are finding that
the stroke to administer the vitamin.
stimulating these glutamate receptors can cause
In cases of both trauma and stroke, niacinamide
cancer cells to grow much faster and become more
dramatically reduced the amount of brain damage,
invasive and therefore more deadly.
reduced brain swelling, inhibited activation of
This mechanism was first found in brain tumors,
microglia (the brains immune cells), and stabilized
but now is known to affect many other types of
the blood-brain barrier (the separation of blood and
cancer. Some of these cancers actually secrete high
extracellular fluid circulating in the central nervous
concentrations of glutamate themselves, which in
system).
turn stimulates their cells to grow and invade even
The niacinamide works in a number of ways,
more aggressively.
such as by lowering PARP (a family of proteins
Exciting studies are now showing that blocking
that can rob injured cells of their energy), reducing
these glutamate receptors can prevent cancer from
immunoexcitotoxicity, and supplying the injured
spreading and cause tumors to shrink and even
brain with energy. We know that with many brain
become much more sensitive to chemotherapy.
disorders, boosting brain energy levels is highly
Importantly, blocking these receptors has no adverse
protective.
effects on normal cells.
Each year in the United States, some 50,000
More good news is that by combining glutamate
people die of head injuries and 80,000 are left
blockers with conventional treatments, we can
with permanent disabilities. If this simple and safe
dramatically reduce chemotherapy toxicity and side
treatment works as well in humans as these animal
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Page 10

The Blaylock Wellness Report

May 2012

Children with this disorder were twice as likely

effects, while at the same time markedly enhancing
to die as those with natural polio. Careful study also
their effectiveness in killing cancer cells. This also
demonstrated that AFP was 12-times higher in India
makes alternative treatments for cancer much more
than in the United States and in some provinces
effective.
25 to 35 times higher.
Of particular concern is the finding that
Some 47,000 children were left paralyzed by the
stimulating certain glutamate receptors can convert
new oral polio vaccine. Incredibly,
normal cells into cancer cells.
no investigation was conducted by
What this means is that people
In
an
effort
to
eradicate
health experts as to the cause of
who eat large amounts of processed
polio, not considered a major the paralysis.
foods which commonly contain
problem in India, an even
In an effort to eradicate polio,
high levels of glutamate additive
worse disease was created
which was not considered a major
are constantly exposed to glutamate
with a death rate twice as
problem in India, an even worse
in their blood and tissues. This
high as naturally occurring
disease was created with a death rate
could increase the incidence of
polio. The reason officials
twice as high as naturally occurring
melanomas (skins cancer), prostate
initiated the program was to
polio.
cancers, and breast cancers.
adhere to herd immunity.
In fact, one health official in
If a person already has a cancer,
India stated that because polio
the glutamate additives in food will
was not a significant problem, the only reason they
make the cancer much more aggressive and more
initiated the program was to adhere to world herd
likely to kill.
immunity, which is based on the greater good
Unfortunately, the vast majority of oncologists
argument.
are not warning their cancer patients to avoid
Maybe they can convince the parents of the
glutamate additives and foods naturally high in
paralyzed and dead children that their children had
glutamate, such as heavy meats, mushrooms, and soy
to be sacrificed for the greater good.
products.
Primarily, this is because they have never heard of
Calcium Reduces Cancer Risk
this research, most of which is in their own journals.
It is known that calcium plays a major role
New Oral Polio Vaccine Triggers
in cancer growth, invasion, and metastasis. This
Deadly Paralysis
happens because calcium is a major cell-signaling
On January 12, 2012, amid great fanfare, it was
element.
announced that a 20-year program to eradicate
However, higher calcium levels actually seem to
polio from India had succeeded, and that the last
reduce the risk of some cancers, such as ovarian and
case of wild-type polio no longer existed in that
colon cancer. Why this exception occurs is not fully
country.
understood, but in the colon it is thought that the
What did not make the news is that a more
calcium binds carcinogenic bile fats.
deadly form of paralysis has been growing
Vitamin D3 plays a major role in controlling
exponentially in India. This growing epidemic is
calcium within cells, and there is compelling evidence
called non-polio acute flaccid paralysis, otherwise
that a higher intake of vitamin D3 significantly
known as AFP.
reduces ones risk of a number of cancers.
When news of this vaccine-caused disaster leaked
A recent meta-analysis study involving over a
out, the organization behind the vaccination effort
dozen previously reported studies found that higher
tried to downplay the situation by implying that
intakes of vitamin D3 reduced breast cancer risk 45
it was due only to more careful surveillance the
percent, and that calcium supplementation reduced
same excuse that was used to explain away dramatic
the risk by 19 percent.
increases in autism.
Unfortunately, because of the obsession with
They also implied that the cases of AFP were
sunscreens and avoiding sunlight, which helps the
minor and transient. Yet a careful study found that
body produce vitamin D, women may have put
nearly 44 percent were permanently paralyzed, and 8
themselves at a greater risk of developing breast
percent died.
cancer.
drblaylock.newsmax.com

May 2012

The Blaylock Wellness Report

Page 11

Ask Dr. Blaylock

Attention Blaylock Readers:

Dr. Blaylock welcomes any questions or comments you would like to share.
Each month, he will select a few to be published and answered in the newsletter.
Please remember that he cannot answer every question.
When submitting a question or comment, please include full name, city, and state.
Please e-mail the doctor at: askblaylock@newsmax.com.

Q: I have completed seven rounds of chemo for

stage IV metastatic breast cancer. What nutrients
would be most beneficial for rebuilding my
immune system?
Doris S., Brazoria, Texas
A: For many years, oncologists have been under
the influence of false teaching concerning nutrient
supplements.
As I describe in my book, Natural Strategies
for Cancer Patients, a properly designed nutrient
combination greatly enhances the effectiveness of
traditional treatments, reduces complications by the
treatments, and can overcome one of the most feared
and common complications of chemotherapy
multidrug resistance (MDR).
Some supplements, such as DHA and curcumin,
are even more effective than the drug Herceptin in
inhibiting breast cancer.
A friend of mine who was a professor of
oncology at UCLA for over 40 years told me he had
been using nutrients on his cancer patients and
had never seen a single case where the nutrients he
prescribed had interfered with or made the cancer
grow faster. They only helped.
Q: Last year, I had a mastectomy on my right
breast, but cancer came back. Ive had surgery
again. How can I keep the cancer from returning?
Linda M., Atlanta, Ga.
A: Glutamate plays a significant role in breast

cancer invasion and spread, so one should avoid all

glutamate food additives, such as MSG, soy products,
hydrolyzed proteins, caseinate, and others.
Curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, vitamin D3,
and ellagic acid are all powerful inhibitors of breast
cancer growth.
Q: My 26-year-old son is desperately trying to
wean off suboxone after a drug addiction to
opiates. But he becomes depressed when off the
drug. Can you offer an alternative?
Marilyn B., Santa Clara, Calif.
A: Modern psychiatric treatment consists of far too
many doctors offering to replace one drug addiction
for another.
But there are other ways. The first, most
important step is to clean up ones diet as the most
important step. This means avoiding all processed
foods, junk foods, and especially foods containing
glutamate additives.
Glutamate is a major driving force in all
addictions. It does this by acting on critical brain
areas known to drive addictive behavior. Glutamate
and inflammation also play a major role in
depression.
A diet high in vegetables, with some fruits, and
low in carbohydrates that are high on the glycemic
index (a measure of how much a food raises the
blood glucose level) will go a long way in aiding
recovery from addiction. High sugar diets almost
always increase addictive behavior.

PLEASE NOTE: All information presented in The Blaylock Wellness Report is for informational purposes only. It is not specific medical advice for
any individual. All answers to reader questions are provided for informational purposes only. All information presented in The Blaylock Wellness Report
should not be construed as medical consultation or instruction. You should take no action solely on the basis of this publications contents. Readers are
advised to consult a health professional about any issue regarding their health and well-being. While the information found in The Blaylock Wellness
Report is believed to be sensible and accurate based on the authors best judgment, readers who fail to seek counsel from appropriate health professionals
assume risk of any potential ill effects. The opinions expressed in The Blaylock Wellness Report do not necessarily reflect those of Newsmax Media.
newsmaxhealth.com

Page 12

The Blaylock Wellness Report

In addition, drink lots of purified water and

white tea.
Some supplements such as zinc, magnesium,
Gotu Kola, L-theanine, and tyrosine will help
boost mood and relieve depression
Q: You wrote that vitamin C has been shown
to be effective in treating some patients with
multiple sclerosis. Is there any known harm that
can come from trying this treatment?
Vivian D., Decatur, Ga.
A: In general, the answer is no, but there are some
rare side effects.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease, but
its major pathological effects appear to be chronic
activation of microglia and immunoexcitotoxicity.
A number of natural substances reduce this
process. These include curcumin, quercetin, ellagic
acid, NAC, magnesium, DHA oil, EGCG (an extract
from green tea) and vitamin D3.
All of these substances have been shown to
improve symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients, and
when they are used together, one sees much better
results.
A change in diet is also essential. Eating fresh
fruits and vegetables, removing glutamate additives,
and removing excessive omega-6 oils from ones diet
will help against MS.
Q: In Foods to Fight Cancer, authors Richard
Beliveau and Denis Gingras recommend eating
dark chocolate to inhibit tumor growth. But I
think the sugar will be a cancer fertilizer. What

The Blaylock Wellness Report (#95) is a publication of

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health

May 2012

is the benefit versus risk?

Jeanette N., Santa Barbara, Calif..
A: Dark chocolate has significantly less sugar than
milk chocolate (the higher the percentage coca, the
better) so that isnt a great concern.
There are, however, a number of foods that have
better anti-cancer properties than dark chocolate does.
While in general it is preferable to obtain
nutrients from fresh foods, one cannot get the high
concentrations needed for some of the anti-cancer
nutrients such as curcumin, quercetin, ellagic
acid, resveratrol, proanthocyanadins, vitamin D3, and
EGCG from foods alone. Supplementing with
these nutrients will help fight cancer.
Q: Are you aware of claims of the new product
AnataBloc, the makers of which claim is very
effective in reducing inflammation and lowering
C-Reactive Protein?
Howard F., Houston, Texas
A: Yes, I have seen it. Based on the ingredients
white willow bark, glucosamine, and chondroitin
sulfate it is really not a new product at all. But
all of the ingredients will reduce joint pain and
inflammation and help repair joint structure.
There are far better anti-inflammatories, such
as curcumin, quercetin, n-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC),
vitamin D3, vitamin C and E (as mixed tocopherols
and tocotrienols), and magnesium.
These compounds also have tremendous
anti-cancer effectiveness and are powerful neuroprotectors.

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