My 10 Solutions
– We Swim in a Polluted Sea: Part 2 –

Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist

May 16, 2021

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In Part 1 last week, I used the metaphor that we swim in a polluted sea. I suggested that our environment is killing us slowly. The sea could seal the fate of those who refuse to be proactive and reactive.

The bright light is that there are solutions. And they are simple. But their implementation is complex.

My 10 Solutions

Ideally, the residents of the polluted sea need to swim out of their environment and into fresh, clean water. Individuals need to give their body what it requires and remove everything that is damaging. Those who want to regain and maintain health must choose a different sea in which to swim.

A metaphorically healthy sea would consist of all the nutrients and lifestyle choices that support your body and would avoid potentially toxic substances and irritants that could hinder your health. This new environment would improve the responsiveness of your immune system and create metabolic flexibility.

Here is my vision of an unpolluted sea. It consists of my 10 solutions. Some may be more important than others. But in my opinion, they work in synergy. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts:

  1. Nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods
  2. Natural spring water
  3. A robust gut
  4. Strong cells with functional mitochondria
  5. Healthy sun exposure
  6. Restorative sleep
  7. Efficient exercise
  8. Stress reduction
  9. Effective oral hygiene
  10. Consciousness of the mind, body, spirit connection

Let’s get started.

#1: Foods

All healthy diets exclude:

  • Added sugars and excess carbs
  • Agrochemicals
  • Emulsifiers, preservatives, dyes, and other chemicals
  • Over-processed seed and vegetable oils
  • Trans fats, hydrogenated & partially hydrogenated fats
  • Anti-nutrients in specific plants that will harm the gut microbiome and the gut lining

I have created my Better Belly Blueprint that embraces an eating lifestyle of at least 70% animal-based foods and less than 30% of selected plants with minimal anti-nutrients (i.e. phytates, lectins, and oxalates).

Animals must be pastured, fed no chemicals, and raised humanely. Eat from nose-to-tail, which includes their muscle meat, saturated fats, organs, and collagenous parts. Practically all the nutrients your body requires are in nose-to-tail eating.

If you would like to see some of my original recipes, click on Better Belly Blueprint Recipes.

#2: Water

Probably this is one of the most underrated yet essential nutrients for our body. I wrote about water in my article on Hydration & BUN. And one of the best sources of pure water is the natural and unfiltered spring waters that are replete with trace minerals and the energy the sun bestows on the chemical and electrical properties of water. They should be bottled in glass.

#3: Gut

Much medical research today is uncovering the immense importance of our gut for overall health and wellness. We must …

  • Maintain an intact gut lining
  • Improve the integrity of the mucous layer
  • Establish a high diversity, quantity, and quality of individual species of beneficial bacteria

One method to improve the gut microbiome is to ingest spore-based probiotics. Studies show that these unique bacteria are resistant to stomach acid, germinate in the gut, produce beneficial chemicals (metabolites), enhance the growth of other commensal bacteria, and assist in the repair of the gut epithelial barrier.

In addition, specific immunoglobulins, which can be introduced into the gut, will bind to toxic elements and hasten repair of the mucous layer and gut epithelial lining.

I published a mini-eBook explaining the interactions of the gut with chronic disease. In my publication, Is Your Gut Killing You?,  I cite 295 peer-reviewed medical articles.

#4: Strong Cells with Functional Mitochondria

So far, a healthy diet, unfiltered natural spring water, and a robust gut will provide the elements for efficient and effective cells. But there is another force that can improve the cell membranes and the production of ATP. It is based on the magnetic field of the Earth.

The Earth’s magnetic field ranges from 26 to 66 micro-Tesla.[1] Tesla is the measurement of the strength or intensity of a magnetic field and incorporates the amplitude of the wave frequencies.

The wave frequencies on Earth “speak” to all cells of the body – restoring proper electrical balance, healthy cell membranes, blood circulation and oxygenation, and mitochondrial function. Walking on natural ground with bare feet (i.e., grounding) helps transmit this energy into your body.

If there were no Earth’s magnetic field, various illnesses would occur.[2] For example, beyond the Earth’s atmosphere there is a significant reduction in electromagnetic forces. NASA learned early that there was biological harm to their astronauts from the loss of the Earth’s magnetic field in outer space. To compensate for the medical damage that was done, NASA began to equip their space capsules and space suits with electromagnetic field generators to simulate the natural magnetic fields on Earth. These generators produced an average of 50 micro-Tesla.

Another way for you to improve cellular function would be to use Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy with a full body mat. This is what I do to assist with healthy cellular membranes and mitochondria.

My mat specifically runs at a maximum of 40 micro-Tesla with filters to remove any voltage spikes or damaging electromagnetic fields.[3] This German-made mat produces frequencies from 0.1 – 10,000 Hz in harmonic wave patterns. I incorporate a specific PEMF protocol three times a day, which I describe in my Unconventional Cancer Protocols.

#5: Healthy Sun Exposure

Our main source of Vitamin D is the Vitamin D3 that is created in the skin from exposure to sunlight. We also get some Vitamin D2 from a few foods in our diet. When we have inadequate blood levels of Vitamin D, we can improve them through dietary supplements. But for Vitamin D to function properly, it requires various “helper” nutrients, which include Vitamin K2, Vitamin A, magnesium, boron, and zinc.

Vitamin D3 and Vitamin D2 enter the circulation and eventually are converted into “25 Hydroxy Vitamin D” (the inactive form of Vitamin D) by the liver. This is basically our “storage pile” of Vitamin D. This inactive form returns to the circulation and reaches the kidneys where it is transformed into “1,25 Dihydroxy Vitamin D” (the active form) as it is needed.

The active form of Vitamin D acts on bones, the intestine, and kidneys to regulate the level of calcium and phosphorus in our blood.

It also has many other functions in the human body. Vitamin D regulates cell differentiation, cell maturation and the innate immune system. It affects up to 10% of our genetic activity and improves the resistance against certain diseases including cancer.[4]

Another benefit is that it enhances the diversity of microbes in the gut as well as increases the variety of beneficial species.[5]

Your blood level goal for 25 Hydroxy Vitamin D should be no less than 40-60 ng/ml. Toxicity usually does not occur until the blood level is above 125 ng/ml.

#6: Restorative Sleep

Your body relies on circadian rhythms. These are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle. They are natural processes that respond primarily to light and dark.

The cycle of circadian rhythms regulates the biological clocks that are the natural timing devices for many of our body’s functions such as:

  • Hormone release
  • Eating habits and digestion
  • Body temperature
  • Sleep patterns

Most people can optimize their circadian rhythms by sleeping about 7-8 hours a night. The ideal time to go to bed is between the hours of 9 PM to 11 PM. Also, make the room dark, cool, and quiet for a better night’s sleep.

#7: Efficient Exercise

Your body requires movement. This includes simple movements as well as complex movements. To “work” your body efficiently, you should include a combination of:

  • Brief, high-intensity interval training once every 7-10 days
  • Aerobic exercise 1-2 days a week
  • Strength training 1-2 days a week
  • Non-exercise movements every day 

#8: Stress Reduction

Meditate; practice yoga; try diaphragmatic breathing; and experiment with progressive, total body muscle relaxation.

Continuous emotional stress will damage the gut microbiome and cause “leaky gut”, which will lead to significant and ongoing chronic systemic inflammation. This will tax the immune system to the extent that the immune system will be compromised and unable to mount an aggressive attack when needed to destroy serious invading pathogens.

I published this article in November 2020 that shows the damage emotional stress can cause in an otherwise healthy mouth.

#9: Effective Oral Hygiene

Your gut bacteria and your mouth bacteria “talk” back and forth. Your gut must be healthy, and your mouth must be healthy. Infection and inflammation from the gut and mouth can enter the blood system, travel along nerve fibers, and infiltrate tissue fluids to contribute to chronic disease. If there are any irritants in your mouth, they must be treated appropriately.

To make sure your mouth stays healthy, you need to have a personal oral hygiene regimen.  This includes brushing your teeth at the gum margins, flossing and cleaning the surfaces between each of your teeth, and scraping the topside of your tongue to remove odor forming bacteria and microscopic food remnants. I’ve published a detailed PDF that explains the 4 Steps to a Healthy Mouth.

#10: Consciousness of the mind, body, spirit connection

We are more than just the food we eat, our individual cells, and our environment. We are our thoughts and emotions, our physical bodies, and our spirituality. No part of our body functions like an island unto itself. Our mind, body, and spirit are intertwined and determine our health, make us who we are, and guide us to our purpose in life.

Connect the Dots

I stated earlier that there are solutions.

Basically, they are simple and available to us if we take the time to gather them together.

But the implementation is complex. A proactive person must research and act upon the elements I just discussed. There is no magic pill; it takes dedication to swim out of the polluted sea into fresh, clean waters. But the ultimate outcome will be transformative and regenerative.

[1] http://www.geophys.ac.cn/infowin/cc.asp

[2] https://www.imrs.com/en/earth-s-magnetic-field.html

[3] https://www.purewavenow.com/pemf-portable-system

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2879391/

[5] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-77806-4 

 

 

 

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Better Belly Blueprint Recipes
– Beef Pinwheels with Marrow –

Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist

May 2, 2021

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I am experimenting and came up with this interesting carnivore dish – bone marrow and suet rolled into beef pinwheels.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb flank steak, trimmed
  • 3-4 large beef marrow bones, split lengthwise (canoe cut), roasted
  • 2 tablespoons raw beef suet
  • Himalayan salt to taste

Preparation:

  1. Lay out trimmed flank steak on cutting board
  2. Use meat tenderizer mallet to thin flank steak
  3. Align flank steak so that the grain is horizontal and salt to taste
  4. Scoop out marrow from roasted marrow bones and spread on surface of flank steak
  5. Crumble pieces of solid beef suet over bone marrow
  6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
  7. Roll flank steak (like a sushi roll) so that the grain is running from end to end of the roll
  8. Cut the roll into ¼ inch pinwheels and secure with toothpick
  9. Place pinwheels on parchment paper on baking sheet (this baking sheet was used to roast marrow bones)
  10. Bake for 5 minutes
  11. Serve and enjoy.

 

 

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Hydration & BUN
– What I Learned –

Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist

May 2, 2021

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60% of the human body is water.[1] It is colorless, tasteless, and odorless. The ability for the body to absorb and retain water is known as hydration. Water helps to regulate body temperature, lubricate joints, transport nutrients and oxygen to cells, flush out waste, and do a whole lot more. But it’s not just a molecule of H2O.

Electrolytes are dissolved in natural spring water and provide an electrical charge. And sunlight changes the actual structure of water to create liquid crystal properties, which have been researched by Dr. Gerald Pollack and his team from the University of Washington.[2]

In addition, all physical matter vibrates with a frequency. Not only does water have an energy frequency that our body can recognize, but also our cells and microbiome sing and communicate with one another through their unique frequencies. If our body were out of tune (like a dissonant musical instrument or a mistuned frequency dial on an old analog radio), then it might not be able to understand what is going on. It could fail to function at peak performance.

If we do not hydrate our body with quality water replete with trace minerals and natural energy frequencies, then our body will be at a disadvantage. As a matter of fact, most people couldn’t survive more than 7 days without water and everything it brings. Some of these miraculous pathways have been demonstrated in laboratory and farm animals.[3]

 

Natural Spring Water

Our primal ancestors were able to obtain water that was alive.

Water vapor from oceans rose to the heavens. Then droplets condensed in the atmosphere and came back to earth as rain. All along, the water was energized by the sun. Some rain replenished the existing bodies of water. Much of the rain filtered through the dirt and rocks accumulating all kinds of minerals. It settled into aquifers that fed springs, lakes, and other waterways. Fresh water was energetic and mineral-rich. This was the water our primal ancestors thrived on and depended on for individual biological pathways.

Today, we are drinking highly filtered and chemical-ridden water. Human technology can purify our water, but it also can kill it. Processed water is devoid of trace minerals and the natural vibrations that were inherent in earth’s pristine bodies of water. Processed water is dead water.

We have choices in water. My choices of water are those that are collected from mineral springs and aquifers. They contain the sun’s energy, inherent frequencies, and trace minerals.

 

What I Learned

Since my diagnosis with multiple myeloma in 2018, my BUN has been high. BUN is a blood test for Blood Urea Nitrogen. A high BUN could signify kidney disease or liver disease. It also could be a biomarker for dehydration.

My oncologist was constantly telling me that my elevated BUN was not a result of kidney or liver dysfunction. He said, “You are dehydrated. You aren’t drinking enough water.”

But that was not the case. I was drinking quite a bit of water. But the water I was drinking was filtered water – dead water.

The normal range of BUN from the lab at my Cancer Clinic is 7-20 mg/dL. My average BUN until I began eating Carnivore was 22. But since I started my Carnivore Diet on 1/1/20, my BUN rose even higher. It averaged 26 mg/dL – 30% higher than the top range of normal.

Not only was my oncologist concerned about dehydration, now he was concerned that I was eating too much protein. However, that was not the case either. My protein intake was moderate while my fat intake was high.

But then something unexpected happened. Starting 1/1/21 until 4/20/21, my BUN dropped significantly to an average of 15 mg/dL – well within the normal range.

What happened in my diet or lifestyle that contributed to the abrupt and positive change in my BUN?

The only thing I did differently that started at the time my BUN levels dropped was I began drinking SOLE every morning on an empty stomach.

Here is a table summarizing the changes in my BUN based on my lifestyle changes:

 

SOLE

SOLE (pronounced So-Lay) is a supersaturated solution of Himalayan salt dissolved in pure spring water.

Himalayan salt crystals are mined from the remote reaches of the Himalayan Mountains. The crystals were created 250 million years ago from ancient oceans and then trapped after tectonic plate movement and subsequent evaporation. These crystals have been assayed and found to contain 84 trace minerals that are biologically active. This is a natural way to nourish and hydrate the cells of your body daily. Published anecdotal comments suggest that SOLE in spring water provides a balance of electrolytes and energetic vibration in the water that enhances hydration and body energy.

When I began drinking 1 teaspoon of SOLE added to 8 ounces of pure spring water each morning on an empty stomach, my BUN levels immediately normalized. My oncologist was surprised with my abrupt improvement. And this was an important education for me.

 

Making SOLE

You can find more information about SOLE and its science on the Original Himalayan Crystal Salt Website[4].

For those of you who are interested, here is a way to make SOLE. (If you want, you could use the Original Himalayan Crystal Salt Sole Jar.)

  1. Add Himalayan crystal salt stones halfway up a large mouth glass jar.
  2. Fill the jar with pure spring water that has not been processed in any way.
  3. Cover the jar with cheesecloth to protect the liquid in the jar; secure the cheesecloth with a rubber band. You also could use a cork lid. You do not want to cover the jar with any metal or plastic.
  4. Allow 24 hours for the water to become supersaturated with trace minerals. (The supersaturated solution is called “SOLE”.)
  5. Add 1 tsp of SOLE to 8-12 oz of pure spring water every morning and drink it on an empty stomach. If you prefer a flavor in the water, squeeze a little fresh lime or lemon into the glass of water.
  6. Wait 30-60 minutes before eating or drinking anything else.
  7. Refill the jar with pure spring water as the SOLE is consumed.
  8. Add additional Original Himalayan Crystal Salt Stones as they dissolve.

Take notice of how you feel. Keep a journal before you start your morning regimen with SOLE and then daily for at least a month. Can you tell a difference in your overall wellbeing?

If you can obtain a BUN blood test, you may want to get a baseline reading at the start and then monitor it monthly for a few months.

I’m impressed with my results. I never would have believed the relationship was real between SOLE and hydration until I proved it to myself with the BUN blood test.

 

[1] https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/water-you-water-and-human-body?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVBEwn6iWOo

[3] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349669391_Structured_Water_effects_on_animals

[4] https://bit.ly/3uvELcE

 

 

 

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My Personal Protocols
– Upper Respiratory Infections –  

Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist

March 7, 2021

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Upper respiratory infections (URIs) are the results of microbes and viruses getting into our body. They are the most common infectious illnesses in the general population.[1] It is important to note that the early invasion of the SARS-CoV-2 virus can result in similar symptoms of less severe URIs. However, an efficient immune system attempts to fight all these enemies.

My goal for myself is to create a robust immune system. I’ve posted many Blogs about this powerful internal force inherent in our body. It heals and vigilantly helps keep us well.

My Unconventional Cancer Protocols specify the detailed steps I take to bring my immune system into the healthiest state I can. To help me monitor the robustness of my immune system, I assembled and use these 5 Important Tools. I recommend them to everyone who wants to be proactive with their health.

However, there are two reactive steps I specifically take to deal with upper respiratory infections if my body shows symptoms of their presence. They should not be used as preventive treatment. They only should be attempted when you feel a respiratory infection coming on.

 

My Caveat

I do NOT claim these reactive steps are a cure for any upper respiratory infection. Although I have had success personally, no one should assume this will work for him or her. My goal is to continue to be transparent throughout my Cancer Journey.

 

Reactive Steps

1. Propolis Throat Spray

The science is impressive.

Propolis is a natural mixture produced by honeybees from plant resins. Bees use propolis in the construction and repair of their hives. Current research shows that propolis has antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory applications for upper respiratory tract infections, wound healing, and the treatment of burns, acne, herpes, and neurodermatitis. It also may interfere with the invasion of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is interesting to note that propolis has shown additional promise as an aid in the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, and cancer.[2],[3]

Propolis is available in a spray that can be used at the first sign of soreness or scratchiness in the throat. I have used and recommend Beekeepers Propolis Throat Spray.

 

2. Nebulized Hydrogen Peroxide

Recently, there have been anecdotal descriptions and published medical articles about the efficacy of hydrogen peroxide to kill pathogenic microbes and to inactivate viruses. The body’s own macrophages and neutrophils produce a variety of toxic products including hydrogen peroxide to kill the microorganisms and inactivate the viruses which they engulf.[4]

It has been suggested that a properly diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide in normal saline can be vaporized in a nebulizer and inhaled through the nose to reach various mucous membrane tissues in the respiratory system. This may assist in killing microbes and inactivating viruses in their early stage of invasion. Also, this nebulized solution will activate T cells and neutrophils in the immune system to help destroy any cells that already have been infected. As a “topical antimicrobial and antiviral”, this mist appears to assist the immune system in winning the battle.[5],[6],[7],[8]

The Hydrogen Peroxide Solution for the nebulizer is made by adding 1 teaspoon of Himalayan Salt along with ¾ teaspoon of 12% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide into 16 ounces of distilled water. This makes a saline solution containing 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. I store it in a sealed 16-ounce Mason jar in the refrigerator. When I am ready to use the nebulizer, I add ½ teaspoon of the Solution into the medication cup of the WAVE Nebulizer. My preference is to use the adult mask included in the WAVE Nebulizer to inhale the mist.

 

My Recent Bout

When I woke up on Saturday morning, February 20, 2021, I knew something was wrong with me. My throat felt slightly “sore and scratchy”.

Usually, whenever that would happen, I would spray my throat with propolis several times that day and would continue until the “sore or scratchy” feeling went away. By the next day or two, my throat usually would feel fine. All would be well.

But this time was different. In addition, I experienced a high resting pulse rate of 70. My normal resting pulse is in the high 50s. A higher resting heart rate may be a sign that the body’s immune system is ramping up for a fight.[9]

Also, my blood glucose was elevated. Even though I was eating “ketogenic”, my ketone levels indicated I was not in ketosis. I did not have any loss of taste or smell, and my temperature was normal.

By that Monday night, 2/22/21, I began to have a runny nose. When I woke up on Tuesday, 2/23, the runny nose was combined with increased soreness in my throat and a slight cough. The propolis was not working as it had previously. Bummer!

I am very concerned about a viral or microbial infection since my cancer is a malignancy of plasma cells. These bone marrow cells are responsible for producing antibodies. They are not my only immune defense, but they are important for my overall immune function. So, I pay close attention to what my body tells me.

To be proactive, I already purchased a nebulizer and 12% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide. I just did not make the nebulizer solution that I described earlier.

So, at 6 AM on 2/23, I mixed together the nebulizer solution which consisted of distilled water, Himalayan salt, and hydrogen peroxide. I used ½ teaspoon of the solution in the nebulizer every hour beginning at 6 AM until 3PM – 10 treatments. Each treatment lasted about 10 minutes at which time the solution in the medication cup was used up. After the last treatment, the runny nose almost stopped, and the throat soreness and slight cough were gone.

Just before going to bed at 9PM that night, I used the nebulizer again.

The next morning, Wednesday 2/24, I woke with a slightly runny nose. I had no sore throat and no cough. That day, I began the hourly nebulizer routine starting at 6:30 AM for two treatments. The rest of the day I felt normal. Fantastic!

When I took my ketone level on Wednesday afternoon, it was 2.5 mmol/L, showing I was in ketosis as I wanted. My resting pulse rate had returned to the high 50s, which was my normal. I did not test my blood glucose again. Following my 2 doses of the nebulized peroxide solution that morning, I was done. By that evening, I had no upper respiratory issues!

What can I make of this?

 

My Thoughts

I think I had contracted a virus. I have no idea what type of virus it was. Most likely it was a simple cold virus. But it could have been the COVID virus. Fortunately, symptoms were relieved rapidly. I owe my quick recovery to my reactive intervention with the Nebulized Hydrogen Peroxide Solution. No doubt it killed whatever microbes or inactivated whatever viruses were causing my distress.

Again, I am not suggesting this is a treatment for anyone. My success, in my opinion, is related to my reactive attempts as I just described combined with my …

  • Upkeep of my Oral Health
  • Attention to my Animal-Based Diet,
  • Generation of a High Alpha Diversity in my gut microbiome,
  • Dedication to being Metabolically Flexible,
  • Maintenance of a 25 Hydroxy Vitamin D blood level above 60 ng/mL, and
  • Creation of a Robust Immune System

 

[1] https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/302460-overview#a5

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3872021/

[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332220308155

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK27105/

[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7308628/

[6] https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3074/rr

[7] https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=SCIENCE-FOR-THE-PEOPLE;e8249d75.2004

[8] https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2021/02/10/nanoparticles-in-moderna-vaccine.aspx

[9] https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=227582

 

 

 

 

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My Better Belly Blueprint Recipes
– Animal-Based Eating –

 

 

As most of you know, I started the Carnivore Diet on 1/1/20. It’s now been over 12 months. And for me, this animal-based diet has been impressive. It’s a major part of my Unconventional Cancer Protocols. Although I can’t isolate it as the most important, it is a critical component.

 

What I know is this:

 

  • I have abundant energy, improved lean muscle mass, and excellent Body Mass Index
    (BMI = 23.2).
  • My blood chemistries and complete blood count are in the “normal” range, some of which were out of range earlier.
  • My PET Scan on May 8, 2020 showed no active cancer cells in my entire body, but I am not in remission from my multiple myeloma.

 

Where did I get the idea to include this way of eating in my Cancer Protocols?

 

I did some research and eventually found the Paleomedicina Clinic in Budapest, Hungary. The doctors at the clinic have treated over 5,000 patients since 2011 with an animal-based diet. This clinic treats patients with various serious chronic diseases including cancers. The physicians who treat these patients place them on an animal-based way of eating. They call their diet the Paleolithic Ketogenic Diet (PKD). Patient results were impressive. In certain cases, this program allows small amounts of paleo-friendly vegetables and fruits.[1]

 

With all this in mind, I tweaked the PKD. I integrated the elements to recreate a healthy gut and provide all the necessary nutrients that our DNA blueprint requires. Also, I eliminated any plants with significant levels of antinutrients (i.e. phytates, lectins, and oxalates). I redefined the food proportions and called my animal-based way of eating the Better Belly Blueprint (BBB)

 

The BBB is designed to reduce inflammation, improve digestion, burn fat, identify food sensitivities, reduce allergic reactions, boost energy, regulate blood sugar and stabilize mood. It almost seems too good to be true, but I’ve done this myself. Science shows that no other therapy – natural or otherwise – can come close to accomplishing all of these goals in such a short period of time. Some people may need 30, 60, or even 90 days to get the full benefits from this new lifestyle eating program.

 

A typical volume of a “plate of food” representing the Better Belly Blueprint is made up of at least 70% animal-based foods and less than 30% fruits and vegetables. All nuts and seeds are “no-nos” because of their high level of antinutrients.

 

As I mentioned above, it is important that these fruits and vegetables be low in phytates, oxalates, and lectins. Phytates, oxalates, and lectins are inflammatory substances. These antinutrients can damage the gut microbiome and the gut epithelial lining. A damaged gut will lead to a “leaky gut”. This is when toxic and undigested foods in the gut leak through the gut lining into the blood circulation. The immune system reacts by creating systemic inflammation. When this inflammation becomes continuous and chronic, it increases the risk of all chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, dental diseases, skin rashes, cancer, and many others.

 

A major nutrient of an animal-based diet is saturated fat (animal fat). Animal fat is essential in the Better Belly Blueprint. You should consume approximately “2 grams of fat” for every “1 gram of protein”. This is not a “high protein” diet. It is a high-fat but moderate-protein way of eating.

 

 

My Way of Eating

My personal diet looks like this:

 

For 6 continuous days, I eat one or two meals a day based on my hunger. Looking at the volume on my plate, I eat more than 90% animal-based foods and less than 10% selected fruits and raw honey.

On the 7th day, I cycle out of ketosis and eat 100-150 grams of carbohydrates and reduce my fat content. My carbs come from manuka or local honey, bee bread, and a few fruits.

 

This way of eating helps me maintain metabolic flexibility.

 

My wife and I are enjoying these foods. As a matter of fact, I’ve gotten so excited that I created my own recipes that follow the guidelines of this diet. Some of these recipes are not appropriate for a person who is on a strict 100% animal-based diet. Obviously, you must be the judge of what you eat and what you don’t eat.

 

To date, I have created and shared 24 original or tweaked recipes. I continue to experiment, prepare, and photograph new ideas all the time.

 

As you will notice almost immediately, I am not a professional food photographer. All the shots are taken with my iPhone – and an old iPhone to boot. So, how sophisticated could they be? Give me some leeway, please!!

 

But I love my recipes and sharing them. As soon as I create a new dish that pleases my wife and me, I post it on my website. These dishes have been proven through the critical gastronomic criteria of my wife. I usually love everything I create, but my wife is not so kind. So, if she doesn’t give me an enthusiastic nod, then I don’t publish it.

 

Here are the 24-individual links to each of my food creations:

 

1.  Pork Belly & Chicken Thigh Chunks

2.  Nutritious Smoothie

3.  Salmon Roe & High-fat, Zero-carb Cheese

4.  Pork Belly

5.  Liver Pâté with Smoked Salmon

6.  Rich & Creamy Coffee

7.  Shrimp & Spicy Mayo 

8.  Ground Beef, Sauce, & Cracklins 

9.  Beef Soup

10. Beef Short Ribs

11. Osso Buco

12. Succulent Sweetbreads

13. Best Burgers

14. Ghee

15. Apple Crisp with Honey

16. Shrimp & Noodles

17. Egg Salad Crunch

18. Beef Bone Broth

19. Surf & Turf Soup

20. Egg Drop Soup

21. Air Crisp Chicken Wings

22. Beef Jerky

23. Beef Liver Jerky

24. Hydrating Water

 

To help you, I’ve added photos of my favorite food sources, which I personally consume or use as ingredients in my recipes.

 

Also, to make it easier for my readers, I created a dedicated website page to house the Better Belly Blueprint Recipes.

 

So, check out my recipes. Experiment with them and try them. Tweak them to your own tastes. I relish your comments. Let me know what you think. I’m all about improving them to make them better.

 

[1] https://paleomedicina.com/en/#blog

 

 

 

 

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Our Cats & Dogs are Suffering
– They Have Leaky Gut! –

Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist

January 10, 2021

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I love “Cricket”. My wife adores Cricket. Cricket is our beautiful, fluffy, and oh-so-spoiled Ragdoll cat. Here she is above, posing after her appointment with the cat groomer. I would not be surprised if my wife loved Cricket more than me (well, at least as much).

 

We would do anything to assure that Cricket is healthy. That’s why we feed her raw, desiccated cat food. This food is close to what cats eat in the wild. Wild animals thrive because they live off the land. Cricket has no diseases, a beautiful coat, and a healthy mouth.

 

Wild Animals vs Domesticated Pets

When we look at animals in the wild, one thing stands out – none are obese. Another observation is that chronic diseases are mostly nonexistent. Also, dental decay and periodontal diseases are rarely problems.

 

But our domestic cats and dogs are plagued with chronic diseases, gum disease, and tooth decay. When we investigate a cause, we find that our pets suffer from a leaky gut – just like humans.

 

 

Human Food & Lifestyle

The far majority of humans live an unhealthy lifestyle and eat foods that are inflammatory and lack sufficient and bioavailable nutrients. Many of us also drink tap water, which includes chemicals like fluoride and chlorine but lacks beneficial trace minerals. The result of these actions helps develop a leaky gut.

 

People suffering with a leaky gut develop chronic diseases, compromised immune systems, and unhealthy mouths. And just like the majority of the US population, our precious pets are suffering and dying because of similar causes emanating from their unhealthy gut.

 

 

Petfood

New research clearly shows that our fluffy friends are dealing with poorly conceived diets just like humans. The foods we feed our cats and dogs are causing them to develop leaky gut. And providing your furry companions with tap water to drink or to rehydrate dry pet foods can cause their gut microbiome to become further compromised.

 

Animals in the wild are physically active and eat what they’re metabolically designed to eat. Unfortunately, most of the commercial foods that are available for our domesticated pets are causing ill health requiring attention by veterinarians.

 

Look at the ingredients in the cat and dog food you buy at the store. Most petfood includes wheat, corn, soy, emulsifiers, preservatives, other chemicals, and various processed products along with low-quality animal byproducts.

 

Cats are obligate carnivores; dogs are more carnivorous within the spectrum of omnivores. Obviously, wild animals don’t cook their meals before they eat them. That means cats must eat other raw animals and dogs prefer eating raw animals. And they eat nose-to-tail. That’s the way their digestive system has evolved. So why do most pet owners feed their four-legged buddies inappropriate commercial petfood?

 

The answer is, “Many pet owners don’t know that most petfood is unhealthy for pets.”

 

 

Leaky Gut

Unhealthy and unsuitable pet foods will damage our pets’ microbiome causing gut dysbiosis. Other factors disturbing the garden of gut bacteria include environmental chemicals, medications, stress, and vaccines. As in humans, dysbiosis will weaken the epithelial lining of intestines. The result is leakage of unwanted toxic elements and pathogens into the blood circulation. This is called a “leaky gut”. And this triggers immune responses and inflammation coursing through their body. Just as it can do in humans!

 

Some of the common symptoms of leaky gut in our pets include:

 

  • Allergies (itchy skin, ear infections, chewing at the feet, hot spots and rashes)
  • Digestive issues (diarrhea, gassiness, vomiting, bloating)
  • Behavior issues (anxiety, aggression, separation anxiety)
  • Poor wound healing
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Seizure disorders
  • Cancer
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Weight fluctuations
  • Bad breath
  • Joint pain

 

Importantly, and often unrecognized, our pets’ teeth and gums become compromised. Resulting mouth diseases can seriously affect our pets’ overall health and digestion.

 

 

The Cure

Cats and dogs want raw food, just as it is available in the wild. They also don’t want to ingest toxic elements. For me, the best compromise is to purchase high quality frozen or dehydrated raw foods for my cat. Two excellent raw dehydrated food brands I have purchased are Stella & Chewy and Primal. Dehydrated foods are simple to prepare. I only need to add water.

 

Cricket loves both of them. I even add 1/3 capsule of the spore-based probiotics I consume along with the powder from a capsule of desiccated organs I eat daily. She gobbles them up. I use natural spring water not only to rehydrate her food but also to fill her water bowl. And she is a healthy specimen of a 5-year-old indoor Ragdoll cat.

 

 

FidoSpore

There is a spore-based probiotic designed specifically for dogs. It is called FidoSpore and is available from Microbiome Labs. Although the label says that it is for dogs, cats also may benefit since their microbiome is similar to that of dogs. However, cats have not been studied to the extent of dogs. (If you want to order FidoSpore from Microbiome Labs, you will need to enter a “Patient Direct Code”. Email me, and I’ll send you the code: Al@DrDanenberg.com.)

 

Microbiome Labs described the research regarding spore-based probiotics for dogs. These studies have shown that the spores in FidoSpore produced digestive enzymes, strengthened the immune system, produced short-chain fatty acids, and maintained the gut barrier. This product treated digestive symptoms like constipation and diarrhea. Another benefit was that the spores crowded out unwanted pathogens in the gut. Gut symptoms from dysbiosis were greatly reduced or disappeared entirely. Total body inflammation and leaky gut markers were dramatically reduced.

 

 

Our Pets & Us

It is important to note that spore-based probiotics will not solve gut dysbiosis alone. Diet and environmental factors must be addressed too.

 

Aren’t these facts interesting? The causes of chronic diseases in our pets are similar to the causes of chronic diseases in humans. If we improve lifestyle and diet, remove toxic substances, and heal the gut, amazingly the body will respond – the body of our pets and the body of ourselves.

 

Think about the processed foods that are sold in supermarkets for our own consumption. Just getting rid of processed foods from our own diets can go a long way to help our guts heal. That is why I emphasize putting quality food into our body as well as perfecting lifestyle and gut health in my one-on-one coaching program and consultations.

 

In reality, it will take time to change all the factors that cause leaky gut in our precious pets. But the goal of wellness begins with changing the diet and improving the gut microbiome.

 

My slogan is: Your Gut. Your Health. Your Choice.®

 

 

Check out my new training on the Better Belly Blueprint! You can watch it HERE.

 

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Better Belly Blueprint Recipes
– Air Crisp Chicken Wings –

Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist

January 3, 2021

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You won’t believe these wings! I made them in the Ninja Foodi Grill (AG/IG300 Series) that I purchased on Amazon a few weeks ago. I used the “Air Crisper Basket”, which is one of the interchangeable parts of the grill.

 

These wings were amazing! Crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. They were the best baked chicken wings my wife and I have ever eaten. Yum!!

 

And the grill does not cause any smoke inside the house.

 

 

Ingredients:

  • About 1.5 pounds pastured chicken wings
  • 1 Tbs ghee
  • 1 Tsp Himalayan salt

 

 

Preparation:

  1. Preheat the Ninja Foodi Grill Air Crisper to 390 degrees
  2. Dry the wings with paper towels
  3. Place the wings in a large mixing bowl
  4. Add the ghee and salt, then toss to thoroughly coat the wings
  5. Place the wings into the preheated crisper and set the timer for 26 minutes
  6. Wow!

 

 

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My 2021 New Year’s Resolution
– 5 Aspects TO THRIVE –

Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist

January 3, 2021

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2021 is here! So, it all starts over again.

 

Another year, another 365 days, another 8,760 hours, another 525,600 minutes. What you do with them makes all the difference – all the difference for you and all the difference for everyone whom you touch.

 

Throughout my 73 years of life, I’ve heard about “New Year’s Resolutions”. Certainly, I’ve participated in these perfunctory acts of good intention. It goes like this, “This year, I’m going to …” It’s almost like we flip a switch and then live happily ever after.

 

Not so fast.

 

The “to do” lists go on and on. Yet, they’re pretty much duplications of most others’ lists. Most of the time, they are Pollyanna-like promises that have no chance of coming to fruition.

 

But here is an opportunity for us. We can make a change that is pertinent, lasting, and meaningful. If you want to make a real change starting in this New Year, you need to answer these three questions first:

 

  1. How much thought will you give when making your New Year’s Resolution?
  2. How committed are you to make this real change in your life?
  3. What has motivated you to move in a direction which is different from the one you have been traveling all your years up until now?

 

I’m serious about these three questions. If you can answer them with conviction and make the necessary effort, you can succeed. Here’s how I am proceeding to succeed with my New Year’s Resolution for 2021.

 

 

My 2021 New Year’s Resolution

I’m going to be 74 years old in April 2021. My oncologist thought I would be dead from my form of multiple myeloma by the end of 2018. Maybe I’m living on borrowed time; maybe I’m kidding myself; maybe I’m living along a new path.

 

I have taken serious time to consider and refine my New Year’s Resolution. I’m committed to make changes in my life. And I’m committed because this is a matter of life or death for me.

 

My New Year’s Resolution for 2021 is TO THRIVE …

 

… TO THRIVE as humans were designed to thrive over thousands of years – metabolically, physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually.

 

This seems like a lot to include into just one resolution. Yet these 5 aspects of thriving can be defined in simple terms, which I know are achievable by me. If you made this resolution yours, then you could achieve it too!

 

 

5 Aspects To Thrive

1. Thrive Metabolically

The essence for our existence is to receive nutrition. This allows our body to function as a finely tuned machine. Look beyond the current plethora of “diets” that are promoted by gurus and zealots. You will discover there are two overriding facts that must be considered:

 

  1. You need to eat foods that your body’s DNA and gut microbiome require you to eat. Your DNA and microbiome must be able to create necessary enzymes and support pathways to completely digest and absorb these nutrients.
  2. You need to completely avoid all “foods” that contain chemicals and other toxic substances that damage the gut microbiome, or inhibit healthy metabolism, or are potentially poisonous to your cells.

 

 

2. Thrive Physically

Our body is designed to move. If we are not moving, we are dying. Moving your body daily with intention benefits the muscles, bones, joints, brain, heart, and lungs. In addition, daily movement has been reported to reduce anxiety and depression, improve mood, boost self-esteem, minimize stress, and enhance cognitive functioning. Moving consists of standing, bending, squatting, twisting, stretching, pulling, pushing, and walking. More aggressive functional movements consist of doing pushups, pull ups, planks, and sprints. Basically, movement must be efficient and effective.

 

 

3. Thrive Emotionally

This amazing quality is embodied in the empathy we give to others, the love we share, and the love we graciously receive. Opening ourselves to understand others’ feelings and predicaments helps us share emotions and support another’s ability to cope personally. One of the lessons of life is to open our heart and share love with those around us.

 

 

4. Thrive Intellectually

The pursuit of knowledge is one of those qualities that sets us above other creatures on earth. It is never too late to learn something new. I love to learn. It gives me purpose. It helps me grow as a person. In the days after my cancer diagnosis, I gained an extensive body of knowledge about healing. I will continue to research and seek out new information to expand my understanding and appreciation of my body’s potential.

 

 

5. Thrive Spiritually

I’ve written about My Spirituality in 2019. In that article, I shared my innermost belief system. My comfort with my mortality has been knowing my soul is immortal and knowing I am learning lessons I planned to perfect. Today, I read as much as I can about human consciousness and our soul.

 

 

Progressing Through 2021

I wrote about how grateful I am to be alive. To my way of thinking, I have been given a second chance to get it right in this world. My path changed abruptly from the 71 years before my diagnose of incurable multiple myeloma to these 28 months since my cancer journey began in 2018. What I have learned in these few but precious years is that creating loving memories is how a person should define his or her life. And these memories are the culmination of the 5 aspects of my New Year’s Resolution TO THRIVE.

 

If your resolution is to improve your health and lifestyle, I’m here to help. I’ve done a tremendous amount of learning on this subject, and I’m happy to share it with you. Set up your consultation today.

 

For 2021 and moving forward, I resolve TO THRIVE.

 

 

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Better Belly Blueprint Recipes
– Surf & Turf Soup –

Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist

November 29, 2020

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This is so simple with essentially no measuring. It’s tasty, crunchy, and adds variety to my choice of meals. I take the beef bones that are left over from my recipes for Osso Buco and Short Ribs and make bone broth from them.

 

Then I place the broth into a soup bowl. I add some boiled shrimp, cut up some breakfast sausage, drop in some Cracklins, and enjoy.

 

 

Ingredients:

 

 

Preparation:

  1. Place cut up shrimp, cut up pork sausage links, and 4505 Cracklins in soup bowl
  2. Add heated bone broth to soup bowl
  3. Season with Himalayan salt to taste
  4. Enjoy

 

 

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Periodontal Disease
– Doesn’t Start in the Mouth –

Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist

October 18, 2020

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Periodontal disease does not start in the mouth! But it can spread from the mouth to everywhere else in the body.

 

It is true that irritations in the mouth from poor dental work, misalignment of teeth, broken teeth, chemicals in dental fillings, and various forms of trauma can cause inflammation and eventually infection in the mouth. I wrote a Blog where I discussed 14 hidden mouth splinters.

 

But most of the time, periodontal disease begins with unhealthy changes in the gut. Clearly, food starts its pathway into the body through the mouth. But if these foods are inflammatory, they can damage the gut and disturb the garden of bacteria.

 

If the gut becomes unhealthy, chronic inflammation will spread from there to all other areas of the body through the bloodstream and the mucosal tissues of the body. It will travel like the spikes of a wheel out from the center hub. The mouth is just one stop on the continuum of the progression of disease moving out from the gut.

 

I wrote a mini eBook in which I go into detail about the manifestation of chronic diseases emanating from the gut. In my eBook, I cite 295 peer-reviewed medical papers supporting my conclusions. I titled it, Is Your Gut Killing You?

 

 

The Dentist

The dentist has the perfect platform to identify periodontal disease. He or she sees their patients once or twice a year for checkup appointments. If there are signs and symptoms of gum disease, the dentist can begin educating the patient and treating the infection.  Treatment also should include definitive recommendations for gut health and nutritional counseling.

 

Unfortunately, most dentists don’t follow all these steps.

 

Of course, dentists treat the acute infections. In addition, they have their hygienist clean under the gums while reinforcing better flossing and brushing techniques. The dental team repairs the damage caused by periodontal disease. But treating the gut and providing personalized nutritional counseling are often neglected.

 

Here is a question for dental professionals: “How often does the same patient return for future checkup appointments with continued bleeding gums and progressing periodontal problems?” Repeated oral hygiene instruction – visit after visit – may not provide the anticipated results. Repeated antibiotic treatment may not resolve the disease permanently but will cause collateral damage.

 

I suggest an in-depth evaluation of the patient’s eating habits. A patient could record what she or he eats in a 3-Day Food Journal. This document could be repeated annually and become a permanent part of the patient’s dental record. A patient’s food journal will become a history of how and what he or she eats.

 

I also suggest a thorough program to repair and restore the health of the gut.

 

This complete treatment plan that includes active periodontal therapy, diet intervention, and gut healing will assure more lasting improvements.

 

 

Active Periodontal Treatment

Active infection must be addressed ASAP. Again, the dentist is the perfect professional to start oral treatment. Dentists are trained extremely well to treat damage in the mouth. No other healthcare professional is equipped to do what a well-trained dentist can do.

 

Sometimes, a therapeutic mouthwash or antibiotic for a few days is required at first to bring the acute infection under control. Sometimes extractions, fillings, or repair of broken teeth must be started immediately. Possibly, all that might be necessary is good oral hygiene and maybe a deep cleaning around the teeth to take care of early inflammation and infection. In more advanced cases, surgical procedures as well as cutting-edge laser treatment to repair and regenerate bone destruction might be required.

 

But the underlying biological causes need to be discussed and corrected. Only treating the mouth without treating the gut and improving the diet is akin to only prescribing pain medicine for a headache with serious underlying causes.

 

 

Diet & Gut

Three specific human studies[1],[2],[3] show that improving the diet will return the oral microbiome to a healthy state, reduce bleeding of gums, and prevent periodontal disease from getting started. These benefits occurred within 30 days without the participants performing regular oral hygiene! The nutrients in the diet and the avoidance of harmful irritants in processed foods improved the gut, the immune system, and the health of the mouth with no other treatment required.

 

Other studies have shown that repairing the gut will reduce chronic systemic inflammation.[4],[5],[6] The gut epithelial barrier is the most reparative tissue in the body. Within 5-7 days, the entire gut lining is renewed and will stay that way unless it is repeatedly irritated over and over again.

 

Therapeutically, the quickest and most efficient means to treat the underlying causes of periodontal disease is to embrace a nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory way of eating. In addition, spore-based probiotics and other supplements will improve the garden of bacteria in the gut and heal its lining.

 

My Better Belly Blueprint describes a proven diet to support the body’s requirements of nutrition. My Protocol to Restore Healthy Gut Bacteria is a verified method to assist gut healing. Let me know if you have questions. (Dr.Danenberg@iCloud.com)

 

 

Summing Up

For the most part, periodontal disease starts in the gut. However, treatment (especially if the infection is acute) must start in the mouth as soon as it is diagnosed.

 

But a comprehensive treatment plan needs to involve the mouth and the gut. Treating an unhealthy gut and advocating a nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet will help prevent chronic systemic inflammation emanating from the gut. In the dental world, that means a healthier mouth free of periodontal disease. It also means improved overall wellness.

 

[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19405829/

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4962497/pdf/12903_2016_Article_257.pdf

[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30941800/

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6834154/

[5] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31894861/

[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5561432/

 

 

Check out my new training on the Better Belly Blueprint! You can watch it HERE.

 

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