My Cancer Update
– My Struggle –

Dr. Al Danenberg Nutritional Periodontist

May 21, 2023

In September 2018, I knew the odds were that I only would live another 3-6 months. That wasn’t an intuition. It was my oncologist’s opinion based on his years of medical experience treating patients like me with multiple myeloma. However, I didn’t give in to his dire prognosis. I rejected chemotherapy since my bone marrow cancer was incurable, and I moved into the mode of advocating for myself.

I created my Unconventional Cancer Protocols and vowed to myself that quality of life was my one prevailing goal.

For almost 5 years, I fulfilled my desire. I enjoyed a quality of life for the most part with some setbacks along the way. But now, my body is not cooperating.

 

COVID Has Been the Thorn in My Progress

COVID has activated my multiple myeloma creating anemia, compromised pulmonary and cardiac function, and extreme exhaustion. And the multiple myeloma is spreading rapidly and causing continuous bone pain and pathological bone fractures especially in my ribs. All these manifestations rapidly progressed within the last few weeks.

On Monday, 5/15/23, I had an appointment with my medical doctor and consulted with my oncologist. On Wednesday, 5/17/23, I was examined by a pulmonologist.

My medical team has come up with some suggestions, which I will integrate with my Unconventional Cancer Protocols.

  • Medications for A-Fib, Congestive heart failure, and Compromised pulmonary function
  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy

It appears the road to physical recovery will take time. These Long Haulers COVID manifestations are not well understood.

 

Quality of Life

For the second time since my diagnosis of multiple myeloma back in September 2018, I am suffering from a decrease in quality of life. The first major setback was in August 2019 when I broke several major bones and was put in a Hospice Hospital to die. Needless to say, I did not die. I recovered and revoked Hospice in September 2019, and I went on to thrive.

I will keep this positive determination to recover from this current major setback. I’ve surprised many medical professionals with my progress over the last several years, and I just might shock them once again.

However, I am not in denial. I know the multiple myeloma is progressing. And I am prepared to deal with its eventual outcome.

Hospice is my last option to continue a quality of life until I die when the time comes. I am not sure when that time will come.

 

The Future

As you might imagine, this is a stressful time for me and my wife, Sue. However, we are both survivors! One of the greatest joys in my life, besides my wonderful family, is working with patients around the world. It is my privilege to use my background and knowledge to help people regain control of their health. Quality of life is a gift, and I’ve worked incredibly hard over the last five years to find a way to maintain mine through numerous ups and downs.

Through the free resources on my website and my 1:1 coaching sessions to help guide you through specific ailments, I’m honored to still be able to help others. After all, helping others is what led me to enter the medical field over 40 years ago. If you find yourself dealing with health issues, please consider this my invitation to reach out. You never know what the future will hold so get your health in order now. Trust me, you don’t want to wait until you’re really sick.

 

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My Cancer Update
– Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib) & Severe Anemia –

Dr. Al Danenberg Nutritional Periodontist

May 7, 2023

Since my diagnosis of incurable multiple myeloma in September 2018, I have successfully maintained my quality of life and stabilized the progression of this bone marrow cancer. For those of you who aren’t familiar with my story, I was given 3-6 months to live. After determining that traditional methods such as chemotherapy wouldn’t stop the cancer, and would impact the quality of my life, I created what I call my Unconventional Cancer Protocols. While I have never been in remission, I’ve surprised everyone, including my doctors, with both my progress and perseverance. I share my methods openly as well as my ups and downs, in hopes that I can help you from finding yourself in a similar situation.

When I contracted COVID-19 in 2021, it caused an activation of my multiple myeloma. I’ve been dealing with Long Haulers COVID, which I discuss in this blog, and now I’m seeing further complications. I’ve always been transparent, and I’d like to share my current battle with you.

 

Diagnosis of A-Fib and Anemia

On Monday, 5/1/23 I had to go to my internist. I had been exceptionally weak and out of breath following just simple physical movements. After taking a few steps from my living room sofa to the bathroom, I would feel exhausted and needed to sit down.

Billy, my Internist for over 35 years, examined me and took an EKG. I was in atrial fibrillation. I have never been in A-Fib.

I then saw my on oncologist on Tuesday, 5/2/23. My blood work showed my hemoglobin to be at an extremely low level.

The decisions were made. I had A-Fib and severe anemia. I needed to integrate some conventional meds to address A-Fib, and I needed to have a blood transfusion of packed red blood cells to improve my hemoglobin. Both needed to be done ASAP.

My internist and oncologist both agreed that the COVID-19 virus had a lot to do with these manifestations.

I’ll share some facts about COVID, A-Fib, Anemia, and my integration of conventional medical treatments while still emphasizing my Unconventional Cancer Protocols.

 

COVID and Atrial Fibrillation

This video helps visualize the comparison of a normal heart rhythm to one with A-Fib:

An April 2022 study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology stated that new-onset atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) occurred in 1 out of 20 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Researchers in this study examined nearly 28,000 patients without a history of A-Fib who were hospitalized for COVID-19.

A-Fib is a quivering or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. At least 2.7 million Americans are living with A-Fib.

In this paper, new-onset A-Fib was strongly associated with increased in-hospital mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events. Of the patients in the study, those who developed new-onset A-Fib while hospitalized experienced longer hospital stays and greater need for ICU care and intubation and approximately 45% died in the hospital.

 

COVID and Anemia

COVID-19 also affects the blood. In this 2021 paper, the authors discuss the pathogenesis and clinical significance of COVID and anemia. This other paper published in 2023 discusses the connection between COVID and anemia.

Anemia is a disease that occurs when the blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells to circulate oxygen throughout the body. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein responsible for transporting and delivering oxygen to organs and tissues.

Having anemia means your hemoglobin levels are low, and your body is not getting enough oxygen. Without oxygen, the body lacks the energy needed to function, which causes symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue.

Anemia has many causes and can either be a short-term or long-term condition. If left untreated, anemia has severe symptoms that may become life-threatening.

COVID-19 patients develop inflammation that causes a reduction in intestinal iron absorption and changes in iron hemostasis, resulting in reduced production of hemoglobin.

Anemia affects the body’s immunity.

In addition, anemia activates the body’s sympathetic nervous system, leading to increased heart rate, pulmonary capillary leakage, and high blood pressure, which causes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A patient with COVID-19 ARDS develops worse outcomes than typical ARDS, often resulting in respiratory failure, circulatory failure, and myocardial damage.

 

My Treatment for A-Fib and Anemia

My heart rhythm must be restored to normal; my risk of a stroke must be minimized; and my hemoglobin level must be increased.

I started treatment on Monday, 5/2/23.

I began taking two conventional heart meds to stabilize the heart rhythm as well as Eliquis to prevent a stroke. On 5/4/23, I received a pint of packed red blood cells via venal infusion to elevate my hemoglobin levels. I may need additional transfusions before my hemoglobin is restored to a healthy range.

Let me emphasize that I have not changed my Unconventional Cancer Protocols. These protocols have helped my immune system from day One of my diagnosis and are seminal to my overall wellness program.

 

NLR

I also continue to monitor my NLR.

The NLR is the Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio. Neutrophils and Lymphocytes are two different white blood cells that can be identified in a Complete Blood Count (CBC) blood test. It is a reliable blood marker for systemic inflammation in many chronic diseases as well as a most robust marker for COVID. In addition, it is an indicator of the survival prognosis for multiple myeloma patients. A rising NLR may suggest a poorer prognosis as multiple myeloma progresses.

A normal NLR is between 1:1 and 3:1. In this published study, the average NLR for hospitalized COVID patients was 6.15. When that ratio rose above 8.17 in the study, the risk of death increased. Strikingly, my NLR on 11/2/21 was 42.0 – a seriously disturbing level when I was diagnosed with COVID in November 2021! However, I was able to significantly reduce the NLR as I healed from COVID using my Protocols after my first bout with COVID.

This time around with Long Haulers COVID, my NLR was 11.6 on March 7, 2023, and then increased to 22.3 on April 4, 2023. But on May 2, 2023, the NLR dropped to 11.7, which is definitely moving in the right direction now.

My goal is to continue to reduce the NLR. I was able to do this before, and I am determined to do it again. It appears that I am being successful!

 

Getting Back to Normal

While my body is struggling right now, my mind is sharp. If you have health concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I believe that the reason I’m still here is to help others. I’ve turned “3 months to live” into 5 well-earned years while maintaining the quality of my life. No gatekeeping here. I want to help you reach your health goals and prevent anyone else from struggling with illness. Here’s the link to set up a complimentary 30 minutes with me.

 

 

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Manmade Meat
– Food of the Future? or Scary as Hell? –

Dr. Al Danenberg Nutritional Periodontist

April 30, 2023

Technology is ever evolving. Just look at the rise in Artificial Intelligence (AI). The functionality is impressive. You can use a chat bot to write emails, blog posts, even books! (Don’t worry, every word you read here is still painstakingly created and typed by me!). With all these advances, why not utilize technology to improve our nutrition?

Advocates say lab grown meat is the “food of the future”! It’s been touted as a solution to food inaccessibility, and scientists are working to craft a customized nutritional profile to maximize the health benefits. Plus, they claim no animals are harmed in the process while reducing costs to the consumer. Sounds a little too good to be true, right? Let’s look at what we know.

Humans have become the dominant animal on this planet mainly because the growth and development of our brain. And our brain has been nourished from the consumption of animal fats, organs, and meats. This has occurred as our species, Homo Sapiens, has evolved during the last 300,000 years. It even can be traced back 2.5 million years.

Yet today, there is an effort to replace this nourishment with manmade foods that are highly processed and created in a lab. Eating these processed foods over years and decades could cause untold damage to our health. Look at what we do know now.

Our foods are increasingly processed, with the addition of sugar and seed oils becoming more and more prevalent. Seed oils are being used in place of healthy animal fats. We already know those items are detrimental to our health and are seeing research emerge about the long-lasting damage.

Specifically, there is a trend today to create meat in a lab for world consumption. This manmade meat is called “cultured meat” or “cultivated meat”. In my opinion, this should scare the hell out of you! There are no long-term studies of the intricate and subtle changes that might occur in the multitude of metabolic pathways in the body to suggest this is the way to feed the world. Knowing what we do know about the quality of processed food, and what is considered “healthy”, this should scare the hell out of you!

 

Cultured Meat

Just because cultured meat is being researched and produced more and more doesn’t mean it is healthy.

The first cultured beef burger patty was created by Mark Post at Maastricht University in 2013.[1] In time, SuperMeat opened a farm-to-fork restaurant called “The Chicken” in Tel Aviv to test consumer reaction to its “Chicken” burger[2], and the “world’s first commercial sale of cell-cultured meat” occurred in December 2020 at a Singapore restaurant called 1880.[3]

Cultured meat[4] is produced by growing animal cells in vitro (i.e., taking place outside of a living organism). Although the science of cultured meat is growing quickly, these products don’t include the natural ratios of animal fats, blood, growth factors, collagen, and many other inherent nutrients that are part of real animal-based foods. The facts are that the science of pastured animal-based foods is clearly healthy and critical for human development and that it is supportive of our environment. Unfortunately, there has been much misinformation that wrongfully states that the consumption of real meat is unhealthy.

 

Human Diet & Evolution

This article published in 2023 summarizes all the facts about eating real meat in the development of our human body. The authors listed five bullet points that were significant to understand:

  • Aspects of human anatomy, digestion, and metabolism diverged from other primates, indicating evolutionary reliance on, and compatibility with, substantial meat intake. Implications of a disconnect from evolutionary dietary patterns may contribute to today’s burden of disease, increasing the risk for both nutrient deficiencies and chronic diseases.
  • Meat supplies high-quality protein and various nutrients, some of which are not always easily obtained with meat-free diets and are often already suboptimal or deficient in global populations. Removal of meat comes with implications for a broad spectrum of nutrients that need to be accounted for, whereas compensatory dietary strategies must factor in physiological and practical constraints.
  • Although meat makes up a small part (<10%) of global food mass and energy, it delivers most of the global vitamin B12 intake and plays a substantial role in the supply of other B vitamins, retinol, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, several minerals in bioavailable forms (e.g., iron and zinc), and a variety of bioactive compounds with health-improving potential (e.g., taurine, creatine, and carnosine).
  • As a food matrix, meat is more than the sum of its individual nutrients. Moreover, within the diet matrix, it can serve as a keystone food in food-based dietary interventions to improve nutritional status, especially in regions that rely heavily on cereal staples.
  • Efforts to lower global meat intake for environmental or other reasons beyond a critical threshold may hinder progress towards reducing undernutrition and the effects this has on both physical and cognitive outcomes, and thereby stifle economic development. This is particularly a concern for populations with increased needs and in regions where current meat intake levels are low, which is not only pertinent for the Global South but also of relevance in high-income countries.

In addition, animal-based foods have many unknown symbiotic elements that enhance their efficacy when consumed in the natural state. New information is always being discovered to show that we do not know what we thought we knew. One fact is that just one change in a single amino acid in a complex protein chain could cause significant changes in the way that protein affects the body. As an example, A1 casein in milk is inflammatory whereas A2 casein in milk is non-inflammatory in the human body.[5] And there is only the difference of one amino acid in this protein.

 

The Case for Pastured Real Meat

It’s important for you to make decisions based on well-controlled research and medical studies. Here are a few for you to consider:

  • The International Center for Medical Nutritional Intervention (previously called the Paleomedicina Clinic) in Budapest, Hungary has been treating serious chronic diseases and cancers since 2011. They have treated over 6,000 sick patients with a strict animal-based diet with compelling results, which they have published in various medical publications. Go to their website and click on “Scientific Work and Articles”:
  • In this 2021 study, there was no correlation with red meat and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, a higher intake of processed meat was associated with a higher risk of mortality and CVD.
  • Red meat has an inverse correlation with cardiovascular disease and cancer in this 2013 study.
  • In this original 15-minute video, Brian Sanders explains the scientific reality of real meat, human health, and the benefits to the environment.
  • Read this seminal paper published in 2021 by Miki Ben-Dor about the evolution of the human species over 2.5 million years which got us where we are today. Humans are the most intellectual and dominant animal on earth, and the authors’ story is both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary.
  • Read this 2013 controlled study of Kenyan children who excelled in school when they ate animal-based foods and did poorly when they ate predominantly plant-based foods.
  • Read the results of this 2022 study, which showed that total meat intake is positively associated with increased life expectancy. The study included an analysis of 175 contemporary populations.
  • This 2022 study showed that animal-based foods improved the physical growth in 6 to 24-month-old children.
  • For the first time, the 2020-2025 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) includes guidance for feeding infants and toddlers from birth to 24 months old. These evidence-based guidelines emphasize the vital role of foods rich in iron and zinc (including meat). Iron-rich red meat, such as beef and lamb, are ideal first foods to help meet an infant’s nutrient needs starting at approximately 6 months old.
  • And this 2022 article explains the importance of introducing animal meat immediately following breastfeeding.
  • In a 2021 paper, investigators looked at whether LDL-C (low density lipoprotein cholesterol) was related to survival prognosis based on 7 or 10 years of follow-up. The researchers showed there was an inverse relationship between LDL-C levels and the risk of all-cause mortality, and this association was statistically significant.
  • This 2020 paper discusses the importance of meat and mental health.
  • In an observational study published in 2022, women who were vegetarian were at a significantly greater risk of hip fractures than women who ate at least five servings of meat every week.

 

Today

Momentum is pushing cultured meat to be on the main stage to feed the world. Yet, this manmade product is devoid of substances that have been depicted as being unhealthy. But animal fat and red meat are healthy. So, we must make our decisions based on accurate facts and not be persuaded with the economic and false statements being made by corporations and organizations with ulterior motives.

If you have questions, let me help you with the facts. I’m available for a free 30-minute consult if this works for you.

 

[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-23576143

[2] https://www.fastcompany.com/90572093/at-the-first-lab-grown-meat-restaurant-you-can-eat-a-cultured-chicken-sandwich

[3] https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/01/hello-cultured-meat-good-bye-to-the-cruelty-of-industrial-animal-farming/

[4] https://gfi.org/science/the-science-of-cultivated-meat/

[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4818854/

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Our Mighty Mitochondria

Dr. Al Danenberg Nutritional Periodontist

April 16, 2023

Have you seen the TV commercial of the “Energizer Bunny”? The bunny is buzzing all over the place beating its drum because it is full of energy. The reason is its battery is strong and efficient.

Our mitochondria (pleural for mitochondrion) are like the batteries of the “Energizer Bunny”, and they provide energy for our cells. But if the mitochondria in a cell weaken or become damaged, the cell will not have enough energy to continue its job in the body. The analogy would be the “Energizer Bunny” would run out of steam and stop dead in its tracks.

 

The Mitochondria Story

So, what are these mitochondria and where did they come from. The story is like a science fiction tale.

A long, long time ago – about 4 billion years ago – life began on earth as a single-celled organism with no nucleus.[1] Then fast forward 2 billion years.

About 2 billion years ago, bacteria were among the first living organisms. Some of these single-celled bacteria fed on organic compounds to create energy. These bacteria created carbon dioxide and hydrogen as waste products. Other single-celled organisms in existence at the same time fed only on carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Then, an extraordinary and life-changing event occurred.

A few of the bacteria producing energy from organic compounds successfully entered some of these single-celled organisms, which could not create their own energy from organic compounds. Eventually, these bacteria set up shop in their host cells. The invading bacterial cells created energy for their single-celled host organisms. Now the host cells, with a self-contained energy source from the resident bacteria, could evolve into multi-celled and more-complex entities. The gradual development of these structures eventually led to the makeup of our human cells, each with a self-contained energy-production machine. The origin of this energy-production machine was ancient bacteria. These organelles are called mitochondria.

Every cell in our body, except for red blood cells, has mitochondria to create the energy to keep it alive. The mitochondria are embedded within the cytoplasm of our 30 trillion human cells. Some individual cells have only a few mitochondria; our most active cells (like heart muscle) may contain as many as 2,400 mitochondria per cell. If these bacteria-like structures in our body’s cells did not function properly, we would get sick – very sick – and eventually would die.

 

Functions of Mitochondria

As I’ve said, the mitochondria primarily are the batteries of the cell. If the batteries fail, the cell ultimately dies. However, energy production is not the only purpose of our mitochondria.[2]

Mitochondria also produce heat as necessary, assist in calcium signaling within the host cell and throughout the body, and will induce cell death (apoptosis) when its host cell is damaged beyond repair. In addition, mitochondria regulate insulin in the cell, synthesize cholesterol and other steroids, and participate in other functions required by specialized cells. Another critical function of mitochondria is to interact intimately with other organelles of the cell, especially peroxisomes, to create cellular homeostasis.[3]  

As a waste product, mitochondria produce free radicals, which must be neutralized. Excess free radicals could damage the mitochondria beyond repair. For example, a liver cell would not be able to function as a healthy liver cell; a brain cell would not be able to function as a healthy brain cell; a gum tissue cell would not be able to function as a healthy gum tissue cell. In some situations, the cell might begin to replicate out-of-control and become cancerous.

 

Gum Disease & Mitochondria

When everything is working correctly, the mitochondria are healthy and functioning at the top of their game. Problems develop when our mitochondria are compromised. Gum disease is one result of dysfunction in the mitochondria within gum tissue cells.

In this peer-reviewed paper, unhealthy mitochondria were associated with gingivitis and advanced stages of periodontal disease. In contrast, healthy and strong mitochondria might help prevent gingivitis, other forms of periodontal disease, and other chronic diseases.

This is important: It appears that active periodontal disease may be the direct result of specific virulent bacteria causing an overproduction of free radicals in the mitochondria of the gum tissue cells.

This also is critical to understand: When these free radicals are neutralized, the infection tends to be tamed and further destruction from periodontal disease may be reduced even though the bacteria are still present.

So, if something could neutralize the excessive damaging free radical production in the mitochondria of the gum tissues, the progression of periodontal disease might be halted.

 

Chronic Diseases, Cancers, & Mitochondria

There is additional research that suggests that cancer is a mitochondrial metabolic disease and not a genetic disease. Poor diet, lifestyle, and toxic exposure can damage mitochondrial function, which in turn increases metabolic disease.

If chronic diseases and cancers are mitochondrial metabolic diseases, then improving mitochondrial function and therapeutically changing what can damage these mitochondria could be important and effective methods of treatment.

 

Mitochondria & Health

So, it appears that healthy mitochondria are critical for our oral health, for our overall health, and for our existence. Healthy mitochondria are supported by nutrient-dense foods, efficient exercise, restorative sleep, and reduction of stress. If mitochondria are not firing on all cylinders, disease will occur.

Also, the gut microbiome is important for the health of mitochondria. The beneficial bacteria in the gut will produce butyrate and other short chain fatty acids from food. These metabolites from beneficial bacteria feed healthy mitochondria, support the cells that line the colon, and increase the diversity of healthy gut bacteria. Since ancient bacteria were the precursors of our modern-day mitochondria, the needs of the mitochondria in our cells are like the needs of healthy gut bacteria. There is “cross communication” between our gut microbiome and our mitochondria.

Another important nutrient in all of this is vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 is produced by healthy gut bacteria. This vitamin is also available in some fermented foods, organ meats, egg yolks, and grass-fed dairy. Vitamin K2 appears to assist mitochondria by increasing their capacity to create energy.

So, what will cause mitochondria to malfunction? Mitochondria can become damaged and dysfunctional when required nutrients are not available from the gut, when the mitochondria produce excess free radicals that are not neutralized, and when mitochondria are unable to repair themselves or increase their numbers in their host cell. Also, specific environmental elements and medications can be toxic to mitochondria. These include xenoestrogens (estrogen imitators) in the environment, acetaminophen (Tylenol), statins (anti-cholesterol drugs), glyphosate (Roundup), and heavy metals like lead, mercury, and aluminum.

All the individual protocols in my Unconventional Cancer Protocols are designed to assist overall healing and improve mitochondrial function!

 

Keep Your Mitochondria Mighty

These little organelles in your cells are life sustaining sources of energy. Without their generation of efficient energy, your cells will die. If they are weakened, their cells will function at a lower level or not function at all.

Our mighty mitochondria can be improved through the integration of various modalities to change our diet, our environment, and our lifestyle habits. Here are some of those modalities that have been studied to support healthy mitochondrial function:

My discussion should help you appreciate the complexity and importance of your mitochondria as well as summarize some of the important lifestyle and diet changes you could make to improve your mighty mitochondria. Don’t look for a synthetic supplement or “pill” you can take to heal your mitochondria. It’s not possible. Creating healthy mitochondria is an integrative, whole-body effort.

If you have questions about what you need to do, I’m here to guide you along the right path of change.

 

[1] http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1745691617718356

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4075653/

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=10.1111%2Fggi.12296

 

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My Cancer Update
– My Mind is Keen; My Body is Compromised –

Dr. Al Danenberg Nutritional Periodontist

April 9, 2023

If you have been following my cancer journey from the onset, you know I was diagnosed with incurable bone marrow cancer in September 2018 and given 3-6 months to live. Spoiler alert, I’m still here! But not without a fight, and I’m currently facing another battle.

Multiple myeloma is a complicated form of cancer where plasma cells in the bone marrow become malignant. Plasma cells are responsible for making antibodies that recognize and attack germs, so this puts my immune system at a severe disadvantage. At the time of that dire initial prognosis, I was given the option of chemotherapy, which would continue to damage my already weakened immune system in an attempt to kill the cancerous cells. I believed that the collateral damage to healthy cells from the chemo outweighed the potential benefits. And my oncologist was candid that the chemotherapy would not cure this malignancy.

So, I rejected the chemo (but not all forms of conventional medicine) and set out to figure out how I could maintain the best quality of life for the time I had left.

This led to the creation of my Unconventional Cancer Protocols. I was coming from a foundation of good health (you can read more about my background HERE), but there were some important adjustments I made in order to create the most robust immune system I possibly could. I’ve written about those at great length in previous blog posts.

However, setbacks occurred.

A major setback took place in August 2019 when I broke my right femur and my right humerus in half as well as several ribs – all at the same time. That put me into a hospice hospital to die. But amazingly, I recovered; I revoked hospice in September 2019; and I continued with my Unconventional Cancer Protocols.

I did quite well while following my protocols until I was exposed to the COVID virus. Then, a series of setbacks ensued. The SARS-CoV-2 virus reactivated my multiple myeloma by stimulating my malignant plasma cells to aggressively create dysfunctional antibodies. And I contracted COVID three time –  in June 2021[1], in January 2022[2], and again in December 2022[3].

COVID played havoc with my overall health and specifically my plasma cells. The virus caused my multiple myeloma to become very active which created an abundance of dysfunctional antibodies in my bone marrow. These dysfunctional antibodies continued to weaken the internal surfaces of my bones. The results were numerous pathological bone fractures. Today, I am dealing with several rib fractures which take their time to heal.

Unfortunately, COVID turned into Long Haulers COVID, which has caused my body to continue to feel exhausted and weak. In addition, the further activation of my multiple myeloma led to anemia. The dysfunctional antibodies were crowding out my healthy red blood cells and platelets. The myeloma also was preventing the normal creation of red cells and platelets. My hemoglobin and platelet counts dropped to low levels. The first lab results to confirm this were on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.

On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, I had my regular 4-week appointment with my oncologist. My doctor ordered the same blood tests that have been monitored since my diagnosis in 2018, (CBC, CMP, and specific antibody blood tests). The results showed slight improvement in my hemoglobin but more deterioration in platelets. In addition, there were increasingly higher levels of dysfunctional antibodies being produced.

 

NLR

I also have been monitoring my NLR.

The NLR is the Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio. Neutrophils and Lymphocytes are two different white blood cells that can be identified in a Complete Blood Count (CBC) blood test. It is a reliable blood marker for systemic inflammation in many chronic diseases and cancers as well as a most robust marker for COVID. In addition, it is an indicator of the survival prognosis for multiple myeloma patients. A rising NLR may suggest a poorer prognosis as multiple myeloma progresses.

A normal NLR is between 1:1 and 3:1. In this published study, the average NLR for hospitalized COVID patients was 6.15. When that ratio rose above 8.17 in the study, the risk of death increased. Strikingly, my NLR on 11/2/21 was 42.0 – a seriously disturbing level when I was diagnosed with COVID in November 2021! However, I was able to significantly reduce the NLR as I healed from COVID using my Protocols after my first bout with COVID.

This time around with Long Haulers COVID, my NLR was 11.6 on March 7, 2023, and then increased to 22.3 on April 4, 2023. My goal is to reduce the NLR from 22.3. I was able to do this before, and I am determined to do it again!

 

Where Do I Go From Here?

As I said, I am diligently working on reducing my NLR and returning to a stable state with this cancer.

In the future, a transfusion of packed red blood cells might be necessary.[4] But for now, my diet and gut health are two of my major efforts to regain the most robust immune system I can. And my oncologist agrees that my animal-based diet with an emphasis on organs and animal fats has a lot to do with the improvement of my hemoglobin.

To that end, I will continue to follow my Unconventional Cancer Protocols. But I will add a new product to the three desiccated organ products which I already consume daily. The new product is Life Blood from Heart & Soil.

 

Life Blood contains whole blood extract from grass-fed and grass-finished pastured cattle in New Zealand. The extract is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and various immune proteins. In addition, Life Blood has spleen and liver in the mixture. These vital nutrients and peptides should help to improve my iron stores, oxygen delivery, and endurance.

My way of eating will stay the same, but I will include more cooked organs more regularly. I have found a good source of liver, heart, and kidney mixed into a pound of pastured grass-fed ground beef that is easy to stir fry and delicious to eat. The farm is The Family Cow in Chambersburg, PA. There are other sources for this mixture, but I have found The Family Farmer to be dependable and to practice ethical husbandry.

 

I don’t have a panacea for curing my malignancy or any other cancer or chronic disease. As I have repeatedly said, creation of a robust immune system is critical for overall wellness and healing. My protocols are based on the case reports and papers published by The International Center for Medical Nutritional Intervention in Budapest, Hungary as well as my independent research of the gut microbiome and other external factors affecting cellular health.

 

Conclusion

I appreciate you being here and supporting me along my cancer journey. If I had a choice, I would have never wanted to be the face of unconventional cancer treatment – I’d choose to be healthy instead! But the information that I’ve found during my fight has been life changing for me, and I’m grateful that I have this platform to share my findings with you.

If you can take away anything from the information I share, I urge you to take control of your own health. My methods may seem extreme, and they need to be! I’m counting on them to provide me more days.

Now is the perfect time to make changes to your own health. Remove toxic elements from your diet. Exercise. Prioritize sleep. Limit stress. And if you need guidance to help with a specific issue or have questions on how to get started, please reach out. I’m here to help. My goals are to have no one suffer through illness as well as to assist everyone regain a robust immune system.

 

[1] https://drdanenberg.com/my-cancer-journey-i-think-i-had-covid/

[2] https://drdanenberg.com/my-roller-coaster-cancer-journey-march-2022-update/

[3] https://drdanenberg.com/my-cancer-journey-a-new-surprise/

[4] https://www.mymyelomateam.com/treatments/blood-transfusion

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Eat Those Organs
– It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This –

Dr. Al Danenberg Nutritional Periodontist

April 2, 2023

I work with clients all over the world to provide guidance about their mouth, their gut, their diet, and their overall health. While each client has a unique situation, I’ve found there’s one thing most of my clients have in common. It’s also the first thing we address in our work together.

Almost all these individuals are taking daily supplements and multivitamin/multimineral products to get healthy. And they wonder why they aren’t feeling any better.  This is not the way to get healthy. And that is not the way to get your bioavailable nutrients. “Bioavailability” refers to the portion of a nutrient that is absorbed in the digestive tract and released into the bloodstream for the body’s use.

Sound familiar? I’m going to share the “secret” I share with them. Give it a try for yourself, and I know you’ll be amazed by the results.

 

Organs are the Answer

Organs are the ideal “supplements”. They can be cooked and prepared as a delicacy. Or you can purchase them desiccated into a powder form and consumed in capsules or sprinkled on other foods.

However, I don’t like to label organs as “supplements”.

Organs are called “offal”. Organ meats have been a staple in traditional diets for thousands of years. They are still regularly consumed in many cultures today and were part of our diets in the U.S. and other industrialized countries until recently. Organ meats include heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, spleen, tongue, brain, tripe, thymus, gallbladder, bone marrow, cartilage, and other internal tissues. Our ancestors prized these foods and were strongly favored over the muscle meats that have become common fare today.

As part of our homo sapiens’ evolutionary history, we’re hardwired to eat an animal-based diet. These nutritional habits were perfected during the last 300,000 years.[1] Our primal ancestors all over the world prized organ meats above anything else.

Today, butchers often throw away the organs. Yet in some cultures, natives give the muscle meat of animals they hunt to their dogs and consume the raw organs at the time the animal is killed in the wild. Despite the lack of scientific measurement techniques, these traditional cultures knew from their decades of experience that organ meats were far more nutritious than muscle meats.

Ounce-for-ounce, organ meats are the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. A paper by Matthieu Maillot and colleagues published in 2007 looked at seven major food groups and 25 subgroups, characterizing the nutrient density of these foods based on the presence of 23 qualifying nutrients.[2] Organ meats scored the highest levels of nutrient density.

In another paper published in the journal of Frontiers of Nutrition in March 2022, the researchers also looked at the nutrient density of foods.[3] They showed how nutrient dense organs compared to other foods. In addition, these authors considered the important role of bioavailability. The paper pointed out that organs were the most nutrient-dense foods as well as they contained the largest percentage of bioavailable nutrients.

 

Nutrients in Offal

One question you may ask is, “What are the nutrients contained in offal?”

Practically every nutrient your body requires is present in organs, and they are in their proper ratios and are bioavailable.

In general, organ meats are rich in essential nutrients that support cellular function, such as vitamins A & E, B complex, and heme iron.

For example:

  • Liver is one of the highest sources of bioavailable retinol (the active form of vitamin A), vitamin B12, iron, zinc, and copper.
  • Spleen is the highest known source of bioavailable iron.
  • Heart is the richest source of bioavailable CoQ10, a critical antioxidant.
  • Kidney is the third-richest source (behind liver and clams) of Vitamin B12.

Also, organ meats are great sources of amino acids like carnosine, which helps maintain normal pH in muscles, and taurine, which reduces muscle damage and improves recovery after exercise. One of the reasons that athletes consume liver and other organ meats is because they help to improve athletic performance.

In addition, organs have many different enzymes and biopeptides that perform important regulatory functions in the body, including improvements in intestinal health, nutrient intake, feed conversion efficiency, mineral bioavailability, and immune function. And it is a fact that organ meats are higher in protein by weight than muscle meats. Also organ meats have more favorable ratios of omega-3 fatty acids to omega-6 fatty acids.

Some medical research suggests that diets high in methionine, an amino acid that is abundant in muscle meats and other lean proteins, may increase the risk of cancer and reduce lifespan.[4],[5] But this is only true if high methionine intake is not balanced with adequate intake of complementary nutrients like the amino acid glycine and nutrients like B12, folate, betaine, and choline.[6] These nutrients offset the potential downsides of high methionine intake and are found in other animal tissues, including organs, connective tissues, skin, and bones.

 

Supplements are NOT the Answers

As I mentioned, individual nutrient supplements as well as multivitamin/multimineral products are not the answers to health or a robust immune system.

For the most part, “supplements” are generally synthetic chemicals packaged in capsules, tablets, or liquid forms in high concentrations. They do not offer the ratios that are required by the human body for daily nutrition. As a matter of fact, most of these man-made supplements can be harmful without being combined with other symbiotic nutrients that the body must have to function correctly. In addition, many of these supplements have “other ingredients” that are food dyes, emulsifiers, preservatives, and other chemicals that harm the gut microbiome. And since most people take many of these “supplements” daily, they are taking a massive amount of harmful ingredients which have a cumulative negative effect on the gut and its epithelial barrier.

 

My Organ Protocol

I don’t cook and eat individual organs daily. But occasionally I eat several ground-up organs mixed in with ground beef. However, I consume a combination of desiccated organs daily. The desiccated organs usually come in capsule form and allow me to get all those wonderful bioavailable nutrients into my body in a balanced state.

I swallow capsules, but sometimes I open the capsules and sprinkle the powder on other foods I have cooked and prepared for my wife and me.

Here is my daily protocol for desiccated organs:

The dosing I take is 6 capsules of the Organ Complex daily; 4 capsules of the bone marrow daily; and 4 capsules of the Cartilage/Collagen daily.

The bottom line is that organs are bioavailable and extremely nutritious. My recommendation is to reduce your dependence on “supplements” you buy and replace them with desiccated organs. If you need assistance in determining what organs you need to consume, let me help you design your individual ideal organ protocol.

 

[1] https://www.doctorkiltz.com/keto-diet-and-evolution/

[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17585036/

[3] https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.806566/full

[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18252204/

[5] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0531556513000612

[6] https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.528.2

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Older Folks
– My Firsthand Account –

Dr. Al Danenberg Nutritional Periodontist

March 12, 2023

 

At some point in life, we all experience the aging of our loved ones. If we’re lucky, we’ll eventually become the “older folks”. What does that mean for us? Just because we’re aging doesn’t mean there’s a loss in value. In fact, in some cultures, the elders are revered to have more wisdom and value to share.

For this week’s blog, I want to shine a light on my firsthand experience after my recent move to a community comprised of “older folks”. I’ve made some eye-opening observations, and I want to share them along with the importance of being relevant.

 

Older Folks

My wife and I are “older folks” – both of us are almost 76 years old. We moved into a senior living community at the end of 2022. Because of my wife’s health issues and my cancer journey, it seemed to be the best move for us. And with the real estate market where we live moving significantly higher, it also was a wise financial decision. Our home sold quickly.

Although we are seniors, we are part of the younger “older folks” in our new community of elders. A large number of residents are in their 80s, and a few are nearing 100 and older.

Many in our new community are living independently as we are. Some are in assisted living apartments, and a smaller group is in the memory care units.

The independent and assisted living residents interact together for dining and social activities. And all residents receive at least one meal a day included in their monthly rent. Most of the residents either talk about or are concerned about the following topics …

  • Food – quality, taste, variety
  • “Happy Hour” – an hour before dinner where many residents gather in the “Pub” to socialize, have some wine, and often listen to live musical entertainment
  • Physical activity – exercise, yoga, walking, physical therapy
  • Mental stimulation – books, card games, trips to various venues around town, trivia contests
  • Medical concerns – personal aches and pains, personal dental health, doctor’s appointments
  • Financial concerns – adequate sources of income for their remaining years
  • The death of a friend, loved one, or spouse

Our facility is well-equipped for social functions. There are 2 libraries; 2 dining halls; a “Pub”; an outdoor patio with tables, chairs, and a gas grill; a large activity room; several smaller rooms dedicated to card games, table games, a pool table; and a theater with seating for about 50 people with amazingly comfortable leather chairs.

 

My Firsthand Account

Although this senior living complex has all the accoutrements for socializing, my interpretation is that the residents are just surviving or trying to thrive. However, I have not found any real discussion or effort to engender personal creativity among the residents.

Shortly after I moved into the complex, I got to know a 92-year-old women who published her first book of poetry when she was 85! But otherwise, I have not come across many people here who are trying to recreate themselves or be productive other than just living out their remaining years.

I am discovering that there is an underlying change in the way many elders think about themselves. They are playing out their final journey, and they know it. Being in a senior living facility only confirms this. Some residents question their relevance in society, and a few are deeply depressed.

My experience is that some of the residents are saddened by the fact that their once-close family members are less accessible than they were when they were living in their own homes. Sons, daughters, and grandchildren have their own lives and seem not to spend as much time with those older folks in a senior living facility.

Could the loss of self-relevance be a major factor that is suppressing the desire to be creative or productive?

 

Older Folks in Traditional or Nontraditional Cultures

Life for elders in traditional cultures is markedly different from elders in nontraditional cultures.

Traditional Cultures are tribes or other small groups of people that have not been affected by technology or the modern world. Nontraditional cultures are based on modern beliefs, rules, symbols, and principles.

In traditional cultures, older folks provide support, community involvement, and teaching. They pass down knowledge, shared experiences, and wisdom to the younger generations. These elders are held in positions of high esteem, honor, and respect. As seniors, they continue to be creative and productive for themselves and their community.

However, like most of us, I live in a nontraditional culture, which includes most of the U. S. Materialism is revered and efforts to make a person look “young” are the norm. All you need to do is to watch the commercials on TV to understand the emphasis on youth. Growing old is considered a curse – a time of worthlessness, alienation, estrangement, and uselessness. Efforts are made to continuously look young, feel young, act young, and medically stay young with cosmetic surgery.

For us “older folks”, our nontraditional youthful society seems to put us away somewhere. And elders begin to feel dejected, left out, unwanted, and obsolete.

Some seniors begin to encounter a dissonance between whom they feel they are on the inside and how they appear to the world on the outside. In my opinion, these older folks can lose their desire and impetus to be creative and productive. They can lose their desire to live.

 

My Integration with my New Family

Sue and I see ourselves as integral parts of this new family of older folks. I have had the privilege to become active in my new community of seniors. I feel creative and productive.

I continue to write, consult virtually around the world, and publish my blogs. I also share my knowledge and experience with my new friends in the community.

To date, I have created 3 PowerPoint Presentations for all residents who are interested. All my presentations have been scheduled in our theater. I’ve presented the first two already, and I will present the third in April.

#1. Dental Plaque is Healthy – Until It’s Not!
This was well received since no one knew anything about the facts I discussed and demonstrated. I also was able to give free samples of Revitin Toothpaste to all who attended. It was as if I was giving them a Christmas gift.

#2. Eat As If Your Life Depends On It – Because It Does!
This was another appreciated but highly controversial discussion. It seems that the management of my senior living complex is bent on providing residents with more carbohydrates than is healthy along with minimum red meat protein sources. There are pasta dishes, bread, pork and chicken choices, fried foods, and sauces with liquid oils – but very few preparations of beef. At the end of the meals, most residents relish ice cream for dessert, but they always want something sweet for dessert. Needless to say, I denounced these food decisions. Interestingly, the daily-changing menu does allow for à la carte selections which include beef patties and fresh fruit. My task was (and still is) to educate them about my animal-based diet with some fresh fruit and how to order these foods for their daily meals from the menu. Obviously, this is still a work in progress.

#3. 7 Paths to Wellbeing
This talk will be an eye-opener for many. It’s based on my Blog Get a Handle on Overall Wellness – 7 Pathways to Success. I’ll be discussing specifics that each resident can incorporate into their life to help assure their wellbeing as best as possible.

 

Be Relevant

As I enter the Older Folk chapter of my life, my goals are to be relevant and to continue to stay relevant. I am motivated to remain creative and productive.

  • I want to be physically active by participating in physical therapy and exercise programs.
  • I want to be mentally alert by preparing educational programs for the residents along with my writings and consultations.
  • I want to maintain my spiritual connection by reading books on my belief systems and testimonials of individuals from all over the world.

Aging to me is an opportunity to continue to grow productively and creatively. Social interaction with residents is my active means to share my knowledge and experience as well as be relevant. In the journey of life, aging is not an excuse to give up and settle for mediocrity or worse.

Do you have elders in your life? What questions do you want to ask them? Or are you one of those “older folks” who feel disengaged? Share your thoughts and ask your questions in the Comments Section below. I’ll get you the answers!

 

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6 Principles for Mouth Health
– Skip the Hype –

Dr. Al Danenberg Nutritional Periodontist

March 5, 2023

Everybody wants to get on the bandwagon about “mouth health”.

Several companies are making their marks. A few want you to take a saliva test which will be the answer to your oral problems. Some are promoting specific probiotics and newly developed enzymes that only are designed to alter the bacteria in the mouth. Still others are producing a host of natural toothpastes that are touted to be healthy but still contain various chemicals to indiscriminately kill the bacteria in the mouth.

The mouth is not an island unto itself. It is an integral part of the human body. It would be unrealistic to think that the successful treatment of the mouth could be an isolated process. Whatever happens to one cell in the body can affect every other cell eventually.

I am a Periodontist (i.e., a dental specialist who treats gum disease and its associated complications). I had an active practice treating my clinical patients for 44 years. Also, I am a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and Certified Primal Health Coach. If you “google” Nutritional Periodontist, I’ll be one of the first names to pop up.

Because of my experience, I am here to tell you that the methods I just mentioned and others which are designed only to “treat the mouth” are not the methods to make your mouth healthy. They are treating the manifestations of disease and not the cause.

You may think I am off my rocker, but I know what I am talking about. After all my years in the clinical practice of periodontics and my research, I can share with you what works and what doesn’t work.

In addition, I do not sell any products, but I recommend products I use personally. And I offer my time for personal consults for a fee. I am not like some of the health professionals who go on and on about the merits and medical science supporting a new-fangled supplement or gadget that you cannot live without and then try to get you to purchase it from their website.

 

Our Primal Ancestors

If you want to know what is necessary for a healthy body, you must first investigate the evolution of our species.

If we go back to our primal ancestors and determine their oral health, we will discover there was very little gum disease and tooth decay.

Certainly, our ancestors did not have a toothpaste with lots of chemicals to brush their teeth, and they never went to their nearby dental cave to get fluoride painted on their teeth.

Our ancestors ate a healthy diet which was devoid of toxic chemicals. This way of eating supported a healthy gut microbiome. Even for the few primal societies in existence today around the world, all this is still true. Primal societies is the past rarely had (and primal societies living today rarely have) chronic diseases or dental diseases. And these peoples did not use any toothbrush, toothpaste, or antimicrobial mouthwash to keep their mouths healthy.

Looking at the animal kingdom, wild animals rarely have tooth decay or gum disease. But when animals are domesticated and live in our homes and eat commercially created animal foods, they develop chronic diseases and mouth diseases.

The underlying fact is that a nutritious diet supports a healthy gut, which is critical for a healthy mouth. Almost 2,500 years ago Hippocrates got it right when he declared, “All disease begins in the gut.”[1]

 

A Healthy Gut – A Healthy Mouth

If we can mimic some of the eating habits and lifestyle of our primal ancestors, we can have a healthy mouth (and incidentally a healthy body).

I am not suggesting that we live like our primal ancestors. They had a hard life and had many disasters befall them. But there is much to learn about our species’ requirements to thrive and become the dominant animal on this planet. And most of these requirements center around diet and lifestyle. If we understand these details, we can integrate them with other facts to help us thrive and be the best we can be.

I describe these facts below in my 6 Principles for Mouth Health. But first, let me share an analogy about how a healthy environment can turn into a toxic environment.

 

A Toxic Environment

Years ago, my son owned a 125-gallon saltwater aquarium. I wrote an allegory about it in a Blog titled We Swim in a Polluted Sea. The pristine water in the aquarium became polluted over time because of commercially prepared fish food and a change in the balance of healthy bacteria. My son had no idea that the slow degradation of the healthy water in the aquarium was becoming toxic to the fish and other aquatic living things.

And statistics suggest that a “polluted sea” is occurring in the mouths of most of the U.S. population.

  1. In 2010, a published paper demonstrated that 93.9% of adults in the United States had some form of gum inflammation (gingivitis)[2], which frequently had its origin in an unhealthy gut.[3],[4]
  2. In 2015, the CDC published an update in the Journal of Periodontology.[5] It showed the prevalence of severe periodontal disease (periodontitis) was estimated to be 47.2% for American adults. For adults 65 years old and older, the prevalence jumped to 70.1%.
  3. In data published and reviewed in 2022 by the CDC, approximately 91% of U.S. adults aged 20–64 had dental caries in permanent teeth.[6] The prevalence increased to 93% for those above 65 years old.[7]

 

6 Principles for Mouth Health

Putting all this knowledge into a practical approach, I’ve summarized 6 principles below which will assure a healthy mouth.

These principles may seem simplistic. But they are some of the fundamental facts for a healthy mouth. Also, these six pathways are not exhaustive. There are other healthy lifestyle activities that are important for overall wellness and mouth health. However, these 6 Principles are essential building blocks.

For each of these 6 Principles, I included links to articles which go deeper into an explanation.

First, there must be a healthy gut microbiome and an intact gut epithelial barrier. The gut microbiome is made up of approximately 38 trillion microbial cells. And humans only have about 30 trillion human cells.[8] In essence, humans are more microbial than human!

Our microbiome plays lifesaving and lifegiving roles for our body. So, if we damage them, all our body mechanisms can be affected. And that includes the mouth.

Second, the diet must exclude any foods that feed potentially pathogenic bacteria. Specifically, processed sugars can make unhealthy bacteria abundantly grow in the mouth and cause gum disease and tooth decay.

Third, the diet must include nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods to nourish the entire body. Like high quality gasoline provides the energy for efficient function of a high-performance car engine, bioavailable nutrients must be absorbed through our gut lining to feed every cell in our body. Each cell has its own purpose (i.e., heart cell, brain cell, nerve cell, gum tissue cell, etc.) so that they will function as they were designed to function.

Fourth, all irritants or toxic elements which we have control over must be avoided or removed from our food supply and our environment. Toxic elements are like dirt that clogs up an engine’s pistons. The accumulation of toxic elements in the body will hinder and eventually stop our cells from performing properly.

Fifth, each of us should carry out a daily efficient oral hygiene program (correct brushing, flossing, tongue cleaning, interproximal brushing). Dental plaque starts off as healthy and remains healthy until it’s not!

You must understand that healthy dental plaque serves at least three important biological processes. It …

  1. Allows necessary nutrients and minerals from the saliva to enter the root of the tooth to remineralize it as necessary 24/7.
  2. Produces hydrogen peroxide to kill any potentially pathogenic microbes in the mouth from getting to the gum/tooth margin.
  3. Buffers the acidity around the gum/tooth margin to maintain an acid level of no more acidic than pH 5.5 to prevent demineralization of the root surface.

Unhealthy dental plaque is made up of pathogenic microbes that are stimulated by an unhealthy gut microbiome and unhealthy food choices. Unhealthy dental plaque forms on top of healthy dental plaque.

Properly performed oral hygiene will help remove the unhealthy dental plaque. The Oral Hygiene Program I recommend demonstrates the techniques to effectively clean the gum/tooth margins and the tongue.

Sixth, any inflammation and infection in the teeth, gums, and jawbone must be appropriately treated by a knowledgeable dentist. If there is a broken filling, an ill-fitting dental restoration, a necrotic tooth with an abscess, damage in the bone from an extraction, or anything else that is irritating the mouth tissues, they could act like a splinter. If you had a splinter in your finger, you would need to remove it before the skin could heal. If there is a “splinter” in your mouth, you must remove it before the mouth can heal.

 

The Result

Following these principles will ultimately balance the complex garden of microbes in the gut and in the mouth. When the body is provided with all the nutrients required for efficient metabolism, the garden of bacteria in the mouth will become and stay balanced. Homeostasis in the mouth will assure healthy gums and healthy teeth.

These principles are also necessary for a healthy body. Keep in mind the quote from Hippocrates, “All disease begins in the gut.” Every organ system is dependent on a healthy gut.

Do you have some questions about your mouth, your gut, or your health? I am here to help answer your questions. Schedule a free 30-minute consult with me to discuss your concerns.

 

[1] https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awy017

[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20437720/

[3] https://aap.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/JPER.21-0374

[4] https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2021.752708/full

[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4460825/

[6] http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/DataStatistics/FindDataByTopic/DentalCaries/DentalCariesAdults20to64.htm

[7] http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/DataStatistics/FindDataByTopic/DentalCaries/DentalCariesSeniors65older.htm

[8] https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.1002533

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My Cancer Journey
– A New Surprise –

Dr. Al Danenberg Nutritional Periodontist

February 26, 2023

Life can turn on a dime.

Just a few weeks ago, I published my updated Blog about my cancer journey and Continuing to Thrive.

And I was thriving!

And I’m still thriving!

But there’s a “but” …

But now, I’m dealing with a new surprise – a surprise I was not expecting. I guess that’s why I call it a surprise.

 

My New Surprise

My new surprise is “Long COVID”.

According to the CDC, 1 in 5 Americans who had Covid are struggling with “Long Covid”. Unfortunately, I am one of those as are many of you. So, I’m doing what I do best: finding unconventional methods to regain the quality of my life.

Read on to learn how I worked with my doctors to understand my condition, create benchmarks of my current state, and devise a plan to get me back on track. There is so much that medical professionals still don’t know about long COVID. If you find yourself in a similar battle, I invite you to follow along. I’ll be sharing what I learn, what works, and providing guidance to help you get your health back.

But first, here is how Long COVID crept up on me.

It seems like the COVID episode I had the week of Christmas 2022 caused undiagnosed damage to my lungs and heart. I didn’t know then what I know now. Now, I’m manifesting symptoms. And I’m getting educated about Long COVID.

My early symptoms began around the time I published my Blog about thriving. It started with having excessive phlegm. Then it progressed to shortness of breath. I had trouble taking deep breaths and was easily fatigued. And these symptoms increased.

As I said, not much is understood about Long COVID. As a matter of fact, Long COVID was not believed to be a “real” condition by many conventional healthcare professionals until recently.

Fortunately, my doctors have come to believe it to be real. Coincidently, one of my docs has had Long COVID herself and is empathetic to what I am experiencing.

My medical team recommended several medical tests. These are not specific for the diagnosis of Long COVID but can indicate changes that are consistent with those who have Long COVID symptoms.

The following tests showed several disconcerting results …

  1. My BNP blood test result was elevated. BNP stands for Brain Natriuretic Peptide. BNP is a protein secreted by the ventricular musculature in the heart in response to volume or pressure overload. Since its discovery over 30 years ago, BNP has emerged as an important biomarker in the diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF).[1]
  2. My Chest CT Scan showed signs of some recent lung damage from possible infection. This may suggest the presence of Long COVID.
  3. Although I have a CBC (Complete Blood Count) blood test performed every 4 weeks, my current CBC showed a lower RBC (Red Blood Cell), Hemoglobin, and Platelet count than my usual results. Also, my NLR (Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio)[2] was significantly elevated, which is consistent with COVID.

Up until a couple of weeks ago, my cancer journey was centered around my efforts to improve my immune system to help heal my body as best as possible and as naturally as possible. My most recent battle with Long COVID symptoms has put another wrinkle into my equation. Although the equation has changed, I’m going to continue with my Unconventional Cancer Protocols to help my body heal.

Among other things, my Protocols provide all the bioavailable nutrients my body requires to function properly in their natural ratios and symbiotic relationships with other nutrients that are consistent with healthy metabolism.

In addition, I will repeat the BNP and CBC blood tests once a month and the Chest CT Scan in 3 months.

My original goal is still my current goal – to enjoy a quality of life as best as I can. Longevity is not my primary concern although that would be quite fine. (See, I still have a unique but morbid sense of humor.)

However, from everything I read, therapy for Long COVID should be approached gradually, and recovery could take a long time.

 

My Doctors’ Recommendations

It is my decision to continue with my Unconventional Cancer Protocols to support my immune system. Also, my doctors have recommended the following 2 practices to assist my body’s healing and repair …

  1. Breathing exercises with an Incentive Spirometer[3]
  2. Physical therapy to slowly regain muscle efficiency and assist with functional movement and improvement[4]

 

Facts about Long COVID[5],[6]

Long COVID has many names:

  • COVID Long-Haul
  • Chronic COVID-19
  • Long-haul COVID
  • Post-acute COVID-19
  • Post-acute sequelae of SARS CoV-2 infection (PASC)
  • Long-term effects of COVIDTop of Form

As I mentioned earlier, the CDC has determined that 20% of those having COVID go on to develop Long COVID. To receive a diagnosis of Long COVID, a patient generally continues with symptoms for at least three or more months following the viral infection.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus can wreak havoc on virtually every body system …

  • Lungs
  • Brain
  • Heart
  • Blood
  • Kidneys
  • Liver

Of course, not all people with Long COVID have the same symptoms. There are more than 200 reported symptoms associated with various individuals suffering from Long COVID. And these symptoms can linger, change, or reappear over time. Here are just a few of the organ symptoms affected and their manifestations …

 

Lung and Heart Symptoms

  • Breathlessness
  • Fatigue
  • Chest pain
  • Chest tightness
  • Cough
  • Heart palpitations

 

Neurological & Muscular Symptoms

  • Brain fog and memory issues
  • Dizziness when standing up
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches and pain
  • Joint pain
  • Sleep problems
  • Feelings of “pins and needles”
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Depression or anxiety

 

Digestive Symptoms

  • Abdominal pain
  • Acid reflux
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea

 

Diagnosis

There is no test to specifically diagnose Long COVID, but some of the following medical tests may suggest changes that occur with those suffering from Long COVID.

  • Brain Natriuretic Peptides: Elevations in the proteins measured in this test can indicate heart failure.
  • Complete Blood Count: This can rule out anemia in a person who is short of breath and provide information about red and white blood cell counts. An elevated white blood cell count can signal an active infection. This test also can be used to uncover an elevated Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR)[7] , which is a feature of acute COVID.
  • C-Reactive Protein: This test detects the liver’s response to inflammation in the body. This biomarker is usually elevated in people with COVID-19.
  • Ferritin: This test also can be used to detect anemia or problems with red blood cells, as well as inflammation in the body.
  • Complete Metabolic Panel: The CMP can be used to detect imbalances in minerals and electrolytes, as well as provide information on kidney and liver function.
  • Troponin: Elevated troponin levels can indicate heart damage or even a heart attack.
  • Electrocardiogram and a Chest CT Scan: These tests may help if there is concern about heart damage or lung damage.

 

Treatment

Current treatment for Long COVID appears to be “hit and miss” with little or no emphasis by the conventional medical community on healthy nutrition and lifestyle changes. In some cases, Long COVID damage may be permanent and may require ongoing care.

Here is further information about Long COVID and possible contributing factors.

 

My Personal Cancer & Long COVID

I’m travelling a path that is uncharted. Multiple Myeloma has no known cure in conventional oncology. And Long COVID is still being debated among the medical profession. However, recent studies have shown that patients with multiple myeloma have a higher mortality rate after they contracted COVID[8].

These uncharted health concerns are motivating me to be even more courageous and unconventional. I’m a fighter. I will fight the fight in my own way with the integrated assistance of my medical team.

If you suffer from Long COVID, I know what you are going through. Although we may have different symptoms, recovery must be thought out and approached gently. Various medical disciplines might need to be consulted. I’ll share everything I learn from reading and from my approach to my personal treatment.

By the way, do you know that I proclaim myself to be a Survivor and not a Victim? Let me help you if you have questions about your coping skills and anything else relating to your nutrition and wellness. I offer a free 30-Minute Consult with me to discuss your concerns.

 

[1] https://www.medicinenet.com/bnp_test/article.htm

[2] https://drdanenberg.com/powerful-inflammation-marker-using-routine-cbc/

[3] https://www.healthline.com/health/incentive-spirometer

[4] https://www.therapeuticassociates.com/supporting-covid-long-haulers-through-physical-therapy/

[5] https://www.verywellhealth.com/covid-long-haulers-5101640

[6] https://health.usnews.com/conditions/coronavirus-and-your-health/articles/long-covid-treatments

[7] https://drdanenberg.com/powerful-inflammation-marker-using-routine-cbc/

[8] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41408-021-00588-z

 

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Get a Handle on Overall Wellness
– 7 Pathways to Success –

Dr. Al Danenberg Nutritional Periodontist

February 19, 2023

Wellness is a state of mind and a state of being. Your attitude can dictate your path leading to health or disease. And your state of being is the manifestation of your overall wellness or illness.

You and only you must get a handle on the pathways that can guide you to happiness and wellbeing. I’m going to offer 7 specific pathways for you to consider. Think of each as part of a “To Do” list.

But first, here are some ‘Don’ts …

  • Don’t depend on health insurance to make you healthy.
  • Don’t depend on the medical community to pave your way.
  • Don’t depend on synthetic, mass-produced supplements for prevention or cure.
  • Don’t deviate from our species’ specific needs for nutrition and physical activity.
  • Don’t dismiss the benefits which conventional medicine can offer when you find yourself in an acute situation that requires allopathic treatment to overcome a medical emergency.

Get a handle on your overall wellness as naturally as possible. Do your research and make your decisions.

 

7 Pathways to Success

Here are seven “to-do” pathways that can lead to success or lead to failure if not followed. These are pathways that I have followed personally along my cancer journey …

  1. Feed your body with bioavailable nutrients, which are required to thrive
  2. Avoid all toxic elements in your food sources and your environment that you can control
  3. Exercise efficiently
  4. Sleep restoratively
  5. Control emotional stress
  6. Have a support team or a partner to share your ups and downs when necessary
  7. Believe in a superior power that offers guidance and spiritual enlightenment

 

Do Your Research

Scour the available references to learn what is working and what is hype.

  • Use key search words on PubMed to find abstracts from peer-reviewed medical papers published all over the world to read and understand what is out there.
  • Read medical results of patients treated with unconventional methods by medical practitioners.
  • Be careful when you read various healthcare “professionals” who tout their products for sale. Their conflicts of interest may ultimately cloud their judgement and their motivation. I’ve written about conflicts of interest in the world of nutrition.

As you do your research, you may want to search my website. I have written extensively about these pathways to success. You can go to my website Blog page and use the “Search” box to enter the keywords for what you are interested in. The search engine will bring up all my published content that I have created on my website regarding your search.

 

Links to 7 Pathways to Success

I have selected several links that go into detail about these specific pathways. Check out the ones that interest you …

#1. Bioavailable nutrients

 

#2. Avoid toxic elements

OXLAMS is an acronym for Oxidized Linoleic Acid Metabolites. OXLAMS are bad stuff.

  • They are destructive byproducts of an element in the food which most of us eat every day.
  • They create metabolic dysfunction and mitochondrial dysfunction over time.
  • They are the elephant in the room that could be killing us slowly.

Humans have adjusted gradually to a change in diet over the thousands of years of evolution. But our DNA has not kept up with the dramatic and rapid changes in the foods we eat. Some of these foods have inherent substances, which can accumulate little by little in our body. The slow accumulation of these unhealthy elements can and will be our downfall metabolically.

The more we educate ourselves of all toxic elements in our food system and our environment, the more we can take appropriate steps to prevent serious chronic diseases that become debilitating and life-threatening as we age.

 

#3. Exercise efficiently

In August 2017, I wrote a blog about high intensity interval training. Before that in May 2017, I published my article titled, Connecting The Dots: HIIT, Mitochondria, Gingivitis. I explained how science has demonstrated a positive link between high intensity interval training (HIIT) and overall health. Specifically, I described the link between HIIT and the health of the mitochondria relating to improved mouth health.

Here is a 2022 peer-reviewed article about high intensity interval training as well as a 2022 article about vigorous intermittent physical activity. Both explain the benefits of this type of exercise.

 

#4. Sleep restoratively

The lack of sleep or poor-quality sleep can produce damaging effects on a variety of essential day-to-day functions. Memory consolidation, body healing, and metabolic regulation occur during the sleep cycle. The lack of sleep or poor-quality sleep can negatively affect a person’s ability to properly function and can result in many chronic disorders such as diabetes, obesity, depression, bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder, and many other chronic diseases.

There are noninvasive ways to balance your brain waves to improve your sleep naturally and to check if you have other breathing issues that can affect your sleep.

 

#5. Control emotional stress

You might imagine my stress level went through the roof in 2018 when I received my cancer diagnosis and devastating prognosis. I feared my career was over, my quality of life would end, and the ability for me to provide for my family would stop abruptly. All that did not happen!

But now I have the stress from the repercussions of having COVID, which include the reactivation of the multiple myeloma.

Many of the people with whom I coach have experienced increased levels of emotional stress. A major cause has been the pandemic and all the collateral damage this destructive force has had on their daily living and their ability to maintain an income. But chronic emotional stresses can be caused by many things.

Consequently, increased stress levels can significantly influence a person’s eating habits, gut health, pocketbook, and overall health. Working on a Game Plan to address any emotional stresses has been helpful for many people. In fact, my Game Plan has delivered solutions for me. I know it can help you.

 

#6. Support team

I am only human. And being human, I have had significant but short bouts of depression. But I owe my strength to my wife, Sue, who always has been there to lift me up by my bootstraps and out from the abyss of depression. When she had some personal medical complications, I tried to be her support pillar.

She and I are a team, and she has helped me regain my focus whenever necessary. I refuse to be a victim.

I am extremely fortunate to have Sue in my life, and I know that not everyone has a “Sue” in their life. That’s why I’ve created this online community. Facing illness is tough, and I want each one of you reading this to know you are supported in your journey.

 

#7. Spiritual support

Most of my followers know that I was placed in a hospice hospital in late August 2019 to die. But most don’t know what happened to me during those hospice days of deep depression and preparing for death. And then how my spirituality lifted me up to where I am today.

Here’s a sweet story that affected me deeply and challenges you to think about life through the lens of a child.

 

You Have Power Over Your Own Health

You have the power to be your own advocate. Your wellness is up to you. You may not agree with all my recommendations and opinions, but these may be important steps for you to take control.

We come into this world alone, and we leave this world alone. Our existence during our life is under our control. But we are social beings. Although we can do this alone, it may be better and easier with the help of a support team. However, never give away your right to make your own health decisions and to follow your wellness pathways.

If you need guidance, set up a free 30-minute consultation with me. No sales pitch, no obligation. I’ve been through it all with my journey, and I want to use my knowledge to help others make their health journeys less confusing and less complicated. Your path won’t be the same as mine, nor do I expect you to follow the same plan. What I can do is provide you with reputable resources and tools to create a foundation of health that will serve you for years to come. Schedule your consultation here.

 

Buy My Book

Crazy-Good Living

 

If you don’t want to miss out on new posts, sign up for my Free “Belly Bites” Newsletter and receive your free copy of Dr Al’s “5 Things That Could Be Impacting Your Health Right Now” HERE.