Homocysteine's, vascular disease and folic acid

[Guest guest]

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, " the relation of homocysteine

to vascular disease is so compelling that the U.S. government now mandates folic

acid fortification of the food supply...folic acid therapy could, in theory,

prevent the disastrous consequences of homocysteine-induced vascular disorders. "

Folic acid is an inexpensive vitamin whose recommended dosage is 1 to 2

milligrams a day.

Dr. Kilmer McCully, who discovered homocysteine, an amino acid, also recommends

B6 and B12 supplements besides the folic acid. He also follows the

Mediterranean diet somewhat.

Here are some general dietary guidelines from the Doctor : Basically, people

should eat fresh, whole, well-prepared foods, including a variety of fruits,

vegetables, whole grains, fresh fish, meats, eggs, and other fresh dairy

products with a minimum of processing and preservation. Avoid highly processed,

preserved, and packaged foods as much as possible, particularly those containing

white, wheat, rice, and other highly processed flours, such as cake flour. Avoid

foods that contain lots of sugar, such as soft drinks, desserts, or yogurt with

added sugars, as well as foods with large quantities of added oils. People

should particularly avoid all foods containing hydrogenated oils, including

margarine, artificial shortenings, as well as foods containing the partially

hydrogenated oils, because these oils contain trans-fatty acids that are very

damaging to arteries. Finally, avoid foods containing powdered eggs, powdered

milk, and fried foods containing oxycholesterols.

Q: You draw from the Mediterranean diet. Why is this diet so healthy? Is it the

high omega-3 oil content?

A: Omega-3 oil is one factor. Many studies have shown that the Mediterranean

diet has a higher ratio of omega-3 oils to omega-6 oils that is beneficial to

preservation of health. The Mediterranean diet features exactly what The Heart

Revolution diet does: namely, fresh, whole foods--including vegetables, fruits,

whole grains, and so on. The Mediterranean diet, however, relies on white flour;

I am thinking primarily of white bread in France and pasta in Italy. Highly

refined white flour is severely depleted in both vitamin [b.sub.6] and folic

acid.

My advice is to modify the Mediterranean diet by substituting whole grains,

especially whole-grain pasta and bread. What you need to look for are the panne

integrale, the whole-wheat multigrain breads. These are commercially available,

or one can also make them. That's what we do in our household. We grind flour

from wheat and use this whole wheat flour to make pasta, breads, pancakes, and

crackers.

Here's a link for more information:

http://www.findarticles.com/m1189/6_271/57011026/p1/article.jhtml

Has anyone in the group tried this regimen for rosacea control ?

Regards,

Dennis

[Guest guest]

Hi Dennis,

Thanks for posting this article. I follow a similar way of eating and

find that it does help to decrease rosacea redness. This is just my

opinion and it does not work for everyone. For all I know, I may be

getting a bit of a placebo effect from it, or my rosacea may be in a

remission status. I still have to watch my triggers like excessive

heat, stress, and caffeine regardless of the way I eat. In addition,

I think the vascular disease the article probably talks about is

heart disease.

I know I've said this in the past umpteen times, so those who've seen

me write this before please ignore it. My family comes from a small,

isolated village in an island off the coast of Croatia. I've visited

there quite a few times and have seen many of my distant relatives

with rosacea who've never lived anywhere else. They eat the typical

Mediterranean diet you mention below, lots of fish, olive oil, beans,

rice and pasta. Their rosacea is still in full force. I asked my mom

about people from the island whom she remembers having red faces when

she was a little girl in the 30s and 40s, because prepared foods were

non-existant then. If you had food you grew it or made it from

scratch or received it from someone who did this. Whole grain was the

only choice. There was no sugar. My mother says she only got one

piece of hard candy if someone from the US was visiting which was

once every year. (She never had chocolate until she immigrated to the

US. ) The big dessert treat was an apple in the fall and

peaches/cherries/plums in the summer. (They were lucky to have any

food in the 40s.) She said there were quite a few older people who

had really red faces back then.

I don't think diet is the entire answer for many of us. For many of

us, it may not make any difference though it probably helps overall

health. It didn't make much difference for my long departed

relatives from the 30s and 40s who never saw sugar, white flour of

any kind, prepared foods or a refrigerator.

Take care,

Matija

> According to the New England Journal of Medicine, " the relation of

homocysteine to vascular disease is so compelling that the U.S.

government now mandates folic acid fortification of the food

supply...folic acid therapy could, in theory, prevent the disastrous

consequences of homocysteine-induced vascular disorders. "

>

> Folic acid is an inexpensive vitamin whose recommended dosage is 1

to 2 milligrams a day.

> Dr. Kilmer McCully, who discovered homocysteine, an amino acid,

also recommends B6 and B12 supplements besides the folic acid. He

also follows the Mediterranean diet somewhat.

>

> Here are some general dietary guidelines from the Doctor :

Basically, people should eat fresh, whole, well-prepared foods,

including a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fresh fish,

meats, eggs, and other fresh dairy products with a minimum of

processing and preservation. Avoid highly processed, preserved, and

packaged foods as much as possible, particularly those containing

white, wheat, rice, and other highly processed flours, such as cake

flour. Avoid foods that contain lots of sugar, such as soft drinks,

desserts, or yogurt with added sugars, as well as foods with large

quantities of added oils. People should particularly avoid all foods

containing hydrogenated oils, including margarine, artificial

shortenings, as well as foods containing the partially hydrogenated

oils, because these oils contain trans-fatty acids that are very

damaging to arteries. Finally, avoid foods containing powdered eggs,

powdered milk, and fried foods containing oxycholesterols.

> Q: You draw from the Mediterranean diet. Why is this diet so

healthy? Is it the high omega-3 oil content?

> A: Omega-3 oil is one factor. Many studies have shown that the

Mediterranean diet has a higher ratio of omega-3 oils to omega-6 oils

that is beneficial to preservation of health. The Mediterranean diet

features exactly what The Heart Revolution diet does: namely, fresh,

whole foods--including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and so on.

The Mediterranean diet, however, relies on white flour; I am thinking

primarily of white bread in France and pasta in Italy. Highly refined

white flour is severely depleted in both vitamin [b.sub.6] and folic

acid.

> My advice is to modify the Mediterranean diet by substituting whole

grains, especially whole-grain pasta and bread. What you need to look

for are the panne integrale, the whole-wheat multigrain breads. These

are commercially available, or one can also make them. That's what we

do in our household. We grind flour from wheat and use this whole

wheat flour to make pasta, breads, pancakes, and crackers.

> Here's a link for more information:

> http://www.findarticles.com/m1189/6_271/57011026/p1/article.jhtml

>

> Has anyone in the group tried this regimen for rosacea control ?

>

> Regards,

>

> Dennis

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Matija, it sounds like there's something gene related going on with your

relatives on the island. I happened to be cursed with the luck of the Irish

rosacea gene. So was my father and brothers. My one brothers nickname when

growing up was " pink " . He had such a " healthy " red face.

I know of one definite trigger I have. About 15 years ago, I complained to my

family doctor during a routine exam that my nose would glow red after drinking a

beer. He told me that if I didn't stop drinking that my nose would eventually

end up looking like W.C. Fields nose. Well, I took that advice to heart and

stopped all alcohol, but 15 years later I still have a red nose and patches here

and there of rosacea. The latest area of redness is very close to my eyes.

I bought Dr. Nase's book, but even some of the things he has recommended,

Sensitive Skin Cleansing Bar from Neutrogena, caused a red, rashy face after

using it a couple of times; Grape seed extract might be causing some flushing;

Refresh Plus eye drops may be responsible for the redness that has flared under

my eyes. I guess it's ymmv.

So many triggers, so little time !

Good luck.

Dennis

Re: Homocysteine's, vascular disease and folic acid

Hi Dennis,

Thanks for posting this article. I follow a similar way of eating and

find that it does help to decrease rosacea redness. This is just my

opinion and it does not work for everyone. For all I know, I may be

getting a bit of a placebo effect from it, or my rosacea may be in a

remission status. I still have to watch my triggers like excessive

heat, stress, and caffeine regardless of the way I eat. In addition,

I think the vascular disease the article probably talks about is

heart disease.

I know I've said this in the past umpteen times, so those who've seen

me write this before please ignore it. My family comes from a small,

isolated village in an island off the coast of Croatia. I've visited

there quite a few times and have seen many of my distant relatives

with rosacea who've never lived anywhere else. They eat the typical

Mediterranean diet you mention below, lots of fish, olive oil, beans,

rice and pasta. Their rosacea is still in full force. I asked my mom

about people from the island whom she remembers having red faces when

she was a little girl in the 30s and 40s, because prepared foods were

non-existant then. If you had food you grew it or made it from

scratch or received it from someone who did this. Whole grain was the

only choice. There was no sugar. My mother says she only got one

piece of hard candy if someone from the US was visiting which was

once every year. (She never had chocolate until she immigrated to the

US. ) The big dessert treat was an apple in the fall and

peaches/cherries/plums in the summer. (They were lucky to have any

food in the 40s.) She said there were quite a few older people who

had really red faces back then.

I don't think diet is the entire answer for many of us. For many of

us, it may not make any difference though it probably helps overall

health. It didn't make much difference for my long departed

relatives from the 30s and 40s who never saw sugar, white flour of

any kind, prepared foods or a refrigerator.

Take care,

Matija

[Guest guest]

Hi Matija, it sounds like there's something gene related going on with your

relatives on the island. I happened to be cursed with the luck of the Irish

rosacea gene. So was my father and brothers. My one brothers nickname when

growing up was " pink " . He had such a " healthy " red face.

I know of one definite trigger I have. About 15 years ago, I complained to my

family doctor during a routine exam that my nose would glow red after drinking a

beer. He told me that if I didn't stop drinking that my nose would eventually

end up looking like W.C. Fields nose. Well, I took that advice to heart and

stopped all alcohol, but 15 years later I still have a red nose and patches here

and there of rosacea. The latest area of redness is very close to my eyes.

I bought Dr. Nase's book, but even some of the things he has recommended,

Sensitive Skin Cleansing Bar from Neutrogena, caused a red, rashy face after

using it a couple of times; Grape seed extract might be causing some flushing;

Refresh Plus eye drops may be responsible for the redness that has flared under

my eyes. I guess it's ymmv.

So many triggers, so little time !

Good luck.

Dennis

Re: Homocysteine's, vascular disease and folic acid

Hi Dennis,

Thanks for posting this article. I follow a similar way of eating and

find that it does help to decrease rosacea redness. This is just my

opinion and it does not work for everyone. For all I know, I may be

getting a bit of a placebo effect from it, or my rosacea may be in a

remission status. I still have to watch my triggers like excessive

heat, stress, and caffeine regardless of the way I eat. In addition,

I think the vascular disease the article probably talks about is

heart disease.

I know I've said this in the past umpteen times, so those who've seen

me write this before please ignore it. My family comes from a small,

isolated village in an island off the coast of Croatia. I've visited

there quite a few times and have seen many of my distant relatives

with rosacea who've never lived anywhere else. They eat the typical

Mediterranean diet you mention below, lots of fish, olive oil, beans,

rice and pasta. Their rosacea is still in full force. I asked my mom

about people from the island whom she remembers having red faces when

she was a little girl in the 30s and 40s, because prepared foods were

non-existant then. If you had food you grew it or made it from

scratch or received it from someone who did this. Whole grain was the

only choice. There was no sugar. My mother says she only got one

piece of hard candy if someone from the US was visiting which was

once every year. (She never had chocolate until she immigrated to the

US. ) The big dessert treat was an apple in the fall and

peaches/cherries/plums in the summer. (They were lucky to have any

food in the 40s.) She said there were quite a few older people who

had really red faces back then.

I don't think diet is the entire answer for many of us. For many of

us, it may not make any difference though it probably helps overall

health. It didn't make much difference for my long departed

relatives from the 30s and 40s who never saw sugar, white flour of

any kind, prepared foods or a refrigerator.

Take care,

Matija

[Guest guest]

Hi Matija, it sounds like there's something gene related going on with your

relatives on the island. I happened to be cursed with the luck of the Irish

rosacea gene. So was my father and brothers. My one brothers nickname when

growing up was " pink " . He had such a " healthy " red face.

I know of one definite trigger I have. About 15 years ago, I complained to my

family doctor during a routine exam that my nose would glow red after drinking a

beer. He told me that if I didn't stop drinking that my nose would eventually

end up looking like W.C. Fields nose. Well, I took that advice to heart and

stopped all alcohol, but 15 years later I still have a red nose and patches here

and there of rosacea. The latest area of redness is very close to my eyes.

I bought Dr. Nase's book, but even some of the things he has recommended,

Sensitive Skin Cleansing Bar from Neutrogena, caused a red, rashy face after

using it a couple of times; Grape seed extract might be causing some flushing;

Refresh Plus eye drops may be responsible for the redness that has flared under

my eyes. I guess it's ymmv.

So many triggers, so little time !

Good luck.

Dennis

Re: Homocysteine's, vascular disease and folic acid

Hi Dennis,

Thanks for posting this article. I follow a similar way of eating and

find that it does help to decrease rosacea redness. This is just my

opinion and it does not work for everyone. For all I know, I may be

getting a bit of a placebo effect from it, or my rosacea may be in a

remission status. I still have to watch my triggers like excessive

heat, stress, and caffeine regardless of the way I eat. In addition,

I think the vascular disease the article probably talks about is

heart disease.

I know I've said this in the past umpteen times, so those who've seen

me write this before please ignore it. My family comes from a small,

isolated village in an island off the coast of Croatia. I've visited

there quite a few times and have seen many of my distant relatives

with rosacea who've never lived anywhere else. They eat the typical

Mediterranean diet you mention below, lots of fish, olive oil, beans,

rice and pasta. Their rosacea is still in full force. I asked my mom

about people from the island whom she remembers having red faces when

she was a little girl in the 30s and 40s, because prepared foods were

non-existant then. If you had food you grew it or made it from

scratch or received it from someone who did this. Whole grain was the

only choice. There was no sugar. My mother says she only got one

piece of hard candy if someone from the US was visiting which was

once every year. (She never had chocolate until she immigrated to the

US. ) The big dessert treat was an apple in the fall and

peaches/cherries/plums in the summer. (They were lucky to have any

food in the 40s.) She said there were quite a few older people who

had really red faces back then.

I don't think diet is the entire answer for many of us. For many of

us, it may not make any difference though it probably helps overall

health. It didn't make much difference for my long departed

relatives from the 30s and 40s who never saw sugar, white flour of

any kind, prepared foods or a refrigerator.

Take care,

Matija