Is Cervical Cancer Hereditary | Early Diagnosis | More Facts!

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When women talking about cervical cancer, ‘Is it hereditary?’ and ‘Is it curable?’ are some of the most frequently asked questions! As well as the name of the disease implies, it is a kind of cancer that occurs /attacks the cervix ‘an important part of female reproductive system’. What else you need to know about facts of the disease?
You might also be interested to know more about complementary therapies and natural remedies for cervical cancer in here, before continuing! Though the exact cause of this disease is still no clear, but doctors have confirmed some conditions or factors that increase your risk of developing cervical cancer.

Furthermore, early diagnosis of the disease is also very crucial. If you are diagnosed with the disease at early stages, don’t worry -- the disease is much easier to be treated and cured at early stage.
So, is cervical cancer hereditary?
Having a first degree (such as daughter, sister, or mother) family history of cervical cancer may put someone at higher risk of having the disease -- according to some studies. However, there is no clearly answer to confirm whether this increased risk because of inherited faulty genes or other factors (particularly such lifestyle factors), or both!
The result of these studies may sound worrying. Though family history of cervical cancer may contribute to increase your risk, but many experts still believe that the risk is still very small. In fact, most women with a family history of cervical cancer don’t have /develop the disease -- according to the U.K Cancer Research Organization.
What are major factors that increase your risk?
In many cases, the infection of HPV (Human papilloma virus) is the leading factor in increased risk of developing cervical cancer. This infection usually spread through intercourse, that’s why women who have high risk sex behavior at high risk of having the infection which then also at high risk of developing cervical cancer.

Another fact is that most women with HPV infection don’t develop the disease. Most of sexually active women will have HPV infection at some points of their lifetime. But in many cases, this infection is not harmful and it goes away on its own.
But in some women, the infection doesn’t go away on its own and can survive /live for many years, which then may cause an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. Therefore to keep safe, it’s much better to stay away from the infection (keep far away from any bad behavior that increases your risk of having the infection).
As mentioned before, most women infected with HPV infection are not diagnosed with cervical cancer. This suggests that there are also other factors that increase your risk, these include:

1. Cigarette smoking.
2. Too young of having intercourse (at an early age).
3. Having a weak body’s immune system.
4. And high sex risk behavior (particularly such as having a high number of sexual partners, doing intercourse without condom, etc).

*** Having one or some of these risk factors doesn’t mean that we will definitely develop the disease, but these risk factors can increase your risk of developing cervical cancer. Discuss more with a doctor for in-depth information!
Early diagnosis /detection for cervical cancer
Unfortunately, the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer in women are usually unnoticeable at early stage. This is one of reasons that can increase your chance of having a late diagnosis.
According to the American Cancer Society -- you should see a doctor promptly if have one /some of the following conditions:

1. Pain during intercourse!
2. Experiencing abnormal vaginal discharge.
3. And having abnormal bleeding from the vagina, like bleeding in the postmenopausal (after menopause), spotting /bleeding between your menstrual periods, experiencing heavier /longer menstruations than usual, or bleeding after intercourse.

As mentioned before, treating the cancer cells at early stages are much easier than treating them at later stages. That’s why once again - it’s very crucial and important to diagnose the cancer as earlier as possible for better prognosis of patient. You may also like to know about cervical cancer survival rates and prognosis, before continuing!
You should know that there are a lot of types of HPV (over 1000 different types). Though currently there are available vaccines to prevent HPV infection, but these vaccines are still not able to protect your body from all viruses that cause cervical cancer. 
Therefore, it’s also important for you to take a routine pap test. This is a kind of regular screening test to keep monitoring the cells on the cervix. It can be very useful to find any abnormal cells on the cells on the cervix early, so thus the preventive steps can be used to treat these abnormal cells before going to become cells of cancer. -- In fact, many doctors still believe that a routine pep test is still the best option to effectively prevent cervical cancer!
If your pep test results something wrong with the cells of the cervix, or if you have some symptoms /signs of cervical cancer, then you may undergo to get some further tests to find a clearly diagnosis! To diagnose a cancer on the cervix, your doctor may perform one /some of the following tests or procedures:
Physical exam and medical history
First, doctors usually need to know about your risk factors, overall health, and perform a physical exam. The physical exam is usually also intended to analyze the performance of your lymph nodes, whether or not they have been invaded by cells of cancer.
Colposcopy
It is a kind of test to examine the cervix. In this procedure, doctor usually will use microscope (special microscope) to find abnormal cells on the cervix. If doctor finds unusual areas, a small sample of cells will be taken for further analysis (biopsy).
Biopsy
One of functions of this procedure is to take a sample of cells /tissues from the cervix with special biopsy tools which then will be analyzed to find whether or not these cells are cancer!
Cone biopsy
As the name suggests, this procedure is purposed to take a cone-shaped area of cervix, which helpful for doctors to more clearly obtain cervical cells (deeper layers of cervix) for laboratory testing. In addition, to cut away the cervix’s tissue, doctor may use electrified wire loop, laser, or scalpel.
*** And after making a clearly diagnosis of cervical cancer, the further tests are usually purposed to find and determine the stage of cancer.
More facts of cervical cancer!
The following are other facts of the disease:

1. Pelvic pain and abnormal bleeding are usually the most common signs of the disease.
2. The chance to cure the disease is good if the disease is diagnosed at early stage. Laser surgery, cauterization, and cryosurgery are some effectively options that may work successfully to cure precancerous changes of the cervix cells.
3. Cervical cancer usually needs different approaches of the treatment than cancer that starts in other parts of female’s uterus.
4. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are common choices of the treatment.
5. Though the stage and type of the cervical cancer significantly influence the prognosis and survival rate, but overall health of patient during treatment also can give a significant contribution to encourage the successful of the cancer treatment.

Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts

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What are the common signs and symptoms of ovarian cysts? Well … There are many women who experience ovarian cysts at some points of their lifetime. And most of these cysts are usually harmless and can go away on their own within a few months. But sometimes, they can grow bigger in size and can cause pain and other serious symptoms. For this case, the appropriately treatments are required!

You may also be interested to know more about treatment and natural herbs for ovarian cysts, before continuing!
Being alert to any sign /symptom that may indicate a more serious health problem and taking a routine pelvic examination are the best option to protect your health!
What causes ovarian cysts - Can you prevent them?
Before talking about ovarian cysts, first you may like to know more about the ovaries.
Ovaries
Ovaries (plural, because there is a pair of ovaries in the uterus) are crucial part of the female reproductive system because they are the main source of hormone progesterone and estrogen. And as well we know that these hormones are crucial for pregnancy, body shape, and maintaining menstrual period. Estrogen and progesterone are also important for female hair grow and the way of female breasts.
A pair of ovaries is located on each side of the female uterus (in the pelvis). The size and shape of each ovary are closely similar to the shape & size of an almond. Each ovary also has important function to create egg (a very important component for pregnancy).
In the age of a woman’s childbearing, an egg is growing in the ovary (in a tiny sac what we call as a follicle) during menstrual period for every month. And then the sac will break to release egg (mature egg), and egg will travel to the uterus through the fallopian tube for fertilization.

(Image credit © to WomensHealth.Gov)

After releasing the egg, the sac will dissolve and become corpus luteum (this phase is useful to create hormones for the next egg).
So, what are causes of ovarian cysts?
First, you may like to know about what actually cysts are?! They are fluid-filled sacs that can form anywhere in your body. And cysts that form on /in the ovaries are often called as ovarian cysts (pretty common in the childbearing years).
There are several types of ovarian cysts, but cysts that begin from the normal function of a woman’s menstrual period are the most common type -- this type is also often called as ‘functional cysts’.

And in general, functional cysts have 2 types; 

1. When they occur if the sac doesn’t dissolve after releasing the egg -- or also often called as ‘Corpus luteum cysts’. Fortunately, this kind of functional cyst usually will go away on its own within a few weeks.
2.  Follicle cysts! They form when the sac is locked or doesn’t open to detach the egg for fertilization. Then the sac will keep growing. Like corpus luteum cysts, follicle cysts also usually can go away on their own after one to three months.

What are other types of ovarian cysts?
The following are other less common types:

1. Dermoid! It is a kind of cysts that usually form from cells of the body that produce human eggs. These cysts usually contain a lot of type of cells (such as skin, teeth, hair, or other tissues). Though in many cases they are not cancerous, but it may become large and also cause pain. Even sometimes large dermoid can cause the relocated ovary in the pelvis (ovary moves out of its normal position).
2. Cystadenomas! For this type, cysts usually start to grow from cells on the outer ovary’s surface. They may be filled with a mucous material and a watery liquid. They also can cause pain & become large!
3. Endometriomas! As the name suggests, it usually occurs in women with endometriosis (you may also like to read treatments and symptoms of endometriosis, before continuing). Endometriomas cysts may cause pain during period and during intercourse, even they may also affect fertility of a woman. 
4. Polycystic ovaries! These cysts form from the failure of the sacs that don’t open to release the mature egg. And then the cycle of menstruation repeats, sacs keep growing and eventually more cysts form.

The next question; can you prevent ovarian cysts?
Unfortunately, there is still no definitive answer on how to prevent them! But if you seriously concern to this health problem, taking regular pelvic examinations are the best way. These examinations are very helpful to keep monitoring any changes of your ovaries. 
Don’t forget also for being alert to changes of your monthly period. If you find any unusual symptoms in your monthly menstrual cycle, consult more with a doctor to find a clearly diagnosis and more advice!
Signs of ovarian cysts (cyst on ovary symptoms)
The good news, as mentioned before most of ovarian cysts will go away on their own. Most of them are also not cancerous. Read also can ovarian cysts be cancerous and cause infertility?!
And for the symptoms, most cysts usually don’t result any signs. But sometimes the symptoms of an ovarian cyst also can occur. According to a published article on MayoClinic -- if the signs occur, they may include some of the following:

1. Abdominal discomfort! It may occur if you have a large ovarian cyst. You may also feel heaviness /fullness in the abdomen.
2. A large cyst also may give more pressure to the bladder, which then may cause decreased bladder capacity and you will experience frequent urination or difficulty urinating problem.
3. For women who have regular periods, they will experience some menstrual irregularities. You might also like to know more about causes of irregular periods!
4. You may also experience pelvic pain. It may include an intermittent /constant dull ache that usually radiate to your thighs and lower back. Pelvic pain may also occur during intercourse, and just before your menstruation ends /before it begins. Read also more FAQs about pain from ovarian cyst!
5. Some symptoms of pregnancy (particularly such as breast tenderness, nausea & vomiting).
6. Sometimes you may experience pressure on the bowels /pain during bowel movements.

In addition, according to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health -- some women with ovarian cysts may also experience abnormal bleeding and weight gain. In some severe cases, patients may also have rapid breathing, weakness /faintness, severe abdominal pain, and pain that also followed with vomiting & fever.________Reference: MayoClinic & WebMD

Natural Cures - Treatment for Ovarian Cysts

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What are treatment options and natural cures for ovarian cysts?  As well we know that cysts that occur on or in the ovaries are pretty common in women of childbearing age. In other words, most women of childbearing age will have ovarian cysts (particularly functional cysts - the most common type) at some point of their lifetime. If these cysts become bigger and don’t disappear naturally which then also cause symptoms or even severe symptoms, the appropriately treatment is needed!
-- You might also like to know more about signs and symptoms of ovarian cysts, before continuing! 
Fortunately, most of these cysts (in many cases) usually will go away naturally after 1-3 months. Most of them are also not cancerous (ovarian cancer is rare in the women of childbearing age). To disappear naturally, they can rupture and this also usually doesn’t cause any symptom or pain.
Treatment options for ovarian cysts
Once again, these cysts must be treated if they don’t go away on their own. So, what are common options of the treatment to treat this health problem? The following are pieces of helpful information.
In general, the decision of the treatment is usually dependent on several factors (particularly such as age of patient, cyst’s size, type of cyst, symptoms that occur, and overall health of patient). Pelvic ultrasound is one of common procedures to find the type and characteristics of cysts (simple cyst or compound cyst). 
Furthermore, the treatment may only involve simple observation, or on other hand may need more complex procedures (such as involving some blood tests, like CA-125 to help doctor analyze the cyst’s chance of cancer). 
Watchful waiting (wait-&-see)
Since most cysts can disappear naturally without treatment, doctor usually choose ‘watchful waiting’ to monitor the progress of them with periodically pelvic ultrasound tests within a few months. According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health -- this option is usually common for:

1. Patients who have a fluid-filled cyst (particularly if the size is also still small).
2. Patients who are in childbearing years, particularly for women who still have a plan for pregnancy.
3. No symptoms (particularly serious symptoms) that occur.

Moreover, watchful waiting option is also usually common for women with postmenopausal (the phase after menopause).
With birth control pills or other methods to temporarily stop the ovulation!
Birth control pills are one of common options to reduce the chance of developing new cysts in the next menstrual cycles of patient. They may be prescribed by doctor for functional cysts (the most common type of ovarian cyst) in order to temporarily stop the process of ovulation, so thus new cysts that form on or in ovaries can be eliminated. Some experts also believe that the use of oral contraceptives may also help decrease the risk of ovarian cancer in patients with ovarian cysts.
In addition, doctor may also use /prescribe Depo-Provera (a kind of hormone injection -- it is usually injected into the patient’s muscle to temporarily prevent ovulation for about three months). 
Surgery option
Surgery may be the last option to cure unfriendly ovarian cysts. It is usually common option if the cysts:

1. Cause pain or other symptoms /serious symptoms.
2. Appear odd on the ultrasound.
3. Don’t disappear after several menstrual periods (more than 2-3 menstrual cycles).
4. Are cystic mass or potential to become cancerous.
5. And if the size is getting larger or too large in size.

For a cystic mass, it has a chance of becoming cancer. And for a cancerous cystic mass, doctor may choose a surgery (like hysterectomy) that remove both patient’s ovaries and uterus. But hysterectomy may be the last option, particularly if patient still want to get pregnant.
Depending on the characteristics of cysts, some of them also can be removed without needing to remove ovary and uterus. Cystectomy is usually the answer of surgery for this case. 
There is also a surgery (such as oophorectomy) to only remove the affected ovary and doesn’t remove the other intact. *** Consult more with a doctor for in-depth information!
Natural cures /natural remedies for ovarian cysts
Along with the treatments, there are also natural remedies or natural cures that may be helpful to encourage the successful of the treatment.  -- You may also be interested to know about natural remedies for cervical cancer! 
Though the exact cause of ovarian cyst is still unclear, but the imbalance of female hormone may contribute to cause cysts on or in ovaries. Based on this theory, there are many herbs that more focused on how to restore the balance & harmony.
Dietary Changes 
Eating more fresh fruits & vegetables, diet high in whole grains and legumes may give a significant result to rebalance the body. Consult more with your registered dietitian for more detailed information!
A preliminary Italian study suggests that individuals who have diet high in cheese and meat products are more likely to have ovarian cysts than others who don’t consume these products. Furthermore, eating too much white flour and sugar also should be avoided!
Herbs for ovarian cysts
According to the Herbal Encyclopedia online, the following are some natural cures /herbs that may be effective to treat ovarian cysts:

1. Bach flower remedies! This option can be used in combination or alone. 
2. Bee pollen! It is believed can be helpful for overall support & strengths.
3. For cleansing and liver cleanse, milk thistle and dandelion may be the right choice.
4. For hormonal balancing, Wild Yam is one of common choices of herb. Another choice is black Cohosh -- it is not only helpful for hormonal balancing but also for effective menstrual regulator.
5. Other herbs to restore hormonal balance are ‘Red clover’ and ‘Chasteberry’! 

*** Please consult more with a qualified herbalist for the clearly /exact herbs to meet your condition. Always remember that there is no herb that works for instant result. Most of herbs for ovarian cysts usually should be taken for several weeks or months. And to keep safe, it’s much better to consult first with your doctor before trying any complementary therapy /natural cure.

Can Ovarian Cysts Be Cancerous and Cause Infertility?

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In many cases, having cysts in or on the ovaries (a pair of organs in the uterus of female reproductive system) are not really abnormal, particularly in women who are younger than 40 years of age. But the big questions are: Can ovarian cysts be cancerous? Can they also cause problems associated with a woman’s infertility?
You might also like to read the previous posts about treatment options and symptoms of ovarian cysts, before continuing!
As well we know that ovaries are so crucial for the female reproductive system. They have crucial function to create a monthly ovulation (the release of egg to go to uterus for fertilization) in women of childbearing age. And did you know that in fact there is a chance for tumor to occur in ovaries of a woman. It may only become benign (not cancerous) or then may become malignant (cancerous).

So, can ovarian cysts be cancerous?
The answer is ‘yes they can’! But you need to clearly understand that fortunately not all ovarian cysts will be cancerous (or also more familiar known as ovarian cancer). Even most of these cysts are not cancerous and can go away naturally without treatment.
There are some ovarian cyst types, but functional cysts are the most common type. This type occurs from the process of monthly woman’s menstrual cycle and ovulation. Therefore, it is common in women of childbearing age. In other words, many women of this group have ovarian cysts of some time in their lifetime.
What you should concern to keep safe?
However to keep safe, it’s also important to keep being alert to any unusual symptom of your menstrual cycle. Sometimes these cysts can cause pain or even other serious symptoms. 
And if you seriously concern to your risk of ovarian cancer, doctors usually also recommend taking regular pelvic examinations! This option is very helpful for your physician to keep monitoring any change in the ovaries. Discuss more with your doctor for in-depth information about this issue, particularly about when you should start your regular pelvic examination and how often you should do it!
Who are at high risk of having cancer from ovarian cysts?
Some studies found that the risk of ovarian cysts to be cancerous is relatively high in women who are at older than 40 years of age. 
But in fact after the age of 40, most women who have ovarian cysts are also not diagnosed with ovarian cancer. This suggests that ovarian cancer from ovarian cysts in women older than age 40 is also rare, though it is more common in this group than in women younger than the age of 40.
Moreover, doctors also believe that there are also other conditions or factors that may contribute an increased risk of ovarian cancer. According to a published article on WebMD -- some of these factors may include:

1. Having a personal history /family history of colorectal cancer, breast cancer, or ovarian cancer.
2. Taking certain hormone replacement therapy.
3. Overweight /obesity.
4. Not breastfeeding /not having baby. But some experts believe that the use of birth control pills may help reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.
5. Certain fertility drugs (like Clomid).
6. Bad lifestyles, particularly like cigarette smoking. Read also other side effects of cigarette smoking!

How to diagnose /determine whether or not an ovarian cyst is cancerous?
As mentioned before, regular pelvic examinations are one of the common choices to find an ovarian cyst as earlier as possible. If a cyst is found, your physician then usually recommends further examination and testing to get to know the type of cyst and whether or not your need a treatment.
In general, the size and composition of cysts are usually two crucial issues that must be concerned during the tests of diagnosis. Is the size is still small or large? How about with the composition -- is cyst filled with fluid, or solid, or both (mixed)? Cysts filled with fluid may be less likely to become cancerous, and others filled with solid or mixed may be more likely to become cancerous.
CA-125 blood test is one of common procedures to help doctors identify whether or not ovarian cysts are cancerous. But an abnormal result of this test doesn’t always confirm that an ovarian cyst is cancerous. Further tests after CA-125 blood test is usually still required to confirm and find a clearly diagnosis.
Furthermore -- a pregnancy test, pelvic ultrasound, and laparoscopy are usually also used by doctors to make a diagnosis of ovarian cysts.
The next question: Can ovarian cysts cause infertility problem?
Yes, there is a chance for ovarian cysts to cause a decreased fertility - but again not all types cause this problem.
The following are some types of ovarian cysts that usually will not affect your fertility:

1. Dermoid! It is a kind of cyst that usually contains tissue (like hair, teeth, skin) instead of fluid.
2. Cystadenomas! This type usually arises from the ovary’s surface. It may need treatment, but usually doesn't affect the level of your fertility.
3. Functional cyst! As written before, it is the most common type and usually doesn’t need treatment /will go away naturally. 

And some types that may affect fertility include:

1. Ovarian cysts that occur from /due to polycystic ovaries. PCOS (it stands for ‘Polycystic Ovary Syndrome’) is a condition characterized by a lot of small cysts in the ovaries, certain hormones at high levels, and irregular menstrual cycles. In some women, PCOS may contribute to cause an increased fertility.
2. Endometriomas! As the name implies, this type usually occur from endometriosis - therefore it is more common in women with endometriosis. Many doctors believe that endometriomas can cause a detrimental effect on the level of fertility.

________Reference: MayoClinic and WebMD

Pain from Ovarian Cyst - More FAQs!

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In many cases, ovarian cysts usually don’t cause any sign. But if the symptoms do occur, pain (particularly pain in the pelvic) is one of the most common symptoms. That’s why there are a lot of questions associated with the pain from ovarian cyst. -- You might also be interested to know about can ovarian cysts cause fertility problem, before continuing?
Although most cases of these cysts usually will go away naturally without treatment, but it’s important to keep being alert to any unusual symptom, especially for the unusual symptoms from the menstrual cycle. Taking regular pelvic examinations are also recommended by doctors to find cysts in /on the ovaries as earlier as possible.
Can pain from ovarian cyst come and go?
The pain from ovarian cyst could be a result of several causes. It may be caused by the cyst itself, or may be caused by when the cyst is rupturing. The cyst may be filled with only fluid /solid or both (mixed between fluid and solid). Sometimes a rupture of cyst can be very painful.
In fact there are many women who have cysts in /on their ovaries at some point during their lifetime, particularly during childbearing years. In other words, ovarian cysts are pretty common in individuals of childbearing age. 
Functional cyst is one of ovarian cyst types. It usually starts to occur from the normal function of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Therefore, it is often called as the most common type and also again pretty common in women of childbearing age.
From these explanations, the pain from ovarian cyst may ‘come and go’ in some women. Furthermore, ovarian cyst size may also contribute to cause pain. Small cyst may be less likely to cause pain than large cyst.
However, it’s important to find a clearly diagnosis of your symptom. Ovarian cyst is not a single answer for ovarian pain and pelvic pain. If you in doubt to your condition, find help and see a doctor promptly for clearly diagnosis & best advice! -- Read also about treatment options for ovarian cysts!
Pain from ovarian cyst in back (lower back)
Dull ache in the lower back may also occur when you have ovarian cysts -- according to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health. Furthermore, dull ache also may occur in the thighs.
Doctors believe that the progress of cyst to become large is one of factors that may cause pain in the back. A large cyst can be potential to result extra pressure on other nearby organs, as result patient may also experience frequent urination problem and abdominal discomfort.
How long does pain from ovarian cyst rupture last?
As mentioned before, the rupture of cyst can be very painful. But it also can be a sign that the cyst begins to dissolve from the ovaries. 
The pain after this rupture varies from person to person. It may last for a few days in some patients, but may also last longer in others. But some doctors say that it usually lasts for at least two weeks. If you experience this problem, ask your doctor for in-depth information about this issue!
Moreover -- age, overall health of patient, size and type of cyst are major factors that influence the prognosis of an ovarian cyst.
Pain management ovarian cyst
Cysts of ovaries form for numerous reasons. In patients with functional cysts, their ovulation cycle can be one of factors to increase the chance of developing new cysts or increase the chance of cyst to grow larger. Based on this reason, birth control pills are one of common choices for pain management due to ovarian cysts.
Birth control pills can stop the ovulation temporarily, which then will make a patient is less likely to have new cysts in her ovaries. For more advice, ask your physician /doctor!
How about with pain from ovarian cyst during pregnancy?
Sometimes cysts in or on the ovaries also can be discovered in some pregnant women. The finding of them is often as ‘an incidental detection’ at the time of women’s routine prenatal ultrasound screening. 
Fortunately, most of these cysts are benign (not-cancerous) that usually will not need any surgical intervention by doctors. However, doctors usually need to keep monitoring the progress of these cysts in order to make sure that there is no serious effect for the pregnancy of patient. 
But sometimes an appropriately surgery is required to treat these cysts. In general, a surgery may be needed for some of the following:

1. If the cyst has become a malignant (cancerous) or if there is a suspicion for cells of malignant.
2. If the cyst’s size will be potential to cause problems /serious problems for the pregnancy.
3. If a serious complication occurs (particularly such as when twisting of the cyst (ovarian torsion) or rupture develops). Ovarian torsion is a condition when the ovary move out of its position - and larger cysts on the ovaries can be potential to cause this problem.

What are other health problems that also can cause ovarian pain?
As written before if you experience ovarian pain, it is not a sign that signal you definitely have ovarian cysts! You should clearly understand that there are some different health problems that also can generate this symptom -- and the following are some of them: 

1. Ovarian tumors! Tumors can form in several parts of the body, including in the ovaries. In general, tumors can be divided into 2 major groups: (a) noncancerous /benign and (b) cancerous /malignant.
2. Endometriosis! It is a condition when endometrium (tissue that naturally lines the inside of the uterus) grows outside of the area where it should be (outside the uterus)!
3. PID ‘Pelvic Inflammatory Disease’! It is a kind of sexually transmitted infection that usually affects fallopian tubes, uterus, or ovaries. In fact, PID is one of the most common causes for pelvic pain in many women.
4. And ovarian Remnant Syndrome! It usually occurs due to a small piece of ovary that accidentally left behind during surgery to remove ovaries or uterus. This remnant may grow and cause painful cysts.

In addition; PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), PID (pelvic inflammation disease), kidney stones (formation of crystals that occur in the urinary system), IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), inflammatory bowel disease, ectopic pregnancy, and infection of the appendix are other health problems that also can generate the similar symptoms of ovarian cysts.________Reference: WebMD and MayoClinic

Fairycakes Gourmet Gluten Free Goodies Goes Retail!!

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Due to circumstances beyond our control,
our Grand Opening will be DELAYED.
We will keep you updated and we thank you for
your support!

Come join Fairycakes for their Grand Opening
Wednesday, October 3, 2012, from 3:30pm-7:30pm.
They are located inside the Happy Sparrow Cafe
3001 SE Belmont St., Portland, Oregon
Store hours: Tues-Sat. 3:30pm-7:30pm

Starting in November, they will be offering Gluten Free
Victorian Tea service and meals. Plus, they will be doing
Children's Fairy Birthday Parties. Call to make your
reservations now: 503-961-3898
Email: miriammac@yahoo.com
Facebook: Fairycakes Gourmet Gluten Free Goodies

New Lucy's

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This week we received the new Lucy’s Brownie Cakes. It is a shelf stable gluten free brownie. The box comes with eight soft and chewy brownies. They are packaged two brownies to one foil pack so you aren’t forced to eat all eight or risk having the uneaten brownies go stale.
As with all Lucy’s products, there are no peanuts, tree nuts, gluten, milk and eggs in the product. They are also Non-GMO verified and every serving is only 120 calories, 0 mg cholesterol and low sodium. You can head over here and order you package of brownies today.

SAVE THE DATE!!

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Our Samplefest Gluten Free Food & Health Fair is coming up
on Saturday, October 20, 2012, from 9am-3pm.
St. John Lutheran Church, 11005 NE Hwy 99, Vancouver
Admission: $2.00 per person, $10.00 Max per family
Children 12 and under are Free
Please bring a donation for the Church Food Bank
Enjoy our $1 Menu of Healthy Food Choices for our GIG Fundraiser
Samples galore, Door Prizes and more...
Cash & Check only please for vendor product purchases.
Don't miss it!!

Jane's Healthy Kitchen

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Friday, the weekend, a great time to think about Seafood! Wild Maple Glazed Salmon: Here’s a quick and easy way to make maple glazed salmon that tastes incredulicious! The sauce is mildly sweet with a pungent kick. Most barbeque sauces are high in sugars. Instead, this recipe uses natural zero-carb chicory root sweetener. I bake salmon in the oven as it is easier and avoids carcinogens of outdoor barbecues. This recipe contains no high-carb maple syrup, instead it uses maple flavoring. It’s also nightshade-free so it’s easy to digest, as it contains no peppers or tomoatoes. The resulting sweet glaze is simply delicious and it gives your blood sugar a break. Serves 4

Seafood | janeshealthykitchen.com janeshealthykitchen.com
Seafood

Interesting Information

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GIG of Portland via Wheat Belly

Dr William Davis of Wheat Belly: "A new article published by AACC International on Sept. 27 refutes many of the claims published in the recent book, Wheat Belly, which charges that it is wheat consumption that is causing obesity and a myriad of other common health problems in the U.S. The AACCI article challenges Wheat Belly’s author William Davis’s recommendation to cut wheat entirely from the diet."

Name a time and place to debate the issues, preferably in front of TV cameras and I'm there! Remember the questions posed to tobacco executives about "doping" cigarettes with greater quantities of nicotine to cultivate addiction? Yeah, deja vu!

World Grain | AACC issues science-based response to Wheat Belly www.world-grain.com
Grain, flour and feed industry news and commentary offering insight on business, new products, market and

Frito Lay, friend to Celiacs

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You know, every once in a while, I'm just really impressed by a food company. Doesn't happen often, but one company that has impressed me ever since I found out that I would have to go on the gluten free diet is Frito Lay.

I think it's because the ingredient list in their products is so easy to read. Most contain just a handful. Who would have guessed that potato chips only contain potatoes, oil, and salt? Abnormal in this day and age!

Frito Lay is one of the first companies who products I began to trust early on in my gluten free process because a large selection of their products are gluten free and I've never had a reaction to any product on their gluten free list.

Just look at their list of gluten free products! Yes, that is 161 products listed. They also seem to update the list every few months. Crazy!

Their customer service people are also really friendly and knowledgeable in my experience.

After my experience with Aveeno this week, I figured that I need to congratulate a major company that was succeeding in impressing me.

Hats off to you, Frito Lay!

Disclaimer: In the interest of full disclosure, I have had a family member work for Frito Lay (but, that's never stopped me bad mouthing a company before!)

Last few days for a free Triumph Dining Card

To contact us Click HERE

Triumph Dining is giving away a free dining card if you are interested. Deal is only for August, so hurry!

They sent me a free set to review and I have to admit that I'm completely loving them! I'll give a full review after I get a chance to go to more non-English speaking restaurants, but the experience that I've had with them has been overwhelming positive and much better than I would have thought. Most of the time I've used them, the chef/cook will come out to my table to discuss specifics with me. How often does that happen without you even asking?

Anyhoo, check them out. They also have a new blog going too.

Review: Mrs. Leeper's Beef Lasagna

To contact us Click HERE

I've been really searching for easy to fix gluten free meals. The only exposure to the Mrs. Leeper's brand I had more this was their corn pasta. I am not a huge fan of corn pasta, just because the corn flavor doesn't quite go as well with most meals as well as rice flavor does. Plus, the corn pasta's texture is a little different from the rice pasta I'm used to. Anyhoo...

Basically, their gluten free beef lasagna is a hamburger-ish type meal. Just add ground beef and you are ready to go. It took a little longer than the 15 minutes promised on the box, but the results were worth it. Very few brands seem to use corn pasta, but I thought that it blended wonderfully with the spices in the mix.

The box suggested to add cheese and fresh basil. We added cheese, since fresh basil is in short supply at my tiny apartment. I definitely recommend adding the cheese. Afterall, what doesn't taste better with cheese?

We also fixed green beans on the side, which was a nice addition. It fed three hungry adults with no leftovers, so I don't think it's quite enough to feed a family of four even if there are children.

In conclusion, I was very impressed with the product! The quality of the food was higher than any boxed food I've had. The taste was amazing, definitely better than Hamburger Helper! I will look into buying more Mrs. Leeper's box meals in the future.

Stats:
Company – Mrs. Leeper's
Price - Don't know, it was a gift
Review – 5 out of 5 stars
Preparation - Buying a pack of ground beef, ~20 total to cook
Gluten Amount – No gluten ingredients used
Allergians - Contains milk and soy ingredients

Review: Hansen's Cakes

To contact us Click HERE

So, I'm getting married in October in Los Angeles (exciting!). But, along with the excitement comes the stress of planning a gluten free wedding. Everyone has told me that you won't really eat at your wedding, you are always SO busy. I don't care! I want my wedding to be gluten free! :D

The biggest worry is the cake! So, I contact the only GF bakery in Los Angeles, The Sensitive Baker. I love these guys. Their stuff is amazing. Really, it's the best stuff I've found that I haven't made from stratch myself. Granted, the price tag is a little high, but the food is awesome. I've had cakes from here before for birthdays, etc. So I know that this place is great.

I go and talk to the Sensitive Baker. Apparently, they don't really feel comfortable decorating elaborate cakes. They also don't do tiered cakes. Sadness. But, the woman told me that they bake cakes and then send them over to this bakery called Hansen's Cakes. They try to sell me on it by saying that movie stars shop there (which is the most common thing said about ANY store in LA... this is LA people, you can't impress me with movie stars... they are everywhere).

So I made an appointment there at their main showroom, explained that I had Celiac's, and off I went with my fiance.

THE EXPERIENCE WAS COMPLETELY TERRIBLE!!! Do NOT go to this bakery. I have probably never had as bad of an experience with a company in my life!

When I show up, the woman that I met with was insulting. Every idea I had she looked at me like I had said something offensive. I ask for was a two-tiered white wedding cake with a blue ribbon around each tier (I bring a picture from Martha Stewart Wedding, I want something simple). "You want your cake to be white?!?" "You want your cake to have blue on it?" Every time she gave me this horrible face that basically said, "Well, if you want to ruin your wedding, go right ahead!"

Then comes the cake tasting. They bring me a plate that has white cake and chocolate cake (even though their website says that they offer more varieties, as did the Sensitive Baker). I look at the guy who brought me the cake test pieces and ask, "These are the gluten free ones, right?!?" He looks at me and says, "Oh, I don't know. I just got it from the kitchen." I look at him and say, "Well, can you please check because if I eat this and it's not then I will be very sick for three days." The saleswoman tries to get me to go ahead and eat the pieces he brought. Hum... NO?!? I get sick if I eat a piece of lettuce that touched a cruton, there is NO way I'm flat out eating that much flour!

After the guy returns and assures me the cake he gave was GF, we taste it. The cake they served was NOT the Sensitive Bakers. The cake was dry, terrible tasting, and falling apart. I've had cakes and cupcakes from the Sensitive Baker many times and this was not that! A GF cake mix you get from a store is WAY better!

No one could tell me what of the fillings was gluten free and each person I talked to told me something different. I finally talked to one person who actually seemed to know what was going on and he grabbed me a printout of the ingredients for the cakes. I tell him that the cake ingredients don't look like something that the Sensitive Baker would make and that it sure didn't taste like their recipe. He said that they say that they take the cakes from the Sensitive Baker, but apparently they have started making their own recipe!?!

I went and complained to The Sensitive Baker. The saleswoman woman there told me that this was the first that they had heard of this and they were shocked that Hansen's was selling gluten free cake that wasn't theirs (in violation of their contract... opps!). From the sound of it, doesn't look like Hansen's will have the Sensitive Baker's business for much longer. I'm not sad at all.

So I'm currently trying to work out something. My caterer is seeing if he can find someone else decorate a Sensitive Baker cake for. He said that he uses Cake Divas to decorate vegan cakes from a vegan bakery all the time so we are currently talking with them to see if we could work something out.

In conclusion, DON'T go to Hansen's. The terrible reviews they have online are COMPLETELY true! Don't risked getting glutened (and terrible cake) from this place!!!

Can Zinc and Selenium Counteract Mercury's Effects on ADHD and Autism?

To contact us Click HERE

Mercury, an unwanted side-effect of the omega-3 rich fish oil treatment strategy for both ADHD and autistic spectrum disorders may be counteracted by Selenium and Zinc:

It's a catch-22 of the ADHD world. We've been told to feed ourselves and our kids as much of the omega-3 rich cold water fish as we can muster in order to balance their dietary fats and the subsequent hormonal effects. On the other hand, we're supposed to curb our fish product consumption for fear of mercury. Are there any other options beyond digging into our wallets for the pricey low-mercury wild organic salmon of the Pacific?

Why mercury is so toxic for the brain:

In general, (as one would probably expect) if a metal or compound can be cleared from the body easily, then the risk of toxicity is generally much lower. However, if the material cannot be easily cleared from the system, it can begin to build up in specific tissues or regions of the body.

Unfortunately, the brain is one of those target organs that has an almost magnetic pull for the heavy metal. While the digestive system can partially metabolize mercury into organic mercury-containing compounds, these compounds can make their way across the protective blood-brain barrier (a barrier meant to restrict the access of chemicals in the blood from passing into the brain, however, several harmful organic compounds can make their way across this barrier with relative ease).

In general, fatty acids penetrate the blood brain barrier relatively well, and these important fish fats and oils can make perfect delivery vehicles for some of these toxic compounds. In other words, mercury in fish and fish oil products can be exceptionally hard to isolate or remove from the brain.

Further complicating the matter is the problem of oxidation, especially in the brain tissue. While all organs and tissues of the body can suffer from oxidative damage (think of the biochemical equivalent of rusting or corrosion), the brain, due to its high fat content, is especially susceptible to this harmful oxidation. It is here in the brain that the mercury can become trapped and promote these dangerous oxidative processes.

Mercury and corn syrup: A hidden danger for the ADHD child?

The sugar/hyperactivity debate has been around for ages, although most of the recent evidence often refutes this commonly held assertion. Nevertheless, several nutritionists swear by their convictions about this association. So who is right?

This blogger personally believes that there is an association between sugar and ADHD-like symptoms, but this connection is likely due to secondary factors. Let me explain:

Consumption of high concentrations of sugary foods and beverages can be a metabolically taxing and stressful process on the body. The enzyme systems necessary to metabolize high quantities of sugars are dependent on an ample supply of vitamin and mineral "cofactors" (these will be discussed in more detail later on in this post), or agents that help the enzymes function propertly.

If overtaxed (as by consuming large quantities of soda or candy, for example), these vitamin and mineral cofactors can be rapidly depleted. Common cofactors such as iron, copper, zinc and selenium can be depleted in glucose (sugar) metabolism.

Interestingly, deficiencies in zinc and iron (especially when comorbid sleep disorders including restless legs syndrome are present alongside the ADHD) are common in the ADHD population. In fact, iron may be the underpinning biological factor in an alleged genetic link between ADHD and restless legs syndrome. We will be discussing the role of selenium in ADHD shortly.

Additionally, this depletion can have an effect on the antioxidant levels of the individual including a lowering of levels of pools of the important antioxidant reduced glutathione (we will be investigating the importance of glutathione later on in this post). There is some evidence of ADHD symptoms in adults being at least partially attributed to antioxidant imbalance.

In addition, the insulin rush, surge and fallout from consumption of a sugary meal can also wreak havoc on hormonal balances (including adrenaline, a chemical cousin to several neuro-chemical agents which are often seen to be off-kilter in most ADHD cases). We will save this discussion and go into more detail on the role of sugar consumption and hyperactivity and attentional deficits in later posts.

Returning to the main topic of our post (from our tangent here!), some forms of sugar may also have other hidden dangers with relevance to our post here on mercury and ADHD and related disorders. The processing and manufacturing of high fructose corn syrup (one of the most common and readily available sweetening agents in North America and much of the Westernized world), may actually leave detectable levels of mercury in the sweetener (which, the study also attributes to causing a zinc loss).

As a result, consumption of high levels of corn syrup at least has the potential to up our intake of mercury. If the mercury/autism/ADHD connection holds true, then this is one more (indirect) way in which sugary foods can increase the risk of inattention and hyperactivity associated with the disorder.


Can chelation therapy be used to effectively remove the mercury in our systems?

Our first thought might be to enlist the help of chemical agents which could pull the mercury or other toxic (and easily oxidizable metals) out of our systems.

A recent study has highlighted some possible alternatives on the mercury-fish-ADHD dilemma. One of the strategies involves the use of chelating materials. The word "chelate" comes from the Greek word "claw", and refers to an important chemical property in which a non-metallic compound can tightly bind to or "pick" up a specific type of metal and pull it away.

Ethylenediamenetetraacetic Acid or EDTA, is one of the most well-known chelating agents for removing metals and mineral deposits from hard water, and even has some reported health implications for removing crusty hardening from human arteries.

In theory, it sounds like this may be a good treatment option for removing toxic metals or oxidizing agents from the brains and digestive tracts of children with ADHD and related disorders (i.e. the autism-mercury controversy?).

On the flip side, chelation therapy can be dangerous, especially for children, due, in part, to the fact that the chelating agents are often non-specific for their target metals. This highlights a classic problem in medical research, the rift between theory and practice.

For example, some versions or derivatives of EDTA can "pick up" or remove significant amounts of the important mineral calcium (which, in addition to its role in skeletal function is an extremely important mineral in regulating heart rhythms, and optimizing nervous system function, among other things) along with the desired heavy metals lead and mercury. Cases of deaths due to this chelation therapy for autism have been reported, and recent clinical trials for chelation therapy for autism have been halted.

Enzyme systems: Nature's alternatives to organic chelating agents?

Fortunately, our bodies contain a number of powerful enzymes which not only can protect our brain and other important organs from oxidative damage, but actually help remove harmful or toxic materials from our systems.

However, in order for these enzymes to work at optimal levels, they must be constantly equipped with adequate levels of helpful nutrients or cofactors. Cofactors, often come in the form of our dietary vitamins and minerals, such as zinc, iron, magnesium, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, etc., and are required by numerous enzymes in order for the enzymes to work at peak efficiency. Not surprisingly, several of these cofactors have been discussed for their relevance to ADHD in earlier postings of this blog (see links on nutrients listed above)

This is why nutrient deficiencies can be so hazardous, because literally hundreds or even thousands of enzyme systems may be in jeopardy if our bodies are deficient in just a handful of nutrients.

Two of these important enzyme system and enzyme products are the metallothionein enzyme and the peptide glutathione (which is not an enzyme, but is synthesized via several enzymes and is sensitive to the balance between oxidant and antioxidant levels).

Metallothionein has been implicated in a number of studies concerning the enzyme's relationship to autism. One theory holds that children with autism have either lower levels of this enzyme or higher levels of antibodies to the enzyme (in which the body essentially attacks its own enzyme system as part of the idea of autism being an auto-immune disorder).

While a small amount or research out there supports these claims, it is important to note that these findings are far from universal. In fact, most of the recent body of literature refutes the claim outright. One study in particular negated both the observation that metallothionein was lower in autistic children or that higher levels of antibodies to the enzyme were present in autistic children. On the other hand, lower levels of the antioxidant glutathione are often seen in cases of autism.

(Blogger's note: the reason I'm going into so much detail about autism is because the high degree of symptomal overlap between ADHD and disorders of the autistic spectrum, as well as the high degree of overlap between nutrient deficiencies concerning the two disorders).

The role of selenium and zinc in the processes of the enzyme metallothionein and the antioxidant glutathione:

We have seen in previous cases how boosting levels of one metal in the body can offset the negative effects of another such as the case of iron combatting the harmful effects of lead in ADHD.

It appears that the metallothionein function in autism is intricately tied to copper-zinc ratios, and an excess of copper (or deficiency of zinc) can hinder this enzyme's effectiveness (the presence of heavy metals such as mercury are believed to be at least partially responsible for this skewed zinc-to-copper ratio). Interestingly, significantly higher copper to zinc ratios have also been seen in ADHD children in recent studies. In addition, the transport or delivery of zinc to its desired targets may be dependent on the antioxidant functions of glutathione and the mineral selenium.

While copper and zinc balances have been studied extensively with their relationship to ADHD (here's an earlier post on ten ways zinc can counteract ADHD symptoms, or how zinc can boost the effectiveness of ADHD medications), selenium may be a "sleeper" as far as important minerals for ADHD symptom treatment goes.

While selenium is unlikely to unseat "heavyweight" minerals such as zinc, iron and magnesium for ADHD treatment, selenium is an important mineral for maintaining proper antioxidant balances, either directly (as an antioxidant itself) or indirectly (via its incorporation into selenium-dependent enzymes). The latter is evidenced by a number of important enzymes such as the dependence of the important antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase on selenium.

However, given selenium's wide range of potential benefits (selenium has been implicated as an anti-cancer agent in a number of studies), it appears that this often unheralded mineral may be a useful auxiliary agent in ADHD treatment.

To conclude this message, we must remember that nutrients often work best in combos, not in isolation. This (in this blogger's humble opinion), is why so many nutritional methods which attempt to combat ADHD often fail, in that they often fail to see this interconnection between nutrient interactions. They often instruct the individual to ramp up the dosage of only one or two nutrient which are believed to be deficient, and neglect to take into account the important roles of these supporting nutrient systems as a whole.

We have seen in other postings how omega-3 fatty acids often work well with antioxidants, as well as omega-3's and carnitine for treating ADHD via nutritional methods. Vitamin C can work in tandem with vitamin E as an antioxidant supplement duo, and recent evidence suggests that vitamin C and flax oil may also be a good combo for ADHD as well. Several studies have indicated that magnesium works well with Vitamin B6 (as well as other B vitamins) as an ADHD treatment method. Zinc may also work well with omega-3's as well as vitamin B6, and now, as we have seen, potentially with selenium, as an antidote to mercury's oxidative and toxic effects.

It is imperative that we recognize the importance of these nutrients both alone and in combination, including their potential abilities to counteract chemical agents which may either cause or exacerbate ADHD symptoms.

Webcams for Armchair Travelers

To contact us Click HERE
I've mentioned before that I am a big webcam fan, and I admit that I am an armchair traveler - I love getting to see places and things from around the world!
One of my new favorite webcams is The Niagara Falls Cam on Earth Cam  Oh, my goodness - Niagara Falls is beautiful! What a scene! And when you see it on tv you don't really get a sense of how huge it is but looking at this webcam, you can see the tiny, little cars passing by on the road and get a real perspective of the size of the Falls.
Plus, the webcam has sound so you get to hear the roar of the Falls - right from your comfy chair!

Check it out - Niagara Falls

Coupons for Baking Supplies

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I made two loaves of homemade bread yesterday! I love to cook and bake so I'm always on the lookout for savings and coupons for baking and cooking supplies and products.
This morning I checked the coupons.com site and they've got a couple of great coupons for bakers!



clickable link


$1 off any 2 Fleischmann's yeast strips

$1 off any one jar of Fleischmann's yeast

50 cents off any 2 Nestle Toll House Morsels (Yum! Chocolate chip cookie time!)

50 cents off of Bisquick

And if you like to make your own pizza - 40 cents off of Fleischmann's pizza crust yeast strip or $1.50 off 3 Fleischmann's pizza crust strips


Happy baking!

Cold Season

To contact us Click HERE
Cold season started already! I have been dealing with a cold for two weeks. Two weeks! Aaargh!
I decided to do a little research about colds and flus and found out a couple of interesting tidbits that I didn't know:

• A cold doesn't usually progress into something worse like pneumonia. (As miserable as I have been, this was nice to know!)

• There are over 200 viruses that can cause a cold, but "rhinovirus" is the most common.

• People with colds are more likely to have 'nasal symptoms' like a runny or stuffy nose than those people with a flu.

• And this little bit of information surprised me - A healthy adult can infect other people with the flu for 24 hours before they ever start to show any symptoms! (I bet the flu gets passed around a lot because of this! People might avoid their significant other when they are in the midst of a flu, but the day before they start sneezing and hacking, well....)

• Also, someone with the flu can spread it around for as much as 5-7 days. That's a long time to be contagious! And a lot of people probably feel a little better, or start to get upset with staying at home after a couple of days of the flu and decide to go back to work or school, never knowing they are still spreading the bug around.

For more information about colds and flu, visit - The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (The CDC)

Hope you have a wonderful and healthy week!

Coupons for Soup and More!

To contact us Click HERE
This cooler weather has me thinking about soup and the coupons.com site has some great soup coupons (and lots of other coupons!) available right now:

clickable link

40 cents on 3 Campbell's condensed soups
50 cents on 2 Campbell's Chunky soup or chili;  or 100% Natural microwavable bowls 
 $1.00 on Campbell's Healthy Request soups

And there is also a coupon to save 40 cents on 3 Campbell's condensed "great for cooking" soups. - I love those and I do use them in some of my recipes! This is a great time of year to stock up!

Happy couponing!

Can Zinc and Selenium Counteract Mercury's Effects on ADHD and Autism?

To contact us Click HERE

Mercury, an unwanted side-effect of the omega-3 rich fish oil treatment strategy for both ADHD and autistic spectrum disorders may be counteracted by Selenium and Zinc:

It's a catch-22 of the ADHD world. We've been told to feed ourselves and our kids as much of the omega-3 rich cold water fish as we can muster in order to balance their dietary fats and the subsequent hormonal effects. On the other hand, we're supposed to curb our fish product consumption for fear of mercury. Are there any other options beyond digging into our wallets for the pricey low-mercury wild organic salmon of the Pacific?

Why mercury is so toxic for the brain:

In general, (as one would probably expect) if a metal or compound can be cleared from the body easily, then the risk of toxicity is generally much lower. However, if the material cannot be easily cleared from the system, it can begin to build up in specific tissues or regions of the body.

Unfortunately, the brain is one of those target organs that has an almost magnetic pull for the heavy metal. While the digestive system can partially metabolize mercury into organic mercury-containing compounds, these compounds can make their way across the protective blood-brain barrier (a barrier meant to restrict the access of chemicals in the blood from passing into the brain, however, several harmful organic compounds can make their way across this barrier with relative ease).

In general, fatty acids penetrate the blood brain barrier relatively well, and these important fish fats and oils can make perfect delivery vehicles for some of these toxic compounds. In other words, mercury in fish and fish oil products can be exceptionally hard to isolate or remove from the brain.

Further complicating the matter is the problem of oxidation, especially in the brain tissue. While all organs and tissues of the body can suffer from oxidative damage (think of the biochemical equivalent of rusting or corrosion), the brain, due to its high fat content, is especially susceptible to this harmful oxidation. It is here in the brain that the mercury can become trapped and promote these dangerous oxidative processes.

Mercury and corn syrup: A hidden danger for the ADHD child?

The sugar/hyperactivity debate has been around for ages, although most of the recent evidence often refutes this commonly held assertion. Nevertheless, several nutritionists swear by their convictions about this association. So who is right?

This blogger personally believes that there is an association between sugar and ADHD-like symptoms, but this connection is likely due to secondary factors. Let me explain:

Consumption of high concentrations of sugary foods and beverages can be a metabolically taxing and stressful process on the body. The enzyme systems necessary to metabolize high quantities of sugars are dependent on an ample supply of vitamin and mineral "cofactors" (these will be discussed in more detail later on in this post), or agents that help the enzymes function propertly.

If overtaxed (as by consuming large quantities of soda or candy, for example), these vitamin and mineral cofactors can be rapidly depleted. Common cofactors such as iron, copper, zinc and selenium can be depleted in glucose (sugar) metabolism.

Interestingly, deficiencies in zinc and iron (especially when comorbid sleep disorders including restless legs syndrome are present alongside the ADHD) are common in the ADHD population. In fact, iron may be the underpinning biological factor in an alleged genetic link between ADHD and restless legs syndrome. We will be discussing the role of selenium in ADHD shortly.

Additionally, this depletion can have an effect on the antioxidant levels of the individual including a lowering of levels of pools of the important antioxidant reduced glutathione (we will be investigating the importance of glutathione later on in this post). There is some evidence of ADHD symptoms in adults being at least partially attributed to antioxidant imbalance.

In addition, the insulin rush, surge and fallout from consumption of a sugary meal can also wreak havoc on hormonal balances (including adrenaline, a chemical cousin to several neuro-chemical agents which are often seen to be off-kilter in most ADHD cases). We will save this discussion and go into more detail on the role of sugar consumption and hyperactivity and attentional deficits in later posts.

Returning to the main topic of our post (from our tangent here!), some forms of sugar may also have other hidden dangers with relevance to our post here on mercury and ADHD and related disorders. The processing and manufacturing of high fructose corn syrup (one of the most common and readily available sweetening agents in North America and much of the Westernized world), may actually leave detectable levels of mercury in the sweetener (which, the study also attributes to causing a zinc loss).

As a result, consumption of high levels of corn syrup at least has the potential to up our intake of mercury. If the mercury/autism/ADHD connection holds true, then this is one more (indirect) way in which sugary foods can increase the risk of inattention and hyperactivity associated with the disorder.


Can chelation therapy be used to effectively remove the mercury in our systems?

Our first thought might be to enlist the help of chemical agents which could pull the mercury or other toxic (and easily oxidizable metals) out of our systems.

A recent study has highlighted some possible alternatives on the mercury-fish-ADHD dilemma. One of the strategies involves the use of chelating materials. The word "chelate" comes from the Greek word "claw", and refers to an important chemical property in which a non-metallic compound can tightly bind to or "pick" up a specific type of metal and pull it away.

Ethylenediamenetetraacetic Acid or EDTA, is one of the most well-known chelating agents for removing metals and mineral deposits from hard water, and even has some reported health implications for removing crusty hardening from human arteries.

In theory, it sounds like this may be a good treatment option for removing toxic metals or oxidizing agents from the brains and digestive tracts of children with ADHD and related disorders (i.e. the autism-mercury controversy?).

On the flip side, chelation therapy can be dangerous, especially for children, due, in part, to the fact that the chelating agents are often non-specific for their target metals. This highlights a classic problem in medical research, the rift between theory and practice.

For example, some versions or derivatives of EDTA can "pick up" or remove significant amounts of the important mineral calcium (which, in addition to its role in skeletal function is an extremely important mineral in regulating heart rhythms, and optimizing nervous system function, among other things) along with the desired heavy metals lead and mercury. Cases of deaths due to this chelation therapy for autism have been reported, and recent clinical trials for chelation therapy for autism have been halted.

Enzyme systems: Nature's alternatives to organic chelating agents?

Fortunately, our bodies contain a number of powerful enzymes which not only can protect our brain and other important organs from oxidative damage, but actually help remove harmful or toxic materials from our systems.

However, in order for these enzymes to work at optimal levels, they must be constantly equipped with adequate levels of helpful nutrients or cofactors. Cofactors, often come in the form of our dietary vitamins and minerals, such as zinc, iron, magnesium, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, etc., and are required by numerous enzymes in order for the enzymes to work at peak efficiency. Not surprisingly, several of these cofactors have been discussed for their relevance to ADHD in earlier postings of this blog (see links on nutrients listed above)

This is why nutrient deficiencies can be so hazardous, because literally hundreds or even thousands of enzyme systems may be in jeopardy if our bodies are deficient in just a handful of nutrients.

Two of these important enzyme system and enzyme products are the metallothionein enzyme and the peptide glutathione (which is not an enzyme, but is synthesized via several enzymes and is sensitive to the balance between oxidant and antioxidant levels).

Metallothionein has been implicated in a number of studies concerning the enzyme's relationship to autism. One theory holds that children with autism have either lower levels of this enzyme or higher levels of antibodies to the enzyme (in which the body essentially attacks its own enzyme system as part of the idea of autism being an auto-immune disorder).

While a small amount or research out there supports these claims, it is important to note that these findings are far from universal. In fact, most of the recent body of literature refutes the claim outright. One study in particular negated both the observation that metallothionein was lower in autistic children or that higher levels of antibodies to the enzyme were present in autistic children. On the other hand, lower levels of the antioxidant glutathione are often seen in cases of autism.

(Blogger's note: the reason I'm going into so much detail about autism is because the high degree of symptomal overlap between ADHD and disorders of the autistic spectrum, as well as the high degree of overlap between nutrient deficiencies concerning the two disorders).

The role of selenium and zinc in the processes of the enzyme metallothionein and the antioxidant glutathione:

We have seen in previous cases how boosting levels of one metal in the body can offset the negative effects of another such as the case of iron combatting the harmful effects of lead in ADHD.

It appears that the metallothionein function in autism is intricately tied to copper-zinc ratios, and an excess of copper (or deficiency of zinc) can hinder this enzyme's effectiveness (the presence of heavy metals such as mercury are believed to be at least partially responsible for this skewed zinc-to-copper ratio). Interestingly, significantly higher copper to zinc ratios have also been seen in ADHD children in recent studies. In addition, the transport or delivery of zinc to its desired targets may be dependent on the antioxidant functions of glutathione and the mineral selenium.

While copper and zinc balances have been studied extensively with their relationship to ADHD (here's an earlier post on ten ways zinc can counteract ADHD symptoms, or how zinc can boost the effectiveness of ADHD medications), selenium may be a "sleeper" as far as important minerals for ADHD symptom treatment goes.

While selenium is unlikely to unseat "heavyweight" minerals such as zinc, iron and magnesium for ADHD treatment, selenium is an important mineral for maintaining proper antioxidant balances, either directly (as an antioxidant itself) or indirectly (via its incorporation into selenium-dependent enzymes). The latter is evidenced by a number of important enzymes such as the dependence of the important antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase on selenium.

However, given selenium's wide range of potential benefits (selenium has been implicated as an anti-cancer agent in a number of studies), it appears that this often unheralded mineral may be a useful auxiliary agent in ADHD treatment.

To conclude this message, we must remember that nutrients often work best in combos, not in isolation. This (in this blogger's humble opinion), is why so many nutritional methods which attempt to combat ADHD often fail, in that they often fail to see this interconnection between nutrient interactions. They often instruct the individual to ramp up the dosage of only one or two nutrient which are believed to be deficient, and neglect to take into account the important roles of these supporting nutrient systems as a whole.

We have seen in other postings how omega-3 fatty acids often work well with antioxidants, as well as omega-3's and carnitine for treating ADHD via nutritional methods. Vitamin C can work in tandem with vitamin E as an antioxidant supplement duo, and recent evidence suggests that vitamin C and flax oil may also be a good combo for ADHD as well. Several studies have indicated that magnesium works well with Vitamin B6 (as well as other B vitamins) as an ADHD treatment method. Zinc may also work well with omega-3's as well as vitamin B6, and now, as we have seen, potentially with selenium, as an antidote to mercury's oxidative and toxic effects.

It is imperative that we recognize the importance of these nutrients both alone and in combination, including their potential abilities to counteract chemical agents which may either cause or exacerbate ADHD symptoms.