| I have written
before about the importance of fiber to our health, pointing out
that low fiber diets have been connected to many chronic health
problems ranging from colon irregularities to diabetes to heart
disease. In fact, a 1997 study published in the Journal of the
American Medical Association states that for every 10 grams of
dietary fiber you consume per day, you lower your risk of
cardiovascular disease by 29%! I have recently come across a
book about a particular kind of fiber that underlines all the things
I have said, and how.
Many years ago, I came across a product from
Norway that impressed me considerably with its potential: called
ABSORBITOL, it was described as a "Fat Blocker", and was marketed
mostly as a weight control formula: but along with that came a good deal
of evidence to suggest it would help blood lipids (triglycerides) and
cholesterol, and on that basis I recommended it to a number of people
who had excellent results. Triglyceride, LDL and total cholesterol
reductions in the 20 to 30% range are not uncommon.
The research was scanty at the time, however, and to a
certain extent interest lapsed although some faithful users continued to
buy it and benefit from it, and get annoyed when it was hard for me to
find it. Now, it seems, this substance is coming into its own, with new
and convincing research to back up its use for the above problems, as
well as weight loss. . The generic name for it is CHITIN, or
CHITOSAN, and it is made from the exoskeletons of shell fish. I
know, that doesn't sound very appetizing, but believe me, I could name
worse sources for some of the medicines we take! It does mean, though,
that you need to avoid it if you have allergies to fish or shellfish.
The studies supporting its effects have been done in
Japan, and are extremely persuasive. Much of the research has been done
by a Professor Okuda, who defines a "health " or "functional" food as
one that fulfills one or two of the following functions:
1) fortification of immunity,
2) prevention of aging,
3) prevention of illness,
4) recovery from illness, and
5) control of biorhythm. |
He claims that Chitosan. fills all of these functions.
A Dr. Matsunaga, M.D., who uses the Chitosan extensively in his
practice, explains that this is because no particular organ is targeted:
Chitosan "activates the whole body's cells and affects the health of
the whole body, and at the same time strengthens immune cells that eat
cancer cells and infective viruses, causes the sick parts to recover
from illness, adjusts an unbalanced autonomic nervous system ... and
removes unspecified complaints coming from autonomous nervous
imbalances. Its action is not only local, but general ... for example, a
person who eats it to decrease high blood pressure (may also) lose
shoulder stiffness and insomnia".
It may seem incredible that one simple substance could
possibly affect so many conditions, but the Doctors in this book give
examples of problems as serious as diabetes, high blood pressure and
other heart disease related states which have been overcome by the
judicious use of Chitosan. They do warn that it is not a panacea, and
should not be relied on to the exclusion of other therapies, but at the
same time their enthusiasm for its effects is hard to resist. In Japan,
at least a dozen books have been written about the use of Chitosan, and
somewhere in the region of 2 million Japanese use the food daily,
listing the benefits they obtain from weight loss to relief from severe
lower back pain. It is obvious that this is an interesting new player on
the supplement scene with impressive credentials.
It is because of Chitosan's effectiveness at binding
to fats that it is helpful as a weight loss agent for people who have
problems metabolizing fats. It appears to bind to fat molecules and
carry them out of the body unabsorbed. However, it is also possible that
it reduces the absorption of vitamins and minerals, and I
recommend that you take a good multivitamin and mineral formula at a
different time from the Chitosan to make up for any possible
deficiencies. Another intriguing new use for
Chitosan is in Kidney Dialysis: Dr. Jonathan Wright says the
following: "Chitosan is most popular for its
effectiveness as a weight control supplement. It is extracted from
the shells of crustaceans, such as shrimp and crab, which means that
if (people have) an allergy to shellfish, it's not an option for
(them). If not, however, (they) may want to consider it. A study
published a few years ago clearly showed a benefit to dialysis
patients who took chitosan. Half of
the 80 study participants took 1,450 milligrams of chitosan, three
times daily for 12 weeks; the other half didn't take any chitosan.
After the study period, researchers reported that the patients who
took chitosan reported less fatigue and shortness of breath, and
improvements in appetite, sleep, and feelings of physical strength.
Their kidney function also appeared better, and they suffered from
less severe anemia - a common problem in those with
chronic kidney failure. And there were no significant side effects
reported."
Research suggests it may not be a good idea to use Chitosan if
you are on blood thinners.
| Keywords: chitin, chitosan,
natural fiber, chitosan blood lipids, chitosan triglycerides,
chitosan cholesterol, chitosan fat blocker, the vitamin lady
writes about chitosan, chitosan kidney |
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