Parkinson's disease

Stunning new Parkinson's breakthrough changes everything

There's no cure and no hope.

Your doc will tell you that Parkinson's disease is the end of the road. You can take meds -- and face the risks -- to ease the symptoms, but this is it.

You have the disease, and it's only going to get worse from here.

I've never bought that line myself. So today, let me give you something your doctor won't: HOPE.

A major new study could change how Parkinson's is treated forever, showing a simple way to fight the symptoms, slow the disease, and dramatically improve your quality of life.

The key is in bacteria -- one that could be inside you right now, whether you have Parkinson's or not.

It's called Helicobacter pylori... and if that name sounds familiar, that's because it's the same nasty germ that can tear holes in your gut and cause ulcers.

But in many cases, H. pylori doesn't cause an ulcer. It doesn't cause any symptoms at all.

This bug could be inside you right now, lying low, and biding its time.

And if you have Parkinson's disease, it could be doing something else. It could be causing more damage and more severe damage in the brain, speeding the disease and your decline.

The new study finds that one-third of Parkinson's patients are infected with H. pylori, and they do far worse on tests of motor skills and suffer from a faster decline.

Ready for the most important part?

Folks who were treated for this infection showed remarkable improvement, while those who weren't continued that rapid decline.

Obviously, this means the most important step any senior can take today is to get tested for H. pylori -- especially if you have Parkinson's disease.

But even if you don't have PD, get checked out -- because the research team behind the new study believes it's entirely possible that this bug could actually TRIGGER the disease in some patients.

That means treating this infection -- even if there are no symptoms today -- could save your life tomorrow.

If you have Parkinson's, or are even at risk for the disease, don't stop there.

The mainstream won't admit it -- yet -- but chronic infection plays a key role in the progression of this condition, and it's not just H. pylori at work.

Other bacteria and even funguses -- including the mold spores often found in basements -- can also trigger or worsen Parkinson's disease. And, like H. pylori, many of these infections have no obvious symptoms.

In addition to bacteria and funguses, years of exposure to toxic metals can also trigger Parkinson's or speed the progression of the disease once you have it.

Again, mainstream docs are ignoring this, but the proof is in the pudding (or, in this case, the brain). Parkinson's patients have much higher levels of metals, especially iron and copper, in the brain than folks without the disease.

Work closely with a holistic medical doctor who can test for and treat all of these possible causes. It can make a world of difference.

And if you're in Southern California, I offer complete testing and treatment here in the San Diego area for chronic infection and other conditions that can worsen Parkinson's, including exposure to metals.

Contact my clinic for more information or to make an appointment. Not in the area? I can also offer advice by phone. Call 855-DOC-MARK to schedule a consultation.

Organic foods can prevent disease

I don't know about you, but my grocery bill is rising so fast that sometimes I wonder just how many people I'm feeding.

So believe me, I know how tempting it is to pass on pricey organics and stick to whatever's cheap and on sale.

But don't do it.

There may be some places where you can cut corners and save a few pennies. But your fruits, vegetables and meats aren't among them -- because going organic might cost you some extra cash today, but it could save your life tomorrow.

And if you're not eating organics yet, make the switch now and you could see measurable changes inside your body by the end of the week.

For example, the levels of organophosphate pesticide in your urine could drop by 89 percent in seven days, according to a new study in the journal Environmental Research.

I can't emphasize how important this is, because organophosphate pesticides are known to cause damage in the brain. In studies on insects and even humans, these dangerous chemicals have been shown to block critical enzymes and disrupt the nervous system.

One of those enzymes is ALDH, or aldehyde dehydrogenase, which clears the brain of a toxin called DOPAL. When your ALDH is blocked, the DOPAL builds up -- and higher levels of DOPAL can lead to Parkinson's disease.

That's why studies have shown that exposure to common pesticides can increase your risk of Parkinson's -- and if you have a gene variant that makes you susceptible to the disease, that risk skyrockets by 600 percent if you're exposed to organophosphate pesticides.

You can read more about it in this free report from my House Calls archives.

Pesticide exposure has also been linked to cancer, memory loss, dementia and more. If going organic could help prevent all that, then already it's worth the extra money -- but the benefits don't end there.

You might say those are only the beginning.

Organic foods also contain higher levels of key nutrients, especially antioxidants such as vitamin C. In some cases, they could have as much as 40 percent more of those immune-boosting vitamins. Studies have also shown that organics contain higher levels of essential minerals such as zinc.

I happen to think that organic foods taste better, too, but I suppose that's a matter of opinion.

What's not a matter of opinion is that fresh organic foods contain fewer other dangerous chemicals, too, especially the gender-bending hormone-like chemical BPA and the dangerous phthalate DHEP used to transport and package conventional foods.

They contain so much less that one study found an organic diet combined with storing food in stainless steel instead of plastics slashed BPA levels by 60 percent and cut DEHP levels in half -- and it did it in just three days.

Since these chemicals have been linked to everything from developmental problems in kids to sexual problems, cancer and diabetes in adults, avoiding them should be a top priority for you and your family.

So go organic and be prepared to pay a little more at the supermarket. Just think of it as an investment in your health.