Sunlight, Bitter Melon, Nitric Oxide Connection
Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 3:12 pm
I began by reading Dan Buettner's book, The Blue Zones, one of which is Okinawa, a couple years ago. Then came my reading of The Okinawa Program by Bradley J. Willcox, M.D., D. Craig Willcox, PhD, and Makoto Suzuki, M.D. I learned that the prevalence of MS in Okinawa is miniscule. This was due to diet, I thought: http://www.truehealth.org/okinawadiet.html
The diet in that country commonly includes go-ya (a.k.a. bitter melon), extremely bitter to most people. It resembles a cucumber with warts. There are different varieties used in India, China, Southeast Asia. [The spice mugwort (nothing to do with Harry Potter although mentioned in those books), which is also bitter, is frequently used in Okinawa (in rice), too.] There is some suspicion that go-ya contains a plant insulin that helps people with type II diabetes control the disease.
Now, I think this article by Dr. Joseph Mercola explains the low prevalence of MS in Okinawa: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/artic ... osure.aspx
As the article states, "The researchers found that sunlight triggers your skin’s production of nitric oxide. Why is this significant? Because nitric oxide is crucial for maintaining healthy blood pressure, helps prevent atherosclerosis, and plays a role in modulating immune system function."
And later, "Not only is nitric oxide important in regulating blood pressure, it also functions as a signaling molecule in your brain and immune system. Besides sitting in the sun, you can increase your nitric oxide levels with a few natural supplements and techniques:
•Calcium and magnesium rich foods and supplements, and vitamins C and E (Attention: Jimmylegs!)
•Olive extract
•Bitter melon
•Electrical acupuncture
•Taking a warm bath, or by breathing in and out through one nostril (close off the other nostril and your mouth)"
(I am undecided about that breathing/nostril business – but I have always said I will try anything… Even wearing a chicken leg around my neck, if it might help!)
I now think it is possible that this nitric oxide angle could be responsible for the lower prevalence of MS in people as they live closer to the equator. It may not be vitamin D, ultraviolet radiation, or length of the photo-period. Perhaps it has been nitric oxide all along.
And if MS has a bacterial cause, sunlight has been used (longtime use against tuberculosis, before antibiotic drugs).
… Thinking is always evolving…
The diet in that country commonly includes go-ya (a.k.a. bitter melon), extremely bitter to most people. It resembles a cucumber with warts. There are different varieties used in India, China, Southeast Asia. [The spice mugwort (nothing to do with Harry Potter although mentioned in those books), which is also bitter, is frequently used in Okinawa (in rice), too.] There is some suspicion that go-ya contains a plant insulin that helps people with type II diabetes control the disease.
Now, I think this article by Dr. Joseph Mercola explains the low prevalence of MS in Okinawa: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/artic ... osure.aspx
As the article states, "The researchers found that sunlight triggers your skin’s production of nitric oxide. Why is this significant? Because nitric oxide is crucial for maintaining healthy blood pressure, helps prevent atherosclerosis, and plays a role in modulating immune system function."
And later, "Not only is nitric oxide important in regulating blood pressure, it also functions as a signaling molecule in your brain and immune system. Besides sitting in the sun, you can increase your nitric oxide levels with a few natural supplements and techniques:
•Calcium and magnesium rich foods and supplements, and vitamins C and E (Attention: Jimmylegs!)
•Olive extract
•Bitter melon
•Electrical acupuncture
•Taking a warm bath, or by breathing in and out through one nostril (close off the other nostril and your mouth)"
(I am undecided about that breathing/nostril business – but I have always said I will try anything… Even wearing a chicken leg around my neck, if it might help!)
I now think it is possible that this nitric oxide angle could be responsible for the lower prevalence of MS in people as they live closer to the equator. It may not be vitamin D, ultraviolet radiation, or length of the photo-period. Perhaps it has been nitric oxide all along.
And if MS has a bacterial cause, sunlight has been used (longtime use against tuberculosis, before antibiotic drugs).
… Thinking is always evolving…