Bones – Hormones, Dr Roach

Elevated hormone level isn’t always treated

To Your
Good Health
Keith Roach

Q#1: I am a 64-year-old woman in fairly good health and take no medications.

In the past four months, I have had blood work done three times to check my thyroid and had slightly elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone scores (between 5 and 7). My doctor then tested me for antibodies, which came up negative.

I was told that, because I don’t have antibodies, I shouldn’t be treated. When I asked about the elevated scores, I was told, “We do not treat ‘old-age’ hypothyroidism.”

If my levels are elevated, what does the presence of antibodies mean? Do I have hypothyroidism?

A: I don’t know whether you have hypothyroidism.

But the issue, as far as I can see, isn’t so much the antibodies but the level of your actual thyroid hormone — free T4.

The thyroid-stimulating hormone is made by the pituitary gland in the brain, and its job is to stimulate the thyroid gland in the neck to make more thyroid hormone.

If the thyroid gland is not producing quite enough hormone, usually because of autoimmune disease, the brain senses this and increases TSH. Sometimes the thyroid gland is able to make enough hormone to be in the normal range. We call this “subclinical hypothyroidism,” or “compensated primary hypothyroidism.”

Most physicians don’t treat this condition if there are no other symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue, cold intolerance or muscle weakness.

But, in this situation, having thyroid antibodies or autoimmune disease makes the development of symptomatic hypothyroidism much more likely.

If you have no symptoms, no antibodies and normal free T4 levels, then I don’t think you need treatment. You should have periodic tests of both TSH and free T4.

Q#2: I am an 83-year-old woman who has osteoporosis. I took Fosamax and Actonel for seven years, but I don’t like the side effects. I have never had a broken bone. I have read about strontium. Is it safe to take?

A: A study of strontium ranelate published in 2004 showed improvement in bone density and noted a big reduction in bone fractures, so I understand why you would be interested in taking it.

There are a few issues. Strontium ranelate is not approved for use in the United States or Canada.

Strontium products sold as health supplements haven’t been evaluated in the same way as the prescription-grade strontium ranelate.

Second, because of the X-ray absorbing effect of strontium, the results of the bone-density test needs to be interpreted cautiously.

Finally, no drug is free of side effects. The major side effect in the strontium study I mentioned was diarrhea.

Dr. Roach answers letters only in his North America Syndicate column but provides an order form of available health newsletters. Write him at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475; or ToYourGoodHealth  @med.cornell.edu  .

(My Comment:

Q #1:  With regard to this lady, as it is shown,  patient doesn’t reveal enough by way of symptoms or background for any definitive reply.    One wonders however, if she  has no problematic  symptoms, why have three blood draws been done over four months.   Seems either she or her physician must have felt there was a thyroid potential issue, for insurance companies bearing rather close scrutiny now, it is unlikely to find coverage over a mere whim.  They can be highly resistant to unnecessary expenses or superfluous testing.   

Without a clue to her health picture, one must view this generically which Dr Roach has done by means of his  willingness to explain.   I enter in – -  not in disagreement, but because this was a sore spot of my own history.   

I had thyroid troubles from the time I was 18 and it never was treated properly.  My goiter was embarrassing to me.   It was surgically removed along with a lobe of the gland when I was 22.  No treatment was given or necessary they said.   Within a few years, the goiter grew back.   I was never really overweight (at 122 pounds on my 5′ 5 1/2″ frame), but I thought I was too round so I had to work on keeping my figure   I did have a few text-book issues, however. 

So I am quite aware of how it feels to have issues which the doctor  is indicating aren’t really there because there is nothing wrong which are shown by these tests. I was always within normal range, on the low side for close to 50 years.  Being left to cope on my own was difficult as I was not informed enough to change things on my own.   I had longed for a houseful of children.  I was almost 31 by the time our son came along  [with help from the doctor's expert chicanery].  True he was perfect and the joy of my life, but all that I had saved up was maybe too much to throw onto just one kid.. . .just saying’ .  . . I appeared healthy,  capable and happy.  As an  adaptable person of moderate intelligence, a truly fine life has been enjoyed.  But I can assure any who doubt the depth of this thyroid problem we have in this nation, it is tragic for many and there has been a great deal of pain foisted onto millions  who turn to doctors for help and wind up struggling on their own, NEEDLESSLY. 

There is a huge problem  with relegating millions of people to live in frustration, misery and pain all because their test results say their numbers show there is nothing wrong;  they are in normal range. So many with much worse problems than I had have been pressured into believing the worst in themselves.  This is not what medicine should be about.  

As to those tests,  acceptable ranges will vary depending on the particular discipline of the doctor reading them.  The ranges within the laboratories are generally pretty standardized, but the levels of interpretation  within the doctor’s specialties will vary.  As an example, Endocrinologists  may grade the high to be 3.5, whereas the standard may read 0 to 5.5.  Toward another branch -  -  Naturopaths, physicians may want to see 2.5 or less.  They are not wrong.  It’s the way they work, what they are seeing. 

.

But to someone like me, from my perspective,  it is folly to base an individual’s needs on the general parameters for standards which apply to a wide spectrum of the population.  There are a great many variables which enter into any diagnosis, not the least of which is the doctor’s ability to even read all those numbers and interpret them, let alone understand how they work and interplay with one another.  It is really too bad that we don’t have Bio-markers for Health, because these bio-markers for disease don’t seem to be helping a lot of us.   As an aside,  in all my years, I have only had two docs discuss, handle and explain and mark-up my blood analysis reports because they wanted me to understand.  TWO!  (both alternative).

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#2:  Well, this one is a sticky wicket for me. I am 100% opposed to any calcium ingestion at all for our bodies.  Don’t take calcium, never have.  I believed Dr McDougall’s concept about massive animals of earth who grow huge bodies  and live on grasses and plant-food.   Though our systems are of course different – - we aren’t cows, but we too can grow our bones without calcium supplements of any kind.  Just the plants of the field.  For those who haven’t seen it, I did a post called “Battered Jan” in which I took a flying leap off an embankment down 3 0r4  feet to a hard  surface and it hurt like hell but I didn’t break anything but my composure. Guess the date on it is (10-12-11).   Had all the tests and x-rays, because my doc couldn’t believe an octogenarian could experience such a thing with out coming undone.  Chalk one up for McDougall. 

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Then there is David Wolfe and who doesn’t adore David?  Well I love his advice not to ingest calcium also, but his reason is different – - its messing up our cardio system big-time!.  Stuff is no different than ordinary chalk – who needs it?  It is leaving calcium deposits all over our body in the arteries, in, on and around the heart, in our eyes and it never gets to the joints which is where we thought we wanted it in the first place.  David is big on mineralization, but get it from the wholesome, organic plants.  Eat it, juice it, just don’t take calcium tablets. 

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When it comes to scientific explanations tho, its Loren Cordain, every time.  He’s my go-to man.  Every home should have his book – the Paleo Diet.   Not going to interpolate him tonite, done it to death.  He says it better anyway. (go to FIND IT).  So chalk another up for David and another for Cordain.   Play it cool.  Just eat right, wholesome raw and /or organic plants – your choice and pastured grass fed animals if that’s your choice and only wild-caught salmon from the great northwest (not China or in the polluted waters “over yon”) 

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Do not not have your bones tested for density.   Do not take once a month or once a year anything to improve your bones.  Just eat sensibly.  Please.  BIG PhRMA is rich enough. The lady of Q2 is just lucky or has a guardian angel sitting on her shoulder.  Because it’s only a matter of time for something to break.  As for Strontium,  If I were to take something, it would be as good as anything I guess.  Dr Nan Fuchs has been selling it for a LONG  time and seems to swear by it.  Says its been used for over 100 years.  The Mayo Clinic did testing on it  in ’59 and found it very effective.   

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 Strontium  ranelate is what the pharmaceuticals called their patented form of strontium, but it was no more effective than the non-patented product and they couldn’t make any money off it, so they abandoned it.  That’s why the interest died down.  They ‘chose’ not to sell it as it wasn’t worth their time.   I repeat, we don’t need calcium.  Don’t worry about it.  Get your minerals and plenty of fresh produce – - that’s what your body needs and wants.  Medicines only get in the way and fowl things up.  Americans are SOLD more calcium than any other country in the world.  We are ill advised and badly counseled.   We also have the worst bones of any nation in the world – bar none.  We are worse off than any 3rd world country and we are paying through the nose for all our bad advice and poor care.   Do yourself a favor and do the simple stuff.  Eat good food, Have fun.  Love a lot and laugh as often as possible.      As McDougall says, our Bones are Okay.    Love you guys,  Jan)  

PAN SALT? found answer

Can’t find  PAN SALT

Get over it you might say,  but hey, you don’t know what I’ve been through here.   Well, I’m gonna tell you.  For the last three weeks or so,  I have been spinning my wheels searching everywhere on any browser available to me for PAN SALT.   

I had learned about it in my eternal search for the new and relevant, both online and printed material.  I read of Finland and the dramatic results they have had lowering heart disease and hypertension.  This very fine Doc over there had collaborated with an American Icon by the name of Dr Mildred Seelig. Then I researched her and bought her book “The Magnesium Factor” and then placed her up there on a special shelf along with Dr Hulda Regehr Clark whom you all know I truly admire.  I’m still reading Seelig’s book. 

Some of you know that I have had to take HBP meds  since my granddaughters were very small (2 and 3), now 17 and 18. It has never been resolved and is labelled Secondary Hypertension, which is a way of saying unknown cause.  Have never accepted that.  Everything has a cause.  And I’ve tried many of them, to be sure because as ALL of you know for certain, I am totally disenchanted with pharmaceuticals.  Yet, til hearing of PAN SALT, nothing has seemed even likely.  I thought being a vegan would do it, but it didn’t.   

(Brief aside, hypothyroidism ALL ADULT LIFE and no physician would give me iodine which I knew I needed.  Was too dumb to find a way to get it on my own -  – thought it had to come from a doctor. Then about 19 years ago a new doc diagnosed me as hyperthyroid with a toxic goiter/gland and I needed immediate surgery!   Couldn’t get away from him fast enough.  Who ever heard of such a thing?  He wasn’t interested in my thinking or even attempting to help me understand.  He was lacking the test results which had not been sent to him, he was only taking some brand-X doc somewhere else that 2 and 2 made 10.  Yet, there he was calling the hospital and arranging his newest case for development.  

Doctors would not address my thyroid needs for over forty years and now this idiot wants me to have it removed, because , it’s too late for anything else.  Couldn’t accept that.  Outta sight, outta mind.  for another 7 or 8 years and now I have heart problems brought on by an overactive thyroid condition – which was beating up the heart.   Was in A-Fib for over five years. Then of course – the radio-active iodine therapy  – - 3 times over next two years taking in 80 millicuries of radiation. Finally got with a man I really admired and trusted, a cardiologist.  Wouldn’t have happened without Medicare.  Was very expensive.  Did many procedures, some very costly done as out-patient in hospital, running thousands of dollars.  But he got my heart out of irregular rhythms and working seemingly normally for another few years.

Stuff  changes. Doc changed his practice;  changed my insurance, dislike the new cardio doc, so  tried for the doc I liked again, but couldn’t work it out and  refused to go through all those tests again and the week of loading up with Tikosyn in the hospital.  Does anyone know what it costs to plant your butt in bed wearing monitors for a week?   Quit it all.  It would be obscene to do that to the Medicare purse-strings, nor did I want to go through it.    

So what I’m driving at here, life can be a bitch if you want to worry over every little thing.  The only med I’m taking is for HBP;  if I can get off that, I’ll feel I’ve slain the dragon and quite content.  The warm weather and getting outside in the garden have almost made a new woman of me.  I’m lovin’ it. So this is the personal motivation, to get off meds entirely and I won’t feel like apologising to my body for abuse.  This little diversion on my background is to show you what my need is to get some PAN SALT.  

Nobody has it.  America doesn’t make it here – no money in it [you should pardon the expression].  I tried to order from China, Manilla and so on.  Shipping costs might have tripled the cost.  But received no response back from anyone.   One could say that I have almost been obsessing over it. Then, last night, I started going thru Dr. Wright’s stuff – - one of the few I really enjoy;  when it hit me, why not go online and access his archives back a little, maybe I’ll find something to lead me on. It was late, but did it anyway.  Didn’t use a dart on the board, just opted for December 2009.  BINGO! Don’t try to dissuade me,  I know this is the “Law of Attraction” at work.  It was so prevalent in my mind that I admit I was almost obsessing over it.  But there it was.  So I copied that article and it follows my comment here (of needs, presented first).  Since I have been working on this post for weeks now, it is huge.  So I must go thru and pare down.  You will get the gist just from Dr Wright’s article,  including  – - HOW WE CAN ALL GET THE PAN SALT,  only, it won’t be called Pan Salt from this source.    

Believe it or not,  I was 1/2 way contemplating trying to start-up business and do it myself.  I even went so far as to write to Erin at Mountain Rose Herbs to see if they would be interested, but they didn’t respond.  Just as well – I’m too old and financially limited – and I’d have to give up my blog. . . and I’ve kinda left that in the hands of the fellas upstairs. .  .  so this is just what  Dr Jan ordered. 

I am including the bit on Dr Seelig, she is remarkable, want you to know about her and her truly fine book.  To those of you with hypertension or heart problems or stroke potential, this is a magnificent, cheap and effective way to really up our odds of beating all that.  I feel like I’m handing you a winning ticket to the Lottery.  All ya gotta do is go for it!    Be happy,  Jan)

The international salt secret that could save your heart—and your life

  By Jonathan V. Wright, M.D.                                                                                                                              December 2009

Can you imagine deaths from stroke and heart disease plummeting by 60 percent throughout an entire country? It would be a “public health” dream! And, yet, it’s absolutely for real…Just not here in these United States. At least, not yet.

So where did this remarkable decrease in deaths from heart disease and stroke occur? Botswana? Kyrgyzstan? Some other obscure “Third World” country? No. It happened in a major industrialized European country—Finland.

So why hasn’t this amazing “public health” feat been publicized? Well, if I had to guess, I’d say it’s because the amazing improvement had very little to do with any sort of patent medication. In fact, 85 to 90 percent of this dramatic reduction in deaths is due entirely to simple diet changes—reduction of saturated/unsaturated fat ratio and, according to the study on this phenomenon, a nationwide “…replacement of common salt by a novel sodium-reduced, potassium, magnesium-, and l-lysine HCI-enriched salt, both in home kitchens and in the food industry.”1

According to this same 1996 report: “Adherence to anti-hypertensive drug therapy has been quite good. However, the drug treatment does not seem to account for more than 5-6 percent of the observed fall of blood pressure, and 10-15 percent of the decrease in deaths from strokes and ischaemic heart disease.” The report went on to note that during the same time period “…marked increases in the intake of alcohol, obesity among men, and smoking among women have been observed.”

• Wow! While male obesity, female smoking, and alcohol intake all increased to a “marked” degree, the death rate from heart disease and stroke still declined by 60 percent—and only 10-15 percent of the over-all decline could be attributed in any way to patent medicines. If that situation was reversed, and patent medications were responsible for such a positive change, you can bet we’d be overrun with publicity about how they “save lives.”

So maybe the lack of attention this breakthrough received means that it was a fluke. After all, the study was published in 1996—the situation must have changed for the worse again…And that’s why we haven’t heard about it, right?

Well, I’m very happy to tell you that’s not the case! Not only has this decrease in the death rate from stroke and heart disease continued, the situation has gotten even better! According to a follow-up study published in 2006, there has been “…a 75 to 80 percent decrease in both stroke and coronary heart disease mortality in Finland.”4 And by 2006 there was an increase in life expectancy of both male and female Finns of six to seven years.

Benefits without borders

Of course, that’s “just” Finland—and it’s true that this remarkable approach hasn’t been researched anywhere else. But two controlled studies, from Taiwan and Australia, have noted similar improvements.

In the Taiwanese study, the researchers examined the effects of a potassium-enriched salt on cardiovascular disease mortality and medical expenditures in elderly veterans. Five kitchens of a retirement home serving 1,981 veterans were randomized into two groups, “experimental” using potassium-enriched salt or “control” using regular (sodium-chloride) salt.

After 31 months, researchers observed a significant reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality in the “experimental” salt group. The people in the potassium-enriched salt group also spent significantly less for in-patient care for cardiovascular disease than people in the control group. The researchers concluded: “The effect was likely due to a major increase in potassium and a moderate reduction in sodium intakes.”5

In the Australian study, researchers looked at another aspect of cardiovascular disease—hypertension—and the influence of the sodium-to-postassium ratio. They lowered and raised the volunteers’ sodium intake while having them maintain a potassium-rich diet. As you might expect, they found a correlation between higher sodium intake and higher urinary sodium and correlation between lower sodium intake and lower urinary sodium. And the urinary sodium/potassium ratio also rose and fell with higher and lower sodium intake. The researchers reported that reducing sodium intake and following a potassium-rich diet significantly decreased systolic blood pressure (the “upper” number).6

And earlier this year, researchers from Harvard Medical School reported that urinary sodium/potassium ratios have predictive value, too. They concluded: “A higher sodium to potassium excretion ratio is associated with increased risk of subsequent cardiovascular disease.”7 They also noted that the actual ratio of the nutrients is a stronger predictor than either one on its own.

But there are a few elements that the Finnish studies included that these studies left out. And you can’t talk about the dramatic decrease in cardiovascular and stroke deaths without looking at ALL the potential factors involved.

The other elements you need for ultimate heart health

In the Finnish research, the special salt they investigated was used nationwide—even by the local McDonald’s! And this particular sodium-reduced salt had been enriched not only with potassium, but also with magnesium and L-lysine-hydrochloride.

By now, even conventional medicine agrees that magnesium is a principal mineral—if not the No. 1 mineral—for preventing cardiovascular diseases. According to a recent review, “magnesium plays a role in a number of chronic, disease-related conditions.”

This article reviewed the current pertinent literature on magnesium and concluded that it plays a major role in regulating blood pressure. The authors also noted that “increased magnesium intake may improve serum lipid profiles. Dietary magnesium is also recommended to aid in the prevention of stroke.”8

And what about the L-lysine in that “novel salt” used in Finland? Some of you may recall that (along with vitamin C and proline) L-lysine was (and is) part of Linus Pauling’s treatment for prevention and even reversal of cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, even though there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence of its effectiveness, there are no rigorously controlled trials of Pauling’s cardiovascular therapy. But the good news is, L-lysine is an essential amino acid and is harmless except in enormous amounts.

Patents, profits, and “public health”

It’s sad but true that here in these United States, public health “authorities” are much more focused on vaccinations and other “public health” measures that “just so happen” to coincide with the interests of patent medicine companies. So it’s no wonder they haven’t paid the slightest attention to the fact that there’s an entirely natural (i.e. unpatentable) way to decrease the number of cardiovascular disease-related deaths here in this country by as much as 65 percent.

For the record—using 2005 American Heart Association statistics—589,266 total deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke reduced by 65 percent leaves 383,023 that would still be alive today if we were using this entirely natural approach. But our health “authorities” haven’t saved those lives because there’s no money to be made there.

But since we’re each responsible for our own health, and you’re a Nutrition & Healing reader, chances are good that you’ve already done some of the things credited by the Finnish researchers with this remarkable result. You’ve likely cut back on saturated fats, or—even better—switched as much of your animal protein as possible to “free-range, grass fed” sources and “wild” fish. You’re probably also using fish oil every day, which, as you know, not only helps reduce cardiovascular risk but also has many other health benefits. And you may also already be taking supplements containing magnesium and potassium.

Now there’s another tool to consider.

Switch the salt in your shaker

After waiting 13 years since for someone to market an American version of the “novel, sodium-reduced, potassium-, magnesium-, and l-lysine-enriched salt” used nationwide in Finland, I’ve finally gotten together with Ayush Botanicals of Mercer Island, Washington, to introduce a very similar version. Holly and I are using it as our only salt at home already.

It’s called “WrightSalt.” To be honest, I’m not thrilled with that name, but the attorneys said it couldn’t be called “Heart Health Salt,” “Anti-Hypertension Salt,” “Reduce Stroke Salt,” “Longevity Salt,” “Fewer Cardiovascular Deaths Salt,” or anything else that would indicate what it actually helped accomplish in Finland. Even though all of those names are accurate, they would be “making a claim.” And, as you know, telling the truth on the labels of natural health products is “illegal” in these United States—despite the “freedom of speech” “guaranteed” by the 1st Amendment to the Constitution.

But I digress.

“WrightSalt” is available through the Tahoma Clinic Dispensary,  Ayush Herbs (1-800-925-1371), and hopefully soon through your own natural food store or compounding pharmacy. And, to repeat, I am associated with this product—and am proud to introduce another harmless (except in enormous quantities) natural product that has the ability to make a very significant difference to your health, your family’s health, and the health of entire population of these United States.

Especially one that tastes good with whatever you’re eating, too! JVW

YOUR HEALTH

Less Salt could save 1000′s lives , studies show

By  Melissa Healy

WASHINGTON — Steadily reducing sodium in the foods we buy and eat could save a half-million Americans from dying premature deaths over a decade, says a new study. And a reduction to 2,200 milligrams per day — a 40 percent drop from current levels — could save 850,000 lives over 10 years, researchers have projected.

The new estimates, published yesterday in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension, are the results of three separate teams crunching the numbers at the request of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco; Harvard University’s School of Public Health; and Simon Fraser University in Canada came at their estimates independently, but found their results converged.

Americans currently consume about 3,600 milligrams of sodium daily — roughly 40 percent above the interim goal posited by the researchers — and much of that is hidden in processed foods such as soups, cereals and bread. Research suggests high-sodium diets can push blood pressure above safe limits and exacerbate high blood pressure, and that consuming less salt lowers blood pressure. Some 45 percent of cardiovascular disease in the United States is attributed to high blood pressure.

The researchers called efforts to reduce average American sodium intake by 40 percent “a daunting task.” Food-industry experts and public-health officials have been meeting in recent years to secure steady, small reductions in the sodium content of processed foods — reductions they think that consumers might not notice.

But even the equivalent of one-20th of a teaspoon of salt less each year could avert 280,000 to 500,000 deaths per year, the researchers said.

Magnesium

Summaries of the latest research concerning magnesium By Hans R. Larsen MSc ChE

Magnesium is of key importance to human health. It participates in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body. A deficiency has been linked to conditions such as irregular heart beat, asthma, emphysema, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, mitral valve prolapse, stroke and heart attack, diabetes, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, migraine, kidney stones, osteoporosis, and probably many more. Magnesium is particularly important when it comes to ensuring the health of the heart and bones. About 99% of the body’s magnesium stores are found in the bones and tissues and heart tissue is particularly rich in this important mineral. About half of the body’s magnesium stores can be found in bones, so it is clearly a very important mineral as far as osteoporosis prevention is concerned.Only 1% of the body’s magnesium is actually present in the blood so a standard blood analysis is a very poor way of determining overall magnesium status.

The RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) is 420 mg/day for men and 320 mg/day for women. Unfortunately, recent surveys have shown that many Americans have a dietary intake of 200 mg/day or less. A recent study found that 74% of a cohort of 2000 elderly men and women did not consume the recommended amount. This same study also concluded that a high magnesium intake is associated with a significantly higher bone density in older white men and women. Every 100 mg/day extra intake of magnesium was found to correspond to a 2% increase in whole-body bone mass. This compares to an approximate 2% increase per 400-mg/day increase in calcium consumption. It is thought that magnesium may act as a buffer for the acid produced by the typical Western diet and may also replace calcium in the hydroxyapatite part of bone, thus resulting in a stronger structure. There is also evidence that magnesium suppresses bone resorption (demineralization) at least in younger people.

Almonds, nuts, blackstrap molasses, wheat bran and wheat germ are good sources of magnesium; however, many people will, no doubt, prefer to take a magnesium supplement as an easy and reliable way of assuring an adequate daily intake. (Want to point out that Cacao nibs from the cacao tree is the highest known plant for  magnesium)  Up to 800 mg/day of elemental magnesium is probably safe; however, people with kidney disease or severe heart disease should not supplement with magnesium without their doctor’s approval. There is some evidence that a continued magnesium deficiency may reduce the ability to absorb magnesium. Thus it may be necessary to have intravenous magnesium infusions first before an oral supplementation program can make a meaningful difference. Magnesium absorption tends to decrease as body stores are replenished so there is little chance of overdosing; nevertheless, patients with end-stage renal disease should not supplement with magnesium. Vitamin D is required for optimum absorption so it is important to get adequate unprotected sun exposure daily or to take a vitamin D-3 supplement when using oral replenishment of magnesium. Some magnesium supplements, when taken in excess, cause a looser stool and even diarrhea. Taking too much magnesium is not a good idea since diarrhea is likely to cause the loss of most, if not all, of the supplemented amount.

The most common magnesium supplements are magnesium oxide, magnesium carbonate, chelated magnesium (magnesium glycinate), magnesium orotate, magnesium citrate, magnesium maleate and magnesium gluconate. These supplements provide different amounts of elemental magnesium (the constituent that matters) and also vary significantly in their bioavailability (absorption).

Magnesium oxide is the most dense magnesium compound and the one most often used in mineral supplements and multivitamins. It contains 300 mg of elemental magnesium per 500 mg tablet, but is extremely poorly absorbed. Only about 4% of its elemental magnesium is absorbed or about 12 mg out of a 500 mg tablet.

Magnesium carbonate contains 125 mg of elemental magnesium per 500 mg tablet, but is poorly absorbed.

Chelated magnesium (magnesium glycinate) is magnesium bound in a complex of glycine and lysine. It is easily absorbed and highly bioavailable. The magnesium (elemental) content per tablet or capsule is usually 100 mg.

Magnesium orotate contains only 31 mg of elemental magnesium per 500 mg tablet. However, it is well absorbed and has been found highly effective in daily intakes of 3000 mg (186 mg elemental).

Magnesium citrate contains 80 mg of elemental magnesium per 500 mg tablet. It is far better absorbed than is magnesium oxide. The water soluble form (Natural Calm) contains 205 mg of elemental magnesium per teaspoon, is totally soluble in hot water and is highly bioavailable.

Magnesium maleate contains 56 mg of elemental magnesium per 500 mg tablet.

Magnesium gluconate contains 27 mg of elemental magnesium per 500 mg tablet. It is easily absorbed and quick acting.

All forms of oral magnesium supplements are better absorbed when taken with a meal.

In Memoriam Mildred Seelig, M.D., MPH, MACN (1920-2005)

Dr Seelig’s life was certainly spectacular. and I am impressed with her

accomplishments over her lifetime.  Not the least of these were her

beloved family.

Together with Dr Andrea Rosanoff, they wrote the definitive work on Magnesium which had been the central life’s work for Dr Seelig.  It spoke clearly to her and she pursued it with a passion through four decades of Research – - on which she had lectured extensively all over the world.   There were few others like her, for she was the established authority on the subject of Magnesium

Many of her books and manuscripts are cited online and can be

traced if any wish to persevere.  The book cited which remains at the top of any list is simply called  “The Magnesium Factor”

Mildred passed on January 14, 2005 in Atlanta, Georgia from a heart attack following heart surgery on January 10, 2005. She was 84 years old. Mildred had returned from a trip to Taiwan, Thailand, and India in the middle of December. She was very tired from this trip and developed a heart problem on January 7th that resulted in heart surgery and her passing.

Mildred is survived by her two children, their spouses, and six grandchildren. Her beloved Alex, her children, and grandchildren were the joys of her life. She enjoyed being a mother. Both of her children are physicians and are married to physicians. One granddaughter is currently in medical school.

Mildred was a [people person.] She reached out to people and people were attracted to her. While she was the editor of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, she would get in touch with the authors of the papers that were submitted. She assisted many authors, who had other languages as their first language, to write their papers in English. At meetings, she reached out to the new generations of researchers and encouraged them in their work. She always had kind and supporting words for family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. Mildred reached out to nearly everyone with whom she came in contact and took many of these people [under her wing] when difficulties occurred to them. People responded back to her in the same way.

Dr. Seelig was a brilliant, unique, and caring individual. Her contributions to the American College of Nutrition and its journal provided the foundation for the College that exists today. The legacy she provided to the field of magnesium and its researchers will long be remembered.

Our New Product-Pan Salt from Finland!

Posted on November 3, 2011 by admin 

Recently, our office has started to carry a new product called Pan Salt. It is intended to replace your traditional table salt in order to provide you with multiple health benefits.

According to a follow-up study published in 2006 on the effect of this salt on the country of Finland, there has been “… a 75 to 80 percent decrease in both stroke and coronary heart disease mortality in Finland”. By 2006, there was an increase in life expectancy of both male and female Finns of six to seven years. The new sodium-reduced salt has been enriched not only with Potassium, but also with Magnesium and L-lysine-hydrochloride. By now, even conventional medicine agrees that Magnesium is a principle mineral-if not the number one mineral for preventing cardiovascular diseases.

According to a recent review, “magnesium plays a role in a number of chronic disease-related conditions.” Magnesium also plays a major role in regulating blood pressure, it may improve serum lipid panels and aid in the prevention of stroke. As for the L-lysine in the Pansalt (along with Vitamin C and Proline) it is part of Linus Pauling’s treatment for prevention and even reversal of cardiovascular disease-it is also an essential amino acid. Our Pansalt contains 57% Sodium Chloride, 28% Potassium Chloride , 12% Magnesium Sulphate and 2% Lysine Hydrochloride. This super salt is available for our patients through our Center for a cost of $6.00 for a three ounce container.

the link to this site is:    http://www.coem.com/blog/index/php/our-new-product-pan-salt-from-finland

(I included this small item as it is showing the exact percentages of each mineral or enzyme which very few will do.  And I think it is good to know  Jan)

Autism in ‘womb’

Latest study

Placenta abnormalities show high risk for autism

By Karen Kaplan LOS ANGELES TIMES

LOS ANGELES — Researchers think they have come up with a way to tell whether a newborn infant has a higher-than-normal risk of developing autism — by looking for abnormalities in the placenta shortly after birth.

The abnormalities in question are called trophoblast inclusions, or TIs. They are created when the placenta doesn’t develop properly, and they are a marker for various genetic abnormalities. When a placental sample is examined on a slide under a microscope, TIs appear as dark blobs.

Dr. Harvey J. Kliman came up with the hypothesis that TIs might be linked to autism after he was asked to examine two placentas with many abnormalities. Those placentas belonged to children with autism.

To see whether his inkling had any merit, Kliman, a research scientist in obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the Yale School of Medicine, found 13 children with an autism-spectrum disorder and 154 children who didn’t. Then, he compared samples from their placentas and found that TIs occurred three times as often when children had such a disorder. He and his colleagues reported those results in 2007.

The new study was more ambitious. Kliman teamed up with researchers from the University of California, Davis, MIND Institute. They found 117 pregnant women who already had a child with autism and thus were more likely to have another child with the disorder. The placentas from these high-risk pregnancies were compared with placentas from 100 women who had no heightened risk of having a baby with autism.

It turned out there was a marked difference in TIs between the two groups. A full 92 percent of the control placentas had no TIs whatsoever, and none of them had more than two TIs.

On the other hand, placentas from the high-risk pregnancies had as many as 15 TIs. Fifty-nine percent of placentas had none. That meant that if the researchers found two or more TIs in a patient’s sample, the odds that the baby would have autism increased by a factor of 8.

The results were published yesterday in the journal Biological Psychiatry.

The test can’t say whether a particular infant will grow up to develop autism. At best, it can serve only as a warning that a particular baby has an increased risk of developing autism.

(Jan’s Comment:

One doesn’t have to like this kind of thing.   If one is to manifest objectivity, one must, of course look at it.  There are far too many unanswered questions to draw any conclusions,  but the approach seems scientific with a willingness to observe what transpires.  But the moment they lay it off on genes – I’m outta here.  So if the study takes a turn to analyzing mama’s genes, we’ll know it’s just another  money-grab. 

But if serious effort is made to determine the mother’s diet, type and quality of food. . .i.e. – was she eating the  SAD diet or wholesome, non-GMO  nutritious food.  Anything unusual in the details of her pregnancy? What is her toxin load.  How much testing was done on her vitals, i.e., what was the condition of her inner organs, her blood and so on?  What in her organism resulted in the development of the TI’s?   As this article points out – this is not a normal expectation – - something is causing it.  Humans, by and large are born with perfect genes;  so what has impacted her hormonal process?   Does she take meds of any kind?   Just wondering?     Jan)

Stacked deck 4 U.S. kids

CDC study finds 1 in 5 kids may have a mental disorder

By Atossa Araxia Abrahamian REUTERS

NEW YORK — Up to 20 percent of children in the United States suffer from a mental disorder, and the number of kids diagnosed with one has been rising for more than a decade, according to a report released yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• In the agency’s first-ever study of mental disorders among children age 3 to 17, researchers found childhood mental illnesses affect up to 1 in 5 kids and cost $247 billion per year in medical bills, special education and juvenile justice.

Children with mental disorders — defined as “serious deviations from expected cognitive, social and emotional development” — often have trouble learning in school, making friends, and building relationships later in life, the report said.

They are more likely to have other chronic health problems, such as asthma and diabetes, and are at risk for developing mental illnesses as adults.

“This is a deliberate effort by CDC to show mental health is a health issue. As with any health concern, the more attention we give to it, the better. It’s parents becoming aware of the facts and talking to a health-care provider about how their child is learning, behaving and playing with other kids,” said Dr. Ruth Perou, the study’s lead author.

The study cited data collected between 1994 and 2011 that showed that the number of kids with mental disorders is growing. The study stopped short of concluding why, but suggested improvements in diagnoses as one possible explanation

Perou said more research is needed to determine the specific causes of mental disorders, and that greater awareness could lead to an uptick in diagnoses. A host of environmental factors, including chemical exposure and poverty, also can affect a child’s mental health, she said.

The most prevalent mental-health diagnosis, as reported by parents, was attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, which affects 6.8 percent of children. Also common were: behavioral-conduct problems; anxiety, which consists mostly of fears and phobias; depression; and autism spectrum disorders. Many of these disorders occur together, the report said.

• Boys were found more likely to have most of the listed disorders, except for depression and alcohol abuse, which affect more girls.

(My Comment: 

It is unconscionable that one of the richest countries in the world with every conceivable advantage possible, can allow  agencies and services  which are in existence – -  there to serve our needs;   to become so powerful that everything gets  upside down.   These very agencies and services don’t protect us, but become  endowed with the force of law to foist onto us products and procedures which not only do not help us, but cripple, maim and kill us and destroy the lives of our children.  

This of course is freely allowed by our duly elected  government officials from the top down to members of  all branches of government which has not been diligent in serving the highest good of our deserving public who still believes that we are a free people, protected by constitutional law with certain rights of “freedom,” and “choice”  as they say.  Turns out we are living in someone else’s dream, believing in fairy tales and myth.

It wasn’t always that way, indeed ; the FDA and Dept of Agriculture were seriously needed – - one must regulate such as these because we are dealing with what serves the greater good for all the people.   However,  the medical complex with all it’s power-constructs and funded by the insatiable  pharmaceutical- juggernaut, including the funding of medical schools who crank out the healers who minister to our needs,  obedient  to the view that all our problems are satisfied by either surgery or pharmaceuticals, but watch helplessly as people worsen, fade and expire.  Standard allopathic medicine is taken up entirely with fighting disease by what is termed acceptable, established methods, in essence – a rigid, elitist stance.   Close-minded is not science, it is tyranny. 

For our population to enjoy health, our physicians must become expert in what health is and understand what it takes to be healthy and how to get back to it once it is askew.  Don’t worry, I’m not going to talk about Hippocrates again, but only mention that all founding fathers of medicine understood that they had to be teachers as well as healers.  (sorry. . ), and Food is the best medicine.   But we are screwed there too,  because what BIG PhRMA doesn’t control,  the “biotech” companies do.   And both deal in chemicals.  So between the pharmaceuticals, Monsanto with all its pesticides and GMO and so called “science”……….  . collectively, our world is being destroyed – let me count the ways! (but not now). 

Suffice it to say that between our type of healthcare allowed (covered by insurance, therefore – acceptable even to our government), which doesn’t help or heal people  because  the treatment offered, most generally is further toxification; and the food people are able to buy, uninformed as we are (without labels – which we ARE entitled to, by law),  grown in depleted soils with synthetic chemicals is all but devoid of nutrition.  There is no mystery regarding the sorry state of health in American society.   Yes, Americans are almost totally mal-nourished, occupying a much lower status of importance to the profit thrust of the corporate structure.

But wait, the story is only  partly told.  While the uber-rich become wealthier evermore – - the sinking middle-class is asked to give more and more, and do with less and less on every level, most especially, Medical care.  The reasons are simple.  As poor as medical care is for Americans, it remains extraordinarily expensive.  The struggling middle-class can’t afford it, ergo, do without much of what they need.  The wealthy always get the best of everything.  The poor get what authorities deem necessary, generally, doesn’t include any bells or whistles.  Still,  medical costs are breaking the back of America’s budget.  But does this cause anyone to re-think what’s going on?   Not so one would notice.  

We need freedom from America’s medical system.  Childhood vaccines are not helping our children lead better or healthier lives.  Has anyone at all paid attention to any of the figures lately?  Medicine is playing games and got hooks into those who make decisions and get laws enacted, or better yet, riding in on the backs of necessary laws and often, nobody notices because these are deceptively tacked on after discussion is over and just waiting for signature. 

All the strong-arm tactics have come around because too many parents have resisted giving consent for all this indiscriminate doctoring.  Families do not want all these toxins going into their kids.   When they wind up damaged, there is no recourse.  Can’t really sue.  Anything a doctor offers should be subject to parental decision and with out threat or fear.   Otherwise, we have to stop calling this country a Democracy and see it for what it is – a police state which is functioning as terrorists.    How can people not see this? 

I am not advocating rioting in the streets, but I AM  advocating that people put their foot down to being treated like imbeciles.   The medical establishment has shown such poor taste and judgement while overtly bankrupting our nation and the PEOPLE DON’T WANT IT.   Since government won’t listen to our words; heed our petitions . . .   .  think about it.. . what’s it gonna take?Jan)

Dr. M Hyman, Gluten’s harm

Dr Mark Hyman explains the Danger

(It’s true, most of us do not understand the perils of “Gluten” because we have not put 2 and 2 together.   The symptoms show up and are labeled something else and frequently must medicate because of this ‘disease’.  Our generations have been hurt in many ways, but the concept of grains – - our beloved “bread”  is never recognized as the culprit.  

I am presently undergoing a “wake-up” call on the issue because of late, a combination of ill-timed happenings have forced me to.     Have frequently spoken of my love for bread, especially sour-dough  which I am quite good at making.   I had pretty much stopped buying bread (if it is in the house, I’ll eat it!),  but lately,  had bought some bread.   Another issue is that due to energy levels and some health issues, I hadn’t made my fermented veggies in a number of months.  And they only last so long.  You gotta make em if you wanna eat them.  End result?  My gut was no longer protected.  Have not been doing well at all. This past week, I thought I was dying.  Or wished I could, my gut and stomach hurt so much.   

Just 7 to 10 days ago I was happily living on juicing and Hippocrates Soup.  In my 83 years, I have never had digestive problems or gut miseries.  Only the diarrhea from too much Magnesium I was asked to take by a doc I really trusted.  Almost did me in.  That’s why I was so delighted to discover the Magnesium Oil that one applies topically.  Promised myself that I’d make my fermented  veggies  by tomorrow  What I have just been thru is the worst way to learn a lesson – with pain, but I gotta say – - it works.       This video from Dr Hyman is clear and well done.  He is smart and a fine speaker.  This comes to us from the people at FOOD MATTERS and my in-box.  Enjy  Jan)

Could Going Gluten Free Save Your Life? Many people aren’t aware that gluten can cause serious health complications even if they don’t have full blown celiac disease. Listen to Dr Mark Hyman explain the dangers of gluten, some surprising symptoms of gluten sensitivity and a simple system to help determine whether or not gluten is a problem for you

Vaccine-Risk Denial is insane

WE ARE FREE and HAVE CONSTITUTIONALLY  PROTECTED RIGHTS OF FREE – CHOICE

Why do Doctors, AMA and Big PhRMA feel their  INTERESTS (profit potential) are so Far Superior to Ours – Yours and Mine?

Well, actually,  it isn’t too difficult to figure out is it?   It is all allowed by our Government!  And       ALL  the people in our government.  We put them there and allow them to stay and operate to our grievous harm.    Sure we squawk,   and like wolves.  .   .   bay at the MOON, but where is it getting us?  Clearly,  much stronger action is needed.   

The Medical Complex is attempting to tighten the constraints around us forcing us to do that which we choose NOT TO DO,  both for ourselves and more importantly, for our children.  More and more, people ARE catching on and we are capable of simple arithmetic.  Only one child in 2,000 back 40 – 50 years ago was afflicted with Autism.  Each decade, as the quantity and volume of vaccines climbed for our small ones, that number has jumped to 1 in 50 children.   

There has “Never”  been any science behind the deceitful statement that these shots are safe. There never has been any adequate testing  done.   But the evidence of what is speaks for us. All anyone needs do is look at what is – - what is happening before our own eyes. 

Please watch and  hear the latest message from Barbara Lowe Fisher who heads NVIC.  This brave woman has been showing up and trying to expose this fiasco for somewhere around 30 years so that others do not have to go through what she and her family endured.  We all owe her and those like her a badge of honor and courage.  Stay vigilant, my friends.    Jan

Desperate Times for Vaccine Risk Denialism

by Barbara Loe Fisher

These are desperate times for those denying vaccine risks. We know it because we are witnessing so many acts of desperation being committed by doctors determined to shut down the public conversation about vaccination and health. Vaccine risk deniers are working overtime to restrict public access to information, cover up vaccine injuries and deaths and violate the human right to informed consent to medical risk-taking.

No flu shots? No employment… Proposed state legislation to force vaccine use… IOM reports but where is the good vaccine science?… New autism prevalence statistic is 1 child in 50…

 

Click here to read this referenced commentary, watch the video or to make a comment.

12 Things can change life

(I believe that these 12 things which Dr Mercola describes in his (4-29-13)  article would, could make anyone feel better and even fix many things which are off in your health picture.  These are beneficial, logical  and worthwhile.  Many are already in my own life as I have used them to great benefit.. .    What this is NOT, is a list of diseases with solutions to each.  It is simple, practical and I hope you look at it and enjoy.   Jan)

Top 12 Strategies for Optimizing Your Health

Story at-a-glance

• I review 12 of the most powerful health-boosting strategies I know of that will help reverse just about any health challenge you or your family are currently confronted with
• Two of the most powerful dietary interventions I know of are limiting or eliminating processed foods and replacing non-vegetable carbohydrates with healthful fats. Replacing carbs with more protein is not a wise choice as it can produce similar adverse hormonal changes as burning non-vegetable carbs
• Replacing drugs with natural alternatives, or better yet, addressing the lifestyle factors that are causing your health problem in the first place, are your best bets if you want to avoid becoming a disease- or pharmaceutical-mortality statistic
• The vast majority of health problems are in fact responsive to appropriate lifestyle changes—the most important of which are covered in this article

Help Reverse Almost Any Health Challenge – A Dozen Things You Can Do Today
Don’t suffer in silence. If you’re the victim of a health problem, here are 12 things you can do right now to fend off the sickness that’s contaminating your body, and make your body bullet-proof. Includes a simple way to reduce inflammation and lessen free radical damage…

Little is Clean (sacred) anyore

(When you shop for your food, it doesn’t pay to let your guard down.  Friends, it is getting more serious every day. It is easy to say “forget about it” and throw your hands up and want to walk away. . .  but where is there to walk to; how would that help?    We sign petitions, call our congress people and senators – - only to learn that they are cutting staff, reducing inspections by 75% and washing the food stuff in stronger, even more toxic solutions trying to offset the offending bacteria which is making everyone sick.    You’ve already learned you’re on your own.  Hyper-vigilance is in order.  

I’ve heard it said that maybe we should just forsake the cities and migrate back to the land and do our own farming.  Great idea for many.   My head and heart would agree, but this old body is not going to be able to cut it any more.  . . so I’ll continue on with my juicing and Hippocrates Soup.  Jan)

How to Find the Healthiest Fare in Meat and Produce Aisles

Story at-a-glance

• Research has shown that pesticides and other agricultural chemicals can cause disruptions to your neurological system and your brain. Your best bet is to buy only organic fruits and vegetables, as synthetic agricultural chemicals are not permissible under the USDA organic rules
• For conventional produce, the Environmental Working Group has released its updated annual Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, detailing the foods that have the highest and lowest amounts of pesticide residues
• Recently published data from tests conducted on supermarket meat samples reveals the presence of several disease-causing bacteria, including the super-hardy antibiotic-resistant versions of salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli on virtually all types of store bought meats
• In a recent analysis of reported food violations spanning 73 countries, China was identified as having the most violations. Excessive pesticide levels were the number one complaint. Chinese seafood was also found to be high in antibiotics and other drugs
• The USDA is expected to reduce the number of inspectors in poultry facilities by 75 percent, instead allowing the companies to put all the poultry through an antimicrobial wash, using chlorine and other chemicals. The agency plans to implement the new rules by September 2014

(Link to Dr Mercola’s site:)

Avoid These 15 Fruits and Vegetables That Can Harm Your Brain (and More)
If you follow this newly revised list, you’ll help reduce your exposure to some of the nastiest neurotoxins (and often carcinogens), as once you eat these chemicals, they’re extremely hard to get out of your body. Plus, here’s the new list of the 15 least toxic non-organic foods, especially handy if your budget is limited…

OCS Petition vs GMO

ORGANIC CONSUMER’S ASSOC.

ACTION ALERT

He Can Run. But Will He Be Able to Hide?

TAKE ACTION: Kill the Monsanto Protection Act: Force Senator Roy Blunt to Resign!

The last thing Senator Roy Blunt wants is a face-to-face meeting with a representative of the OCA. But that’s exactly what he’ll get, if we can collect 100,000 signatures on our petition demanding that he resign.

Sen. Blunt played a key role in helping Monsanto lobbyists write the Farmer Assurance Provision, aptly renamed the Monsanto Protection Act. This sneaky rider, slipped into the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act 2013, strips federal courts of their power to stop Monsanto from planting unproven, potentially dangerous crops.

The Monsanto Protection Act became law when President Obama signed the emergency appropriations bill. The good news: Like the spending bill it’s attached to, the Monsanto Protection Act expires on Sept. 30, 2013. The best way to make sure it doesn’t survive is to force Sen. Blunt to resign. And the best way for us to demand Blunt’s resignation is by camping out in his office until he agrees to accept our petition, signed by 100,000 angry consumers.

TAKE ACTION: Kill the Monsanto Protection Act: Force Senator Roy Blunt to Resign!

Coding in 9 weeks

(This one knocked my socks off – - I think you’ll see why. Jan)

JEFF CHIU ASSOCIATED PRESS David Wen is a Dev Bootcamp student in San Francisco. Such software boot camps typically require 80 to 100 hours a week.

New boot-camp schools teach novices to write software in months, get tech jobs

By Terence Chea • ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN FRANCISCO — Looking for a career change, Ken Shimizu decided he wanted to be a software developer, but he didn’t want to go back to college to study computer science. Instead, he quit his job and spent his savings to enroll at Dev Bootcamp, a new San Francisco school that teaches students how to write software in nine weeks. The $11,000 gamble paid off: A week after he finished the program last summer, he landed an engineering job that paid more than twice his previous salary.

“It’s the best decision I’ve made in my life,” said Shimizu, 24, who worked in marketing and public relations after graduating from the University of California-Berkeley in 2010. “I was really worried about getting a job, and it just happened like that.”

• Dev Bootcamp, which calls itself an “apprenticeship on steroids,” is one of a new breed of computer-programming schools proliferating in San Francisco and other U.S. tech hubs. These “hacker boot camps” promise to teach students how to write code in two or three months and help them get jobs as web developers, with starting salaries between $80,000 and $100,000, often within days or weeks of graduation.

“We’re focused on extreme employability,” said Shereef Bishay, who co-founded Dev Bootcamp 15 months ago. “Every single skill you learn here, you’ll apply on your first day on the job.”

        JEFF CHIU ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dev bootcamp co-founder Shereef   Bishay, left, talks with student Ryan Guerrettaz during a class in San Francisco.

These intensive training programs are not cheap — charging $10,000 to $15,000 for programs running nine to 12 weeks — and they’re highly selective, typically admitting only 10 to 20 percent of applicants. And they’re called boot camps for a reason. Students can expect to work 80 to 100 hours a week, mostly writing code in teams under the guidance of experienced software developers.

“It’s quite grueling. They push you very hard,” said Eno Compton, 31, who finished Dev Boot-camp in late March. Compton is finishing his doctorate in Japanese literature at Princeton University but decided he wants to be a software engineer instead of a professor.

“For people who are looking to get involved in software in a big way and don’t want to set aside four years for a computer-science degree, this nine-week program is a terrific alternative,” Compton said.

• One San Francisco school called App Academy doesn’t charge tuition. Instead, it asks for a 15 percent cut of the student’s first-year salary. Graduates who can’t find jobs don’t have to pay, but nearly all of them have.

“When I started it, people thought we were crazy. ‘Why would you do something like that?’ But in practice, it’s worked out well so far,” said Ned Ruggeri, who co-founded App Academy last summer.

Over the past year, more than two dozen computer-coding schools have opened or started recruiting students in cities such as New York, Chicago, Toronto, Washington and Cambridge, Mass. The programs are attracting students from a wide range of backgrounds, from college dropouts to middle-aged career changers. Most students haven’t formally studied computer science but have tried to learn to code on their own.

Alyssa Ravasio, who graduated from UCLA with a liberal-arts degree in 2010, worked at tech startups but was frustrated because she didn’t know how to write software, so she signed up for Dev Bootcamp.

“What we’ve learned in the last nine weeks would have taken at least a year, if not years, on my own,” Ravasio said. “I knew I wanted to learn how to code, and I tried to on my own before, and it was really hard and really frustrating.”

• But as more boot camps open, backers worry that low-quality programs could hurt the reputation of the pioneer schools and drive away potential students and recruiters.

“I worry about the explosion of Dev Bootcamp copycats,” said Michael Staton, a venture capitalist at Learn Capital. “If they mess up, they kind of ruin it for everybody. Then students have to worry about whether these schools can actually deliver on their promise.”

• The coding academies are helping to meet the seemingly insatiable demand for computer programmers in the U.S. tech industry, which has been lobbying Congress to issue more visas for foreign engineers and other skilled immigrants.

The boot camps are launching as many recent college graduates struggle to find jobs that pay enough to chip away at their hefty student loan debts.

The new schools say they are teaching students the real-world skills that employers want but that colleges have failed to provide. “Our school is a lot shorter, cheaper and more applicable to the work they’d like to do than universities,” said Shawn Drost, who co-founded Hack Reactor in San Francisco six months ago.

Bishay, an Egyptian-born engineer who sold his first software company to Microsoft in 2001, started Dev Bootcamp as an experiment. He wanted to see how quickly he could teach his friend and other non-techies how to write code.

“I used about 10 percent of what I learned in college in my first job, and I figured I could teach that 10 percent in 2 1/2 months,” Bishay said.

Dev Bootcamp has trained about 400 students, and 95 percent of them have been hired as software developers with an average salary of about $80,000, Bishay said. His company is opening a campus in Chicago.

The school doesn’t teach only technical skills. It teaches students how to work in teams, communicate better and interview for jobs. On graduation day, it invites tech recruiters to meet students at a “speed-dating” job fair.

“Finding engineering talent is a big challenge right now, and Dev Bootcamp is addressing a really important problem,” said Felicia Curcuru, who was recruiting engineers for FundersClub, a San Francisco company that connects investors with tech startups. “There are not enough people studying computer science.”