Marianne Gutierrez

Organic Cold Pressed Grapefruit Seed Extract

marianne.gutierrez — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:13:11 +0000

I thought you might like to see the photographs of the petri dishes with the organic cold pressed grapefruit seed extract and the colonies of bacteria, fungi and yeasts that grew.

Please note that the grapefruit seed extract used was organic and cold-pressed and did not contain any chemicals or proprietary blends.

However before I do that let me explain something. When a product is tested for its disinfectant properties a petri dish is made with a substance generally sea weed (agar). The disinfectant, anti-microbial product is put in the centre of the dish where infected material has been zig-zagged completely across the whole plate or dish. Then it is left for the bacteria and infectious material to grow.

The infected material must not grow anywhere around the disinfectant. There should be a clear halo around the whole area, not even a light growth.

Here is the lab report with images:

“All plates used were ISO agar, which is a neutral agar used for general sensitivities. The plates were seeded with a light innoculum of (1)Staphylococcus aureus, (2)Escherichia coli (E.coli) and (3) Left: Aspergillus spp. (mould) Right: Candida spp (yeast). A small well was then bored into the agar and the neat grapefruit seed extract was poured into the well. The plates were then incubated at 37 C (Staph and E. coli) and 22 C for the yeast and mould for 24hrs and 5 days respectively.”

Image 1

Image 1 – This shows heavy growth of Staph aureus. There is a slight zone of very light growth around the grapefruit seed extract, then a further zone which shows a very little resistance to the bug.

Image 2

Image 2 – This shows heavy growth of E. coli. There is a slight zone of very light growth around the grapefruit seed extract, then a further zone which again, shows a very little resistance to the bug. There is a small black possible colony? which may be contamination of the plate previous to innoculation. This is not important in this experiment.

Image 3

Image 3 – These plates have very heavy growth of Mould (L) and Yeast (R). Which shows little or no resistance from the grapefruit seed extract.

This experiment shows that grapefruit seed extract on its own does not contain any microbial properties.

Tone and Stretch KEEP FIT class

marianne.gutierrez — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:17:56 +0000

The Tone and Stretch KEEP FIT class starts again on Monday 9th January and Friday 13th January at Blackborough Village Hall. Come and join us!

Tone and Stretch KEEP FIT Class

Why should we all be taking part in KEEP FIT classes?

Three reasons:
1. Stretching helps the immune system to work better aiding the body’s resistance to colds and virus’.

2. Using weights to induce resistance encourages the body to keep calcium in the bones to help avoid conditions such as osteoporosis.

3. Arthritis is also helped by Toning and Stretching and stretching has been an essential part of my getting well from CFS/ME an illness, which can be said to be on the arthritis spectrum.

Three good reasons to come to this class!

The class is gentle and easy to do and we have a laugh – always good medicine!

Come and meet us and come and KEEP FIT.

Classes will be held during term time Mondays and Fridays at 10:30 at Blackborough Village Hall.

Cost: £5 per class or £4 per class if paid in advance.

Classes (Mondays and Fridays inclusive):
• Monday 9th Jan 2012 to Friday 10th February
• Monday 20th Feb to Friday 30th March
• Monday 16th April to Friday 1st June
• Monday 11th June to Monday 23rd July

Email Marianne Gutierrez gutierrez.marianne@gmail.com for more information

“Science Retracts Article on XMRV and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”

marianne.gutierrez — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:19:49 +0000

In Medscape Today:

Dr. Alberts writes: “Given all of these issues, Science has lost confidence in the Report and the validity of its conclusions. We note that the majority of the authors have agreed in principle to retract the Report but they have been unable to agree on the wording of their statement. It is Science’s opinion that a retraction signed by all the authors is unlikely to be forthcoming. We are therefore editorially retracting the Report. We regret the time and resources that the scientific community has devoted to unsuccessful attempts to replicate these results.”

Soy

marianne.gutierrez — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:11:56 +0000

If you use soy products to substitute for milk, you need to read this.

If you use soy products for flavour, you need to read this.

I am writing a book, on what has made me well from CFS/ME and in the continuing research I have met some very interesting people who have led me to wonderful books and research and this latest website while I was researching the sources of trans-fats and ill-health. I know trans-fats in low fat spreads are bad for health but where was the research? Dr Mary Enig a student at the time was the pioneer of the truth about trans-fats. But I will leave it there for you to find out more when you read my book.

For the moment click on this link and drink in the health hazards of the consumption of S O Y.

Blackberry? O, I laff ‘n’ I laff . . .

marianne.gutierrez — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:04:22 +0000

My spanish mother-in-law used to say that when she found something funny.

Click on this link: Blackberry

It is the funniest thing since the Two Ronnie’s sketch in the iron-mongers – 4 candles?

Have a nice day!

Bone health

marianne.gutierrez — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 08:31:35 +0000

If you haven’t got the message by now, I am an advocate of calcium and magnesium supplements which you can read about in my book on better health despite CFS/ME to be published soon.

In the meantime please read this report on how bone drugs are making bone health worse: Bone Quality is of the Utmost Importance to Bone Health

Calling all those with CFS/ME or Fibromyalgia

marianne.gutierrez — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:50:19 +0000

Would you like to know why I with a diagnosis of CFS/ME could:

Enjoy a normal (not business or premier) long haul flight and arrive happy and with energy?
Go walking with the dogs in the tropical heat, up and down dale without feeling coma-tosed exhausted?
Muster up the determination to cope with the terror of going into the big, wide, ocean with the turtles despite not being able to swim or float?
Not get ill after copious amounts of alcohol while we were celebrating?

Are these things something you would like to do, or are you like I was a few months ago saying: No way, I can only cope with where I am because that is the only thing that works for me now?

My life from diagnosis has changed, and to all intents and purposes most who know me well would say I am recovered.

Am I?

I am writing a book about my life with CFS/ME and probable fibromyalgia.

If this interests you, please let me know!

Muscle cramps and spasms

marianne.gutierrez — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:45:08 +0000

I was intrigued when I heard the report on BBC Breakfast News this morning.

The report was stimulated by Rafael Nadal’s attack of cramp after playing in the US Open.

The Physiotherapist interviewed by BBC Breakfast News and the resident GP, Dr Rosemary Leonard never mentioned that a lack of calcium and magnesium may be the cause.

They spoke of a possible lack of salts due to sweating, being the main cause.

They suggested that a banana may help, as bananas contain potassium, one chemical found in the electrolytes which are the ‘salts’ they speak of.

Quinine, now found in small amounts in tonic water, was historically thought to be helpful for cramps but this is a drug and was used to keep malaria at bay in the colonies, taken with gin to make the medicine go down, hence the drink gin and tonic. But medline plus warns that quinine should not be used for night time cramps as quinine has not be shown to be effective for this purpose and has dangerous side-effects.

Muscles are moved by nerve impulses and these are helped by calcium and magnesium.

I solved my agonising cramp attacks by taking a calcium and magnesium supplement and drinking a good quality mineral water.

The calcium and magnesium as well as the other electrolytes that are so essential for the body are found in fresh vegetables and fresh fruit and fresh mineral water.

It could be argued that not consuming at least 5 a day of these precious food sources may be the cause of cramp.

Drinking too much water or fluids, may reduce the electrolyte balance in the body so one should be careful about this.

There can be other underlying reasons for cramp and one should always consult one’s GP.

Fizzy drinks, including tonic water depletes the body of calcium and magnesium so these drinks should be banned, as they are considered poisonous by some nutritionists. There are no nutritional values in fizzy drinks so what is the point of drinking them? Maybe Nadal was consuming too many energy (fizzy) drinks.

If you need the boost of sugar that one generally drinks a fizzy drink for, you would be better off eating a tea-spoonful of unrefined sugar and some good quality mineral water.

Protein in meat, fish, pulses and milk products needs calcium for digestion so eating too much protein may affect the calcium balance in the body.

Calcium should always be taken with magnesium.

However the advice on what to do when cramp attacks was good.

Get up, and force the limb to a careful gentle stretch and then rub the muscle gently.

Interesting – Massage and stretches – this is what I do in Remedial Massage treatments.

Good food to reduce obesity

marianne.gutierrez — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:17:31 +0000

My empathy goes out to those who are considered to be obese.

But the government should be held fully responsible for this episode, because of the types of foods it allows to be sold and consume.

I think it is these types of foods that are directly responsible for obesity.

These are the foods that should be avoided:

All low fat spreads and margarines
All bread not home-made because of the sulphites and emulsifiers
All manufactured foods, like pies, biscuits, soups, sauces, cakes, puddings, sweets, jams, ice-creams because of the additives.
All frozen fruit and veg because of sulphites.
All sea-food and fish from foreign climes as this may have sulphites
All cooking oils, oil in capsules as a supplement because of additives and preservatives and the refining processes.
All soups and tinned veg and fruit because of sulphites
All crisps, crackers because of additives and sulphites
All finely ground WHITE flours as they contain sulphites

The reason is because all these foods contain additives in particular sulphites, and for example: yeast flavourings (MSG).

Yeast flavourings or MSG encourage the brain and taste sensors to want more of the food.

Sulphites can make you feel nauseous, cause rashes, breathing difficulties and diarrhoea.

While sulphites may not directly cause weight gain, some who feel nauseous tend to eat more starchy food to stop the nausea effect.

The foods to eat for good nutrition without adverse weight gain (unless consuming far too much):

Fresh local meat
Fresh local fish
Fresh prepared home made bread, biscuits, cakes, pies, soups, sauces
Cold pressed oils like Olive Oil or Rapeseed Oil for cooking
Butter from grass fed cows
Milk from grass fed cows
Locally grown fresh vegetables and fruit

I believe it is the food produced by supermarkets and all the additives and preservatives they contain that are the cause of the obesity problem.

To avoid obesity:

Eat locally produced, freshly grown foods
Make your own pies, cakes, biscuits, sauces, soups etc from ingredients you trust.
Reduce your intake of food to sensible amounts 3 times a day, no snacking in between meals
Take part in regular exercise

Benzethonium Chloride

marianne.gutierrez — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:15:57 +0000

Benzethonium Chloride.

Click here: NIOSH for the full Toxic Data.

Environmental Data: This substance is toxic to aquatic organisms. It is strongly advised that this substance does not enter the environment.

Acute Hazards/Symptoms:

Fire: Combustable. GIves off irritating or toxic fumes (or gases) in a fire.

Skin: Redness. Pain

Eyes: Redness. Blurred vision. Pain. Severe deep burns.

Ingestion: Nausea. Vomiting. Diarrhoea. Convulsions. Shock or collapse.

Benzethonium Chloride is used in agriculture to provide an anti-biotic, anti-viral and anti-fungal effect.

It is also used in the formation of a health product considered natural and sold in Health Food Shops: Grapefruit Seed Extract.

Which is bizarre, health food shops encouraging the use of a chemical that is toxic to aquatic life and that causes health issues to those exposed to this chemical.