ALSO BY KAROLYN A. GAZELLA

ALSO BY KAROLYN A. GAZELLA

(authored with Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO)

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE

TO THRIVING AFTER C ANCER

FIVE TO THRIVE®

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO C ANCER

Copyright ©2014 by Karolyn A. Gazella

All rights reserved

Published in the United States by CHAT Inc

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gazella, Karolyn

New Twist on Health,

Modified Citrus Pectin for Cancer, Heart Disease,

and More / Karolyn Gazella

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Health 2. Wellness 3. Cancer 4. Nutrition 5. Gazella, Karolyn 6. Title

Trade Paperback ISSN: 978-0-9914620-2-5

e-Book ISSN: 978-0-9914620-3-2

Printed in the United States

| v |

PLEASE NOTE

The information in this book is for educational purposes only. It

should not be viewed as recommendations to diagnose or treat

illness. All health matters should be supervised by a qualified

healthcare professional. You should never attempt to decrease

your use of prescription medication without first consulting your

physician. You should also inform your physician about any

dietary supplements you are taking. The publisher and author are

not responsible for individuals who choose to self-diagnose, self-

treat, or use the information in this book without consulting with

their own healthcare practitioners.

| vii |

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK Isaac

Eliaz, MD, who was the inspiration for this book. After work-

ing with him and reading about the wonderful, innovative

research he is involved with, I just knew I needed to help him

and other scientists in this area get the word out. I have an

incredible amount of respect and admiration for Dr. Eliaz and

his work. He epitomizes the best that integrative medicine has

to offer.

As an extension of Dr. Eliaz, I would like to thank his

staff members who were instrumental in supporting me with

research and other information. Specifically, Ruby Tischoff,

Barry Wilk, and Anne Deckert were not only a wealth of infor-

mation but were also truly a joy to work with.

Any writer is only as good as her editor, and I happen

to have two editors who are exceptional: Vicky Uhland and

Deirdre Shevlin Bell. I have worked with Deirdre for more than

a decade, and she is a talented editor but she has also become

a valued friend. I am also truly grateful for the designers on

this book project, Karen Sperry and Erin “Pony” Sturga, who

also happens to be my horseback-riding buddy. I’d like to

thank Jacob Schor, ND, FABNO, a good friend and colleague

| viii |

for writing the foreword. Jacob is a leader in his field, but even

more important, he is a lot of fun to work with!

I have worked with and been influenced by many wonder-

fully gifted doctors over the past two decades, but none more

so than my good friend Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO. So much

of what I have learned has been due to her influence as a com-

passionate healer and brilliant doctor. I am so very thankful to

have her as a business partner and close friend.

I am blessed with the company of friends who are unyield-

ing in their support of my work. My appreciation for their love

and camaraderie cannot be put into words. My closest confi-

dant is my sister Kathi, whom I love and respect—she is a gift!

Finally, it is with immense gratitude that I acknowledge the

spirit of my mom—she is ever-present nearly two decades after

her death.

CONTENTS

IntroductionAn Integrative Approach for Optimal Health . . . . . . . . . . 1

Chapter 1 Impressive Lifesaving Blood Biomarker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Chapter 2 Amazing All-Natural Medical Breakthrough . . . . . . . . . . 27

Chapter 3 Ultimate Support for Key Body Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Chapter 4 Importance of Safe, Ongoing, Gentle Detoxification . . . . . . 55

Chapter 5 Innovative Integrative Cancer Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Chapter 6 Scientifically Proven Anti-Cancer One-Two Punch . . . . . . 91

Chapter 7 #1 Strategy Against the #1 Disease Killer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Chapter 8 Defeating Diabetes, Liver Disease, and More . . . . . . . . . . 121

Chapter 9 Proven Health-Enhancing Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Selected References by Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

Foreword | xi |

FOREWORD

THIS BOOK IS AS MUCH ABOUT two people as it is about a

medical discovery. It tells the story about Isaac Eliaz, MD, and

his interest in the health benefits of modified citrus pectin (MCP).

The book is also about Karolyn Gazella and her search for health

and purpose. Karolyn’s story is as important as the story of MCP,

because she exemplifies the philosophy of “taking lemons and

making lemonade.” She has transformed her life into one of pur-

pose and service despite being dealt a bad hand of cards.

Of course the book is also about MCP. While this sounds

like a generic chemical, it results from such a complex manu-

facturing process that when we talk about MCP we are really

talking about a single product, PectaSol. All the clinical trials

done on MCP use this product (except for the very first study

using a “primitive version” conducted by Kenneth Pienta at

Wayne State University in 1995). All subsequent research has

used a version of MCP that Eliaz developed and has marketed

as PectaSol since August 1995. All the clinical trials of MCP on

cancer have specifically used PectaSol.

My initial interest in MCP was spurred by research suggest-

ing it prevented cancer metastasis. After the Chernobyl disaster,

Eliaz realized MCP could also be used to chelate heavy metals.

| xii | NEW TWIST ON HEALTH

It was also Eliaz who realized MCP has a role in injury repair,

inflammation, and fibrosis because it affects galectin-3 (you’ll

learn more about that in this book).

This book reminds us that nature provides us with a bounty

of useful chemicals and compounds from the multitude of plants

that grow in our world. Plants provide food, shelter and often the

tools to maintain health and fight disease. Some chemicals from

plants have become the drugs prescribed by modern doctors.

Many other substances found in plants provide benefit, yet they

are so gentle and safe that we would be hard pressed to call them

drugs—even though they have medical value.

It’s important to note that MCP is not generic. When I pre-

scribe MCP to patients, there really aren’t choices because I

am clearly endorsing a particular product, the one used in the

studies. To pretend otherwise, and encourage use of imitations

would be a disservice to my patients. Thus while I may tell

patients I hate endorsements of proprietary products, when it

comes to MCP, I happily break my own rule.

Karolyn is a good writer and Isaac is a good man. They both

teach by example how we might lead better lives. This book is

about MCP, but it’s about so much more. It’s well worth your time.

Disclosure: I have had the pleasure of working with Karo-

lyn Gazella on the Natural Medicine Journal for more than four

years and count myself lucky for the privilege.

— Jacob Schor, ND, FABNO

Jacob Schor, ND, FABNO, received his naturopathic doctorate from National

College of Naturopathic Medicine and created the Denver Naturopathic

Clinic in 1992 with his wife, Rena Bloom, ND. He served as president to the

Colorado Association of Naturopathic Physicians and is now on the board

of directors of the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians and is a

Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology.

INTRODUCTION

AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH

THE HUMAN BODY IS TRULY a medical marvel. I’ve been writ-

ing about health and this amazing “machine” for more than

two decades, and I continue to be awestruck and inspired by it.

From the complex buzz of the brain to the melodic beating of

the heart and the intensity of our immunity, the sophisticated,

intricate workings of our internal systems are nothing short of

spectacular. But within all of this marvelous machinery, one

aspect stands out: We are innately built to be healthy.

There are trillions of cells in our bodies working on our

behalf. Our bodies house thousands of miles of blood ves-

sels—so many that if they were stretched end to end, they

could wrap around the earth more than two times. If we spread

our lungs flat on the ground, they would cover a tennis court.

And it’s hard to even describe the intricacies of the immune

system or the massive microbial environment that envelops us

inside and out.

Yet in an unfortunate twist of evolutionary fate, the human

body can be just as vulnerable as it is strong. This is illustrated

by deadly illnesses such as heart disease—accounting for one

in four deaths in the United States—or cancer, which is diag-

An Integrative Approach for Optimal Health | 1 |

| 2 | NEW TWIST ON HEALTH

nosed in one out of every three American women and one in

two men. And then there are chronic illnesses such as diabetes,

arthritis, high blood pressure, asthma, and others that can dra-

matically and negatively impact quality of life. Finally, increas-

ing amounts of stress, anxiety, and depression put additional

strain on our minds, bodies, and spirits.

There are no simple answers, but there is an overarching

concept that will help us experience true healing and vibrant

health: We must support, encourage, and transform the body’s

innate ability to heal itself. And that’s what this book is about:

tapping into the natural wisdom that exists, and finding ways to

unleash the healing power within each one of us.

Whether you are presently struggling with an illness or just

want to protect your overall health, this book will provide valu-

able answers to your health and wellness questions. And it all

begins with the humble orange peel.

MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH

I was inspired to write this book by my friend and colleague

Isaac Eliaz, MD. In his more than 25 years as an integrative

physician, Dr. Eliaz has provided healing, education, inspi-

ration, support, and compassionate guidance to his patients.

His education is a rare and special blend of conventional and

traditional healing modes. In addition to his medical doc-

torate from Sackler Medical School at Tel Aviv University in

Israel, he also has a master’s of science in traditional Chinese

medicine, and is licensed as both a homeopathic physician

and acupuncturist.

I have had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Eliaz several

times over the years, and the more I got to know him, the more

impressed I became with his passion and commitment to inte-

http://www.dreliaz.org/


grative healing. And then one day, Dr. Eliaz told me the story of

how he came to discover modified citrus pectin—a true medical

breakthrough that is helping thousands of people worldwide

and is the subject of many clinical studies in the United States

and Europe.

“As a young boy growing up in Israel,” Dr. Eliaz told me,

“our neighbors were Dr. Ruth Cohen and her husband, Leo,

both of whom were organic chemistry scientists with a spe-

cific focus on the study of citrus pectin. I remember Ruth tell-

ing me that someday we will find a cure for cancer in the peel

of an orange.”

Dr. Eliaz never forgot Dr. Cohen’s words, but it wasn’t

until 40 years later—after he had become a doctor specializing

in integrative cancer treatments—that he started to realize that

Dr. Cohen was right. Today, Dr. Eliaz and many other research-

ers and clinicians believe that modified citrus pectin (MCP)

from the peels of citrus fruits may well be one of the most

important natural health discoveries to have emerged in the

last 20 years.

Pectin is a health-promoting soluble fiber found in abun-

dance in the peels of fruits like oranges, lemons, grapefruits,

and apples. Pectin has been shown to offer many health ben-

efits, especially in the digestive tract, where it can help remove

toxins. MCP is a special form of pectin that is more easily

absorbed and therefore more therapeutically effective.

MCP is available as a dietary supplement, but it’s important

to note that not just any type of MCP will work. The molecular

composition of the citrus pectin is critical to its effectiveness,

so the material must be strictly and properly manufactured. To

my knowledge, there is only one form of MCP that meets the

proper molecular weight and esterification required for peak


performance: PectaSol-C®, manufactured by EcoNugenics Inc.

This is the brand of MCP that has been used in most of the clin-

ical studies performed throughout the world, and it is widely

available in the United States. I’ll tell you a lot more about this

form of MCP later in the book.

I was fascinated by Dr. Cohen’s prediction and Dr. Eliaz’s

desire to get the word out about this medical breakthrough.

Both doctors recognized that the ultimate power comes from

the ultimate source—nature! MCP is an excellent example

of an integrative medical approach because it combines the

strengths of nature with advanced technology to create an

incredible healing tool.

Integrative medicine physicians like Dr. Eliaz believe in

the healing power of nature. But they also believe in the scien-

tifically valid integration of the old and the new. “Integrative

medicine is combining the best of modern medical science,

clinical experience, and research with the ancient knowl-

edge and understanding of traditional healing,” explained

Dr. Eliaz.

This healing approach is not only restricted to medical

professionals. Thomas Edison said long ago: “The doctor of

the future will give no medicine, but will instruct his patient

in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and

prevention of disease.” These prophetic words ring true for

me personally.

MY PERSONAL JOURNEY

Perhaps I am drawn to Dr. Eliaz’s work because I am a cancer

survivor and he focuses on the integrative treatment of cancer.

My personal journey with cancer began long ago. I can remem-

ber as a young girl how I went to the hospital to see my aunt


who was dying of cancer. That’s the last time I saw her. This

would happen many times as I grew into a young adult, but I felt

fortunate that my immediate family was safe from this deadly

disease. And then that changed.

I was running my own publishing company with my mom

as my first employee and my sister as my second. We were

inseparable, like the three musketeers, and we were taking the

integrative-health publishing world by storm. I was living my

dream until the afternoon my sister walked into my office cry-

ing. On that day, my nightmare began. Her doctor had found a

lump in her breast that she would have to have biopsied. We

had just witnessed the death of another aunt from advanced

breast cancer only a few months earlier. To us, cancer meant

death—it’s all we knew.

My sister was only 35, and our mom took it hard. Even

though my sister’s prognosis was good, our mom was wracked

with worry. And then, not long after my sister’s surgery, our

mom became ill. She was diagnosed with advanced pancre-

atic cancer, and just three weeks later, she died. She was only

58 years old.

Our mom’s death was especially traumatic to my family.

She was our rock, the cornerstone of our family, and to me,

she was a best friend. We were still overcome with grief when

shortly after our mom’s death, I was diagnosed with ovarian

cancer—just two days after I turned 33.

We had had three cancers in less than eight months. It’s not

surprising that later we found out that our family carries the

breast ovarian cancer gene (BRCA). In fact, researchers from

Creighton University have reported in the scientific literature

that our family is one of the largest in North America to carry

the BRCA gene.


But while we lost our mom to cancer, my sister and I con-

tinue to thrive. I will soon celebrate 19 years of being cancer

free. Now in my 50s, I feel better than I have ever felt. And our

family has continued to have many other cancer survivors. No

longer do we believe that cancer is a death sentence.

I believe that my commitment to finding ways to help

my body naturally heal itself is a key reason why I am thriv-

ing today. Because of my surgery, I was immediately put into

menopause so that means I have been a menopausal woman

since 1995! According to conventional medicine, because my

body has not had normal amounts of estrogen for such a long

time, I should be obese and have frail bones, heart disease,

and more. But I’m healthy and I have been able to manage

my menopausal symptoms naturally. Yes, I still get a few hot

flashes now and then, and my memory isn’t as sharp as it once

was, but other than that, I really can’t complain. In fact, I do

just the opposite. I celebrate each day and each birthday with

enthusiastic joy and gratitude.

Because of my own personal journey, I have spent much of

my professional career writing and talking about cancer. But I

am also keenly aware that my focus is not on merely preventing

disease, however admirable that is. My goal is to be healthy and

active so I can do the things I love and continue to do the work

I so thoroughly enjoy.

We have such wonderful opportunities to heal and be

healthy. It is an incredible honor to be able to share these

opportunities with you in this book.

THIS BOOK

While the information and advice in this book is broad and

encompasses many aspects of health and illness, I’ve chosen


to focus on MCP and galectin-3, a lifesaving blood biomarker

of inflammation, fibrosis, cancer, and heart disease. To me, this

combination so eloquently depicts the core principle of inte-

grative medicine: combining the best that traditional and con-

ventional medicine have to offer. For decades I have believed

that integrative medicine is the best healing mode because it is

not an either/or approach. It is made up of the most scientifi-

cally valid, logical, and safe treatments, with you at the center.

It is a wonderful illustration of how the whole is greater than

the sum of its parts.

But despite my commitment to integrative treatments, I

must admit that I was skeptical when I first heard about the

variety of illnesses that a combination of galectin-3 measuring

and MCP supplementation could impact. However, after I read

the scientific literature and interviewed many experts, I discov-

ered that this one-two disease-fighting punch really made sense

to me, and you will find out why in this book.

The book will also provide practical diet, lifestyle, and

dietary supplement advice to help you heal mind, body, and

spirit. This foundational health plan features scientific valida-

tion from many trusted sources, including Dr. Eliaz.

I have written this book for individuals who are either

struggling with an illness or trying to prevent one. I’m always

cautious about the word “prevention” because there are no

sure-fire ways to prevent illness. For example, I have written

many times that even healthy people get cancer. Maybe there

are no guarantees when it comes to preventing illness, but we

definitely can do things to reduce our risk. And that’s what this

book is all about.

In the end, my hope is that you too will focus on more

than disease prevention. I hope that after reading this book,


you will have a renewed confidence in your body’s ability to

heal and the healing power of nature. And I hope that you

will feel inspired to let your health and your life soar to new

heights! Get ready to discover a new twist on health.

CHAPTER 1

IMPRESSIVE LIFESAVING BLOOD BIOMARKER

TO EFFECTIVELY REDUCE OUR RISK of developing an illness,

it helps if we can look inside the body to see what’s going on. In

this way, our bodies are similar to cars.

A mechanic will often check under the hood even if the car

is running perfectly. This regular maintenance is critical to the

car’s ability to run efficiently and for a long period of time. The

same is true of the human body. We need check-ups and moni-

toring even if we are not having obvious symptoms, because

many illnesses don’t show significant signs until the disease

has already progressed to a difficult point. The key is to catch

things quickly and to address the underlying causes of illness

and disease progression.

The human body is so amazing that it will give us the infor-

mation we need—we just have to know where to look. And one

place to find numerous answers is in the blood.

CIRCULATING INFORMATION

The average person has about five quarts of blood pumping

through his or her veins. Blood accounts for about 7 percent

of our total body weight. Within each drop of blood, there are

Impressive Lifesaving Blood Biomarker | 9 |


about 5 million red cells and thousands of white cells floating in

a pool of plasma and platelets. And that’s just one drop!

Blood can reveal a great deal of information about our over-

all health. Our blood can tell us if we are anemic, diabetic, or

have high cholesterol. It can tell us if we are at increased risk of

developing cancer or other serious illnesses. Monitoring blood

can also let your doctor know if a course of treatment is suc-

cessful or not.

This type of monitoring and measuring uses what is known

in medical circles as a biomarker. More than a decade ago, the

National Institutes of Health described a biomarker as an indica-

tor of normal biological or disease processes and a way to track

the response of a therapeutic intervention. Biomarkers must also

be easily measured. Biomarkers have become valuable tools in

tracking disease progression, regression, and treatment response.

It’s important to note that biomarkers are not all related

to blood. For example, a treadmill stress test to measure heart

health is considered a biomarker. When you have your blood

pressure checked, that’s a biomarker. In cancer care, a variety

of biomarkers based on the type of cancer are used to properly

diagnose, stage, and monitor treatment.

The importance of medical biomarkers cannot be overem-

phasized. But not all biomarkers are created equal. They can

vary in sensitivity and specificity. Biomarker sensitivity refers

to its ability to accurately identify a defined effect, like cancer

or high blood pressure. If a biomarker is 100 percent sensitive,

it will never be wrong. For instance, mammograms are not 100

percent sensitive biomarkers for breast cancer because they

can’t always accurately detect the disease. While perfection is

virtually unachievable, it is important that the biomarker have

a high level of sensitivity.


The biomarker should also have a high level of specificity,

which is the avoidance of false positives. If a mammogram, for

example, indicates breast cancer when there is no cancer, that

is a low specificity. False positives are not only stressful for the

person who is misdiagnosed, but they can also lead to unneces-

sary follow-up procedures like invasive biopsies.

This actually happened to me recently after a chest x-ray.

I had been struggling with a nagging dry cough that I just

couldn’t get rid of. After months of trying every natural and

conventional course of action, I got a chest x-ray. I was shocked

when the results showed a suspicious nodule on my left lung.

Because of my cancer history and family history, the medical

staff immediately whisked me off to get an MRI. After the MRI

came back normal, I asked the doctor why the x-ray showed a

nodule. He said that was very common and that chest x-rays

are notorious for these types of false positives. Unfortunately,

this was not explained to me in the first place so I was pretty

freaked out at the time. You can see why sensitivity of the bio-

marker is so important!

It is rare for a biomarker to have perfect specificity and

sensitivity, but in some studies the galectin-3 blood biomarker

demonstrated nearly 100 percent specificity and sensitivity.

Other important attributes of an effective biomarker are its

ability to be reproduced on a standardized basis. Galectin-3 test-

ing has that. The biomarker test must also be easy to administer

and interpret by the doctor. Galectin-3 meets those two criteria.

And finally, there must be scientific validation of the biomarker

test via clinical studies published in peer-reviewed papers. There

are many such studies on galectin-3. In fact, Dr. Eliaz wrote a lit-

erature review showing impressive results when using galectin-3

for cancer diagnosis, treatment response, and disease progression.


Galectin-3 is extremely unique in that it can be applied to

a variety of conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administra-

tion has already approved the use of galectin-3 as a biomarker

for high-risk cardiovascular patients to monitor potential heart

failure. We’ll learn just how galectin-3 does that in a moment.

Scientific research shows that galectin-3 goes way beyond

heart health, however. Because of its ability to detect factors

that contribute to disease progression—specifically inflamma-

tion and fibrosis—galectin-3 is thought to be even more indica-

tive of the presence and spread of disease than more common

biomarkers like high cholesterol or C-reactive protein (CRP).

Let’s take a closer look at this lifesaving blood bio-

marker breakthrough.

SIGNIFICANT SEARCH

Any successful search always begins with a goal. What are we

looking for? In the case of blood biomarkers, we are looking for

something that is circulating in the blood. Depending on the

biomarker, we are searching for something that either should

or shouldn’t be there. For example, in the case of cholesterol,

you don’t want elevated levels in your blood. The same is true

for galectin-3.

Lectins are proteins, and galectin-3 is a specific type of

lectin molecule that circulates in small amounts throughout

the body’s cells. Galectin-3 is like that famous character in

the classic story the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

On the one hand, small amounts of galectin-3 are perfectly

healthy and actually contribute to positive cellular commu-

nication, as well as strong cellular growth and development.

When elevated, however, this rogue molecule can create all

sorts of silent problems inside our bodies. Too much galectin-3


causes cells to behave poorly and directly promotes uncon-

trolled cellular growth and development. Galectin-3, when in

its Mr. Hyde mode of overexpression, creates internal cellular

chaos and has been directly linked to increased inflammation

and fibrosis—a very dangerous combination. Fortunately, we

can actually “see” this chaos in our blood via the galectin-3

biomarker test.

It is now widely known that increased inflammation

is linked to a variety of dangerous illnesses (see graphic on

page 15.) Who could forget the ominous cover of Time maga-

zine in 2004 declaring that inflammation is “the silent killer”?

Chronic internal inflammation not only can lead to many seri-

ous illnesses like cancer and heart disease, but it can also

contribute to a variety of symptoms of poor health, includ-

ing digestive issues, joint problems, lack of energy, and sleep

disturbances. Inflammation can even increase risk of mental

health issues such as depression and anxiety. What’s more,

a 2013 literature review linked inflammation to serious psy-

chiatric illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and

obsessive-compulsive disorder.

It’s great that there is now much more information avail-

able about the dangers of inflammation since the Time maga-

zine article was published; however, few people are talking

about inflammation’s dangerous cohort in disease progres-

sion: fibrosis. Chronic inflammation leads to fibrosis, which

leads to illness.

INFLAMED INSIDE

When we search for biomarkers in the blood, we are often look-

ing for indications that the body is internally inflamed. Common

inflammatory markers in the blood include CRP, interleukin-6


(IL-6) and other interleukins, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB),

homocysteine, and galectin-3. Some researchers believe that out

of all of these inflammatory markers, galectin-3 is the most sig-

nificant. Studies have clearly shown that elevated galectin-3 is

correlated with increases in CRP and IL-6.

Chronic internal inflammation is different than a bump on

the head. While the same immune system players are involved,

one is a single episode of inflammation (the bump) and the

other is continual. As that “goose egg” begins to develop on

your head, that’s a sign that the process of inflammation is in

full swing. Increased blood flow to the area causes swelling,

but it also brings needed nutrients to the damaged tissues. As

the damaged cells die through processes like bruising, immune

cells gather in that area to clean up the mess. Soon, the swelling

goes down, the bruising goes away, and your forehead looks

good as new. This process is positive, natural, and characteris-

tic of the healing experience after an injury.

But what happens when that same system of repair is

continually perpetuated inside our bodies due to stress, poor

diet, lack of exercise, or other factors? Over time, this acute

response becomes chronic and can lead to poor health and

serious illnesses.

The body doesn’t differentiate between what types of cells

are affected during the inflammation process. For example,

when we have an injury, we want cells in that area to multiply

and grow faster because they need to replace the cells that

were damaged when we bumped our head. But what if our

bodies send those same signals to multiply and grow faster

to a cancer cell? If that episode is isolated, it’s not a big deal

because we can detoxify (more about that later) those cells.

But if it’s on an ongoing basis, we are telling mutated cells to


“divide and conquer,” which is how tumors are formed. Can-

cer is like a wound that does not heal inside the body. Like a

spark to a flame, cancer cells continually ignite the inflamma-

tory process.

If you have an unhealthy “inflammatory” meal of fried

food once every few months, it’s not that bad, but if you eat

those same inflammatory foods every week or worse yet day

in and day out, you will be continually sending the wrong

messages to your cells and they will likely become chroni-

cally inflamed. You are fueling that flame.

Unfortunately, the American lifestyle has become inflam-

matory. (For a list of key contributors to chronic internal inflam-

mation, see page 20.) Inflammation has become such a major

factor that in a 2012 paper published in the journal Nutrition &

Metabolism, researchers concluded, “Health care should focus

on early detection of silent, ongoing, and low-grade inflamma-

Pulmonarydiseases

Neurologicaldiseases

Autoimmunediseases

Arthritis Type 2 Diabetes

Cancer Cardiovasculardiseases

Alzheimer’s

The Connection Is Clear

Inflammation


tion in order to avoid the development of many chronic dis-

eases.” Most integrative medical researchers and practitioners

agree with that statement and so do I!

One way to determine if our bodies are in this chronic and

dangerous inflamed state is by testing inflammatory molecules

that are circulating in the blood. This gives us an accurate pic-

ture of what’s going on inside the body. Excess galectin-3 in

the blood tells us that we are experiencing internal chronic

inflammation, so by monitoring galectin-3 levels, we can actu-

ally reverse that inflammation. Reducing galectin-3 overexpres-

sion has become an absolutely critical strategy in preventing

illnesses associated with inflammation.

Breakthroughs With Biomarkers

Medical biomarkers allow us to measure and evaluate health.

They have become critical in our quest to prevent and reverse

illness. Biomarkers have also become a critical component in

scientific research. In order for a study to be clinically relevant,

meaning that it will help the doctor help you, it must have a

method to meaningfully measure endpoints and outcomes.

Biomarkers allow researchers to gain the information

they need to paint a clear picture about the clinical

intervention they are studying. This has been especially true

in the area of heart disease. In 2009, researchers concluded

“…numerous biomarkers have emerged that potentially might

aid in the complex decision-making processes for diagnosis,

treatment, and monitoring of heart failure.” In research as

well as in the doctor’s office, the key is to utilize the most

accurate biomarker.


Fortunately, there are many things we can do to prevent

and reverse chronic inflammation. We will touch on them

here, but Chapter 9 goes in-depth on how to create an anti-

inflammatory life.

One additional key factor worth mentioning is the brain’s

role in internal inflammation. While more research is needed,

preliminary studies have shown that mental health issues such

as depression, anxiety, social isolation, fear, and negativity can

all contribute to inflammation on a cellular level. This makes

sense because our mental and physical health are so intimately

connected. In fact, there is an entire field of study known as

psychoneuroimmunology that looks at the connection between

psychological processes and the immune system—and, of

course, immunity and inflammation are closely connected.

It’s interesting to note that one of the main ways our

immune and inflammatory systems communicate with the

brain is via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis).

The HPA axis also happens to be the body’s key stress manage-

ment system. So it follows that if we are under chronic, ongoing

stress, our bodies will be chronically inflamed as well. The diet

and lifestyle advice in Chapter 9 is designed to help your body

manage stress even at the highest levels. At times throughout

our lives it can be hard to actually reduce the amount of stress

we are under, but we can certainly support our minds, bodies,

and spirits during those times so that the stress does not take

such a serious toll on us. By managing stress in a healthful,

positive way, we will also be reducing internal inflammation.

Limiting inflammation also helps prevent the process of

fibrosis, which is considered a silent, underlying co-factor in

the development of several illnesses and poor health. Let’s take

a closer look at this hidden health danger.


FIGHTING FIBROSIS

Remember that bump on the head? What if you had a gash

along with that bump? You would develop a scar, wouldn’t you?

When skin is injured in this way, it thickens and the healing pro-

cess forms a scar. Special connective tissue cells are sent to the

site to fill in the damaged area and knit the skin back together.

Once again, this is a good thing.

But what if that scarring process is internal and continual?

As internal inflammation increases, your body forms excess

fibrous tissue because it thinks that a cut or injury needs to be

repaired. But there is no cut, just inflammation. So over time,

chronic inflammation causes continual scarring. This type of

scarring, which is known as fibrosis, is much different than a

cosmetic scar. An internal scar can stiffen tissues, reduce circu-

lation, and potentially damage organs.

While we are hearing more about the dangers of inflamma-

tion, we aren’t hearing as much about fibrosis. There should

be a Time magazine cover that screams “Fight Fibrosis for Bet-

ter Health!”

Perhaps the most well-known type of fibrosis is cystic fibro-

sis, which is a genetic condition affecting the body’s mucus

glands primarily in the respiratory and digestive systems. Pul-

monary fibrosis is when there is scarring of lung tissue. And

when the muscles in the heart stiffen and scar, it is known as

cardiac fibrosis.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to cardiac

fibrosis, including aging. As we grow older, we can accumulate

collagen, which leads to fibrosis. This fibrosis weakens the heart

and can lead to heart failure. Heart failure does not mean the

heart stops beating; it means that the heart isn’t strong enough

to pump enough blood and oxygen throughout the body. The


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that about 6

million people have heart failure each year in the United States.

It is the most common cause of hospitalization among people

over age 65.

Researchers from McGill University in Canada reported

in 2006 that several different heart conditions are caused by

fibrosis. Subsequent research has confirmed the connection

between fibrosis and poor heart health.

We’ve all read or heard stories of healthy, young, fit

individuals dying of a sudden heart attack. While many

of these tragic cases can be attributed to a heart abnormal-

ity or defect, the Mayo Clinic reports that inflammation can

also be a cause. If we can uncover inflammation and car-

diac fibrosis early enough, we can possibly prevent some of

these tragedies.

Just as galectin-3 monitoring can help uncover all types of

chronic inflammation, it can also help reveal fibrosis. In fact,

cardiovascular research first shed light on this important blood

biomarker. Many studies have clearly demonstrated that galec-

tin-3 is increased in cases of acute and chronic heart failure.

Researcher Vincent deFilippi and his colleagues from the

Duke University School of Medicine reported in their review

published in US Cardiology in 2010 that while common bio-

markers of cardiovascular disease such as CRP and others

can help predict illness, they don’t show how that illness

progresses. However, the researchers reported that galectin-3

does help identify disease progression and can play a sig-

nificant role in tracking treatment success. They further state

that if we can find a way to reduce overexpression of galec-

tin-3 in the body, we will likely find a viable way to prevent

illnesses like heart failure.


But what about cancer? deFilippi and his colleagues clearly

state that overexpressed galectin-3 and the fibrosis indicated by

that elevation occurs in many organ systems. In fact, for years,

integrative practitioners have been calling cancer an “unhealed

wound.” The same wound-healing genes that can lead to fibro-

sis can also indicate cancer.

In 2007, researchers from the Mayo Clinic Cancer Cen-

ter in Jacksonville, Fla., made the direct connection between

increased fibrosis and the development and spread of cancer.

Just as with heart disease, if we can find a way to identify fibro-

sis early, we can hopefully prevent some cancers from develop-

ing and spreading.

Galectin-3 is not only a valuable biomarker for heart disease

and cancer, but it has other uses as well. Overall quality-of-life

issues, other chronic illnesses, and symptoms can be identified,

tracked, and monitored just by knowing your galectin-3 levels.

And even more exciting, just think about the positive health

implications that can occur when we can find ways to normalize

Contributors to Chronic Inflammationl Environmental pollutants

l Lack of physical activity

l Some medications

l Lack of sleep

l Poor diet

l Smoking

l Obesity

l Stress

l Aging


our galectin-3 levels. Fortunately, there is an innovative natural

substance that has been shown to be the most powerful galec-

tin-3 inhibitor known to present-day science. That substance is

modified citrus pectin (MCP).

Just as Dr. Eliaz’s neighbor, Dr. Ruth Cohen, predicted,

we now have discovered one of the most remarkable health-

promoting natural compounds of the 21st century—and it comes

from the peel of an orange (or more broadly, citrus fruits). The

ability to positively impact galectin-3 overexpression with an

all-natural substance is truly a medical breakthrough!

MCP AND GALECTIN-3

In order for a medical breakthrough to occur, we first need to

find out how to identify and track an illness. Then we need

to determine if we can impact the course of that illness with

a particular intervention. And finally, we need to know if our

intervention is working.

MCP and galectin-3 are not just one medical breakthrough,

but two. The first breakthrough was the discovery of galectin-3

as a sensitive, effective, and accurate blood biomarker. The sec-

ond breakthrough was identifying the most potent influencer of

that biomarker—MCP. The combination of galectin-3 and MCP

is likely to revolutionize how we diagnose, treat, and track seri-

ous illnesses.

In the coming chapters, you will learn how MCP supports

key body systems and how it can directly help prevent and treat

cancer as well as many other illnesses. You will read firsthand

why researchers, medical professionals, and this research jour-

nalist are so excited about this natural substance.

If there were a new drug that could do everything that

MCP could do and there was a test to determine if that


drug was working, it would create a national media frenzy

and Wall Street would be all abuzz. But because MCP is a

natural substance, it doesn’t get the same fanfare because

it doesn’t have the financial gain associated with new,

patented drugs.

What’s worse, when a company spends millions of dol-

lars to test the efficacy of a natural substance, others some-

times usurp that science and use it to promote potentially

subpar products. In the natural health industry, that’s known

as “ borrowed science,” which is far too mild of a term for such

behavior. It’s not really borrowed at all; it’s often intentionally

and deceptively used for financial gain.

BORROWED SCIENCE IS BAD SCIENCE

I distinctly remember the first time I witnessed borrowed sci-

ence in action. It was 20 years ago, and I was fairly new to

the natural health industry. I was researching saw palmetto oil

for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which

is enlargement of the prostate gland. A special standardized

extract of the oil of the saw palmetto tree was being widely

studied, and showed exceptional results for this condition.

I read an article about a specific saw palmetto product that

was claiming to ease BPH based on these amazing studies that

were being published. Upon closer examination, I could see on

the label that this product was merely ground-up saw palmetto

berries and did not, in fact, contain the standardized saw pal-

metto oil that was used in the studies.

This is just one example of borrowed science, but there

are many others. It’s bad news for consumers because we have

to be extra diligent when we buy products that make claims

based on solid science.


The fact is, doing gold-standard, double-blind, placebo-

controlled, clinical studies is very expensive. And if the sub-

stance cannot be patented or protected—which is the case for

many naturally occurring materials—numerous companies

can produce “knock-off” products based on the science that

the reputable company just spent millions on. But if a com-

pany is going to “use” that science to make its case, then it’s

absolutely critical that its product be identical to the one used

in the study.

Unfortunately, there are no easy answers in this area. My

solution is to not write about or endorse a product that makes

claims based on borrowed science. If I want to take a product

for a specific use and can’t find the exact substance that was

used in the studies, I need to at least know that it matches the

substance used.

I will often ask companies directly if their product was

used in clinical studies. I will also do research to find out

more about the substance used in the studies. Then I make my

buying decision. The only way companies that are using bor-

rowed science will learn their lesson is when we stop buying

their products. This is clearly a case where we need to let our

pocket books do the talking!

As you can see, borrowed science is a big pet peeve of

mine. As a medical writer, I’ve learned the tricks of the trade,

but not all consumers are able to tell when borrowed science is

being used to sell a subpar product.

This is a core reason I was drawn to Dr. Eliaz’s MCP

product, PectaSol-C. Dr. Eliaz has researched and published

articles on MCP for decades. He has been able to patent the

very specific pectin used in these studies. PectaSol-C is pro-

tected by US patents #6,274,566, #6,462,029, #7,452,871,


and #7,026,302. In Canada, it is protected by Health Canada

NPN: 80029606.

I am impressed that Dr. Eliaz invested the time and money

to protect the proprietary ingredient that was used in many of

the impressive studies. This helps consumers know they are

getting the proper ingredient and are avoiding that irritating

issue of borrowed science.

But it’s more than irritating. As a cancer survivor, I know

the magnitude of this diagnosis. We are no longer talking about

an uncomfortable condition like BPH; we are talking about a

life-threatening disease. You will see that the studies using MCP

involve people diagnosed with cancer, heart disease, diabetes,

liver disease, and more. Imagine receiving a diagnosis like that

and having to rely on a product that uses borrowed science!

“I know firsthand that making MCP is a very complex,

sophisticated process that requires the utmost attention to

detail in order for it to be effective,” Dr. Eliaz said. “We have

developed a highly sensitive proprietary manufacturing method

to ensure my patients get the same results that we achieved

in the studies.” This is critical to me as a health writer and a

cancer survivor.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

The human body is remarkable, and science is equally spectacu-

lar. There is a bright future for the galectin-3 biomarker using

information from the human body and evaluating that informa-

tion with advanced technology.

“I predict that someday there will be an entirely new class

of illnesses known as high galectin-3 diseases,” Dr. Eliaz said.

“Eventually, galectin-3 testing will become a part of our routine

health screenings.”


To have access to screening such as this is truly a medical

breakthrough. But then to have a natural substance like MCP is

the ultimate health-promoting one-two punch.

But several key questions remain:

l How does MCP support the key body systems?

l Why is detoxification so important and how does MCP

enhance detoxification?

l Can MCP and galectin-3 really help prevent and treat

cancer?

l How do MCP and galectin-3 specifically work to heal

heart disease?

l What else are they good for?

l How can we incorporate this combination into a com-

prehensive lifesaving, health-promoting strategy?

These answers and more are in the following chapters!

ALSO BY KAROLYN A. GAZELLA

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