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There is a new nutritional product made from zeolite clay called Natural Cellular Defense (NCD), and it's based on research conducted by reputable (and pioneering) scientists from the world of—believe it or not—pharmaceutical medicine. There's a lot of excitement (some say it's just hype) over NCD right now, especially online. Critics, however, point out that NCD is not safety approved by the FDA for any specific disease. Then again, neither is zinc, pomegranates or green tea, and we all know those are proven disease fighters. Besides, FDA safety approval doesn't mean much to anybody who knows about how the FDA really operates, since the agency routinely approves deadly drugs like Vioxx that have killed hundreds of thousands of Americans already (and continue to do so each year). Recently, too, an FDA safety panel gave near-unanimous approval to a diabetes drug that doubled the risk of heart attacks and strokes—another Vioxx disaster just waiting to happen. But that's a different article.

Zeolites

The zeolites are a popular group of minerals for collectors and an important group of minerals for industrial and other purposes. They combine rarity, beauty, complexity and unique crystal habits. Typically forming in the cavities, or vesicles, of volcanic rocks, zeolites are the result of very low grade metamorphism. Some form from just subtle amounts of heat and pressure and can just barely be called metamorphic while others are found in obviously metamorphic regimes. Zeolite crystals have been grown on board the space shuttle and are undergoing extensive research into their formation and unique properties. Zeolites (Greek, zein,"to boil"; lithos, "a stone") are minerals that have a porous structure. The term was originally coined in the 18th century by a Swedish mineralogist named Axel Fredrik Cronstedt who observed that, upon rapidly heating a natural mineral, the stones began to dance about as the water evaporated. Using the Greek words which mean "stone that boils," he called this material zeolite.

Natural Cellular Defense Exhibits the Following Actions:

1. Reduces cancer risk. Although only one small human trial has been conducted, the results were intriguing: 78% full remission for stage 4 cancer patients (with various types of cancer). The study was an open-label trial conducted by the researchers at LifeLink Pharmaceuticals in Ohio. Although one small study is not grounds for leaping to solid conclusions about cancer, this result is promising enough to warrant additional investigation. Any anti-cancer effect is probably due to NCD's ability to induce tumor suppressor genes that cause the body to not only halt the growth of tumor cells, but actually destroy such tumors.

The technical explanation on this reads: Finely ground natural zeolite powder has also been shown to induce activation of p21WAF1/CIP1. As a universal inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases and one of the target genes of the tumor suppresser p53, p21WAF1/CIP1 can act as a tumor suppresser through its ability to control cell cycle progression. Activation of p21WAF1/CIP1 may halt the growth of tumors by directly suppressing growth signals. However, tissue culture experiments demonstrated that activated zeolite particles inhibit protein kinase B/akt, another kinase involved in antiapoptotic processes and cancer promotion. This happens only when growth of cells in tissue cultures is stimulated by the addition of growth factors. Zeolite particles might adsorb growth factors or prevent interaction of protein kinase B with membranes, where it is phosphorylated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. It has recently been shown that inactivation of protein kinase B by, for example, the novel tumor suppressor molecule PTEN also results in induction of the tumor suppressor—CDK inhibitor p27KIP1.

2. Acts as an antioxidant. Thus, it counters free radicals and helps the body defend itself against free radical / DNA damage.

3. Traps and nullifies nitrosamines in the digestive tract. This is of monumental importance. If you've read much on this site, you already know I've been sounding alarm bells about sodium nitrite and nitrosamines found in processed meats. (I've covered the issue in depth in my book Grocery Warning.) These nitrosamines are potent cancer-causing agents that appear responsible for the dramatic increase in cancer risk that follows the consumption of processed meat products (bacon, sausage, pepperoni, etc.) Pancreatic cancer rates shoot up 68%, and colon cancer rates are similarly heightened. Leukemia and brain cancers are also strongly correlated with processed meats consumption. Additionally, nitrosamines are a causative factor in type-II diabetes. Yet consumers are eating nitrosamines almost every day in their sandwich meats, pizzas, canned soups and other manufactured food products. NCD captures and isolates those nitrosamine compounds from the body, preventing them from reacting with the body's biochemistry. This single effect of this product could, in my estimation, potentially save the lives of millions of children and adults every year, all around the world. More detailed studies need to be conducted to determine the precise protective effect, but the initial information is very intriguing.

4. Chelates and removes heavy metals from the body. This is substantial. It is known to remove mercury, cadmium, and lead, all of which are strongly correlated with various neurological disorders such as autism, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, etc. The heavy metals research that I've seen, however, was conducted outside the body (not in human subjects), so there remains a lot of research that needs to be done in humans to further support this function claim.

5. Provides immunomodulatory action. This means it supports healthy immune system function which, of course, helps protect the body from a number of diseases and health threats.

6. Acts as a broad spectrum antiviral agent. After a few weeks of use, NCD reportedly begins to exhibit antiviral effects. This benefit is obviously very important for defense against infectious disease and even potential pandemic threats like the bird flu. It doesn't mean NCD treats bird flu or any particular disease, but it could potentially help reduce the viral load in conjunction with other, more direct treatments.

7. Balances pH levels. This is also hugely important for maintaining overall health. Most people exist in a state of excessive acidity, largely caused by poor dietary choices. NCD helps balance that state so that the body can function at its greatest biochemical efficiency.

8. Improves nutrient absorption. Malnutrition is common in the populations of the western world, even for those eating excessive quantities of food. One of the main reasons is, of course, malabsorption of nutrients, and it is these nutritional deficiencies that so often lead to the onset of chronic disease, especially in the elderly. NCD reportedly improves nutrient absorption, thereby reducing the risk of malnutrition, even without dietary changes.

9. Removes Radionuclides. Clay has been used as a medium for air filters and water filters for ages. It is environmentally friendly for waste dumpsites and has been used as a filter medium not only for the removal of heavy chemical toxins and heavy metals such as iron, zinc, cadmium, lead, and copper from individuals but for the removal of radioactive wastes. Zeolite clay has been successfully used for the extraction of radionuclides from human beings and animals as well. All nuclear waste is mixed with zeolite clay before packaging and stored underground because it helps prevent radioactivity from seeping into the ground after prolonged storage. Surprisingly, the zeolites are stable even under the highest levels of radiation, a fact proven after the fission reactor meltdowns at both Three Mile Island and Chernobyl where zeolites were used to mop up the waste caused by the accidents.

The British Nuclear Fuels (BNF) also uses a specific type of zeolite clay to remove radioactive strontium and cesium-137 and, therefore, reduces the radioactivity of liquid waste discharged into the Irish Sea. The Hanford, Washington nuclear weapons facilities are lined with clay to prevent contamination. A Swedish study showed another kind of zeolite could decontaminate live animals and meat affected by the Chernobyl disaster. U.S. Army studies also show that clay may be a successful treatment for exposure to chemical warfare and one Army emergency livestock protocol calls for immediate administration of bentonite internally to counter effects of radiation poisoning in livestock.

How does Natural Cellular Defense really work?

How does it do all this? It has to do with the unique crystalline structure of the zeolites which make up the active ingredient in NCD. Zeolites are found in nature, formed by the fusion of glass-rich volcanic rock with water (either fresh water or seawater). These zeolites have a rare property of being able to exchange positively-charged particles with surrounding elements without losing their structure. Zeolites are, essentially, negatively-charged minerals.

Drinking more water is key to alleviating some of today's most common diseases and disorders. This allows a zeolite crystal to act as a "cage" that traps particles and compounds, isolating them from the biochemistry of the organism. Thus it functions as a sort of dance club bouncer that captures free radicals, carcinogens and even viral particles, and tosses them out. Because of this unique mechanism, NCD offers a unique line of defense that complements existing nutritional therapies without redundancy. In other words, if you're already taking green tea supplements as a breast cancer prevention strategy, then taking NCD will only complement your green tea strategy, because NCD works from an entirely different biochemical mechanism than green tea.

Critics of NCD, however, are saying this substance causes cancer. How can that be? They're referring to the fibrous structure of zeolite crystals and the problems encountered when a person inhales tiny crystalline structures. Inhaling asbestos, for example, is known to cause lung cancer. The tiny, knife-edge fibers in asbestos slice up the tissues of your lungs, then embed themselves and interfere with normal lung tissue function, ultimately leading to cancer (20 or 30 years down the road, sometimes).

The zeolites in NCD are never inhaled. This is a product that's swallowed, not breathed in. So they're comparing apples and oranges here. Of course volcanic rock will cause cancer if you grind it into fine dust and inhale it for hours on end. Almost any crystalline substance would do the same. But consuming it orally is an entirely different story.

Humans consume many other crystalline structures orally, including minerals and amino acids from our daily diet. Silica, for one, is a common nutritional supplement, and there's no indication that swallowing silica is harmful. Even spinach contains crystalline structures. And zeolites are on the GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) list maintained by the FDA. Not that the FDA has any credibility, but it is a GRAS substance.

Natural zeolites are inert, non-toxic minerals which are federally classified as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) in most applications and exempted from regulations and reporting when used in accordance with good agricultural practice and when less than 2% in animal feed products (40 CFR, Part 180.1001).

If zeolites caused cancer, then how did 78% of the stage 4 cancer patients in a clinical trial find themselves in a state of full remission after taking NCD? Obviously, if the substance promoted cancer, those people should never have survived the study. Seven subjects didn't survive, actually, but they were late-stage cancer patients, and the trial lasted 14 months. To the contrary, chemotherapy and radiation cause cancer…

Keep in mind this was a small study, so it doesn't prove anything conclusively all by itself. There’s some claims that this substance has been proven to cure all cancers with a 100% cure rate and other similar nonsense. That's extremely irresponsible, given how little we actually know about the efficacy of this supplement in the context of different diseases or conditions. More research clearly needs to be conducted. It may someday be solidly proven that NCD prevents or treats cancers, but the supplement is nowhere near that status today. (It would cost probably half a billion dollars just to fund the studies to determine the answer to those questions.)

The zeolite particles are negatively charged in the entire pH range (pH 1–11). Electron microscopy shows an absence of fibers, and most particles are round with a very rough surface. The absence of fibrous, positively charged particles is encouraging since such particles are present in asbestos and erionite zeolites, which are highly carcinogenic and mutagenic. In addition, activated zeolite particles do not catalyze the production of hydroxyl radicals, unlike asbestos or erionite. It seems that absence of fibrous particles capable of producing hydroxyl radicals makes this zeolite nontoxic and noncarcinogenic, at least when applied orally.

If you take this product as a supplement and then fail to drink large amounts of water, you may end up causing harm through dehydration combined with circulating crystalline structures. Imagine sand flowing through a water hose, and then suddenly the water stops. What happens to the sand? It gets stuck in the hose. This is a crude metaphor, but realizing that uric acid crystals circulating in the blood can cause havoc with joint pain, it seems wise to point out that full hydration is likely crucial for anyone choosing to take this product.

Because of the remarkable properties of zeolites, combined with the standing patent, the reputation of the researchers behind this product, and the desperate need for alternative solutions from people suffering from cancer, this NCD product stands well positioned to be a big deal in nutritional products. If the initial function claims hold up in further testing on humans, NCD could become nothing short of an unprecedented breakthrough in cancer prevention, anti-aging, heavy metal detoxification and many other areas pivotal to the health of the public at large. This single product could conceivably play a significant role in the reversal of the declining health of the population of the United States, Canada and developed nations around the world. This is especially true given the shocking fact that nearly every person in the United States has at least 125 toxic chemicals in their blood right now that don't belong there. Recent studies are even finding rocket fuel in 100% of breast milk samples taken from women across 18 states.

The potential success of this product depends on how this plays out, especially with FDA regulators who will no doubt be heavily scrutinizing this product. Why? My opinion is that the cancer treatment industry is one of the most politically powerful (and profitable) industries on the planet, and anything that competes with chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and mammography is bound to be attacked by the AMA, FDA and old school doctors. That opinion is based on the way Dr. Burzynski (and other cancer research pioneers) have been attacked and discredited, going all the way back to Hoxsey. Besides, innovation is always the enemy of the status quo. And the slash & burn approach to cancer being practiced today is definitely the "status quo."

In any case, this product is positioned to be one of the most sought-after and talked-about disease prevention breakthroughs anyone has seen in a while.