"THE GREATEST MEDICINE OF ALL Is Teaching People How Not To
Need It"
Updates on Interesting New Studies
Curcumin Improves Inflammation and Cholesterol in Obese Men
Obesity increases chances for heart problems, which can
begin with systemic inflammation and imbalanced lipids. In this study, 22 men,
aged 18 to 35, with body mass index scores of at least
30, took fenugreek fiber alone (placebo), or along with 500
mg of curcumin enhanced
with a small amount of fenugreek to enhance absorption per
day. The men had no history of high blood pressure or blood sugar, heart
attack, or diabetes.
After 12 weeks, levels of homocysteine, an inflammatory
factor in heart disease, declined by 29.5 percent for the curcumin-fenugreek
group while increasing 25.3 percent for the fenugreek placebo alone. Levels
of HDL, the good cholesterol that protects the heart, increased 33.8 percent for
the curcumin-fenugreek group while declining 20.2 percent for the fenugreek
placebo alone.
Reference: Nutrition; June 2019, Vol. 62, 135-139.
Fruits and Veggies for Cognition
This long-term study measured the diets of 27,842 men,
average age 51, over a 20-year period. Every
four years, the men reported the previous year's diet and
any changes in memory and cognition. Doctors assessed cognition at average age
73.
Overall, men who consumed the most vegetables were 34
percent less likely to have developed cognitive decline compared to men who got
the least. Those who drank orange juice daily were 47 percent less likely
compared to those who drank OJ less than once a month, and eating more fruit
was also beneficial. Leafy greens, dark orange and red vegetables, and berry
fruits had the strongest links to good cognition.
Reference: Neurology; January 01,
Vitamin D may reduce chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD)
In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lt is
difficult to breathe fully, with symptoms at times becoming more acute, called exacerbations, which require
medication. In this review of three vitamin D studies, covering 469 men and
women, aged 40 to 86, with moderate to very severe COPD, doctors administered a
placebo or doses of vitamin D from 36,000 IU to 100,000 IU per month.
The primary purpose of the studies was to measure the rate
of COPD exacerbations that required treatment with corticosteroids,
antibiotics, or both. Overall, while there were no changes in those
who began the study with vitamin D levels greater than 25
nanomole per liter of blood, or 10 nanograms per milliliter of blood, those who
began the study with lower levels of vitamin D and who took vitamin D during
the study saw rates of exacerbations requiring medication drop by 45 percent.
Reference: Thorax 2019: 74: 337-345.
Aged Garlic Extract Reduced Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a common type of gum disease that develops
when bacterial plaque builds up along the gum line and in between teeth. In
this study, 134 men and women, average age 33, with gingivitis, took a placebo
or a daily dose of aged garlic extract (Kyolic'"). Dental examiners
measured the number of bleeding sites and assessed gum health at the start of the
study, and monthly for four more months.
Using a standard index of clinical gingival symptoms, while
the placebo group had not improved, those taking aged garlic extract saw
significant reductions in inflammation, and in the number and severity of
bleeding sites, beginning at month one and continuing through four months.
When plaque builds up, it triggers an immune response,
which, if left unchecked, can destroy gum tissue. Doctors said garlic helps
control bad bacteria and promotes good bacteria, keeping a healthy balance in
the mouth.
Reference: Journal of Clinical Dentistry; 2018, Vol. 29,
No.2, 52-56.
Aged Garlic Extract Lowers High Blood Pressure
Controlling high blood pressure helps protect the heart. In
this study, 49 adults with uncontrolled hIgh blood pressure took a placebo or a
daily dose of aged garlic extract (Kyolic'").
After 12 weeks, those taking aged garlic extract saw an
average reduction in systolic blood pressure of 10 mmHg and 5.4 mmHg in
diastolic blood pressure, compared to placebo. Those taking garlic also saw
lower pressure in the central blood vessels and arteries that carry blood to and
from the heart, as well as more flexible arteries. Also, those taking garlic
had measurable increases in the gut probiotics lactobacillus and clostridia,
signaling a more balanced microbiome.
Reviewing the results, doctors said aged garlic extract is
safe for treating high blood pressure, with multiple benefits for heart and
circulatory health.
Reference: Frontiers in Nutrition; December 2018, Vol. 5,
No. 122, Published Online.
Vitamin D Deficiency and Schizophrenia
In the womb, babies must rely completely on mothers' stores
of vitamin D and, in new findings, those born deficient in Vitamin D are more
likely to develop schizophrenia later in life. In this study, doctors measured
vitamin D levels at the time of birth in 2,602 newborns that went on to develop
schizophrenia as young adults.
Those with the lowest levels of vitamin D at birth-less than
20.4 nanomole per liter of blood, or 8.16 nanograms per milliliter-were 44
percent more likely to develop schizophrenia as young adults compared to those
born with normal vitamin D levels.
Reference: Nature - Scientific Reports; December 2018, Vol.
8, Article No. 17692.
The probiotic lactobacillus; may help control blood sugar in
type 2 diabetes
Recent research suggests a balanced gut microbiome is
critical maintaining health and managing chronic conditions such as type 2
diabetes. In this study, 40 normal weight to obese adults, aged 30 to 50, with
type 2 diabetes, took a placebo or 100-million colony- forming units of the
probiotic lactobacillus casei per day.
After eight weeks, for those taking probiotics, fasting
blood sugar levels declined to 135.84 milligrams per deciliter of blood from
164.20, while increasing slightly for placebo. Long-term average blood sugar
levels, or HbAIC, declined to 6.84 from 7.30 while increasing for placebo.
Insulin levels and insulin resistance both declined for probiotics while
increasing for placebo. Weight, body mass index scores, and waist circumference
also improved for probiotics.
Reference: Iranian Biomedical Journal; 2019, Vol. 23, No.1,
68-77.
Could This Vitamin SAVE You From Parkinson's?
When you're dealing with Parkinson's disease, you know
you're racing against time. You're hoping to fight the tremors... stiffness... pain...
and psychological effects for as long as you can, before they destroy your
quality of life.
But there may be an easy way to keep Parkinson's in check --
and give yourself some precious extra years of good living. It's not a drug... in fact, it's a simple vitamin you can
get anywhere.
A recent study found that vitamin B12 can prevent the
formation of clumps in your brain associated with Parkinson's disease... even
destroy them. These clumps are known as alpha-synuclein aggregates, and they're
toxic.
They mess with your brain health and can trigger the onset
and progression of Parkinson's. Even Big Pharma knows this. They've been
working to develop drugs that inhibit these alpha-synuclein aggregates.
But vitamin B12 is a much easier and safer strategy than
anything the drug companies will come up with. This shouldn't come as a big
surprise. The entire spectrum of B vitamins are crucial to neurological
processes and keeping your brain sharp.
And the sad thing is, most people in the United States are
deficient in vitamin B12.
Thankfully, there are plenty of food sources rich in this
vitamin... beef, liver, chicken, seafood, eggs, and various dairy products are
chock full of vitamin B12. And you can buy B12 (or B complex) supplements for
pennies a day. B vitamins like B12 aren't just an easy way to fight back
against your Parkinson's symptoms. These all-natural vitamins may just give you the greatest
gifts of all. More time... and a better quality of life.
New drug danger discovered: Statins found to cause ALS, a
fatal nervous system disorder
Many people take statins with the aim of improving their
health, but these drugs come with so many side effects that they’re often not
worth taking. Long under fire for their lack of results and their role in
raising the risk of diabetes, yet another reason has emerged for avoiding these
drugs: They can cause the deadly disorder ALS.
ALS, which stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a
nervous system disorder that causes progressive muscle strength loss that is
irreversible. Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, it can cause nerve cells
within the spinal cord and brain that control your voluntary muscles to die. It
may start with weakness in one leg or arm and speech changes before leading to
muscle twitching and eventually preventing people from moving, speaking, eating
and breathing. There is no cure, and the disease is fatal.
According to a new study that was published in the Drug
Safety journal, statins could be one of the driving factors behind sporadic
cases of ALS, which account for roughly nine out of ten ALS diagnoses. In the
study, researchers looked at the reporting odds ratio, or ROR, of statins in
relation to ALS and ALS-like symptoms. An ROR of 6 or greater generally
suggests probable cause.
While the RORs for ALS were considered elevated for all of
the statins studied, they discovered that lipophilic statins like Lovastatin
(Altoprev) had an alarmingly high ROR of 107. Meanwhile, the ROR for
Simvastatin (Zocor) was 23, while that of the popular statin Atorvastatin
(Lipitor) was 17 and Rosuvastatin (Crestor) was 9.09. The researchers concluded
that there is indeed a concerning connection that warrants further exploration.
Statins have lots of side effects, few benefits
If you take statins, ALS isn’t the only medical problem you
have to worry about. They’ve also been linked to a higher risk of heart disease
and memory loss. The most common side effects include cognitive problems,
fatigue and muscle symptoms, while some people note aggression, higher
irritability, and numbness or tingling in their extremities. And while they are
intended to reduce the risk of suffering an ischemic stroke, they can raise the
risk of hemorrhagic strokes.
Statins have also been shown to double the risk of
developing diabetes. The risk is even higher among post-menopausal women, with
one large study of more than 150,000 women showing that this group’s risk of
diabetes rises by 71 percent by taking statins.
Statins are a huge moneymaker for doctors and pharmaceutical
companies, so it’s unlikely that prescriptions will slow down any time soon.
Thankfully, many people can avoid them by making lifestyle changes that will
improve their health and bring their cholesterol to healthier levels. While
it’s not quite as easy as taking a pill, improving your diet and getting
regular exercise won’t raise your risk of ALS or any other illness – in fact,
it will have the opposite effect.
The first step is adding more foods to your diet that are
known to fight cholesterol. Focus on getting plenty of omega 3 fatty acids and
fiber, and eat foods like oats, fish and garlic. Try to increase your physical
activity levels, whether you’re going from being sedentary to taking a few slow
strolls round the block after dinner each week or turning a couple of your
weekly jogs into runs. No matter what you’re currently doing, there is a way to
raise the intensity.
With nearly one out of every four people in the U.S. over
the age of 45 taking statins, it’s important that everyone is aware of the
risks posed these drugs and the safer alternatives for lowering your
cholesterol and protecting your heart health naturally.
International Study Confirms LDL-Cholesterol Doesn't Predict
Heart Disease Risk; Statin Drugs Probably Useless
Article by GreenMedInfo LLC, 2019
A recent international study published in the highest
ranking cardiovascular journal in the world confirms what we’ve been saying at
GreenMedInfo for over a decade: LDL cholesterol is not an accurate predictor of
future cardiovascular events and is not a good indicator of the underlying
causes of heart disease -- the implication of which is statin drugs are useless
at best, and cardiotoxic at worst.
Published in European Heart Journal and titled, “Development and validation of a ceramide-
and phospholipid-based cardiovascular risk estimation score for coronary artery
disease patients," the study sought to identify whether
LDL-cholesterol or a new class of blood lipids known as ceramide lipids are
best in predicting heart attack risk in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.
The study found that despite assumptions that all CHD
patients have equivalent cardiovascular disease risk, the 10-year
cardiovascular disease risk of a CHD patient varies from 5% to over 20%.
Presently, the primary tool used to identify cardiovascular
disease risk, and to reduce it, is LDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol
suppressing drugs, respectively. LDL cholesterol was not found to be effective in identifying
who are the more high risk patients for cardiovascular death or heart attack:
Given the fact that cardiovascular diseases are the leading
cause of death worldwide, misidentifying LDL cholesterol as the primary cause
of heart disease, and then promoting LDL cholesterol suppression therapies like
statin drugs as a solution, is a tragic mistake. Especially given that statin
drugs have over 300 adverse effects that have been identified in the biomedical
literature, including profound cardiotoxicity.
The study, therefore, indicates that certain dietary
practices, such as the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, may positively
contribute towards ceramide profiles indicative of lower cardiovascular disease
risk, as identified through the CERT2 risk statification test. Given the robust
literature on the therapeutic benefit of fish oil (one of the only sources of
DHA in the human diet today) for cardiovascular health, could this indicate
fish oil may provide a natural alternative to statin drugs?
Interestingly, we've reported previously on how statin drugs
may actually interfere with the cardiotherapeutic properties of fish oil, as
well as how statin drug manufacturers like Pfizer have funded studies
attempting to discredit fish oil's heart benefits. Given the latest research,
and the well-known problems with the statin-based approach to preventing heart
disease, one thing is true, if LDL cholesterol is not an accurate surrogate
marker of cardiovascular disease risk, then the conventional statin-based
standard of care is no longer supported by the scientific evidence.
Until next time, stay healthy and happy
JD Roma
The information on this blog is provided for educational
purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, and
medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or suspect you
have, a health problem you should consult your physician (preferably a
Naturopath).
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