Cholesterol-lowering drugs and the effect on muscle repair and regeneration

HILTON HEAD, SC—Statins are powerful drugs that reduce "bad" cholesterol and thus cut the risk of a heart attack. While these medications offer tremendous benefits to millions, they can carry side effects for some. The most frequently reported consequence is fatigue, and about nine percent of patients report statin-related pain. Both can be exacerbated when statin doses are increased, or physical activity is added. The results of a new study may offer another note of caution for high-dose statin patients. Working with primary human satellite cell cultures, researchers have found that statins at higher doses may affect the ability of the skeletal muscles–which allow the body to move–to repair and regenerate themselves.
The study is entitled "Simvastatin Reduces Human Primary Satellite Cell Proliferation in Culture." It was conducted by Anna Thalacker-Mercer, Melissa Baker, Chris Calderon and Marcas Bamman, University of Alabama at Birmingham. They will discuss their findings at the American Physiological Society (APS; www.The-APS.org) conference, The Integrative Biology of Exercise V. The meeting is being held September 24-27, 2008 in Hilton Head, SC.

The Study

Statins have been reported to have adverse effects on skeletal muscle in both human and animal models causing cramping and fatigue and potentially myopathy. Relatively little is known regarding the effect of statins on the muscle progenitor cells (i.e., satellite cells (SC)) which play a key role in skeletal muscle repair and regeneration following exercise or injury. SC remain in a quiescent state until stimulated to proliferate. Statins are known to have antiproliferative effects in other cell types and therefore may inhibit or effect this critical step in muscle repair. Thus it is important to understand the influence of statins on SC function which may further affect the overall health and physiology of human skeletal muscle..

The study examined the proliferative capacity of human satellite cells in culture, which were exposed, to a lipophilic statin: simvastatin. The aim of the study was to determine SC viability during proliferation when treated with statins which may be indicative of the ability of SCs to undergo mitosis (i.e. divide to make new cells).

The research team used primary cell lines isolated from quadriceps muscle biopsies. SC were mixed and grown for 48 hours with several concentrations of statin: 0.0, 0 plus the solvent DMSO (control), 0.05, 0.1, 1.0, 10, or 100µM. The MTS assay was utilized to measure cell viability/reproducibility.

Additionally the investigators determined the effects of varying concentrations of simvastatin on SCs in different states (i.e., undergoing differentiation or differentiated into myotubes).

Key Findings

The researchers found the following:

There was a dose dependent decrease in the viability of the satellite cells at 1.0, 10 and 100µM concentrations of simvastatin. At approximately 5.0 µM concentration the viability of the proliferating cells was reduced by 50% (equivalent to the availability of simvastatin in circulation from a 40 milligram dose per day used in some patients). Specifically, the higher end concentrations led to reduced SC proliferation, which would likely negatively affect the muscle's ability to heal and/or repair itself.
There was no change in the viability of satellite cells at concentrations of 0.05 or 0.1µM.
Cell viability was reduced by approximately half in differentiating cells and myotubes with concentrations of 1.0 and 5.0 µM, respectively.
Next Steps

According to Dr. Thalacker-Mercer, a member of the research team, "While these are preliminary data and more research is necessary, the results indicate serious adverse effects of statins that may alter the ability of skeletal muscle to repair and regenerate due to the anti-proliferative effects of statins."

Looking ahead, she added, "We are very interested in these effects in the older population. It is possible that older adults may not be able to distinguish between muscle pain related to a statin effect or an effect of aging and therefore adverse effects of statins in older adults may be under-reported. Therefore, our next step is to examine statins among older adults."

Can Low Cholesterol Cause Cancer?

Both high levels and low levels of LDL cholesterol were found to be associated with cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes.

A study of more than 6,000 patients with type 2 diabetes and found a V-shaped risk relation between LDL cholesterol and cancer. The study excluded people on statin drugs, as statins obscure the association between LDL cholesterol and cancer.

Low LDL levels were linked to cancers of digestive organs and peritoneum, genital and urinary organs, and lymphatic and blood tissues. High LDL levels raised the risks of oral, digestive, bone, skin, connective tissue, and breast cancers.


Sources:

* Science Daily August 25, 2008

20 Diseases and Conditions Directly Attributable to Being Overweight

Obesity is a growing concern in the U.S.; overweight rates have doubled among children and tripled among adolescents. This increases the number of years that they are exposing themselves to dangerous health risks associated with obesity.

Here are 20 diseases or conditions that can be attributed to obesity:

1. Diabetes, a disorder where the pancreas is not producing enough or sometimes not any insulin. Diabetes can lead to a whole host of other medical issues and obesity is one of the main causes.
2. Cancer has many different forms and types; many of them could be prevented with more attention to eating healthily and avoiding obesity.
3. Congestive Heart Failure is a condition in which the heart can’t pump enough blood to the body’s other organs.
4. Enlarged Heart is another heart condition where the muscle of the heart become larger due to being overworked, which naturally happens if you are overweight.
5. Pulmonary Embolism is a sometimes fatal blockage of an artery. Being overweight causes most people to reduce activity, and after time lack of activity can result in an embolism.
6. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a condition in which cysts develop in your ovaries. These can burst, causing even further problems.
7. Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease happens when stomach acid and juices flow from the stomach back up into the esophagus. It is common in overweight people.
8. Fatty Liver Disease is a reversible condition in which large pockets of fat accumulate in liver cells.
9. A Hernia is caused when the hole in the diaphragm weakens and enlarges.
10. Erectile Dysfunction is the inability to develop or maintain an erection, which can be caused by a medical problem due to obesity.
11. Urinary Incontinence is the inability to control urination. It is frequently associated with obesity, weak bladder and pelvic floor muscles
12. Chronic Renal Failure, meaning the kidneys fail to work, is a much greater risk to those that are overweight or obese.
13. Lymph Edema is a condition that occurs from a damaged or dysfunctional lymphatic system, sometimes caused by people suffering from obesity actually crushing their own lymphatics.
14. Cellulitis is clinically a spreading infection, involving both the dermis and subcutaneous skin tissues, resulting from poor lymph flow caused by obesity.
15. Stroke is caused by a lack of blood supply to the brain.
16. Pickwickian Syndrome is characterized by sleep apnea resulting from obesity placing an excessive load on the pulmonary system.
17. Depression is a condition where a person feels miserably constantly, even to the point of being suicidal. It can be worse for someone who also has a weight problem.
18. Osteoarthritis is a clinical syndrome in which low-grade inflammation results in pain in the joints. It is caused by abnormal wearing of the cartilage, oftentimes due to obesity.
19. Gout occurs when uric acid accumulates in the blood. Nerve endings then become irritated, causing extreme pain which is made worse by carrying extra weight.
20. Gallbladder Disease commonly affects overweight people as a result of high blood cholesterol levels, which causes gall stones.

According to the Surgeon General report, obesity is responsible for 300,000 deaths every year in the U.S.


Sources:

* Scientific Laboratory for Food Intolerance

Conventional Infertility Treatments "Useless" Even As Fertility Rates Plummet for Mainstream Toxic Consumers

Research on conventional infertility treatments that monitored the results of 580 couples found such treatments to have absolutely no benefit. Conducted in Scotland, the research involved five hospitals providing artificial insemination and the prescription drug clomid -- a drug commonly used for treating infertility in the United States, Canada and other western nations.

The research reveals that couples attempting to conceive naturally experienced a 17% success rate (becoming pregnant and giving birth to a healthy baby) while those on the clomid drug actually had a lower rate of success: 14%. Even worse, from 10 to 20 percent of women on the drug experienced side effects that included abdominal pain, bloating, nausea and headaches.

Modern infertility treatments are "quackery"
What this research reveals is that two of the most common treatments used by conventional medicine to treat infertility are mere quackery, based on medical mythology rather than rigorous scientific scrutiny. They continue to be prescribed to patients only because doctors don't like to "do nothing" when patients are asking for solutions, and prescribing a drug or a biological intervention is often seen as reassuring to patients who have been brainwashed into thinking infertility is a medical problem rather than a nutrition and health problem.

While conventional doctors deride the advice of midwives who recommend "unproven" natural remedies, it turns out their own infertility treatments offer absolutely no fertility benefits whatsoever to their patients. And yet patients are often paying tens of thousands of dollars for these very treatments that don't work!

Much of modern medicine, it turns out, is based on quackery. In just the last year, rigorous scientific assessment of clinical trials has revealed the following:

• Antidepressant drugs work no better than placebo.
• Cholesterol drugs work no better than herbs like red yeast rice.
• Artificially lowering your cholesterol produces no health benefits.
• Chemotherapy is pure quackery and offers no benefits for over 99% of cancer patients.

In fact, finding a conventional medical procedure that actually works to reverse a degenerative health condition seems virtually impossible. No conventional oncologist, for example, has ever produced a cancer patient who has been cured of cancer. Yet people are cured of cancer every day in the world of naturopathic medicine; often by simply boosting their vitamin D intake and drinking nutrient-rich vegetable juices on a daily basis (broccoli, cabbage and other greens).

Why infertility is now so high
Over 33% of couples now experience infertility for no explainable reason. Fertility doctors remain mystified, and amazingly, almost nobody in conventional medicine has yet figured out that fertility is linked to diet and exposure to toxic chemicals.

While couples are chowing down junk foods, taking prescription medications and turning their bodies into toxic chemical waste dumps, fertility doctors scratch their heads and wonder... "Gee... What could be causing this fertility problem?" The only thing they can offer is more chemicals, of course!

Meanwhile, the rampant abuse of toxic chemicals in personal care products, household cleaners, food additives and pharmaceuticals is causing trans-generational DNA damage that I have already publicly predicted will cause a large portion of the western population to collectively win the Darwin Award by removing their genes from the gene pool.

Join the crowd: Win the Darwin Award!
Consumers who contaminate their bodies with hundreds of different toxic chemicals, you see, are causing DNA damage that is not merely genetic, but epigenetic, meaning it passes on the expression of the DNA to the next generation. While this idea remains blasphemous in conventional medicine, it is become apparent to those scientists who are paying attention (like Dr. Bruce Lipton, author of The Biology of Belief) who explain how gene expression is now carried from one generation to the next, and exposure to toxic chemicals causes trans-generational genetic damage.

Extrapolate this out a few generations and you get massive infertility for mainstream consumers. Basically, anybody who isn't really, really green is going to find themselves at a genetic dead end. Unable to reproduce, their own genes will depart the gene pool of the human race, leaving the future of human civilization to those who actually care about green living and natural health.

And that's a very good thing for the future of human civilization. It's a natural pruning process that eliminates all the idiots and leaves the future of human life on Earth only to those who are best adapted to protecting it: The green living folks, hippies and natural health followers. It's natural selection in full force!

Mark my words: Today's 33% infertility rate is just the beginning. A wave of massive infertility is about to sweep the human race over the next 2-3 generations, and we could see infertility rates top 90% in just the next fifty years.

You might call it a self-balancing population control mechanism: When humans get too numerous and start poisoning the planet with all their chemicals, the result is widespread infertility that causes a relatively rapid collapse in global population. Reducing the population to 10% of its current size, in turn, eases the chemical contamination on the planet, resulting in a return of fertility. Nature has an interesting way of achieving homeostasis, and doing it through infertility doesn't require a sudden wipeout of those already living; it only requires a dramatic drop in reproduction.

Or, to put it in blunt terms, the "Feeders and Breeders" are about to stop breeding.

What does all this mean to you? It's really quite simple: If you want to make babies, eat a largely plant-based diet and avoid exposure to toxic chemicals. Go green! Live naturally.

If, on the other hand, you want to join all the other billions of humans who are about to win the collective Darwin Award, keep taking pharmaceuticals, eating junk food and sloshing toxic personal care products on your skin every day. You will quickly find that your family tree has been pruned back to a twig, which is probably exactly where it should be if you're toxic to the planet in the first place.

Mainstream consumerism is the best birth control
Realizing all this has completely changed my view of the world. You see, previously, when I would go shopping and see people buying toxic products, I would get frustrated and try to educate them to not poison themselves. I soon learned this was a complete waste of time (never try to teach an idiot about health; you only waste your time and annoy the idiot!).

But now when I see people doing that, I understand the bigger picture: These are people who are choosing to remove their genes from the gene pool! Not right away, of course, but in a couple of generations (which is pretty fast in terms of the history of life on Earth). In effect, they are unwittingly applying the laws of natural selection to themselves! They deserve an award or something...

Oh yeah, they're winning one already: The Darwin Award.

Because, let's face it: The future of life on Earth belongs solely to those who can protect the integrity of their DNA.

And mainstream consumers are utterly failing to do that. Do you think mammography, chemotherapy and dangerous pharmaceutical chemicals protect your DNA? Nope, they damage your DNA. Every visit to a conventional doctor -- and all his chemical and radiological treatments -- is like a vote for your own genetic obliteration.

But feel free to vote how you'd like. Whether you want your grandchildren to be able to reproduce is entirely up to you. And that's the beauty of this whole system: Each individual is entirely responsible for their own genetic future. From what I can see, though, most people are opting out of a genetic future by leading extremely toxic, polluting lifestyles that damages their own bodies as well as the entire planet.

Their offspring will not be missed. Those of us actually want to protect the future of life on Earth will all be much better off when toxic people stop making babies.

Low-Carb Diet Beats Low-Fat Diet

A low-carb diet and a Mediterranean-style diet both helped people lose more weight than a traditional low-fat diet in one of the longest and largest studies to compare the various weight-loss techniques.

The low-carb diet also improved cholesterol more than the other two, even though some critics had predicted the opposite result.

All three approaches achieved weight loss and improved cholesterol.

The low-fat diet restricted calories and cholesterol and focused on low-fat grains, vegetables and fruits as options. The Mediterranean diet had similar calorie, fat and cholesterol restrictions, emphasizing poultry, fish, olive oil and nuts. The low-carb diet set limits for carbohydrates, but none for calories or fat, although it urged dieters to choose vegetarian sources of fat and protein.


Sources:

* Washington Post July 17, 2008

Resveratrol, Found In Red Wine, Wards Off Effects Of Age On Heart, Bones, Eyes And Muscle

Scientists have found that the compound resveratrol -- found in red wine and grape skin -- slows age-related deterioration and functional decline of mice on a standard diet, but does not increase longevity when started at middle age.

This study, conducted and supported in part by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, is a follow-up to 2006 findings that resveratrol improves health and longevity of overweight, aged mice. The report confirms previous results suggesting the compound, found naturally in foods like grapes and nuts, may mimic, in mice, some of the effects of dietary or calorie restriction, the most effective and reproducible way found to date to alleviate age-associated disease in mammals.

The findings, published July 3, 2008, in Cell Metabolism, may increase interest in resveratrol as a possible intervention for age-related declines, said NIA scientists. The authors emphasized, however, that their findings are based on research in mice, not in humans, and have no immediate and direct application to people, whose health is influenced by a variety of factors beyond those which may be represented in the animal models.

The study is a collaborative effort between the laboratories of Rafael de Cabo, Ph.D., of the Laboratory of Experimental Gerontology at the NIA; David A. Sinclair, Ph.D., of the Glenn Laboratories for Molecular Biology of Aging at Harvard Medical School; and an international group of researchers. The investigators compared mice fed a standard diet, a high-calorie diet, or an every-other-day feeding regimen with or without high- or low-dose resveratrol to study the impact of resveratrol on aging and health. In previous studies, different forms of dietary restriction, including every-other-day feeding, have been shown to improve markers of health.

"Research is attempting to understand the process of aging and to determine how interventions can influence this process. Dietary restriction has well-documented health benefits in mammals, and the study of possible mimetics of it, such as resveratrol, are of great interest," said NIA Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D. "Resveratrol has produced significant effects in animal models, now including mice, where it mimics some, but not all, consequences of caloric restriction. Its effects in humans remain to be studied."

A major finding of the study reported today is that resveratrol prevented age-related and obesity-related cardiovascular functional decline in the mice as determined by several parameters. Total cholesterol was significantly reduced in 22-month-old non-obese mice after 10 months of resveratrol treatment, although triglyceride levels had only a slight, non-significant trend toward a decrease. Further, the aortas of 18-month-old obese and non-obese mice treated with resveratrol functioned significantly better than untreated mice. Resveratrol also moderated inflammation in the heart.

In addition to cardiovascular function, the scientists found resveratrol to have a variety of positive effects on other age-related problems in mice:

* Treated mice tended to have better bone health, as measured by thickness, volume, mineral content and density, and bending stiffness compared to the non-treated control group.
* At 30 months of age, resveratrol-treated mice were found to have reduced cataract formation, a condition found to increase with age in control-group mice.
* Resveratrol enhanced balance and motor coordination in aged animals. Scientists found significant improvement in performance at 21 and 24 months versus 15 months in the resveratrol-treated mice but not in the untreated mice.
* Resveratrol partially mimicked the effects of dietary restriction on the gene expression profiles of liver, skeletal muscle and adipose (fatty) tissue in mice.
* Along with determining the effect of resveratrol on the health of mice, scientists also studied the effect of resveratrol on longevity.

"We found that while quality of life improved with resveratrol, the compound did not significantly affect overall survival or maximum lifespan for mice on a standard diet, compared to mice on the same diet without resveratrol," said de Cabo.

Resveratrol did not have a significant effect on lifespan in animals fed standard chow, suggesting that the intervention did not affect all aspects of the basic aging process. Mice on a high-calorie diet without resveratrol lived the shortest length of time and mice on an every-other-day regimen lived the longest, regardless of resveratrol treatment. However, for mice on a high-calorie diet, mean and maximum lifespan increased for mice on resveratrol when compared with the control mice.

Researchers found that resveratrol's effects on longevity could be completely uncoupled from changes in body weight, meaning that mice on a high-calorie diet with resveratrol did not necessarily lose weight but did experience a longer (and healthier) life than mice on the same high-calorie diet not taking resveratrol. They speculate that improved cardiovascular health and reduced fatty changes in the liver may have contributed to the increased lifespan of resveratrol-treated mice.

Researchers still have much to learn before resveratrol can be recommended for human use. Basic questions of safety and biological effect in humans remain to be studied experimentally.

"We are learning a great deal about how resveratrol affects the health and survival of mammals," said Sinclair. "Continued study of calorie restriction mimetics such as resveratrol may eventually point the way to new medicines to treat diseases of aging."

In addition to scientists from the NIA and Harvard Medical School, researchers from the following institutions collaborated in this study: New York Medical College, Valhalla, N.Y.; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; University of Sydney in Australia; Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia; University of California, San Diego, La Jolla; Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, N.Y.; University of Cincinnati, Ohio; University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and Audie Murphy VA Hospital, San Antonio, Texas; Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain; Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, La.; University of Washington, Seattle; and Sirtris Pharmaceuticals of Cambridge, Mass., a company founded by Harvard University co-lead author Sinclair.

De Cabo is a scientist in the NIA's Intramural Research Program. In addition, the research was funded by grants from the NIA, the primary supporter of the work, as well as grants from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; the National Eye Institute; and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the NIH. The Ellison Medical Research Foundation, the American Heart Association, the Australian and Spanish governments and Paul F. Glenn and The Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for the Biological Mechanisms of Aging also provided support to members of the research team.
Adapted from materials provided by NIH/National Institute on Aging, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

'Good' cholesterol dementia risk

Too little of one type of cholesterol has been linked by research to memory loss and Alzheimer's disease.

UK and French scientists studied 3,673 civil servants, revealing low levels of "good" cholesterol were associated with poor memory.

Doctors might be able to uncover high-risk patients using blood tests, they said in a US heart journal.

But other experts said the study did not yet support larger diet trials aiming to boost levels.

The relationship between levels of HDL, or "good", and LDL, or "bad" types of cholesterol is thought to be important in the development of other serious conditions such as heart disease and stroke.

Higher levels of HDL, in particular, are believed to protect against damage to blood supply caused by the narrowing of the arteries.

There is also evidence that "good" cholesterol can influence the laying down of the beta-amyloid "plaques" that are a distinctive feature in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.

Regular exercise and eating less saturated fat, while eating more "healthy" fats such as olive oils, can boost levels.

The researchers, from University College London and the INSERM institute in France, used data from the Whitehall II trial - a collection of thousands of civil servants, to see what influence it might have over memory within a five-year period.

They took blood samples at the start of the study, and gauged word recall with a simple test. That was repeated again at the end of the study.

The researchers found that people with low levels of HDL were 53% more likely to suffer memory loss compared with the people with the highest levels of HDL.

People with impaired memory have a much greater risk of going on to develop dementia later in life.

Early sign

Dr Archarna Singh-Manoux, who led the study, said: "Memory problems are key in the diagnosis of dementia.

"This suggests that low HDL cholesterol might also be a risk factor for dementia."

She said that doctors should be encouraged to monitor HDL levels in order to predict dementia risk.

However, an editorial in the same journal, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, by Dr Anatol Kontush and Dr John Chapman, from INSERM and the Universite Pierre and Marie Curie in Paris, said that the study did not prove that low HDL could cause memory loss, or high HDL protect against it.

"Unfortunate results in large interventional trials with dietary antioxidants suggest that we should remain cautious when proposing therapeutic intervention," they wrote.

Dr Susanne Sorenson, from the Alzheimer's Society, said HDL cholesterol was believed to transport harmful cholesterol from the arteries back to the liver to be degraded.

"This study shows that if there is not enough HDL to transport cholesterol and other lipids around the body, it can not only increase your risk of heart disease but also affect your memory and may increase your risk of getting Alzheimer's disease.

"We know that controlling cholesterol in midlife is important if you are to reduce your risk of developing vascular dementia later and this may also be important for the development of Alzheimer's disease."

Statin Use Has Jumped 150 Percent

Use of the cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins rose by 156 percent between 2000 and 2005, rising from 15.8 million people to 29.7 million people. Spending on the drugs jumped from $7.7 billion to $19.7 billion annually over the same period.

The total number of outpatient prescriptions for statins rose from about 90 million in 2000 to nearly 174 million in 2005. Each individual spent $484 a year on average on statins in 2000; this rose to $661 by 2005.

Statins include atorvastatin, sold by Pfizer under the brand name Lipitor; pravastatin or Pravachol, sold by Bristol Myers Squibb; fluvastatin, sold by Novartis under the brand name Lescol, and several others.


Sources:

* Reuters June 25, 2008

1.5 Million More People to Be Prescribed Useless Cholesterol Drugs

New national guidelines in England and Wales will increase the number of adults prescribed cholesterol-lowering statin drugs by 1.5 million.

Under the latest recommendations, computer software would be used to pick out those aged 40 to 75 years who are considered to be at high risk. The risk assessment would take into account factors beyond high cholesterol, including age, sex, blood pressure and whether or not they smoke.

About 4 million people in England and Wales are already taking statins. The additional drugs will cost 35 million British pounds annually.


Sources:

* BBC News May 27, 2008

Eating Foods Rich in Antioxidants May Reduce the Risk of Dietary Diseases

Through scientific research it has been discovered that antioxidants may help prevent dietary diseases such as Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, Depression, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, Macular degeneration and may also delay aging. Antioxidants are molecules that are capable of retarding oxidation of other molecules which in turn leads to inflammation. Inflammation has been shown to be present in persons with the above diseases.

The Failure of Vytorin

A recent major scientific study showed that lowering cholesterol using Vytorin had no measured effect on the risk of heart disease. Doctors were shocked on March 30, 2008 when those results were released. They now believe that Statins should be the drugs of choice. Unfortunately, Statins have side effects that are unacceptable such as extreme muscle pain and muscle disease (statin induced myopathy). Controlling inflammation through what we eat is far preferable.

Antioxidants

Common antioxidants are Vitamins C & E. Studies related to the benefits of Vitamin E have not been conclusive (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioxidant). Vitamin E is a collection of 8 molecules including alpha-Tocopherol and gamma-Tocopherol. It appears that the inconclusive studies involved only the alpha-tocopherol variety. Recently, researchers have shown that gamma-Tocopherol would be more likely to show positive results with respect to reducing the risk of heart disease (http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/74/6/714) .

Anti-aging and antioxidants

"According to the Free Radical theory of aging, aging occurs in a cell when mitochondria begin to die out because of free radical damage. The focus of the project is to neutralize the effect of these free radicals with antioxidants. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating one of their own electrons, ending the ionic reaction. The antioxidant nutrients themselves don't become free radicals by donating an electron because they are stable in either form" ((http://www.dadamo.com/wiki/wiki.pl/Oxid...).

Type 2 Diabetes and antioxidants

The following abstract of a clinical trial concludes that dietary intake of antioxidants may reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes, see ((http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/co...) for the full report.

"RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A cohort of 2,285 men and 2,019 women 40–69 years of age and free of diabetes at baseline (1967–1972) was studied. Food consumption during the previous year was estimated using a dietary history interview. The intake of vitamin C, four tocopherols, four tocotrienols, and six carotenoids was calculated. During a 23-year follow-up, a total of 164 male and 219 female incident cases occurred."

"RESULTS - Vitamin E intake was significantly associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. The relative risk (RR) of type 2 diabetes between the extreme quartiles of the intake was 0.69 (95% CI 0.51–0.94, P for trend = 0.003). Intakes of -tocopherol, -tocopherol, -tocopherol, and ß-tocotrienol were inversely related to a risk of type 2 diabetes. Among single carotenoids, ß-cryptoxanthin intake was significantly associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.44–0.78, P < 0.001). No association was evident between intake of vitamin C and type 2 diabetes risk."

"CONCLUSIONS - This study supports the hypothesis that development of type 2 diabetes may be reduced by the intake of antioxidants in the diet. "

Antioxidant Sources

Many foods such as vegetable oils are rich in Vitamin E with gamma-Tocopherol but also have a high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids that can add to inflammation (http://naturalnews.com/023072.html) . Here is a list of foods rich in gamma-Tocopherol that have their n-6:n-3 ratio of 10:1 or less: English Walnuts, Flaxseeds, Butter blend margarine with soy oil, green peas, green and red sweet peppers, mashed potatoes with milk and margarine, sautéed yellow onions, yellow mustard, blackberries, raspberries, cinnamon, yellow mustard seed, black pepper, ginger, and paprika.

There are Vitamin E supplements on the market that contain gamma-Tocopherol. One in particular has 300 mg of gamma-Tocopherol per capsule and the manufacturers recommended serving size is 2 capsules per day. A person would not be able to eat enough food to have 600 mg per day of this antioxidant. However the recommended minimum daily amount of Vitamin E is only about 15 mg which could be achieved with 2.6 ounces of English walnuts or flaxseeds or 3.5 ounces each of sautéed yellow onions and red or green sweet peppers.

Vitamin C is abundant in many foods. The minimum daily requirement for Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men. People who smoke need an additional 35 mg. Foods highest in vitamin C with their n-6:n-3 ratio below 10:1 are: Acerola (West Indian Cherry), Guavas, Litchis dried, European black currants, Green and red sweet peppers, Thyme, Orange juice, Mustard spinach, Kale, Grapefruit juice, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and Cabbage. For a more complete antioxidant list please visit ((http://jmyarlott.com/Food/health/antiox...).

About the author
John Yarlott developed his writing skills during his career as a Mechanical Engineer with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. His work included testing jet engines and writing the test reports for use by the design and management groups. He later worked at IBM as writer of guides for computer design. He ran technical symposiums and published the hundreds of technical reports on computer packaging. John was also a store systems engineer in IBM marketing where he wrote computer programs for customers that generated reports based on transaction data in the checkout terminals. John's last assignment before retiring was as a technical support engineer for IBM's database software. During retirement he wrote training manuals for Microsoft Office Products at Hill & Knowlton, a division of WPP. He wrote web based data acquisition programs that captured human resources data in a MS Access database. The firm had offices in 52 countries therefore using the Internet to communicate with the database in New York was a time saving solution. Now retired for the second time, John has turned his attention to web publishing about matters of his own interest including health, nutrition, food economics, and global energy on his personal website: http://jmyarlott.com .

###

Health Benefits of Guacamole and the Science of Salsa

Whether you are seeking treatment, prevention or just flavor, look no further than raw salsa and homemade guacamole. Teeming with enzymes and highly alkalizing, the ingredients in these dishes contain over 120 known health benefits and most can be grown in a home garden. In this article, we will first review the benefits of each component and then provide two simple recipes.

Tomato - Solanum Lycopersicum (Solanaceae)
Tomato contains the antioxidant Lycophene, a phytonutrient along with vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, Calcium and Niacin. Tomato works to purify the blood and improves skin clarity while reducing cholesterol, gallstones, hemorrhages and liver congestion. Tomato offers unique benefits in raw, cooked or canned form. Tomato has antiseptic properties and helps fight cancer of the prostate and colon.

Pepper - Capsicum spp. (Solanaceae)
Pepper contains the antioxidant Capsaicin, a crystalline alkaloid that relieves allergies, pain, ulcers, colitis, headaches and congestion. Eating peppers reduces cholesterol, blood clotting and the rate of stroke while increasing metabolism. Peppers have antibacterial properties and help fight cancer of the thyroid, stomach, intestine and prostate.

Onion - Allium Cepa (Liliaceae)
Onion contains antioxidant Quercetin, a flavenoid along with vitamin C, vitamin E, Potassium, Fiber and Folic Acid. Onion relieves congestion and allergy symptoms along with reducing cholesterol, cataracts, atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Consuming onion helps remove heavy metals from the body. Onion has antimicrobial properties and helps fight cancer of the ovaries, breast, lung and bladder.

Garlic - Allium Sativum (Liliaceae)
Garlic contains the antioxidant Allicin (a compound formed from alliin and allinase when the cloves are is crushed or bruised). Consuming garlic lowers blood pressure and cholesterol while cleansing the liver. Garlic offers unique benefits when consumed in raw, cooked or aged form. Garlic has antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal and anti-parasitic properties and helps fight stomach cancer.

Cilantro - Coriandrum Sativum (Umbelliferae)
Cilantro contains several antioxidants including borneo, camphor, carvone, elemol, geraniol, limonene, and linalool. Cilantro is a natural internal and external deodorizer. Cilantro (whose seeds are called Coriander) relieves nausea, indigestion and bloating along with urinary tract infections. Consuming cilantro helps reduce cholesterol and blood sugar while removing heavy metal levels including mercury. Cilantro has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties (killing salmonella).

Cumin - Cuminum (Apiaceae)
Cumin comes in seed and powder form and contains Iron. Consuming cumin helps improve digestion and strengthens the immune system. Cumin is an antioxidant and helps fight cancer of the liver.

Lemon Juice - Citrus Limon (Rutaceae)
Lemon juice contains vitamin C and (when fresh) has an alkalizing effect on the system. Lemon relieves stomach discomfort and removes gallstones (when mixed with olive oil). Consuming lemon helps prevent osteoarthritis, diabetes, atherosclerosis and kidney stones. Lemon has antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties and is a great natural cleaning agent.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Olea Europaea (Oleaceae)
Olive Oil (from the first cold pressing) contains Oleic acid, a healthy (monounsaturated omega-0) fatty acid. Olive oil, found in the Mediterranean diet, helps reduce blood pressure, asthma and arthritis inflammation. Consuming olive oil helps prevent and treat diabetis while increasing metabolism. Olive oil helps fight cancer of the breast and ovaries.

Apple Cider Vinegar - Malus Domestica (Rosaceae)
Raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar contains the Mother, an enzyme chain long regarded as a cure-all and taken by Hippocrates himself. Apple cider vinegar helps relieve gout, acid reflux and arthritis symptoms. Consuming apple cider vinegar helps reduce cholesterol, calcium deposits, acne, allergies, and blood sugar while reducing allergies, food poisoning and muscle fatigue. Cider vinegar soothes a sore throat, strengthens the immune system and improves stamina and metabolism.

Avocado - Persea Americana (Lauraceae)
Avocado contains Lutein, a carotenoid along with vitamin E, monounsaturated (healthy) fat and Magnesium. Consuming avocado helps improve the absorption of the nutrients in other foods. Avocado improves skin clarity and tone. Avocado helps fight cancer of the mouth, breast and prostate.

Lime Juice - Citrus Aurantifolia (Rutaceae)
Lime juice contains Potassium and helps cleanse the blood and liver. Lime juice has antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties and strengthens the immune system.

Gray Sea Salt - Sodium Chloride
Gray sea salt contains many trace minerals. Sea salt stabilizes the heartbeat and blood sugar level. Sea salt helps generate hydroelectric energy, improves absorption and nerve cell communication. Sea salt relieves the lungs and sinuses.

_______________________________________________________________

Recipes

Now that you know how powerful these foods are you can imagine how many synergistic benefits there may be. The following recipes use each ingredient discussed. Recent studies have underscored the benefits of combining many different antioxidants into one synergistic blend.

Recipe for Salsa Fresca

Ingredients:
*4 tomatoes (choose two varieties).
*1 onion (your choice of color).
*2 peppers (your choice of type and temperature).
*2 cloves garlic.
*½ cup cilantro (leaves and stems).
*1 Tbsp lemon juice.
*1 Tbsp olive oil.
*1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar.
*1 tsp cumin.
*1 tsp coriander.

Instructions:
*Mince garlic, cilantro, cumin and coriander.
*Add lemon, oil and vinegar to spice blend.
*Dice tomato, onion, garlic and add to spice blend.
*Blend ingredients together with potato masher.
*Cover 10 minutes and serve at room temperature.
_______________________________________________________________

Recipe for Guacamole

Ingredients:
*4 ripe (Hass) avocados.
*¼ cup salsa fresca (see above).
*1 Tbsp lime juice.
*½ tsp Sea salt.

Instructions:
*Briefly stir together avocado and salsa.
*Top with lime juice and salt.
*Cover 30 minutes and serve chilled.
_______________________________________________________________

DISCLAIMER: The information in this article has not been evaluated by the FDA (or guacamole might be outlawed).


About the author
Neil McLaughlin is a Computer Scientist and Inventor specializing in 3D Graphics and Simulation.

Do You Have a Lactose-Intolerant Child?

I have many stressed-out mothers in my practice who are convinced that their children are intolerant to cow’s milk-based formulas. I explain that children are rarely born lactose intolerant and most likely their son or daughter has an allergy to processed, pasteurized cow’s milk. I usually try to get the mother to exclusively breast feed and not supplement with a commercial formula, which usually fixes the problem because human breast milk is the perfect food for infants.

However, if breast milk was never started, a soy milk formula is often recommended because it’s not a cow-based milk. There can be a problem with that since 30 percent of the children are also allergic to soymilk, and soymilk presents its own challenges. (Visit www.westonaprice.org to learn about the potential dangers of soy-based formulas.) In these cases, we often have to resort to elemental formulas on the market.

I also tell the parent that when the child is older and weaned off the breast, I recommend trying goat’s milk before they try cow’s milk again. Children manifest an allergy to cow’s milk formula by gastrointestinal symptoms through vomiting and diarrhea, respiratory symptoms like constant sneezing, coughing, and congestion, and even with skin complications, like eczema. Those who are highly allergic need to use goat’s milk or another formula, like Jordan’s homemade formula.

My response is that nearly all infants drink breast milk—their tender stomachs can’t handle any solid foods—but breast milk has lactose. So breast milk, a food that nourishes and sustains newborns and infants while carrying the mother’s antibodies to the baby, is obviously a good thing.

When infants are weaned from breast milk, they are fed formula—a highly processed dried dairy product made from cows that are not fed well or raised properly. Babies sometimes react poorly to commercial formula by screaming to the high heavens, prompting concerned mothers to immediately blame “lactose intolerance” as the cause of their child’s ills.

Many switch to soymilk or a soy-based formula, but as I stated earlier I’m not a total fan of soy products. Here's why: most soy protein comes from genetically modified soybeans. According to Sally Fallon, author of Nourishing Traditions, soybeans are high in phytic acid, which can block the complete intake of essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, and zinc into the intestinal tract. Soy protein must be processed at high temperatures to reduce phytic acid levels, which pretty much destroys the “good proteins” in soy, such as lysine.

Ms. Fallon also points out research showing that soy formulas lack cholesterol (essential for brain development) and lactose and galactose, which play equally important roles in the development of the nervous system.

Most children are not lactose intolerant; otherwise they couldn’t tolerate breast milk. The reason for their stomach distress has more to do with an allergy or sensitivity to the processed protein in the formula, not any abdominal intolerance to lactose.

If your child does not respond well to conventional infant formulas, look for a natural and organic infant formula at your local health food store or try Jordan’s formula recipe found in this issue’s recipe section.

by Dr. Fiona Blair, contributing author for Jordan Rubin’s Children’s Health book

New Studies Find Calcium and Vitamin D May Prevent Colon Cancer

Specific vitamins and minerals in the diet appear to prevent the development of colon cancer. However, too much iron may cause malignancies to grow. Emory University scientists recently announced these findings, based on biological markers that influence colon cancer risk, at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting in San Diego.

Earlier studies have suggested that calcium and vitamin D reduce colon cancer risk and the new Emory data may explain why. In a clinical study of 92 patients, the researchers found that diets supplemented with calcium and vitamin D increase the levels of a protein called Bax which "turns on" the programmed death of pre-cancerous cells in the colon, according to Emory researcher Veronika Fedirko.

"We were pleased that the effects of calcium and vitamin D were visible enough in this small study to be significant and reportable. We will have to fully evaluate each marker's strength as we accumulate more data," Fedirko stated.

In other related Emory research, a 200 patient case-control study found high levels of calcium and vitamin D together are associated with increased levels of E-cadherin, the main adhesion molecule of epithelial cells (cells that line internal and external body surfaces, including the inside of blood vessels and small cavities). Loss of E-cadherin mediated adhesion is known to contribute to the change from benign lesions to invasive, metastatic cancer, so an increase of the molecule could protect from colon cancer.

The studies, which used colorectal biopsy samples, are part of a larger effort to identify a host of measurements that together can estimate a person's risk of developing colon cancer. "We want to have the equivalent of measuring cholesterol or high blood pressure, but for colon cancer instead of heart disease," said Roberd Bostick, MD, MPH, professor of epidemiology at Emory's Rollins School of Public Health. "These measurements will describe the climate of risk in the colon rather than spotting individual tumors or cells that may become tumors."

Another Emory study shows that one mineral, iron, in excess might up the risk of colon cancer. High levels of dietary iron were linked to low levels of APC, a protein whose absence in colon cancer cells leads to their runaway growth. Although iron is a necessary nutrient, it is needed only in small amounts. Previous research has shown that when too much iron is absorbed, it is associated with an increased risk for heart disease as well as cancer.

Bostick and his research team are participating in a ten-year multi-center study of the effects of increased vitamin D and calcium and biomarker-guided treatment of colon cancer recurrence. The study involves close to 2,500 people throughout the U.S. who have regular colonoscopies.

Bostick is currently working on the development of non-invasive blood and urine tests for colon cancer risk ((http://whsc.emory.edu/_pubs/hsc/winter0...) .

Most cases of colon cancer begin as small, benign clumps of cells called adenomatous polyps that, over time, transform into colon cancers. About 112,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer annually according to the American Cancer Society.

About the author
Sherry Baker is a widely published writer whose work has appeared in Newsweek, Health, the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Yoga Journal, Optometry, Atlanta, Arthritis Today, Natural Healing Newsletter, OMNI, UCLA's "Healthy Years" newsletter, Mount Sinai School of Medicine's "Focus on Health Aging" newsletter, the Cleveland Clinic's "Men's Health Advisor" newsletter and many others.

(NaturalNews) Patients who take the cholesterol drug torcetrapid, intended to increase levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol and lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels, have a 58 percent higher risk of death than similar patients who do not take the drug, according to a study led by researchers at the Heart Research Institute in Sydney and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Researchers studied 15,067 participants, all considered to be at high risk of cardiovascular disease. All the patients were treated with the cholesterol-lowering drug atorvastatin, while half were also treated with torcetrapid.

Torcetrapid is marketed by Pfizer, as is atorvastatin (under the brand name Lipitor).

Patients receiving both drugs had a 58 percent higher chance of dying and a 25 percent higher chance of experiencing cardiovascular events such as heart attacks than those who were treated only with atorvastatin.

Torcetrapid is one of a new class of drugs called cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors. Unlike older cholesterol drugs, which only lower LDL levels, CETP inhibitors are intended to raise HDL levels at the same time. The drugs function by blocking the action of a protein that transfers cholesterol from HDL to LDL, thus forcing the cholesterol to remain in HDL form.

In the recent study, torcetrapid was found to raise HDL levels by an average of 72.1 percent, and lower LDL levels by an average of 24.9 percent.

Scientists are still unclear why torcetrapid appears to increase patient death rates and heart attack risk. While the drug is known to raise blood pressure, many of the patients who died in the recent study actually had blood pressure levels below normal.

Researchers have hypothesized that the drug may increase the levels of a hormone involved in regulating blood pressure, and that this may lead to stress on the cardiovascular system.

Merck and Roche Holding have placed the development of their own CETP inhibitors on hold, pending the results of further trials on torcetrapid.

Diabetics Can Reverse Their Atherosclerosis

Aggressively measures to lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels below current targets can help to prevent -- and potentially even reverse -- hardening of the arteries in adults with type 2 diabetes. Hardening of the arteries, also known as atherosclerosis, is the number one cause of heart disease.

A three-year study of nearly 500 participants was the first to compare two treatment targets for LDL ("bad") cholesterol and systolic blood pressure levels in people with diabetes.

To assess the impact of treatments on the participants' cardiovascular health, researchers used ultrasound to measure the thickness of their carotid (neck) arteries. Ultrasound was also used to measure the size and function of the left ventricle, which is the heart's main pumping chamber. Among participants who were given aggressive treatment, carotid artery thickness measurements were significantly lower.


Sources:

* Science Daily April 9, 2008

Does Cholesterol Matter? Only if You're on a Cholesterol-Lowering Drug

The makers of Zetia and Vytorin (which combines Zetia and Zocor) recently announced that their aggressively advertised cholesterol-lowering drugs failed to slow the development of fatty plaque in arteries. In fact, the drugs actually promotes the formation of plaque in arteries, which fuels heart disease and increases the risk of a heart attack. The announcement –- in a news release, not a medical journal –- came after long delays in reporting the findings of their study.

Why the delays? Follow the money. Sales of the two drugs added up to $5 billion in revenues in 2007.

The news release was the first of several fascinating and bizarre reports on Zetia and Vytorin. Even though the drugs don't prevent heart disease, the American Heart Association quickly issued an official news release in defense of the drugs.

If you're confused by that, just follow the money trail again. According to an article in the New York Times, the American Heart Association gets $2 million a year from Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals, the pharmaceutical group that markets Vytorin.

The failure of this and other recent cholesterol-lowering drug trials has renewed a long-simmering debate about the role of cholesterol in heart disease. Cholesterol is a symptom -- get that, a symptom -- not a cause of heart disease, and Vytorin and other drugs merely alter a symptom. In fact, cholesterol has long been known as only a weak indicator of heart disease risk (American Journal of Epidemiology, 1977;105:281-9). Half of the people who have heart attacks have normal cholesterol levels.

What then causes heart disease? The answer is a variety of factors, most of which are no-brainers, such as prediabetes and being overweight, which result from excess intake of refined sugars, processed sugar-like carbohydrates, and trans fats. This dietary pattern elevates blood sugar, insulin –- and, yes, cholesterol, see (www.stopprediabetesnow.com) . Even the oft-recommended high-carb diet for preventing heart disease raises cholesterol and triglyceride levels. That's because, in most people, elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels reflect sugar and carb intake, not fats.

If all this isn't strange enough, consider one more recent report. The average cholesterol level of Americans is now lower than it was back in 1960 because of all the cholesterol-lowering drugs that have been prescribed. At the same time, two-thirds of Americans are now overweight –- the number one risk factor for diabetes and heart disease. In effect, Rome is burning while medicine fiddles with cholesterol.

7 Ills That Don’t Need Pills

In the April 2008 issue of the Harvard Health Letter, researchers explained how seven common conditions can be managed without medication. In many cases, the nonpharmacological approach can do as much or more than pills.

Arthritis: Combine weight loss with exercise, and you may have less pain and more mobility -- especially if the exercise that doesn't put any load on the joints, such as swimming, reduces pain.

Cholesterol: Adding soluble fiber to your diet can reduce levels of LDL cholesterol.

Cognitive decline: Memory training can help you stay sharp, and physical exercise can do even more.

Depression: Regular physical activity has a potent antidepressant effect.

Diabetes: Exercise makes muscle more receptive to the insulin, and eating fewer sweets and simple carbohydrates helps control blood sugar levels.

High blood pressure: Lose weight, get more exercise, and eat less sodium.
Osteoporosis: Weight-bearing exercise causes bone tissue to get stronger and denser. Extra vitamin D and calcium are key for your diet.

Sources:

* Live Science March 25, 2008

How You Have Been Fooled By Good and Bad Cholesterol

Taking a Closer Look at the Inuit Paradox and Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is rare in Inuit people who continue to eat their 'traditional' diet. But how can eating a diet predominantly consisting of seal meat, fat and blubber and almost completely void of greens, fruits and fiber be 'preventative' of the very disease which plagues the entire western world and for which medical orthodoxy blames on diets high in saturated fats and cholesterol? Also, by adopting medicine's low-fat, low-cholesterol diet and drug regimes, CVD continues to increase with no cures in site. Herein lies the paradox... if high fat and high cholesterol diets cause CVD, then what is 'protecting' the traditional Inuit, which has thrived on a diet rich in both?

One of the differences is that the traditional Inuit's diet is very high in Omega-3 fats while our western diet is very high in Omega-6 fats. Science has shown that the ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 should be as close to a ratio of 1:1 and certainly no more than 4:1. Inuits are about the only peoples to approach the 1:1 ratio while we typically come in at 20:1 and the real junk foodists are measuring in at upwards of 50:1 ratios. A balanced Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio promotes a homeostasis, non-inflammatory state in the body while a tilt to the high Omega-6 side will promote an inflammatory and therefore disease and degenerative state.

Here is what happens with the imbalance. Man-made vegetable oil diets (margarine and other hydrogenated oils) are high in Omega-6 fatty acids and as such convert into high levels of Arachidonic Acid ('AA'). This molecule is the necessary precursor to Prostaglandin 2, a 'pro-inflammatory', albeit necessary hormone-like molecule found in all cells. The excessive amounts of 'AA' in our Omega-6 rich western diets thus contribute largely to our chronic inflammatory degenerative diseases such as CVD, asthma and arthritis.

Conversely, a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids contains the now well-known essential fatty acid molecule 'EPA'. EPA is responsible for the production of Prostaglandin '3', an anti-inflammatory molecule and therefore a soothing response to our runaway 'silent' and not so silent inflammatory and disease states. Therein is one of the secrets to preventing the majority of cardiovascular diseases.

Inuits consume large amounts of seal meat and blubber and thus receive significant amounts of three (3) essential fatty acids EPA, DHA, DPA. The latter, is not readily found in fish oils. DPA is an important factor in preventing plaque and keeping the arteries soft and elastic. EPA is a huge factor in fighting inflammation while DHA is the essential molecule for brain, nerve and eye tissues and is a powerful factor for normalizing blood and tissue triglycerides. You can see why seal oil has become my first choice for the 3 pre-formed Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA's) and is an integral part of my heart prevention trio of necessary therapeutic nutrients.

Vitamin C is anther important factor. But where do Inuits get their Vitamin C? This puzzled me for many years until I discovered that seal and whale skin and blubber ('Muktuk' or 'Muktaaq', an Inuit favorite), and to a lesser extent seal meat, are rich in this essential collagen forming antioxidant vitamin. Thus the Inuit on a traditional diet gets more Vitamin C than the average westerners typically do. We know that Vitamin C is essential in Collagen synthesis, a necessary factor in artery strength and integrity, and a prime factor in reversing and preventing heart disease.

Seal meat and especially blubber, are also very high in Vitamins E, A, D and selenium. Recently, researchers have concluded that these inherent antioxidants are very big reasons why Inuits are free of CVD while other mostly fish eating populations are still prone to this disease. Fish oils alone will not do the same as will seal oil.

Important in the conversion of Omega-6 oils into Omega-3 EFA's are optimum levels of magnesium, selenium, zinc, B3 (niacin) and B6. The conversion just won't happen without these essential nutrients. Liquid ionic magnesium forms part of my heart prevention 'trio' of nutrients mentioned above.

To gain the upper hand on Cardiovascular Disease and other inflammatory degenerative diseases, we can all learn from the tried and true Omega 3 fat-rich Inuit diet. We should immediately strive to achieve a better balance of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fats in our deficient Western diets. While eating seal meat and blubber does not appeal to the vast majority of us, supplementing with 3-4 grams of seal oil daily could go a long way in reversing the trend towards heart disease and strokes. Eating more fish is another good way.

Strokes Triple Among Middle-Aged Women

In recent years, the incidence of strokes has tripled among middle-aged women in the U.S. Doctors blame this alarming trend on the obesity epidemic.

The rise came even though more women are taking medicines to control their cholesterol and blood pressure.

According to researchers, women’s waistlines are nearly two inches bigger than they were a decade earlier, an increase that corresponds with the increase in strokes. Women's average body mass index, a commonly used measure of obesity, rose from 27 to 29 over the same period, and they also had higher blood sugar levels.


Sources:

* USA Today February 21, 2008