Inflammation Causes Heart Problems Not Cholesterol: Don’t Be Duped by the Crestor Study!
Monday, November 10th, 2008
Today’s headline read “Statins cut risk of stroke, heart attack.” That’s just too simplistic and misleading. The Crestor study is important because it shows that inflammation causes heart disease- not high cholesterol! What’s really interesting in this study is that the people studied did not have high cholesterol, but they had very high levels of inflammation. The study showed that using Crestor, a Statin medication (known to have anti-inflammatory benefits), lowered heart attacks and stroke. So it was the anti-inflammatory actions that lowered heart attacks and strokes, but that does not mean that we should all be taking Crestor. There are natural ways to reduce inflammation.
Fish oil, curcumin, green tea extract, CoQ10, grapeseed, and quercetin are all natural supplements that have been clearly shown to reduce inflammation, without the potentially lethal side effects associated with long-term use of Crestor.
This Crestor study found a significant increase in diabetes in people taking Crestor. Diabetes is known to increase heart disease. Crestor has only been available for 5 years and has been under attack for increasing risks of nerve damage, liver disease, and muscle wasting associated with kidney failure and death.
It is worth noting that this study was funded by the makers of Crestor.
0 Comments | Permalink | Posted in Cardiovascular, Heart Disease
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Don’t Be Scammed by Joint Juice Drinks!
Thursday, September 11th, 2008
I was recently interviewed by Channel 5 News in Boston about the number of fruit drinks being marketed to baby boomers to reduce joint pain.
These drinks such as Elations, contain glucosamine and chondroitin, which is good, but they also contain artificial sweeteners, preservatives and food dyes—all to be avoided because they may worsen your joint aches.
Joint pain is common in women, particularly during menopause and perimenopause. Thyroid imbalance and deficiency of estrogen, progesterone and even testosterone commonly cause aches and pains. If you are aching, ask your doctor to check your hormones and look for other causes such as autoimmune disease and Lyme disease (very common in New England but also now common in parts of the Midwest and West Coast).
Here’s how glucosamine can help. Glucosamine is a natural substance made by your body to maintain cartilage. As you age, your ability to produce glucosamine drops. Injury or surgery in a joint may also cause your joint to be low in glucosamine. Several medical studies have shown that using Glucosamine Sulfate, 1500 mg/day, reduces pain and slows joint deterioration in all forms of osteoarthritis, the most common arthritis. It can also be helpful to people recuperating from joint injury or surgery. I recommend using it with sulfur, (such as MSM or SAMe). Glucosamine is available with fish oil (email me if you want to know good sources). Vitamin C and vitamin E have also been shown to help arthritis symptoms.
Many arthritis sufferers also find improvement of symptoms by removing from their diets plants from the nightshade family, such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, or pepper.
Whatever you do, avoid getting scammed by medical marketers. Avoid artificial sweeteners, dyes, and preservatives as much as possible.
0 Comments | Permalink | Posted in Glucosamine, Joint Pain, Natural Hormones
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Persephone Vitamins:
Antioxidants for the Summer Months
Thursday, June 26th, 2008
Summer is officially underway. According to Chinese Medicine this very Yang season is ruled by the ‘fire’ element which controls the heart, small intestine, mind, and spirit. I always recommend increasing antioxidants during the summer months to protect you from summer sun and nourish the heart.
During the summer months Chinese wisdom recommends waking early, going to bed late, and resting in the midday. Avoid excess fats in your diet in preference for fruits and vegetables. Chinese medicine routinely uses food for its medicinal properties.
The ideal drinks for summer are: chrysanthemum tea, and mung bean tea. You can find chrysanthemum tea in any Chinese grocery store. Mung beans, tiny green beans, have a special cooling quality. You can make a drink from mung beans by boiling washed beans. The resulting green-colored liquid can be cooled and refrigerated. It is best to avoid excess ice -though it is appealing as a quick cool down. Too much ice can weaken your digestion and cause diarrhea particularly common in summer months.
Great food combinations for the small intestine are brown rice, lentils, and sunflower seeds. These can be mixed together in equal parts with one and a half times the amount of water and simmered slowly for about 45 minutes. The resulting concoction makes a great meal. Other great foods for the summer are green leafy vegetables, especially endive, watercress, and escarole. Cucumbers, citrus, avocado, and melon are also especially good. Cut back on meat, fats, and fried foods during summer months.
Check out the Persephone Summer Multidose Packs in my store to take the guesswork out of your summer supplements and make life easier! I have designed packets that contain all of the essential oils, bone minerals, and nutrients that you need for this season. The summer packets are especially high in antioxidants such as vitamin E, C, and lipoic acid, and extracts from power foods like pomegranate and broccoli.
0 Comments | Permalink | Posted in Persephone Vitamins, Antioxidants, Heart Disease
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