“Nuts and Your Health”
Dec 20, 2015Nuts are a great snack food. They’re inexpensive, easy to store and easy to pack when you’re on the go. A new 2015 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that consuming tree nuts, such as walnuts, may lower the risk of heart disease. The dose of nuts varied from 5 to 100g/day. The systematic review and meta-analysis of 61 controlled trials, found that consuming tree nuts lowers total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and ApoB, the primary protein found in LDL cholesterol. These are key factors that are used to evaluate a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease. Experts contend that tree nuts contain important nutrients such as unsaturated fats, protein, vitamins and minerals. Walnuts are the only nut that provides a significant amount (2.5 grams per one ounce serving) of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the plant-based form of omega-3s. Researchers also found that consuming at least two servings (two ounces) per day of tree nuts, such as walnuts, has stronger effects on total cholesterol and LDL and that tree nut consumption may be particularly important for lowering the risk of heart disease in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
“Coffee: Good, Bad, or Who Knows”
Dec 13, 2015People are bewildered by confusing so-called medical reports, especially those related to coffee. Americans drink an average of 3.1 cups a day and the average size of a cup is 9 oz. 65% of Americans drink coffee with breakfast; 30% drink it in between meals and 5% drink it with meals other than breakfast. The U.S. spends $40 billion on coffee each year. According to some estimates, 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide, daily. So, surely we must know by now if coffee is good or bad for us. Right? Well, not exactly. A December 2015 headline reads, “Specific coffee chemicals may ward off type 2 diabetes.” Almost 1 in 10 Americans are diabetic, and more than half of American adults drink coffee daily. Another reads, “Moderate coffee drinking may prevent premature death.” But, a Mayo Clinic study found that men who drank more than four 8 oz. cups of coffee had a 21% increase in all-cause mortality. One would think that anything that humans consume on such a huge scale deserves thorough research into its health benefits, or lack thereof. But, coffee is a complex cocktail of chemicals, including naturally occurring caffeine.
“Cancer: Can it Spontaneously Disappear ?”
Dec 06, 2015Previously, I have discussed the turbo-charging of cancer cells by antioxidants and of the fact that more than half of all people born in 1960 will develop cancer at some point in their lives. We are stunned to know that, for men, the risk of developing cancer is one in two, especially for cancers of the bowel, prostate and skin (melanoma). Further, I have told you that some forms of immunotherapy can cost over one million dollars a year and that cancer cells can be induced to commit suicide. Now, I want to discuss the subject of “spontaneous regression (SR)” of cancer. Spontaneous regression of cancer is defined as a complete or partial, temporary or permanent disappearance of tumor or cancer in the absence of any specific therapy. Spontaneous regression (SR) of cancer is an unusual event, but many people will recount stories of someone they knew who had experienced the spontaneous disappearance of cancer.
“Tamiflu is Under Scrutiny”
Nov 29, 2015Some flu products are questionable for effectiveness and possible harm. Such is the case for Tamiflu. The oseltamivir (Tamiflu, Roche/Genentech/Gilead) story has considerable missing information. In 2009, sales of the blockbuster flu drug, Tamiflu, reached $3 billion. The European Medicines Agency had begun a so-called ‘infringement proceeding’ against the drug maker, Roche, for allegedly failing to properly report the side effects of 19 drugs being used by U.S. patients. Tamiflu was one of those drugs. British authorities noticed “serious shortcomings” in how Roche AG reported potential side effects of 80,000 consumers and of these, there were reports of over 15,000 deaths. Still, it was unclear if those deaths were caused by Roche medicines. The bitter fight over the flu drug, Tamiflu, has led to calls for a boycott of the Swiss drug maker’s products and the campaign to force Roche’s hand has been backed by the respected British Medical Journal. Some have decided that Tamiflu, as a flu-fighter, just isn’t all that effective.
“Dietary Supplements Under Federal Investigation”
Nov 22, 2015The Justice Department indicted USP Labs and says it is a “wake up call” for the industry. Indictments have been for mislabeling and making false claims about products. U.S. consumers spend an estimated $40 billion per year on dietary supplements, noted Acting Deputy Director J. Reilly Dolan of the Federal Trade Commission. “Many deliver what they have promised, but some are nothing more than 21st century snake oil,” Dolan said. Up to 50% of Americans are believed to take herbal/dietary supplements. The DOJ announced indictments against Dallas-based workout and dietary supplement maker USP Labs and four of its executives for criminal conspiracy to mislabel and market potentially dangerous products. Subsequently, shares of nutritional-supplement companies tanked. Hardest hit were shares of GNC Holdings Inc., which traded down 27% early and closed down 6.4%, followed by Herbalife LTD, Vitamin Shoppe Inc and Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. The head of the Justice Department alleged that certain USP Labs products had been labeled as being derived from natural plant extracts when they were 100% synthetic. Dolan said the FTC also took action against Sunrise Nutraceuticals for selling a $75-a-bottle herbal remedy falsely claiming to alleviate the pain of withdrawal for opiate addicts.
“Cancer Can Be Turbocharged By Antioxidants”
Nov 15, 2015The media pushes antioxidants as being capable of preventing cancer and heart disease, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Several large, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have failed to confirm the benefits of vitamin C and E in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. Results from large RCTS do not support long-term use of single antioxidant supplements for CVD prevention due to their lack of effect or even adverse effects on major cardiovascular events or cancer. The latest studies about antioxidants are terrifying. Scientists think they may boost cancer cells to spread faster. Cancer is on the increase and is rapidly gaining on heart disease as the number one killer in America. Even worse, we are lacking new and innovative ways of treating and preventing it and some of the things we do can make cancer worse. Large clinical trials have found that antioxidant supplements can worsen some cancers. Antioxidants can block the killing of leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and human cancers of the breast, lung pancreas, liver, colon, rectum and endometrium. This is shocking since, in theory, they should be beneficial. In my book, Dangers of Excessive Antioxidants In Cancer Patients, I clearly demonstrated the harmful effects of antioxidants in cancer patients.
“Supplements for Male Sexual Enhancement Questioned”
Nov 08, 2015There is the old adage that “sex sells” and that is certainly true for dietary supplements promising an enhanced and vigorous sexual life, i.e., “Herbal Viagra.” The underlying concern is for their effectiveness and their safety. Repeatedly, I have cautioned you to disregard wild claims made by supplement advertisements (and Dr. Oz). Male sexual enhancement products have been promoted throughout history and both erectile dysfunction and reduced libido are not a condition limited to modern civilization. The Ebers Papyrus, dating back to around 1,600 BC, recommended topical application of baby crocodile hearts mixed with wood oil. A Sanskrit text written six centuries earlier suggested a man could visit 100 women after consuming a mixture of goat testes boiled in milk, sesame seeds, and the lard of a porpoise. Erectile dysfunction affects an estimated18 million men in the United States and prevalence increases with age. The dietary supplement industry markets hundreds of products for reversing impotence and enhancing male sexual performance.
“Processed Meat: Will It Kill You”
Nov 01, 2015Headlines say regularly consuming a steak or a bacon sandwich raises your risk of heart disease and cancer. Bacon, hot dogs, sausage, deli meats, salami, corned beef, beef jerky and ham as well as canned meat and meat-based sauces and other processed meats are known to contain unhealthy preservatives and chemical additives. Processed meat has been modified to either extend its shelf life or change the taste and the main methods are smoking, curing, or adding salt or preservatives. It is these additions which could be increasing the risk of cancer. However, World Health Organization (WHO) experts admit the cancer risk is “not yet fully understood”. According to WHO, every 50g of processed meat – fewer than two slices of bacon – increases the risk of cancer by 18%. Every 100g of red meat (an eight ounce steak is 225g) increases the risk by 17%, although the WHO admits there is limited evidence.
Download the complete article (a PDF).
“New Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Increases Problems”
Oct 25, 2015Sold under the name of Praluent, alirocumab received FDA approval in July of 2015. It is a new class of cholesterol lowering drug, which increases our livers ability to soak up and remove low-density lipoprotein (LDL; the so called bad cholesterol). Praluent is supposed to be for those who do not respond to older statin medications or who have had adverse reactions to statins. Surprisingly, Praluent causes higher incidence of many of the same side effects as older satins. Most cholesterol-lowing drugs and are called “statins” and drug manufacturers plan to “statinize” the planet. Yet, there is some scientific evidence that higher cholesterol levels can be linked to varied health and survival benefits. There isn’t good science to support the notion that the lowest cholesterol levels are the best overall good health recommendation. Researchers at Texas A&M University have discovered that lower cholesterol levels can actually reduce muscle gain with exercising. There was a significant association of dietary cholesterol and change in strength.
“Sleep Problems ?”
Oct 18, 2015We sleep for 1/3 of our lifetimes and still don’t know exactly what for. Studies have shown that 40% of Americans are sleep deprived and get less than 5 hours of sleep per night. Sleep and rest is recommended for recovery from many forms of illness. All mammals and birds sleep. Insects appear to sleep, too. And, people who cannot sleep, die. Rats die after about 17 days of total sleep deprivation. One of the first things to change after 1 week of sleep deprivation in rats is an increase in food consumption and a drop in body temperature, even as the rats attempt to keep themselves warmer. In humans, one of the first things to happen, even after a single night of sleep deprivation, is a subjective feeling of cold. Insomnia or sleep deprivation may be a risk factor for cancer, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, arthritis and cataracts. Insufficient sleep has been linked to a wide variety of health problems, including pain, heart disease and cancer.
