Posts Tagged side effects of statins

… to prescription medications as well.  As with any medication, the question isn’t whether or not side effects will occur, but do the reported benefits outweigh the numerous and almost certain …

The researchers determined that fish oil resulted in a 23% decrease in risk of death from all causes while statin medications resulted in only a 13% reduction. For death rates from heart disease related conditions, fish oil decreased the death rates by 32% while statins decreased the rate by 22%. Overall, the fish oil provided the most benefit compared to other treatments.
(Arch Intern Med., April 11, 2005; Vol. 165, 725-730)

Dr. Ray’s Notes:
When we look at studies for medications and supplements that impact a condition such as heart disease we want to know how that product benefits funeral rates (death rates). If a medication lowers rates of heart attack and has no benefit to longevity then it begs the question “why not?” This is the type of situation that we see with aspirin. Aspirin decreases death rates from heart attack, however, the side effects from the medication increase risk of death from other causes such as bleeding in the stomach or brain. In the end it is a wash because overall funeral rates are the same in the group who received the aspirin or the sugar pill. Said another way, people who take an aspirin a day don’t live a day longer than someone who doesn’t take an aspirin a day. Fish oil appears to decrease cardiovascular related deaths as well as death from all causes. In fairness, statins appear to achieve a decrease as well. There are two differences though, first fish oil worked better than statins and second, fish oil has almost no side effects while statins can cause pain, muscle weakness, and liver damage. I know which one I will choose, how

A report from the Journal of the American Medical Association warns that a number of patients who were started on this medication died from bacterial sepsis or viral meningitis. The FDA is warning doctors to monitor patients closely and not prescribe it to patients under the age of 18 for fear of permanent suppression of the immune system.
(Journal of the American Medical Association, 2008; 300: 2359) {moshits}

Dr. Ray’s Notes:
This medication belongs to a class of drug called monoclonal antibodies which is considered an immunosuppressant. This potentially fatal side effect is a class-wide side effect and thus should be extended to other monoclonal antibody medications. It is lunacy to start people on these medications as a first or even second line treatment for psoriasis. Psoriasis can often be treated with diet, lifestyle and certain nutritional supplementation. Please see our psoriasis protocol for details about lifestyle changes that could help to control this health challenge.

When coQ10 levels drop, the body can not function optimally. Certain organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys are highly concentrated in CoQ10 and are often the first organs to suffer when CoQ10 levels drop. Certain medications such as statin drugs, medications used to treat elevated cholesterol, are known to inhibit your body’s ability to produce cholesterol.

In a recent study published in the American Journal of Cardiology, researchers evaluated 14 patients prescribed atorvastatin. Ten of the fourteen patients developed worsening of an indiicator of heart health called “Left Ventricular Diastolic Function” This type of dysfunction can lead to a form of heart failure that translates in an inability of the heart to relax properly in between beats. In this study, research supplemented these patients with coenzyme Q10 and evaluated the change in heart function. After supplementation, the coenzyme Q10 levels returned to near normal levels and heart function improved significantly or normalized.
(American Journal of Cardiology 2004;94:1306-1310)

Dr. Ray Hinish’s Comments:
It is no secret that statin drugs have a negative impact on the body’s coenzyme Q10 levels, and it is great news that Coenzyme Q10 supplementation can actually reverse heart disfunction. It is important to note that statin drugs may inhibit the production of other important compounds that may play very important roles in health. It is also no secret that we at Your Prescription for Health are no fan of statin drugs. Coenzyme Q10 may mitigate some of the negative effects of statin drugs, it may not be enough!

The Breakthrough Discovery

Back in the early nineteen sixties, a navy surgeon, by the name of Dr. Judah Folkman, happened upon a discovery that would revolutionize the way that we view cancer development in the human body. While testing the impact of preserved blood on fast growing tumor cells (a model used to mimic fast growing tissues of wounds) he noticed that cancer cells that would normally ravage the body of a living mouse, could only seem to grow to the size of the tip of a ball point pen in a Petri dish. He wondered why the same tumor cells didn’t replicate with the same level of aggression in a Petri dish as they did in a living creature. After all, he had taken great care to mimic the conditions of living tissue.

After dissecting the large tumors from the living creatures and comparing them to the tiny tumors from his Petri dish experiment, he noticed only one difference between the two tumors; the large tumors from the mice were filled with thousands of tiny networks of blood vessels while the tumor cells from the Petri dish experiment had no such blood supply. From this experiment, he hypothesized that the cancer cells could not develop into a large tumor mass unless and until it had developed a network of small blood vessels called capillaries to feed the cells.  This process of blood vessel development was named “angiogenesis”.  Said another way, if we could prevent cancer cells from developing a blood supply of their own, we could stop cancer growth in its tracks and even cause existing tumors to regress! Furthermore, if tumor cells could not develop a blood supply, they would not be able to metastasize.

Dr. Folkman’s hypothesis and experiment was met with ridicule and rejection from the medical community. In fact, after discussing with a colleague his worry that his research would get picked up and stolen by other researchers, his colleague replied, “You are totally protected against intellectual theft. Nobody will believe you!”

Dr. Folkman continued his experiments, and over the years, his hypothesis went on to be accepted.  His research led to the development of a new class of medication called anti-angiogenesis drugs. Since then, other anti-angiogenesis medications had come to market. Unfortunately, the clinical results were somewhat disappointing; some tumors responded quite well, while others responded partially or not at all.

William Li, founder of The Angiogenesis Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of anti-angiogenesis therapies and lifestyles, believes that the main reason that the medications are not living up to their potential is because we are getting to people too late in the game, after the cancer is fully developed and situated.  He believes that if we can use non-toxic tactics to prevent the small cluster of cancerous cells from forming a blood flow in the first place, we can prevent tumors from developing altogether. This would be what Dr. Folkman calls, “Cancer without disease”.

We All Have Cancer

It is a well-known fact that we all have these microscopic cancer cells throughout our bodies. In fact, research that looked at healthy men and women who had died in car accidents, discovered that 40% of women between the ages of 40-50 have these microscopic tumors within their breasts and 50% of men, between the ages of 50-60, have these micro-tumors in their prostates. It is even more disturbing that virtually 100% of men and women in their 70s have micro-tumors in their thyroid! The only thing preventing these people from developing the disease of cancer is the fact that the tumor cells had not developed a blood flow yet. The question is, “what can we do to prevent those harmless micro-tumors from ever developing a blood flow?” Dr. William Li believes that he has the answer…

Eat to Starve Cancer

The anti-angiogenesis medications, used to treat existing tumors, do not come without side effects. These side effects, although fewer than conventional chemotherapy, would make them inappropriate tools for preventing angiogenesis in micro-tumors. There is good news, however, researchers discovered that nature offers an abundance of natural compounds with potent anti-angiogenesis activity. Best of all, rather than blocking angiogenesis altogether, they normalize it. Disease begins when the growth of blood vessels occur unimpeded by the natural systems of checks and balances within the body. These natural anti-angiogenesis compounds appear to regulate and normalize the angiogenic balance within the body.

Angiogenesis is Essential to Health

Once we reach adulthood, it is generally accepted that blood vessels stop growing. There are three situations, however, that seem to defy this rule: menstruation, pregnancy and injury/wounds. During menstruation, pregnancy, and injury, the body produces protein chemicals that act as fertilizer for blood vessels; this stimulates the growth of new capillaries. When we injure ourselves, blood vessels grow beneath the scab to bring nutrients and oxygen to the damaged area in order to repair the damage. After the wound has healed, the body produces anti-angiogenesis compounds that stop the growth and prune back the blood vessels if needed. This process is tightly controlled; when angiogenesis is not well controlled, many diseases can arise.

Angiogenesis Gone Haywire

There are two ways that angiogenesis can become problematic; you can either have too few or too many blood vessels growing in a particular area of the body. In the case where there is too little angiogenesis, you see diseases such as:

• Wounds that won’t heal
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Neuropathy
• Hair loss
• Erectile Dysfunction

In cases where there is too much angiogenesis, you see diseases such as:

• Cancer
• Blindness
• Psoriasis
• Endometriosis
• Obesity
• Rosacea
• Alzheimers

Cancer – The Ultimate Disease of Excess Angiogenesis

Although there are many diseases that can be connected to angiogenesis, abnormal blood vessel growth is a hallmark of all solid tumors. It is an accepted theory that one key to controlling cancer growth, especially metastatic and aggressive cancer, is to shut down the process of angiogenesis within the diseased tissue without affecting the healthy tissue.

Cancer’s Weakness

Generally speaking, blood vessels are stable and resilient tissues. Blood vessels found in tumors, however, appear to be built in a hurry. Their structure and architecture is disorganized and fragile, which makes them more susceptible to anti-angiogenesis therapies than normal tissues. This weakness may prove to be one of the greatest advantages that we have over this deadly foe.

Nature’s Advantage

When the scientists discovered the presence of proteins that promote angiogenesis, they realized that nature, with all of its systems of checks and balances, must also make proteins that inhibit angiogenesis. They first discovered these compounds in the urine of mice, which were resistant to cancer; they named this compound angiostatin. They then began to find compounds with similar activity in the foods that we eat, such as fruits, vegetables and tealeaves. Researchers have made great strides in defining which foods appear to have the most potent anti-angiogenesis activity. A non-exaustive list is provide below:

1. Green Tea
2. Strawberries
3. Blackberries
4. Blueberries
5. Raspberries
6. Oranges
7. Grapefruits
8. Lemons
9. Apples
10. Pineapples
11. Cherries
12. Red grapes
13. Red wine
14. Bok Choy
15. Soybean
16. Ginseng
17. Maitake
18. Licorice
19. Turmeric
20. Nutmeg
21. Artichoke
22. Lavender
23. Pumpkin
24. Sea Cucumber
25. Tuna
26. Parsley
27. Garlic
28. Tomato
29. Olive Oil
30. Grape Seed
31. Dark Chocolate

Of these foods, the ones that appear to have the most potent anti-angiogenesis activity include (in order of potency):

1. Soy extract
2. Artichoke
3. Parsley
4. Berries
5. Soy
6. Garlic
7. Red grapes
8. Brassica
9. Citrus
10. Lavender
11. Green tea
12. Glucosamine
13. Turmeric
14. Tea

(Lists taken from a lecture by Dr. Li during a TED conference)

Power Resides in the Synergy

According to Dictionary.com, “Synergy” is defined as “The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.” In a study on the anti-angiogenesis activity of tea, researchers tested the ability of three different types of tea to inhibit blood vessel growth. In this study, they determined that they all had anti-angiogenesis activity, however, of the three, Earl Grey appeared to be the most potent. The researchers then decided to combine the two weaker teas and test the anti-angiogenesis activity of the mixture. They discovered that the combination of the two weaker teas resulted in more inhibition of blood vessel growth than the stronger Earl Grey tea. According to Dr. Li, this shows the presence of what is called “Nutritional Synergy” meaning, smaller quantities of many different nutrients and phytochemicals is likely superior to high quantities of fewer nutrients.

Future of Anti-Angiogenesis Studies

Currently, there is mounting laboratory and animal research that is confirming the anti-angiogenesis activity of foods. Using a special test tube model of blood vessel growth, Dr. Li and his organization is working to map the anti-angiogenic activity of common fruits, vegetables, herbs and teas. The ultimate goal is to form a menu of foods that are likely to inhibit this key step in the growth of abnormal cells into metastatic tumor masses.

One study, published by Harvard Medical School, tested the effect of dietary lycopene (a red pigment found in foods such as tomatoes, berries, etc) on the risk of prostate cancer. They determined that men, who consumed the most lycopene-containing foods, enjoyed the lowest incidence of prostate cancer. The researchers then tested the tumor biopsies for the presence of blood vessels. They discovered that of the men who went on to develop prostate cancer, the more lycopene they consumed, the lower the density of blood vessels in the tumor. This finding suggests that even when lycopene fails to completely inhibit angiogenesis, is appears to slow the growth and potentially decrease the virility of the existing tumor mass.

Obviously, more research needs to be performed to confirm the legitimacy of the laboratory and animal findings. I believe that there is sufficient data, in combination with epidemiological research showing an inverse relationship between fruit/vegetable intake and cancer risk, to start to incorporate larger quantities of the foods, which have anti-angiogenesis activity.

Using These Findings

The rules are simple:

1. Consume many servings of vegetables, fruits, and spices
2. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables; choose them based on color and spectrum
3. Choose fruits that are lower on the glycemic index (lower sugar content)
4. Drink a variety of teas including: green tea, Earl Grey, jasmine and white tea.

Supplements for Prevention of Angiogenesis

Many people have been asking me about herbs and nutritional supplements that may give them a leg up on this issue. Although we do not have research on specific supplements, as they pertain to angiogenesis, I suspect that whole-food, freeze-dried extracts of fruits, vegetables and herbs will provide a spectrum of concentrated anti-angiogenesis compounds. I personally use a variety of whole food fruit, vegetable, mushroom and nutritional extracts for their broad benefits. This research has solidified these products as part of my long-term supplement plan. Below I list the supplements that I feel would provide the greatest anti-angiogenic activity; it should be noted that every one of these food-products offer multiple health benefits, in addition to being great means of protecting against angiogenesis:

1. Berry Greens by New Chapter – There are many whole food formulas on the market, I chose this formula because it is highly concentrated, has a good number of plants with certified anti-angiogenic activity, can be found in either capsules or powder and is readily available. I recommend 6 capsules per day or one tablespoon per day as a supplement to a healthy diet. If you get few fruits and vegetables in the diet, or you have a history or high risk of cancer, I would recommend doubling this dose.
2. PolyResveratrol-SR by Thorne Research – This formula combines resveratrol, pterostilbene, a highly absorbed curcumin, a highly absorbed green tea extract and quercetin. These compounds have anti-aging, anti-cancer and anti-angiogenic activity. The recommended dose is one capsule twice daily (although higher doses may be even more effective).
3. Vitamin D – Aside from vitamin Ds other anti-cancer qualities, it also appears to inhibit angiogenesis. Recommended doses are 2,000-4,000 iu per day.

Conclusion:

Normalizing angiogenesis within the body appears to be a critical step in the maintenance of healthy cells. After listening to a 20-minute lecture by Dr. William Li of the Angiogenesis Foundation, and researching the topic in depth, I am convinced that this may be one of the most important findings in medical history. I look forward to the results of Dr. Li’s research on the anti-angiogenesis activity of various foods and will continue to keep you updated as new research is published on the subject. 

By Ray Hinish, Pharm.D., CPT, LWMC

www.illnessisoptional.com | 410-356-2169

What you will learn:

• Why colds and flu seem to strike during cold weather. (Hint: The cold weather doesn’t cause cold!)
• Why you should NOT get the flu vaccine.
• What the New York Garbage Strike has to do with the flu.
• A powerful herbal supplement that can safeguard you against the negative effects of stress.
• The most important flu preventing supplement on the market (Hint: It costs pennies a day)
• Why regular old vitamin C won’t do and which form of vitamin C to choose!
• My Top supplement picks for preventing the flu.
• What you can do in the next 60 seconds that may dramatically improve your primary defenses and prevent cold and flu.

As you know, the newspapers and government health agencies have begun pushing the theoretical benefits of the flu vaccine.  These organizations suggest that the flu vaccine is completely safe and wildly effective without offering a shred of proof to either argument.  They suggest that this super villain, called the flu, mysteriously rears its ugly head during the months of October through January and supposedly kills 10,000 people every year. Sure enough, people herd like “sheeple” to the local Wal-Mart where nurses poke away at people’s arms and send them on their way with a false sense of security.

Is all of this true?

Do the influenza viruses really take a nap through the spring and summer months only to wake up with the dastardly intention to make us all sick in October through January? Does it really kill 10,000 people every year? Is the flu vaccine really helpful?

The simple answer is “No” on all counts. The influenza virus does not take a nap, it does not kill 10,000 people every year and the flu vaccine is generally not helpful. We will talk about why the flu hits during these months in the paragraphs below. As to the 10,000 per year death rate, the CDC lumps flu and pneumonia into the same statistic, one that is quoted by newspapers all over the United States. What this means is that 10,000 people per year die from flu and pneumonia together and the majority of these people perish from pneumonia, which is labeled as a “complication” of flu. In addition, those people who die are usually people who may be nearing death anyway. They include those with other severe and chronic illnesses, people with poor immune function, as well as unhealthy seniors who reside in nursing homes. If you are in this group, then you may need to worry about catching the flu and subsequently developing pneumonia. If you are not in this group then the flu will likely mean a few days of discomfort and a few days off from work; not ideal, but a whole lot better than impending death! You should also know that this year’s vaccine combines the standard influenza vaccine with the H1N1 vaccine.

The second question is, “does the flu vaccine work?” and the answer is “we don’t know for sure” but probably NOT! Because the flu vaccine is a “best guess” medication, there is a bit of a gamble on whether or not we will vaccinate against the right bugs. Sometimes we get it right and sometimes we get it wrong but you can rest assured that the cards are stacked against us.

Let me reiterate an important point, the influenza virus exists in the population year round while influenza (the flu) seems to rear its symptomatic little head during the months of October through January. Now, let me tell you a true story.

RECAP: The flu vaccine is a “best guess” medicine – meaning we can never say for sure that it will be beneficial. Recent research shows that there is little if any benefit to getting the annual flu vaccine. In addition, the flu vaccine contains a significant amount of mercury that can cause nerve and brain problems that may not show up until years or even decades later. Some research suggests that those who get a yearly vaccine are at increased risk of Alzheimers.

The New York Garbage Strike and the Flu

Years ago, garbage men and women went on strike in New York. Needless to say, it wasn’t long before the trash piled up. The city looked like a wasteland with mountains of trash appearing on practically every corner. Shortly thereafter, the rats arrived. Big, fat, hairy rats took over the city, seemingly invading as though they had been patiently building an occupying force underneath the streets over the years, waiting for the day that the garbage people would go on strike. So, here is the million-dollar question…

Did the rats bring the trash?

Of course not! The trash brought the rats. The rats were a symptom of poor trash management. Allow me to challenge you with another question; would it be a successful course of action to try exterminating the rats? The answer again is “no” (by the way, they tried without success) because as long as there is trash on the streets then rats will come much faster than we can get rid of them. The solution is to get rid of the trash and the rats will go shortly thereafter! So how does this apply to the cold and flu? Simple, don’t fill your body and life with trash and the bugs that cause sickness will not be able to grow!

Stress: The Great Immune System Poison and What to do About It

Stress is perhaps one of the most important factors in health and is not given nearly the attention it deserves in a balanced lifestyle. Chronic stress causes the immune system to shut down, which opens the door for infection. Stress begins with the Halloween season where we choke down enough sugar and artificial colors and flavors to send a horse into diabetic shock. We know that sugar poisons the immune system and this may be a reason why the cold and flu season begins in October.

If you make it through the Halloween period without getting sick we are greeted at October’s exit by the Thanksgiving season, which again involves stuffing our faces with high sugar and high fat foods. Then after we are fattened up like turkeys for the Thanksgiving season, in rolls the Christmas/Hanukkah season full of more stress and sugary treats. And finally, let’s top off this triple layered stress season with the cherry on top… New Year’s. Is it any wonder why the flu season peaks in January? Maybe this isn’t the whole story, but you can rest assured it certainly sets the table and invites the flu in for dinner!

Stress acidifies the system and poisons the immune system. It depletes the body of vital nutrients, kills the good bacteria in your gut, ruins digestion and fills your body with stress hormones that turn immune system off. I realize that you cannot always get away from the stress, however, you can learn to cope with stress in a different way and there are supplements that will help your body adapt to stress in a much healthier way. Herbs, called adaptogens, help to balance the biochemistry of the body during stressful times. Vital Adapt is an herbal liquid tincture that combines some of the most powerful adaptogens on the market. An adaptogen is an herbal complex that works within the body to normalize the stress hormones and bring the body back into balance. This means that you will respond better, feel more focused, have a stronger immune system and sleep better at night even though you may have an excessive amount of stress in your life. The recommended dosage is 2 droppersful two to three times daily. You can increase the dose to 3 droppersful three times daily during heavy stress. If you enjoy a good book, I would recommend the book How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie. This book is one of my favorites on the subject of stress and worry.

Bottom Line: Stress poisons the immune system. To decrease the impact of stress on your life use the tools taught in the book “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living” by Dale Carnegie, use Vital Adapt herbal tincture daily (2 droppersful twice daily).

Now let’s discuss products that will work to keep the rest of the body healthy during the cold and flu season. First, vitamin C plays an important role in keeping the white blood cells healthy (white blood cells contain more vitamin C than any other cell in the body). Whole-food vitamin C is preferred over ascorbic acid supplements. Sources of whole food vitamin C include rose hips and a rainforest herb called camu camu. I recommend a whole food formula called Pure Radiance C by The Synergy Company; each capsule contains 120 mg of true whole food vitamin C complex. The term “vitamin C” and “ascorbic acid” are often used interchangeably; however, in nature vitamin C is much more complex than just a molecule of ascorbic acid. In fact, ascorbic acid is a small fraction of the true vitamin C molecule. Whole food vitamin C is much more potent and requires smaller quantities to obtain an equal or better result than ascorbic acid supplements. The recommended dose is 2 capsules twice daily year round.

The Most Important Flu-Preventing Supplement on the Market

Starting in October, sun exposure drops significantly which depletes vitamin D levels. The levels are likely at their lowest near the end of December. Vitamin D is most popular for its role in keeping bones strong; however, a lesser-known role of vitamin D is in the immune system. When vitamin D levels are low your risk of infection increases significantly! This considerable drop in vitamin D during these cold and flu months may be a significant cause to the higher rate of viral infection and recent research confirms this link. One paper published in a recent issue of Journal of Hygiene suggests that the vitamin D/influenza connection explains the following observations:

1.       Flu rates are highest after the winter solstice and virtually disappear after the summer solstice

2.       Children who are exposed to sunlight have lower incidence of influenza

3.       Influenza is most common in peoples of the tropics during the rainy season

4.       The colder the temperature outside the higher the rate of influenza infection

5.       The elderly who live in areas of highest vitamin D intake are less likely to die in the winter

6.       Why cod liver oil (a source of vitamin D) protects against respiratory infection

7.       Why African Americans are more likely to die of influenza and pneumonia than Caucasians. (African Americans produce less vitamin D due to the higher pigment in skin)

The recommended dose of vitamin D is 2,000 – 4,000 iu during the winter season. Our goal is to increase blood levels to 50-80 micrograms per deciliter.

Top Supplements for Preventing the Cold and Flu

There are three specialty supplements that can be added to your arsenal of cold and flu fighting tools. They are especially good for prevention of cold and flu. The first is a homeopathic flu vaccine called Influenzinum. This homeopathic product uses the flu vaccine to make an extremely dilute formula, which can convey all of the benefits of the vaccine without the side effects. By gently nudging the immune system into action against the flu virus, Influenzinum keeps the body’s defenses mobilized. We have used this formula for many years and have received a lot of positive feedback regarding its efficacy.

The second product is a brand new version of a very old remedy for cold and flu. The product, called Immunity Take Care, is produced by New Chapter and is used to protect the body from all enveloped viruses such as the influenza virus. By binding to and inactivating the influenza virus, this nasty bug is unable to enter the cell for reproduction. This halts the infection and allows the immune system plenty of time to scoop up the neutralized the influenza bugs for disposal. Immunity Take Care uses a special extract of the Elderberry herb in a lozenge form. The recommended dosage is 1 -2 lozenges daily for prevention and 2-4 tablets daily for active flu infection.

The final product, which is especially for people who have a stubborn immune system, I recommend a formula called Pure Defense with NAC by Pure Encapsulations. This product combines some very powerful supplements for supporting immune function and respiratory health. The ingredients of this formula include:

• Vitamin D 2,000 iu: One of nature’s most important vitamins for immune function and respiratory defense
• Epicor: A fermented yeast product that stimulates immune function. Research suggests that this product can decrease the onset of cold and shorten its duration.
• Elderberry: Acts as a first line of defense against infection from enveloped viruses.
• Zinc: A deficiency of this vital mineral can prevent the immune cells from functioning on all cylinders.

The recommended dose for this formula is 2 capsules twice daily throughout the season. I personally feel that this formula offers the most comprehensive support to the immune system during the cold and flu season.

How to Shore Up Your Primary Defenses in the Next 60 Seconds

Your mucous membranes make up your primary defenses against invading organisms. These mucous secretions contain many different defense factors that bind to and inactivate viruses and bacteria that are trying to sneak in through the nose, mouth or eyes. Unfortunately, these mucous membranes are the first to dry up when the body’s water supplies are low. We have discovered that most people do not drink enough to keep this primary defense functioning optimally. To add insult to injury, we turn on the heaters in our home, which produces dry heat that further dries up the mucous membranes and inhibits proper mucous flow. The one thing that you can do in the next 60 seconds to significantly improve your primary defenses is drink a couple glasses of water and maintain this hydration by sipping at it throughout the day!

Final Conclusions:

1.       The flu is not as dangerous as the press and the medical community makes you think.

2.       The flu vaccine is not nearly as effective as you are led to believe and may even cause significant side effects.

3.       How healthy you are, your internal terrain, determines your risk of cold or flu. The bug (virus or bacteria) is the least of your worries. They cannot thrive in a healthy system.

4.       Control stress because stress is a potent poison to the immune system. If stress is a big problem, take Vital Adapt, 2 capsules twice daily.

5.       Use whole food vitamin C such as Pure Radiance C by The Synergy Company. Two capsules two to three times daily.

6.       For further protection use Immune System Take Care by New Chapter (1 tablet dissolved in mouth one to two times daily) to add an additional level of defense against viruses.

7.       Pure Defense with NAC is a great way to stimulate immune function throughout the season. This formula is the most comprehensive and is taken 2 capsules twice daily.

8.       Drink plenty of water to keep your mucous membranes healthy. These membranes are your primary defenses against offending organisms.

The bottom line is that cold and flu is optional this season! There are many things that we can do to promote health and ward off disease. By eating healthy, exercising, controlling stress and supplementing properly it is entirely possible to get through this season without using even one sick day!

For more tips and articles, visit us at www.illnessisoptional.com. Visit our wellness center, Your Prescription for Health at 10210 S. Dolfield Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117. 410-356-2169

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Sundays from 10-11am on WCBM 680 AM Rad

According to the research, damage was present in greater than half of those who reported myopathy (muscle pain).

Dr. Ray’s Notes:
Muscle pain and weakness is a common side effect of statin medications and should be taken seriously. Although severe muscle damage is rare, it appears that a mild-moderate muscle injury is much more common and can persist for years after stopping the statin medication. To decrease the risk of muscle damage associated with statins, I recommend that those who take statin medication take 100 mg of Ubiquinol twice daily. Ubiquinol is an activated form of coenzyme Q10 and may be better absorbed and utilized. It is also recommended that those who take statins also supplement with a potent multi-vitamin and fish oil.

Why do we spend so much time talking about lowering “bad” cholesterol and almost ignore its fraternal twin brother (arguably a more important player in risk of cardiovascular disease)? The answer is quite simple, there are basically two ways that a pharmacologist can impact a biological system, they can either work to add something back to the body (such as thyroid hormone) or they work to decrease the amount of a compound in the blood (such as an antihistamine for allergies). It is extremely difficult for the scientists to produce a drug that gets the body to make more of a particular substance. On the flip side, it is easier to make a compound that inhibits the production of a particular substance. With cholesterol, pharmacologists have designed medications called statins that decrease the amount of cholesterol that the liver can produce. HDL, however, is different than LDL cholesterol in that more HDL is better. Thus, scientists would have to produce a substance that was capable of stimulating the liver to build and release more HDL particles. Not an easy task.

As mentioned earlier, there are two types of cholesterol. LDL, is called “lousy” cholesterol because it is the form that is found in the nasty plaques of the arteries. HDL is considered “happy” because it carries cholesterol from the tissues, such as the arteries, back to the liver where it can be disposed of. That is an oversimplified, albeit sufficient, description of the two main forms of cholesterol.

Once again, the goal with HDL is to achieve a higher level. When I was in pharmacy school, we were told that there were two main ways to impact HDL: exercise and moderate alcohol. I remember my professor jokingly saying “therefore, it would be in our patients’ best interest for them to run from bar to bar.” So for the remainder of this email I will discuss natural ways to increase your body’s own production of this important cholesterol particle. I will start with a discussion on specific lifestyle recommendations because these clearly have the most important and significant benefit to HDL levels and then I will conclude with a discussion of the supplements which act to top off our HDL levels.

Cut Carbohydrates! When we get a significant amount of carbohydrates in our diet, such as, bread, pasta, cake, candy and cereals, our body produces high levels of insulin. Elevated insulin triggers a condition called insulin resistance which has been shown to be a key factor in the development of cardiovascular disease. Part of the risk may be associated with the impact of insulin on the liver’s ability to produce HDL cholesterol particles. A low HDL is a classic presentation in people with insulin resistance and diabetes. By controlling carbohydrate intake you will have a positive impact on all lipids including HDL.
Exercise…LONGER. It is no secret that exercise has a positive impact on HDL cholesterol, however, until recently we didn’t have a clear idea as to how much of an increase could be expected. A Japanese study looked to answer this question. It was determined that the length of an aerobic exercise session was what determined the amount by which HDL would raise. In fact, for every 10 minutes above 20 minutes of aerobic exercise the subjects would enjoy a 1.4 mg/dl increase in HDL. Intensity and frequency were not nearly as important as the length of each exercise session. It is my recommendation that we each get 60 minutes of activity at least 5 days a week. I know it is a tall order, however, if people want extraordinary results in their lives they need to put in extraordinary effort.
It is Time to lose the weight. This one is cut and dried. Even small amounts of weight gain can have dramatic impacts on HDL cholesterol.
Good News for Smokers! The good news is…if you quit, you will enjoy a significant elevation in your HDL cholesterol.
Check Your Medications. Some medications can have a negative impact on HDL such as beta blockers and certain cholesterol lowering medications.
Oils can help. If you do use oils in cooking or salads use extra virgin olive oil as this has been linked to higher HDL cholesterol.
Your Chia Pet May Save Your Life. Chia seeds are a wonderful whole food and may help you achieve a higher HDL. Soluble fiber, found in chia seeds, has been shown to increase your HDL and help protect you from insulin resistance. In addition to the large amount of fiber found in chia seeds, they are also full of healthy HDL-raising fatty acids, nutrients and minerals. Try 1 tablespoon twice daily.
Fish Oil Increases HDL By Two Mechanisms – Omega-3 fats found in fish oil have many positive benefits to the body. One such benefit is increasing HDL cholesterol by increasing production while simultaneously decreasing the body’s dismantling of HDL cholesterol that has already been produced. We recommend 1 tablespoon daily of Carlson Labs or 6 capsules daily of Super Omega-3.
Niacin – No discussion of natural approaches to increasing HDL is complete without a discussion about B3, also known as niacin. Currently there are three main forms of niacin on the market: standard niacin, inositol hexanicotinate and niacinamide. Plain niacin is the form most commonly prescribed or recommended for cholesterol and it has very potent benefits to HDL and has also been shown to decrease heart attack risk and cardiovascular death. Unfortunately, niacin comes with side effects including uncomfortable rash/hot flash and potential liver damage (which occurs more often than I feel comfortable with). If you do use niacin, you should use a slow release and have your doctor test your liver on a regular basis. Inositol Hexanicotinate is a form of niacin that is bound to inositol. This form is believed to enter the blood where it is slowly releases the niacin to the body and may impact cholesterol. The cholesterol lowering benefits of inositol hexanicotinate (no-flush niacin) are inconsistent. It works well for some and is useless for many. There is no way to determine who no-flush niacin will work, for so it has fallen from favor with us. Those who use no-flush niacin with good result should continue, it appears to offer little risk to the liver. Niacinamide does nothing for cholesterol but can be a useful tool for those who suffer with inflammation.

Now I would like to shift directions a bit and move from a discussion of increasing the number of HDL particles that are floating through your blood to a discussion about how to improve the ability of your HDL to pull unwanted cholesterol from the plaques of the arteries. A very interesting study on genetically modified mice shed some light on how HDL works to inhibit plaque formation. HDL is not just a glob of cholesterol, it actually carries numerous enzymes which appear to offer much of the benefit. One such enzyme, called paraoxonase, appears to play a very important role in the blood vessels. When scientists genetically engineered mice to produce HDL cholesterol without this vital enzyme, the mice suffered significant inflammation within the blood vessels. This research suggests that HDL actually becomes harmful and inflammatory when it loses paraoxonase. In humans, acute stress such as surgery or trauma can cause the HDL to be depleted of this anti-inflammatory enzyme. Paraoxonase also appears to play an important role in detoxifying the LDL cholesterol, making it much less likely to deposit into the arteries. So what can we do to protect the paraoxonase and is there anything that can be done to increase the production of this powerful enzyme? The answer is yes! A Greek study evaluated vitamin E’s ability to protect the HDL cholesterol from losing its paraoxonase enzyme after intense exercise in 10 healthy basketball players. Initially the researchers tested the paraoxonase content of the basketball player’s HDL before and after intense exercise and found the enzyme levels plummeted after the exercise. They then began having the players supplement with vitamin E. After one month of supplementation with alpha tocopherol (vitamin E) the researchers tested the blood before and after intense exercise and found that the supplementation protected the HDL from losing the paraoxonase. This certainly does lend support to the protective effect of vitamin E for cardiovascular disease. If you do supplement with vitamin E, I recommend that you take a natural formula such as Unique E. 1 softgel (400 iu) daily should be plenty.

Recently, scientists have found that a class of compound found in many natural foods may actually activate your genes to produce more paraoxonase! This class of compound called polyphenols is found in many fruits, herbs and teas. Two specific polyphenols stand out in the research literature for their ability to increase the production of this enzyme: quercetin and resveratrol. These two products can be found in a formula called Resveratin by Xymogen. I recommend 1 capsule twice daily. This area of research is a very exciting one and may prove to me a much more important factor than the HDL number. We will continue to follow this issue and report on any new data that comes out.

One final note on cholesterol. As more and more research comes out we are seeing a change in the thought process of cholesterol and its impact on heart disease risk. The most recent literature suggests that the quantity of the cholesterol is far less important than the quality of the cholesterol produced. On your next doctor’s appointment, ask your doctor to order a blood test that assesses the quality of the cholesterol produced in addition to the quantity. This test is called the VAP test and it is available at most labs. If your doctor is not familiar with this test then it may be in your best interest to contact a holistic minded physician to follow this and other tests that may give you insight into your true risk of heart disease. To see a listing of these tests, please see the Heart Disease protocol in our Health Issues section.

I’d like to help liberate you from the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis.

I know that your doctor has probably told you that all they can do is prescribe nasty anti-inflammatories and wait until the day that the pain is so severe that you can’t take it any more…then they’ll sell you on surgery.

If you’re like me, you can’t imagine a future full of pain, stiffness, and surgeries that limits your ability to enjoy life. If you already have a lot of pain, I’ll bet it is difficult to enjoy everyday things like parties, family events, and cookouts because your attention is always divided between what is going on and the achy, throbbing pain of arthritis.

If you have relied on Tylenol and anti-inflammatories like Advil, Motrin, Aleve, ibuprofen, and aspirin to get by, well I have a message for you…

You can do better! You can feel better! You can decrease your pain, inflammation, and possibly even slow down the degeneration of your joints and you can do it all without medications!

The Four-Step Approach to Treating Arthritis

There are four steps to managing arthritis through a natural approach, they are:

Step 1: Decrease inflammation
Step 2: Lubricate the joint
Step 3: Provide the building blocks
Step 4: Stimulate repair

Let’s take each step and dive deeper…

Step 1: Decrease Inflammation

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is, STOP DIGGING! Most people see inflammation as a nuisance; however, it is much more than that.  Inflammation actually promotes the erosion of the cartilage within the joint, which can worsen the arthritis over time.

Anti-inflammatory drugs can decrease the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis, However, they also can increase the production of an enzyme called lipooxygenase, which can irritate and damage the joint further.

Nature has provided many natural compounds with anti-inflammatory activity that can rival the prescription drugs without causing the same risk of side effects. Spices such as turmeric, ginger, rosemary and herbs such as holy basil, skullcap, and green tea can all act as potent anti-inflammatories.

To help control inflammation, I recommend a formula called Zyflamend by New Chapter. This formula provides a blend of herbal and spice extracts that work through multiple mechanisms to result in a balanced anti-inflammatory benefit. This formula has proven itself to be one of the most powerful herbal anti-inflammatory formulas on the market. The recommended dose is 2 capsules twice daily.

Aside from providing relief from much of the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis, the mechanisms by which this formula works may help to protect the joint from erosion.

Step 2: Lubricate the Joint

Now that we have the inflammation under control, the next step is to lubricate the joint to decrease the friction.

Within your joint, the cartilage is constantly being broken down and rebuilt. Arthritis happens when the joint gets broken down faster than the cells can rebuild the damaged area.

The lubricating material called hyaluronic acid has the same purpose of oil in your car. It keeps the pistons sliding across each other by decreasing the friction that would occur without the oil. When a car has an oil leak, the damage can be devastating. Likewise, if your joints don’t remain well oiled, you can develop stiffness, inflammation, and ultimately arthritis.

Besides the lubricating effect of hyaluronic acid, it also helps to carry nutrients to the cartilage. Because cartilage does not have a blood supply, it relies on the diffusion of nutrients from the lubricating fluid in the joint.

Over the last decade, nutrition scientists have been able to develop a hyaluronic acid supplement that is easily absorbed in the digestive tract. This has allowed for effective supplementation of this vital material.
The second step in building an effective natural arthritis program is to lubricate the joint by taking hyaluronic acid in supplement form.

The recommended dose is 100 mg once per day.

In addition, it is important to remain well hydrated. When you become even mildly dehydrated, your joints can dry up, which can lead to friction and joint degeneration.

Step 3: Provide the Building Blocks

Now that we have tackled inflammation and lubrication, we now need to provide the joint with the material it needs to repair damage and protect the cartilage itself. This is achieved by providing two compounds called: glucosamine and chondroitin. These two compounds have been used successfully for years to protect and repair the joint while improving the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis.

Glucosamine and chondroitin literally act like wood and nails to the cartilage. The body absorbs these compounds and transports them throughout the body with preference being given to the joints. Once the glucosamine and chondroitin arrive in the joints, the cartilage repair cells get to work rebuilding and rejuvenating the cartilage.

The recommended dose is 1500 mg of glucosamine along with 1200 mg of chondroitin per day. If you are overweight, you may want to increase the dose to 2000 mg of glucosamine sulfate along with 1600 mg of chondroitin sulfate.

Step 4: Stimulate the Repair

Now that you have decreased inflammation, lubricated the joint, and provided the building blocks, you need to tell the body that you need stronger joints. You achieve this by moving and exercising.

Most people with arthritis is afraid to exercise because the are afraid that they will worsen the arthritis. Unfortunately, by remaining immobile and sedentary you are literally stimulating the arthritis to get worse.

Exercise does three things:

1.    It brings lubrication to the joint. Have you ever notice that the arthritis pain is worse upon waking and gets a little better as the day goes on? This probably occurs because the movement promotes lubrication.
2.    Exercise, especially resistance training, stimulates the cartilage building cells to get to work. Research has shown that lifting weight causes these cells to activate and strengthen the cartilage.
3.    Exercise protects the joint by building a muscle girdle. The bones of a joint are surrounded by muscle, and muscle helps to stabilize the joint. By keeping the joint stabile you protect it from extra movement that can result in unwanted friction. As a muscle weakens, the joint begins to move in strange ways that can damage the cartilage and worsen the arthritis.

As you can see, arthritis can be improved significantly when you put the right steps into action. First control inflammation, next lubricate the joint, then provide the building blocks, and finally stimulate repair.

What Next?

To make it easy for you to get the most effective products for your arthritis program, we have put together all of the products that we use with our clients and patients here in our clinic. We call it the “Get Out of Pain Kit”. It includes:

1 Bottle of Zyflamend 120 Softgels (1 month supply)
1 Bottle of Hyaluronic Acid 60 Capsules (1 month supply)
1 Bottle of Glucosamine/Chondroitin (1 month supply)

If you order this kit, you get all three products for $67, which will save you $35.89 compared to the retail price.

Recently a government agency known as The Institute of Medicine weighed in on the topic of vitamin D. After convening a 14 member panel of researchers to analyze over 1,000 published studies on vitamin D, the IOM made the following recommendations:

• Infants should get no more than 400 IU of vitamin D daily
• Adults should limit intake to 600 IU of vitamin D per day
• Pregnant women should get 600 IU of vitamin D per day

What’s The Harm?

The New York Times, The Wallstreet Journal and other newspapers love controversy. They published headlines such as, “Can Too Much Vitamin D Be Hazardous to Your Health?” These articles suggested that more than the 600 IU of D may pose hazards even though the IOM themselves suggested that the safe upper limit of D is 4,000 IU (up from their previous 2,000 IU recommendation).

Many people confused the recommendation to take 600 IU as an indication that more was toxic. This is an inaccurate interpretation of the IOM recommendations. Remember, the 600 IU adult dose that was suggested is a recommended daily allowance, not a suggestion that higher doses may be toxic. In the IOM’s report, they suggest that a dose over 10,000 IU per day is toxic, even though they failed to provide proof of such toxicity.

What Harm?

According to the IOM, doses over 10,000 IU could cause damage to kidneys and other tissues, once again they came to this conclusion without providing reproducible proof of such side effects. It should be noted that the body will produce up to 10,000 IU of vitamin D from simple sun exposure, is the IOM suggesting that nature messed up?

I should point out that the IOM decided on its position regarding the safety of vitamin D based on the philosophy that because there is little evidence that higher doses of D are safe, we should assume it is toxic. Although I agree that we should exercise caution when taking high doses of anything, including vitamins, I feel that they should be more responsible with how they phrase such caution.

How Do We Know That It Is Safe?

First, let me point out that even the IOM, a notoriously conservative organization, suggests that doses up to 4,000 IU appear to be safe, meaning the research suggests that there is no toxicity at this dose. In other words, if you take up to 4,000 IU per day, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. The debate is whether or not doses above this 4,000 IU range are safe.

Personally, I typically do not recommend taking more than 4,000 IU per day unless we have blood tests that suggest that we need more. If, however, blood tests continue to be suboptimal on doses of D up to 4,000 IU, is the IOM suggesting that we not take more?

What Are We Missing?

Unfortunately, it appears that the IOM is not being forthcoming with all of the recommendations from the individual experts on the panel. In fact, some of the experts on the panel were staunch advocates for the safety and efficacy of higher dose vitamin D. Their reports, however, are being suppressed by the IOM. This means we can not read the recommendations of these experts, we are only provided access to the final paper of the IOM. The Vitamin D Council is in the process of filing, under the Freedom of Information Act, a lawsuit to have those reports made public. It makes you wonder what they are hiding.

What Should You Take Away from this Paper?

The purpose of today’s article was to defend the safety record of vitamin D, not to get into the mountains of research that support the use of vitamin D for the prevention of diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and brain dysfunction.

Based on this paper alone, we can establish the following:

1. Vitamin D is extremely safe up to doses of 4,000 IU per day
2. Vitamin D is probably safe up to doses of 10,000 IU, provided you are monitoring blood tests and keeping the blood levels within the optimal range of 50-80 ng/ml
3. 400 IU per day is likely a sufficient dose for infants
4. 600 IU is way too low for pregnant women and adults, even though the IOM suggests that it is sufficient
5. Blood testing is recommended to assure that you are within the optimal range.
6. The IOM provides no definitive evidence that higher doses of vitamin D are toxic; they are assuming toxicity based on a lack of evidence that doses higher than 4,000 IU per day are safe.