Statin Drugs And Omega-3’s. Statins For Healthy People? Chocolate is Medicine! Statins Create Diabetics. Yellowstone. Venera 3 Crashes On Venus.

 

For “Foodie Friday”:

Are Statin Drugs Killing The Health Benefits Of Omega-3 Fat?

“There is a growing awareness that the unintended, adverse health effects of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs far outweigh their purported benefits. But now new research indicates that these drugs may even interfere with the heart-protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids in those who are taking them.

The second confounding variable, that statins suppress omega-3 fatty acid benefits, is the most groundbreaking, as very few doctors or patients are aware of this possibility.  On the other hand, statins exert such a broad range of adverse health effects in the body, including major deficiencies of zinc, copper, selenium, coq10, vitamin E, and possibly vitamin D, as well, that we shouldn't be all that surprised. 

In support of their hypothesis they cite research indicating that statin drugs favor the metabolism of omega-6 fatty acids, which in turn inhibit omega-3 fatty acids; essentially omega-6 and omega-3 compete with one another for the same metabolic enzymes, indicating that the ratio in the diet is more important than absolute values.  Also, omega-6 fats, contrary to omega-3's, increase insulin resistance, increasing the risk of diabetes. This may explain the well-known diabetogenic properties of statin drugs.” (Excerpt: Statins, therefore, can be considered the most oxymoronic chemical class of its kind: a "heart" drug that by its very nature harms the heart. And coenzyme Q10 deficiency caused by statin drugs is just the tip of the iceberg. There are a wide range of nutritional deficiencies that these drugs induce, including selenium, zinc, and vitamin E deficiency -- all of which may profoundly harm cardiovascular function.)

More at: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/cholesterol-lowering-statins-may-kill-omega-3-heart-benefits

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Statins for healthy people? Hang on a minute…

“…One of the stand-out findings of this study is that statins led to a statistically significant reduction in risk of ‘major vascular events’. This was even true for individuals at less than 10 per cent risk of vascular events over a 5-year period. This has led to the suggestion that statins used might be widened to even people at low risk of cardiovascular problems.

Before we swallow this idea, though, it is perhaps a good idea to see just how effective statins were found to be in this meta-analysis. First of all, what is meant by ‘major vascular events’? Actually, this is a term that includes many different potential outcomes including fatal and non-fatal heart attacks and strokes and ‘revascularisation’ procedures (such as placing tubes called stents in the coronary arteries). When a lot of different outcomes are grouped together, it makes it much more likely that a ‘statistically significant’ results will emerge.

When the outcomes are narrowed a little, the results are less impressive. For example, when we look at risk of death from any vascular event (a heart attack or stroke), we find that statins did not reduce risk in individuals deemed to be at low risk (<10 per cent over 5 years). This, by the way, was even true for those who had known vascular disease.

The ‘positive’ findings from this study have, as is often the case, been expressed as reductions in relative risk. The risk of vascular events overall was 21 per cent lower for each 1 mmol/l (39 mg/ml) reduction in levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). However, when overall risk is low, then a relative risk reduction might not amount to much in real terms.

We’re told by the authors this meta-analysis that treating with statins prevented 11 major vascular events for every 1000 people treated for a period of 5 years. Put another way, 91 people would need to be treated for 5 years to prevent one major vascular event. Or in other words, only about 1 per cent of people treated with statins for 5 years will benefit (and about 99 per cent won’t).

Overall, lowering LDL-C by 1 mmol/l was found to reduce the risk of death by 9 per cent over a 5-year period. Again, this might sound like a positive finding to some, but the actual reduction in risk of death was 0.2 per cent per year. What this means is that at this level of cholesterol reduction, 500 individuals would need to be treated with statins for a year for one person to have his/her life saved.

“Some members of the writing committee have received reimbursement of costs to participate in scientific meetings from the pharmaceutical industry.” I suppose this may account, at least in part, for a data interpretation that appears so heavily biased towards statins.”    

More at: http://www.drbriffa.com/2012/05/18/statins-for-healthy-people-hang-on-a-minute/

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Chocolate Gives Statins A $29 Billion Run For Their Money

“With the blockbuster cholesterol-lowering class of drugs known as statins being widely promoted for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, despite their having over 300 documented adverse health effects (including heart failure!), how does chocolate sound as a viable, heart-friendly alternative?

We already connect amorously with chocolate (to the tune of 6 billion lbs of cocoa consumed annually worldwide), revealing in heart-felt expressions like "I love it," and "this is to die for!" how comfortable we are with publicly declaring our affection. But did you know that while it makes our emotional hearts sing, it may actually keep our physical hearts happy, alive and ticking longer, as well?”  More at: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/chocolate-gives-statins-29-billion-run-their-money

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This Popular Drug Creates Over 60,000 New Diabetics Each Year

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring additional warning labels for the cholesterol-lowering drug class known as statins, warning that the drugs may increase your risk of liver damage, memory loss and confusion, type 2 diabetes and muscle weakness

The FDA has removed a long-standing warning advising routine monitoring of liver enzymes in people taking statins, even though the drugs are linked to serious liver damage

One in four Americans aged 45 and older take statin drugs to lower cholesterol, and many are unaware of the serious risks associated with the drugs

The majority of people taking statin drugs do not need them, and in fact are risking their health unnecessarily by doing so

Over 60,000 people EVERY year in the US will develop diabetes solely as a result of taking statin drugs.”  Complete article at: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/06/fda-warning-on-statins.aspx

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Chocolate: The "Candy" with Powerful Medicinal Properties

“Now, newer research from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has revealed that the consumption of chocolate, or its active constituents (cocoa, flavan-3-ols), reduces a broad range of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, some of which include insulin resistance. The researchers looked at 42 acute and long-term studies and found a 33% median reduction in insulin resistance following chocolate consumption.

 
What is so unique about this new study is that chocolate consumption is generally believed to elevate blood sugar and blood insulin levels by increasing insulin resistance. The new study not only reveals this as being a myth but sheds additional light on why chocolate consumption (especially dark, organic chocolate) may be beneficial in both the prevention and treatment of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.”  More at: http://www.riseearth.com/2012/11/chocolate-candy-with-powerful-medicinal.html

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On This Day:

Yellowstone Park established, Mar 1, 1872:

“President Grant signs the bill creating the nation's first national park at Yellowstone.

Native Americans had lived and hunted in the region that would become Yellowstone for hundreds of years before the first Anglo explorers arrived. Abundant game and mountain streams teaming with fish attracted the Indians to the region, though the awe-inspiring geysers, canyons, and gurgling mud pots also fascinated them.

For a nation bent on settling and exploiting the West, the creation of Yellowstone was surprising. Many congressmen gave it their support simply because they believed the rugged and isolated region was of little economic value. Yet the Yellowstone Act of 1872 set a precedent and popularized the idea of preserving sections of the public domain for use as public parks. Congress went on to designate dozens of other national parks, and the idea spread to other nations around the world.”

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Soviet probe crashes into Venus, Mar 1, 1966:

“Venera 3, a Soviet probe launched from Kazakhstan on November 15, 1965, collides with Venus, the second planet from the sun. Although Venera 3 failed in its mission to measure the Venusian atmosphere, it was the first unmanned spacecraft to reach the surface of another planet. Four years earlier, the U.S. probe Mariner 2 was the first spacecraft to pass close enough to Venus to take scientific measurements of the planet, discovering surface temperatures in excess of 800 degrees Fahrenheit on its surface.

In 1967, Venera 4 succeeded where Venera 3 failed, successfully ejecting several scientific instruments, including a thermometer, a barometer, an atmospheric density gauge, and gas analyzers, into Venus' atmosphere. Then, in 1970, Venera 7 became the first spacecraft created by humans to soft-land on Venus, successfully sending back images and data for 23 minutes before succumbing to the extremely high temperature and atmospheric pressure found on the planet's surface.”

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Yesterday:

Ray and I were starting to do some jobs around here, when Jay called.  He had been fired by his boss, but he had chained his 4-wheel ATV to one of his ex-boss’ utility trailers that had been parked in Jay’s yard.  Jay had let a neighbor high-school boy ride his ATV and the lad had taken the keys with him to school.  Jay wanted Ray and I to go down there to see if we could break the lock, so that he could release his ATV.  Jay thought that by hitting the lock with a hammer it would come undone….not so. 

At 9.00AM, Misty, Ray and I went down there, and while I was walking Misty, Ray drove back here and got some bolt cutters. Jay was obviously still drunk, and was drinking beer out of one of his mother’s Corelle cups.  His language wasn’t anything that I wanted to hear!  He got disgusted with himself, poured out the beer and then smashed the cup all over the road.  When Ray returned he managed to cut the chain, but it wasn’t easy, and we pushed the ATV away from the trailers.

Jay’s ex-boss had parked not just that one utility trailer, but two utility trailers, a golf cart trailer, a golf cart and a travel trailer in Jay’s yard.  Jay was all up in arms about that, and was going to call a wrecker to have them all taken to an impound lot.  I persuaded Jay to at least call the man, and give him a chance to pick up his belongings.  When Jay went back in his house, he came out drinking another beer, still ranting and raving, so we left.

It was a chilly, windy morning, so Ray and I didn’t really want to be out in it.   We moved my dryer, disconnected the vent and the back panel on the dryer and vacuumed all that out.  I know it is supposed to be done at least every year to avoid a fire, and we were a year behind.  It is surprising how much lint accumulates in a dryer and the vent.

While we were working, we saw Jay’s ex-boss come in with two trucks and they must have taken everything to the storage place just down the road, as they weren’t gone long between trips.  Both the utility trailers were loaded with building materials, so he could have rented another storage unit.  He couldn’t have got them in the one he had, as it already had appliances and another loaded utility trailer in it.

Around 2.00 PM, Jay called and wanted me to pick him up so that he could finish working on the last panel in my garage, but when I got there, he hadn’t sobered up any.  In fact he was sitting outside drinking more beer, so I left without him.  I had hoped that he had taken a nap and slept it off. 

Later, Ray came over some have some of my fresh veggie juice, and he watched some videos of sermons from my church.  He found out that just because we go to church on Saturday, that we aren’t so weird after all.

It is so sickening to see Jay like this, as he is a very nice person when he is sober.  No wonder he got fired, but he can’t go on like this much longer.  He is getting worse and worse and has been drinking non-stop for several days.