It's in everything--high fructose corn syrup.  This is a sugar that exists in nature which man has figured out how to produce cheaply in large quantities, and at a great expense.  One new study shows that the more high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) you eat, the more food you want to eat.  The authors concluded that "The fact that fructose metabolism by the brain increases food intake and obesity risk raises health concerns in view of the large and increasing per capita consumption of high fructose sweeteners, especially by youth."  It is likely that soda makers and other marketer's of HFCS know that the products make you eat more, and that is precisely why they use them--the more you eat, the more you want.  Read the study here.

Another study that just came out demonstrates that consuming a diet high in fructose for just seven days causes "ectopic lipid deposition in liver and muscle and fasting VLDL-triacylglycerols and decreased hepatic insulin sensitivity."  This means that fat is deposited in the liver and in muscle where it shouldn't be, and that the riskiest type of cholesterol changes occur, and that insulin resistance begins.  This is the beginning of the road to diabetes, heart disease, fatigue, and other chronic illness.  Read the study here.

I suggest eating sugars in moderation, and only in there natural form; agave nectar, molasses, maple syrup, and fruits are good alternatives to precessed sugars.  And, quit eating high fructose corn syrup! 

New research shows that pynogenol, an extract from pine bark, significantly decreases pain and inflammation related to arthritis.  The study followed 156 patients with painful arthritis of the knee; 77 were given 100mg of pycnogenol per day, while the remaining 79 were given a placebo.  After 3 months the treatment group outperformed the placebo group with less pain, increased walking distance, less edema (swelling) in the foot, and 58% less anti-inflammatory use.  

A follow-up to that study found large reductions in CRP (an inflammatory marker in the blood), fibrinigen (an indicator of inflammation and fibrosis), and free radicals following pycnogenol use (read the study here).

Keeping in mind that the diseases that plague modern man are all associated with inflammation and free radical production, on would expect pycnogenol to be helpful in other disorders as well.  A review of the literature over just the recent pasts reveals the following (you can click each topic to read the research): pycnogenol is very effective in the treatment of diabetes, fertility disorders, ADD/ADHD, and dementia (pycnogenol improves memory).

Read the study on knee arthritis.

Another study shows no benefit of aspirin in preventing cardiovascular disease.  The new study published in the British Medical Journal found that aspirin did nothing to prevent risk of cardiovascular disease (stroke or heart attack) in people with diabetes (read the study).  The study also found no benefit from taking supplemental antioxidant pills containing vitamin C, E, B vitamins, and zinc.  This is not surprising if you’ve read my article on Antioxidants, which explains why food based antioxidants are far superior to man-made pills.

If you or someone you know takes aspirin for health reasons please read the article.  Here is a link to another article on aspirin—in it they found a 60-80% increase in stroke in women who use aspirin, and an increase in certain types of stroke in men. 

If you want to decrease your chances of having cardiovascular problems, taking a high quality, purified fish oil is your best bet.  If you want to decrease damage caused by stroke consider using Gingko and/or Ashwagandha.

Babies who are breastfed have lower cholesterol as adults, researchers say.  It should be noted that breast milk itself is full of cholesterol.  Infant formulas actually tout themselves as "low cholesterol" as if that were somehow healthier, despite the facts that infants who breastfeed have lower rates of allergy and asthma and less cardiovascular risk. 

We must remember that cholesterol is a necessary part of each of our cells, and that consuming it as an infant is crucial to normal nervous system development.  Additionally, cholesterol that we consume as part of a healthy diet does not adversely affect our health!  Cholesterol is only a problem when our our metabolism spins out of control due to an unhealthy lifestyle and the liver starts to create unhealthy cholesterol ratios.  Please read my Cholesterol Article for more information on the subject.

Read the study. 

I recently had a patient tell me that she attended a health screening and was told to eat less olive oil and avocados.  The idea, apparently, was that these are both high sources of fat, and that fat causes you to become fat and increases your risk for heart disease.  This completely blew my mind, because it flies in the face of all the evidence on the subject.  I wanted to comment on it here to be certain that no one believes advice like this!

Here are the facts:

Just adding avocados to the daily diet for 7 days provided the following results in people with high cholesterol:

• 17% reduction in total cholesterol
• 22% reduction in LDL cholesterol
  
• 22% reduction in triglycerides
• 11% increase in HDL cholesterol

These changes are better than any drug I know, and they taste great!  If you've read my Cholesterol Article, you know that the 2 most important numbers in your cholesterol panel are your triglycerides and HDL's.  You want relativley high HDL's and relatively low triglycerides.  That makes avocados an ideal treatment for cholesterol imbalance!  The researchers attributed the beneficial changes to the high monounsaturated fat content of avocados--the same type of fat found in olive oil.  Olive oil is attributed with a host of benefits too long to list here including decreases in diabetes, heart disease, dementia, chronic pain, and improvements in cholesterol.

The authors of the study conclude: "High lipid (fat), high monounsaturated-avocado enriched diet can improve lipid profile in healthy and especially in mild hypercholesterolemic patients, even if hypertriglyceridemia (combined hyperlipidemia) is present."  In other words, eating a diet rich in fats from avocados and olive oil helps your cholesterol levels--eat your olive oil and avocados!

Read the study here.

I’ve been writing since 2003 on the negative effects of statin drugs.  An article in today’s New York Times confirms everything I’ve written—it begins:

“For decades, the theory that lowering cholesterol is always beneficial has been a core principle of cardiology. It has been accepted by doctors and used by drug makers to win quick approval for new medicines to reduce cholesterol.  But now some prominent cardiologists say the results of two recent clinical trials have raised serious questions about that theory — and the value of two widely used cholesterol-lowering medicines, Zetia and its sister drug, Vytorin.”

The article goes on to highlight how in both of those studies the drugs killed more people than using no drugs.  This is not surprising, since this has been a theme in most published studies on statins, the papers usually go like this:

This is a study on our new drug—we gave our drug to 100 suckers, and followed a similar population of 100 who did not take the drug.  In the drug group 7 people died, in the none-drug group 3 people died.  The increases in death in the drug group were due to suicide, sudden cardiac death, and cancer.  All of these disorders have been linked to statins in the literature, but we don’t think our drug caused these things.
Conclusion:  Our drug did lower LDL cholesterol—we think that LDL cholesterol alone is related to heart disease even though the literature does not support this hypothesis.  Since our drug lowered LDL cholesterol and we think this reduces heart disease risk, we will spend 4 billion dollars in the next year educating doctors as to what a smashing success this trial has been.

The disgusting truth is that that is not an exaggeration—do a search on my site for “statins” and read more of the research yourself.  The other disgusting truth is that the doctors buy the hype—without carefully reading the studies.

While the Times article only highlights the two drugs mentioned—I think we will see the truth coming out on all statin drugs soon.

Read my Cholesterol Article here—it shows how to read your numbers, what they really mean, and what to do about it naturally.

Read the New York Times article here.

Another study demonstrates the efficacy of Chinese Red Yeast Rice in lowering cholesterol safely.  The study involved giving people with high cholesterol 600mg of red yeast rice twice daily for 8 weeks.  All cholesterol values improved dramatically.

Red Yeast Rice is an extremely safe product (read more about it here) from which the statin drugs were derived.  While statin drugs are riddled with side effects, side effects are extremely rare with red yeast rice.  Read this article on red yeast rice, then read my cholesterol article here...and don't forget your fish oil!

Read the study here.

A new study shows that an Ayurvedic herb is very effective for type 2 diabetes.  The herb, Salacia Oblonga, was found to lower blood sugar by 27% after a meal!  The researchers analyzed the effect of the herb on 66 individuals with type 2 diabetes who either consumed a high carbohydrate meal with or without the herb.  The results were consistent with 2 prior studies that found the herb to be effective.

People in the study had the best results with 480mg of Salacia Oblonga extract. 

This herb can be added to my "standard plan" for type 2 diabetics, which includes gymnema sylvestra extract (purchased here) and 3 grams of omega-3's from a quality fish oil (purchased in my store). 

Read the study here. 

Several studies have shown cinnamon to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics.  A new study shows just how this delicious herb works.  The results, published in this month's American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, demonstrate that cinnamon actually slows the passage of food through the stomach.  When you take 6 grams (about 1/4 teaspoon) of cinnamon with your meal, you slow the rate at which the food goes through your stomach and significantly lower blood sugar.  Prior research has shown as much as a 25% drop in blood sugar in diabetics after 6 weeks of using cinnamon daily.

Another very powerful herb for treating diabetes is an Ayurvedic herb called Gurmar.  Here is a link to an extract of Gurmar called ProBeta--its an excellent herb to use in conjunction with cinnamon to lower your blood sugar naturally! 

Link to the study. 

A new study shows that the popular diabetes drug, Avandia, is associated with a 43% increased risk of heart attack, and a 64% increase in cardiovascular death!  Reading the report, it is frightening to realize that the paper is the result of combining 42 existing clinical trials of the drug--in other words, the research has been around for quite some time, but the drug has continued to sell like hot pancakes.  The research analyzed by the article dates back to 2000, and continues through 2007.  That's scary stuff, and one more reason to do your own research and consult a holistically minded doctor before beginning drug use.

In contrast, several studies over the years have shown that proper nutrition and supplementation, an exercise program, and stress reduction can control about 70% of type 2 diabetes cases.  I ran a 6- week lifestyle modification program last year and the results were phenomenal--people required less or no medication by the end of the 6-week program.  As type 2 diabetes rates continue to skyrocket, we need to remember that most cases are lifestyle related--by building health from within, most people can control the disease.  Medications do drop blood sugar levels, but they do not necessarily reduce suffering and death in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Here is an article highlighting some of the most powerful supplements for treating type 2 diabetes.  Here is an article on the role of omega-3 fatty acids in treating type 2 diabetes.  Here is a link to our exercise page.  Here is a link to the greatest article on controlling cholesterol (and type 2 diabetes) on the planet.  If you are interested in learning more about diabetes, click here to request a copy of my "Lifestyle Intervention for Type 2 Diabetes" book.  Learn, Enjoy, and Act!

Read the original study here.