When We're Kids
When we were kids, we all learned common
sayings such as “barking up the wrong tree,”
“beating a dead horse,” and “just banging your
head against a wall.” The basic truth behind these
sayings is that when something isn’t working,
it’s wise to stop, re-evaluate, and choose a
smarter course of action. Unfortunately, when it
comes to heart disease, the medical community
has been unwilling to heed this simple advice.
A decade ago, the treatment of
hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) and
hypertension was expected to eliminate coronary
artery disease and heart attacks by the end of the
20th century. The pharmaceutical industry
introduced the potent cholesterol lowering statin
drugs (such as Zocor, Lipitor, and Crestor) and
proclaimed them to be the cure-all for heart
disease. What has been the result of these
cholesterol lowering efforts? Cardiovascular
disease still causes 38% of the deaths in North
America and is expected to be the leading
cause of death globally within the next 15
years.
The pharmaceutical industry and some of their
friends in the medical community have decided
that we have not lowered cholesterol levels
enough. Even though we’ve dropped the levels
significantly, we have not lowered deaths due to
heart disease. So what do they want to do? A
panel of cardiologists now recommend that we
need to lower LDL cholesterol levels below 70.
According to these new recommendations,
over 98% of the adult population in the US
should be taking a statin drug to reduce
cholesterol. (Is it a coincidence that 11 of the 12
cardiologists on this panel were receiving
substantial money from pharmaceutical
companies?!)
In spite of the significant and occasionally fatal
side effects of these drugs, most physicians have
jumped on the band wagon. Many are doing
everything they can to convince their patients that
taking more cholesterol reducing drugs is the
answer to decreasing their risk of a heart attack or
stroke.
Friends, it’s time to stop “banging our heads
against a brick wall” and look at the facts. For
starters, there is overwhelming evidence that
heart disease is NOT a disease of cholesterol.
In fact, over half of the people who have a heart
attack actually have normal cholesterol levels (or
what was previously felt to be normal levels).
Research has conclusively proven that the
majority of heart disease is the result of lowgrade
inflammation in the fine lining of our
arteries. For example, Goran K. Hansson, M.D.
recently published a review article in the New
England Journal of Medicine titled, “Inflammation,
Atherosclerosis, and Coronary Artery Disease”.
(This appeared in the April 21, 2005 edition of the
New England Journal of Medicine.) He lays out a
very solid case that heart disease is not a disease
of cholesterol, but instead is the result of
inflammation.
Causes of Inflammation.
Oxidized LDL Cholesterol.
Native LDL cholesterol (the cholesterol that the
body naturally produces) does not increase the
risk of heart disease. In fact, native cholesterol
is necessary for life itself. It transports
cholesterol in the blood stream and deposits it at
the docks or LDL receptor sites and unloads its
cargo to be used by the cell. Cholesterol is an
important nutrient for the development of many of
our hormones and cell membranes.
However, when LDL cholesterol is attacked by
excessive free radicals it may become modified or
“oxidized,” significantly changing its healthy
characteristics. Oxidized LDL cholesterol is
truly the “bad” cholesterol because it can
irritate the fine lining of the artery and
stimulate significant inflammation. So it is
critical to realize that it is not native LDL
cholesterol that is a concern; it is oxidized
cholesterol that is the problem.
High-Fatty Meal.
Clinical studies have shown that a meal that is
very high in saturated and trans fats can cause
your arteries to go into spasm for 4 to 5 hours.
High saturated fat causes a tremendous
release in excessive free radicals, which irritate
and damage the fine lining of our arteries. Clinical
trials have shown that the antioxidants like vitamin
E and vitamin C taken in supplementation with
this fatty meal can reduce the duration of arterial
spasms to only 4 to 5 minutes.
High-Glycemic Meal.
Most of us are intelligent enough to avoid high fatty
meals. But what do we do instead? Many of
us head over to the bagel shop for a bagel,
orange juice, and coffee. Studies now show that
high-glycemic meals (such as instant oatmeal,
cold cereal, toast, bagels, etc.) also cause the
arteries to spasm for 4 to 5 hours. (Foods that are
“high-glycemic” rapidly digest and are quickly
converted into blood sugar.) Rapidly rising and
falling blood sugar produces excessive free
radicals which damage the lining of the
arteries, leading to the inflammatory reaction.
(Again, we know this because if vitamin E and
vitamin C are taken in supplementation with a
high-glycemic meal, our arteries only go into
spasm for a few minutes.) Antioxidants have a
protective quality that is capable of neutralizing
excessive free radicals so that there is no damage
to the arteries in the first place.
Elevated Homocysteine Levels
Homocysteine is a by-product of natural protein
metabolism (methionine). High homocysteine
levels can irritate the fine lining of the arteries,
causing damage and the inflammatory
response. Normally, the body breaks
homocysteine down into safe end products. The
problem is that many people have a vitamin B
deficiency (especially vitamin B12, B6, and folic
acid). This deficiency leads to elevated levels of
homocysteine. Most people do not have their
homocysteine levels checked; however, it has
been known for years that approximately 15% of
all heart attacks and stokes in this country are the
specific result of elevated homocysteine levels.
You want to have a homocysteine level below 7.0
micromols/Liter. Levels higher than this increase
your risk for developing a heart attack or a stroke.
The level can be lowered by simply taking
supplements that contain good levels of vitamin
B12, B6, and folic acid. If these vitamins do not
bring it down satisfactorily, I would recommend
adding Betaine or Trimethylglycine (TMG) from
you local health food store. You can take
anywhere from 1 to 6 grams daily of TMG to lower
your homocysteine level to below 7.0 or at least
get it below 9.0.
Infectious Agents.
More and more studies show that certain
infections can lead to increased inflammation
of your arteries. Chlamydia, certain strep
infections, and certain viral infections have all
been shown to contribute to heart disease by the
inflammatory response they cause. Gum disease
also creates a tremendous amount of
inflammation in your arteries. So keep flossing
your teeth and consume high quality nutritional
supplements, because they have the ability to
optimize your body’s natural immune system.
Metabolic Syndrome.
One of the greatest causes of inflammation of
your arteries is “insulin resistance” and the
“metabolic syndrome.” The metabolic syndrome
is a constellation of problems that is the result of
insulin resistance. The problems include high
blood pressure, elevated triglyceride levels,
elevated VLDL or very bad cholesterol, low HDL
or good cholesterol, central obesity,
hyperinsulinemia, and increased clotting. In the
majority of patients who have it, the metabolic
syndrome eventually leads to diabetes and/or
heart disease. This happens because every one
of the problems associated with metabolic
syndrome increase the amount of
inflammation in your arteries ;
• High blood pressure causes an
excessive release of free radicals that
leads to inflammation. VLDL
cholesterol can cause significant
inflammation when it becomes
oxidized.
• High insulin levels themselves are
known to cause inflammation of your
arteries. This is why hyperinsulinemia
or elevated insulin levels are an
independent risk factor for heart
disease.
• Enlarged abdominal fat cells begin
releasing inflammatory products and
creating tremendous inflammation in
your arteries.
When you become diabetic, this process
accelerates even faster. Rising blood sugar
causes a tremendous amount of inflammation of
your arteries. When you realize that 90% of
diabetics have underlying insulin resistance, it is
easy to understand why 80% of our diabetics will
eventually die from a cardiovascular event like a
heart attack or stroke.
Therapeutic Opportunities.
In light of the evidence proving that heart disease
is caused by inflammation and not cholesterol,
what is to be done about it? As we have seen,
those with a financial interest in pharmaceuticals
are suggesting that we use drugs to lower
cholesterol further (beating a dead horse.) Others
in the medical community will begin to develop
newer and more effective drugs to respond to the
root problem of inflammation (barking up the
wrong tree.) Medicine will always try to approach
this problem from the back end. What I mean by
that is that they will find ways to reverse this
inflammatory response with drugs after it is
already a problem (banging their heads against
the wall).
Let’s stop, and stand back and see if there isn’t a
better way to approach this. Here is an idea: Why
not try to prevent the inflammation from
occurring in the first place? Seems too logical
doesn’t it! Well, the only way to truly prevent this
inflammation is to develop effective, healthy
lifestyles. By eating properly, exercising
modestly, and taking a balance of high-quality
nutritional supplements, the vast majority of
inflammation can be prevented and reduced.
The problem with this approach is that it is too
cheap. There is no money in it for the medical and
pharmaceutical communities, so don’t expect
them to promote it! If you develop a healthy
lifestyle, they won’t be able to sell you their wares
and all their fancy, new drugs will sit on the shelf.
The Healthy for Life Program—the Anti-
Inflammatory Lifestyles.
Healthy for Life is a 15-month interactive internet
program that takes you by the hand and guides
you into the healthy lifestyles of healthy eating,
exercise, and nutritional supplements. The
program has been clinically proven to improve
insulin sensitivity and inflammation. It also
has a side effect of permanent weight loss.
The Healthy for Life Program combines a triad of
healthy lifestyles. It starts with a healthy diet that
includes good, low-glycemic carbohydrates, good
fats that actually lower inflammation, and good
proteins. A modest, consistent exercise program
and “cellular nutrition” round out the triad of
healthy lifestyles. These lifestyles effectively
decrease all the causes of inflammation that
lead to heart disease and strokes.
If you want to be proactive rather than reactive
with your health, you need to check out the
Healthy for Life Program and RESET KIT by
going to www.HealthyandLeanforLife.com.
Consider teaming up with one of our Certified
Team Leaders and you will receive a
significant discount on any program you
choose. Our leaders also add another level of
accountability as they help support you in
your journey to developing these new,
healthier lifestyles—lifestyles that significantly
decrease your risk of developing heart
disease and diabetes.
Don’t bang your head against the wall
anymore. Choose instead to be Healthy for
Life!
sayings such as “barking up the wrong tree,”
“beating a dead horse,” and “just banging your
head against a wall.” The basic truth behind these
sayings is that when something isn’t working,
it’s wise to stop, re-evaluate, and choose a
smarter course of action. Unfortunately, when it
comes to heart disease, the medical community
has been unwilling to heed this simple advice.
A decade ago, the treatment of
hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) and
hypertension was expected to eliminate coronary
artery disease and heart attacks by the end of the
20th century. The pharmaceutical industry
introduced the potent cholesterol lowering statin
drugs (such as Zocor, Lipitor, and Crestor) and
proclaimed them to be the cure-all for heart
disease. What has been the result of these
cholesterol lowering efforts? Cardiovascular
disease still causes 38% of the deaths in North
America and is expected to be the leading
cause of death globally within the next 15
years.
The pharmaceutical industry and some of their
friends in the medical community have decided
that we have not lowered cholesterol levels
enough. Even though we’ve dropped the levels
significantly, we have not lowered deaths due to
heart disease. So what do they want to do? A
panel of cardiologists now recommend that we
need to lower LDL cholesterol levels below 70.
According to these new recommendations,
over 98% of the adult population in the US
should be taking a statin drug to reduce
cholesterol. (Is it a coincidence that 11 of the 12
cardiologists on this panel were receiving
substantial money from pharmaceutical
companies?!)
In spite of the significant and occasionally fatal
side effects of these drugs, most physicians have
jumped on the band wagon. Many are doing
everything they can to convince their patients that
taking more cholesterol reducing drugs is the
answer to decreasing their risk of a heart attack or
stroke.
Friends, it’s time to stop “banging our heads
against a brick wall” and look at the facts. For
starters, there is overwhelming evidence that
heart disease is NOT a disease of cholesterol.
In fact, over half of the people who have a heart
attack actually have normal cholesterol levels (or
what was previously felt to be normal levels).
Research has conclusively proven that the
majority of heart disease is the result of lowgrade
inflammation in the fine lining of our
arteries. For example, Goran K. Hansson, M.D.
recently published a review article in the New
England Journal of Medicine titled, “Inflammation,
Atherosclerosis, and Coronary Artery Disease”.
(This appeared in the April 21, 2005 edition of the
New England Journal of Medicine.) He lays out a
very solid case that heart disease is not a disease
of cholesterol, but instead is the result of
inflammation.
Causes of Inflammation.
Oxidized LDL Cholesterol.
Native LDL cholesterol (the cholesterol that the
body naturally produces) does not increase the
risk of heart disease. In fact, native cholesterol
is necessary for life itself. It transports
cholesterol in the blood stream and deposits it at
the docks or LDL receptor sites and unloads its
cargo to be used by the cell. Cholesterol is an
important nutrient for the development of many of
our hormones and cell membranes.
However, when LDL cholesterol is attacked by
excessive free radicals it may become modified or
“oxidized,” significantly changing its healthy
characteristics. Oxidized LDL cholesterol is
truly the “bad” cholesterol because it can
irritate the fine lining of the artery and
stimulate significant inflammation. So it is
critical to realize that it is not native LDL
cholesterol that is a concern; it is oxidized
cholesterol that is the problem.
High-Fatty Meal.
Clinical studies have shown that a meal that is
very high in saturated and trans fats can cause
your arteries to go into spasm for 4 to 5 hours.
High saturated fat causes a tremendous
release in excessive free radicals, which irritate
and damage the fine lining of our arteries. Clinical
trials have shown that the antioxidants like vitamin
E and vitamin C taken in supplementation with
this fatty meal can reduce the duration of arterial
spasms to only 4 to 5 minutes.
High-Glycemic Meal.
Most of us are intelligent enough to avoid high fatty
meals. But what do we do instead? Many of
us head over to the bagel shop for a bagel,
orange juice, and coffee. Studies now show that
high-glycemic meals (such as instant oatmeal,
cold cereal, toast, bagels, etc.) also cause the
arteries to spasm for 4 to 5 hours. (Foods that are
“high-glycemic” rapidly digest and are quickly
converted into blood sugar.) Rapidly rising and
falling blood sugar produces excessive free
radicals which damage the lining of the
arteries, leading to the inflammatory reaction.
(Again, we know this because if vitamin E and
vitamin C are taken in supplementation with a
high-glycemic meal, our arteries only go into
spasm for a few minutes.) Antioxidants have a
protective quality that is capable of neutralizing
excessive free radicals so that there is no damage
to the arteries in the first place.
Elevated Homocysteine Levels
Homocysteine is a by-product of natural protein
metabolism (methionine). High homocysteine
levels can irritate the fine lining of the arteries,
causing damage and the inflammatory
response. Normally, the body breaks
homocysteine down into safe end products. The
problem is that many people have a vitamin B
deficiency (especially vitamin B12, B6, and folic
acid). This deficiency leads to elevated levels of
homocysteine. Most people do not have their
homocysteine levels checked; however, it has
been known for years that approximately 15% of
all heart attacks and stokes in this country are the
specific result of elevated homocysteine levels.
You want to have a homocysteine level below 7.0
micromols/Liter. Levels higher than this increase
your risk for developing a heart attack or a stroke.
The level can be lowered by simply taking
supplements that contain good levels of vitamin
B12, B6, and folic acid. If these vitamins do not
bring it down satisfactorily, I would recommend
adding Betaine or Trimethylglycine (TMG) from
you local health food store. You can take
anywhere from 1 to 6 grams daily of TMG to lower
your homocysteine level to below 7.0 or at least
get it below 9.0.
Infectious Agents.
More and more studies show that certain
infections can lead to increased inflammation
of your arteries. Chlamydia, certain strep
infections, and certain viral infections have all
been shown to contribute to heart disease by the
inflammatory response they cause. Gum disease
also creates a tremendous amount of
inflammation in your arteries. So keep flossing
your teeth and consume high quality nutritional
supplements, because they have the ability to
optimize your body’s natural immune system.
Metabolic Syndrome.
One of the greatest causes of inflammation of
your arteries is “insulin resistance” and the
“metabolic syndrome.” The metabolic syndrome
is a constellation of problems that is the result of
insulin resistance. The problems include high
blood pressure, elevated triglyceride levels,
elevated VLDL or very bad cholesterol, low HDL
or good cholesterol, central obesity,
hyperinsulinemia, and increased clotting. In the
majority of patients who have it, the metabolic
syndrome eventually leads to diabetes and/or
heart disease. This happens because every one
of the problems associated with metabolic
syndrome increase the amount of
inflammation in your arteries ;
• High blood pressure causes an
excessive release of free radicals that
leads to inflammation. VLDL
cholesterol can cause significant
inflammation when it becomes
oxidized.
• High insulin levels themselves are
known to cause inflammation of your
arteries. This is why hyperinsulinemia
or elevated insulin levels are an
independent risk factor for heart
disease.
• Enlarged abdominal fat cells begin
releasing inflammatory products and
creating tremendous inflammation in
your arteries.
When you become diabetic, this process
accelerates even faster. Rising blood sugar
causes a tremendous amount of inflammation of
your arteries. When you realize that 90% of
diabetics have underlying insulin resistance, it is
easy to understand why 80% of our diabetics will
eventually die from a cardiovascular event like a
heart attack or stroke.
Therapeutic Opportunities.
In light of the evidence proving that heart disease
is caused by inflammation and not cholesterol,
what is to be done about it? As we have seen,
those with a financial interest in pharmaceuticals
are suggesting that we use drugs to lower
cholesterol further (beating a dead horse.) Others
in the medical community will begin to develop
newer and more effective drugs to respond to the
root problem of inflammation (barking up the
wrong tree.) Medicine will always try to approach
this problem from the back end. What I mean by
that is that they will find ways to reverse this
inflammatory response with drugs after it is
already a problem (banging their heads against
the wall).
Let’s stop, and stand back and see if there isn’t a
better way to approach this. Here is an idea: Why
not try to prevent the inflammation from
occurring in the first place? Seems too logical
doesn’t it! Well, the only way to truly prevent this
inflammation is to develop effective, healthy
lifestyles. By eating properly, exercising
modestly, and taking a balance of high-quality
nutritional supplements, the vast majority of
inflammation can be prevented and reduced.
The problem with this approach is that it is too
cheap. There is no money in it for the medical and
pharmaceutical communities, so don’t expect
them to promote it! If you develop a healthy
lifestyle, they won’t be able to sell you their wares
and all their fancy, new drugs will sit on the shelf.
The Healthy for Life Program—the Anti-
Inflammatory Lifestyles.
Healthy for Life is a 15-month interactive internet
program that takes you by the hand and guides
you into the healthy lifestyles of healthy eating,
exercise, and nutritional supplements. The
program has been clinically proven to improve
insulin sensitivity and inflammation. It also
has a side effect of permanent weight loss.
The Healthy for Life Program combines a triad of
healthy lifestyles. It starts with a healthy diet that
includes good, low-glycemic carbohydrates, good
fats that actually lower inflammation, and good
proteins. A modest, consistent exercise program
and “cellular nutrition” round out the triad of
healthy lifestyles. These lifestyles effectively
decrease all the causes of inflammation that
lead to heart disease and strokes.
If you want to be proactive rather than reactive
with your health, you need to check out the
Healthy for Life Program and RESET KIT by
going to www.HealthyandLeanforLife.com.
Consider teaming up with one of our Certified
Team Leaders and you will receive a
significant discount on any program you
choose. Our leaders also add another level of
accountability as they help support you in
your journey to developing these new,
healthier lifestyles—lifestyles that significantly
decrease your risk of developing heart
disease and diabetes.
Don’t bang your head against the wall
anymore. Choose instead to be Healthy for
Life!
Comments
Post a Comment