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3 Nutrients That Can Keep Dangerous Statins Away

The AHA! Team — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 06:21:01 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – Big Pharma has brainwashed much of the world into thinking that statins are all that stand between patients and heart attacks – and now they’re poised to cash in on the miserable side effects caused by these drugs. I get a lot of patients who come down from New York for the winter. Not long ago, one of these patients told me a story about an old mafia trick he’d heard of… Each night, gangs would drive around the city stealing manhole covers. The next morning, like clockwork, city authorities would hire contractors to replace all the missing manhole covers. Of course, the contractors were controlled by the mafia. And the city authorities who hired them were on the take from the very same mob. Fortunes were made. It was a win-win situation. The only losers were New York taxpayers. I’m reminded of this story because Big Pharma is about to play the same game. But instead of manhole covers, they will be using cholesterol-busting statin drugs. Let me explain… Big Pharma has brainwashed much of the world into thinking that statins are all that stand between patients and heart attacks – and now they’re poised to cash in on the miserable side effects caused by these drugs. Drugs that you don’t need in the first place. I’ve been warning patients against these Big Pharma toxins for decades. Not only are they a waste of time when treating heart disease – in fact, they raise your risk of heart attacks – but they come with a long list of side effects. Some of the more dangerous side effects include high blood sugar, liver damage, memory loss, muscle pain, dystrophy, and rhabdomyolysis (when muscle cells burst).1 Now a team of researchers at Ben-Gurion University in Israel has declared that the muscle pain and dystrophy caused by statins is a “new” disease. And they’ve discovered that a new drug to treat a hereditary muscle disorder also works for the side effects of statins.2 The researchers have now filed a patent for the new drug, and it’s just a matter of time before Big Pharma comes calling. Talk about disease-mongering… I smell a rat – and I don’t mean a lab rat. If this new drug were a manhole cover and the researchers were contractors in trucks, they’d surely be suspected of mafia connections. Like most people in the developed world, there’s a high chance that a doctor has persuaded, scared, or even straight-up bullied you into taking a statin. You see, their multibillion-dollar global business is based on the decades-old lie that high fat and high cholesterol cause heart disease. It’s not true. You don’t need statins at all. I know that may sound jarring, but cholesterol doesn’t cause heart disease. Multiple studies prove it – including the landmark Framington Heart Study, which found no link between high cholesterol and raised heart disease risk.3 Only Big Pharma and their shareholders need statins. 3 Powerful Heart Nutrients That Replace Statins The good news is that for every statin, there are safe, proven, and inexpensive natural alternatives your cardiologist will never tell you about. Nutrient # 1 – Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA): This omega-3 fatty acid eliminates the need for statins and has been proven to raise HDL. It’s a potent defender against heart disease. One study discovered that if you take just 1.5 grams of DHA per day for a few weeks, your HDL can shoot up by 7%. No Big Pharma drug can do that.4 I recommend supplementing with at least 600 mg of DHA and 60 mg of the EPA form of omega-3 in a combination of squid and krill oil. Nutrient # 2 – CoQ10: This nutrient provides fuel for your mitochondria — the tiny power plants inside each of your cells – in your heart. Statin drugs are the biggest killer of CoQ10 levels. Supplementing with CoQ10 can bring immediate, often-lifesaving benefits. Studies show that taking CoQ10 daily reduces arrhythmias, improves your heart’s pumping ability, and reduces your risk of death from heart attacks. CoQ10 also lowers blood pressure and your atherosclerosis risk.5,6 If you’re taking statins, your levels are likely to be dangerously low, so I recommend a supplement of at least 100 mg a day. And look for the ubiquinol form of CoQ10. It’s eight times more powerful than the more common ubiquinone form. Nutrient # 3 – PQQ: While CoQ10 does a great job of squeezing more power from your mitochondria, it does nothing for the mitochondria you’ve lost. That’s where the little-known nutrient pyrroloquinoline quinone, or PQQ, comes in. PQQ triggers your heart cells to build healthy new mitochondria, which produce more fuel so your heart pumps with more energy.It’s hard to get enough PQQ from natural sources. I recommend taking 10 mg of PQQ daily with your CoQ10. To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS References: 1. Wilson P, et al. “High density lipoprotein cholesterol and mortality. The Framingham Heart Study.” Arteriosclerosis. 1988;8(6):737-741. 2. Yogev Y, et al. “Limb girdle muscular disease caused by HMGCR mutation and statin myopathy treatable with mevalonolactone.” PNAS. 2023;120(7):e2217831120. 3. Wilson P, et al. “High density lipoprotein cholesterol and mortality. The Framingham Heart Study.” Arteriosclerosis. 1988;8(6):737-741. 4. Egert S, et al. “Dietary alpha-linolenic acid, EPA, and DHA have differential effects on LDL fatty acid composition but similar effects on serum lipid profiles in normolipidemic humans.” J Nutr. 2009;139(5):861-868. 5. Burke B, et al. “Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of coenzyme Q10 in isolated systolic hypertension.” South Med J. 2001:94(11):1112-1117. 6. Kamikawa T, et al. “Effects of coenzyme Q10 on exercise tolerance in chronic stable angina pectoris.” Am J Cardiol. 1995;56(4):247-251. To read the original article click here.

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The Best Postnatal Vitamins for Mom and Baby

The AHA! Team — Fri, 17 May 2024 08:11:58 +0000

Christine Ruggeri, CHHC via Dr. Axe – You’ve likely read up on the importance of prenatal vitamins and how certain nutrients are needed in higher amounts during pregnancy, but did you know that the same is true even after you’ve given birth? Postnatal vitamins are used to ensure that new moms get the vitamins and minerals they need after giving birth. While eating a healthy, balanced diet is key or maintaining proper macronutrients and micronutrient levels, supplementing with the most important vitamins and minerals can support breastfeeding and recovery after giving birth. What Are Postnatal Vitamins? Postnatal vitamins provide the nutrients that women need during the postpartum period, after giving birth. While it’s important for women to maintain healthy levels of all macro- and micronutrients during this period, some vitamins and minerals play an important role in hormone balance, breast milk supply and healthy energy levels. Typically, a prenatal vitamin can be continued during the months after birth as well. Those nutrients are also needed during breastfeeding and the recovery phase. In essence, these vitamins are beneficial for women during their reproductive years. Best Postnatal Vitamins to Take The nutrients that are most important during pregnancy are also needed after delivery, especially for women who are breastfeeding. Here’s a breakdown of the most important vitamins and minerals for the postnatal period: 1. Iron Iron is an important nutrient during pregnancy and after birth. It helps prevent anemia, which can be exacerbated when a woman loses blood during delivery. If you have low iron levels and you’re taking a pre- or postnatal multivitamin, make sure it includes iron. If not, you can take a separate iron supplement for six to eight weeks after delivery or until your health care provider recommends stopping. The daily recommended intake of iron for women is 18–27 milligrams. 2. Calcium Calcium is needed for mom’s and baby’s bones, so getting enough while breastfeeding is important. Calcium is also needed for the circulatory, muscular and nervous systems to function properly. The recommended daily intake of calcium for pregnant and breastfeeding women is 1,000 milligrams. 3. Vitamin D Research indicates that efforts should be made to optimize vitamin D status in mothers during and after pregnancy to support healthy levels in the infant and mom. Not only do infants need vitamin D for healthy bones and teeth, but the nutrient also impacts women’s brain function, immunity, hormones and mood. Breastfeeding women should get about 600 international units (or 15 micrograms) of vitamin D per day. 4. Choline Choline is a nutrient that plays a role in nerve function, muscle movement, metabolism, energy and several other important body processes. The recommended daily intake for women who are breastfeeding is 550 milligrams of choline. 5. DHA Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential fatty acid that needs to be consumed in food or supplement form to maintain healthy levels. It supports infant development, and studies suggest that there are long-term benefits for infants with higher levels of DHA, including faster development of behavioral functions. Deficits in DHA may lead to learning impairments among infants. Babies get DHA through breast milk, so mothers need to make sure they get enough of the fat in food or supplement form. Breastfeeding women need between 300–900 milligrams of combined DHA and EPA (another omega-3 fats acid) per day. How to Take/Dosage Postnatal vitamins are taken after birth, typically for as long as you’re breastfeeding and your body is recovering from pregnancy. Speak to your doctor or midwife for usage and dosage recommendations for your body and lifestyle specifically. Postnatal multivitamins are available online and at health food stores. You can find them in capsule, gummy and powder forms. Look for a reputable brand, ideally with a USDA Certified Organic label and a full list of ingredients and dosage. If you’re going for a multivitamin, make sure to choose one that includes DHA. When you no longer need postnatal vitamins, you can switch over to a standard multivitamin to ensure that you maintain healthy levels of micronutrients, especially if your diet is lacking in certain areas. Food Sources The best way to maintain healthy levels of vitamins and minerals is by eating a diet rich in colorful, fresh foods, just like the pregnancy diet. Some of the foods that are highest in postnatal nutrients and should be incorporated into a woman’s diet after giving birth include: Yogurt Goat cheese Almonds Walnuts Broccoli Cauliflower Brussels sprouts Kale Spinach Swiss chard While beans Black beans Navy beans Chickpeas Split peas Lentils Wild-caught fish Organic poultry Grass-fed beef Cafe-free eggs Portobello mushrooms Pumpkin seeds Chia seeds Flaxseeds Women also need plenty of water during the postpartum period. Staying hydrated supports breast milk supply, energy levels and overall body function. Keep a water bottle close by throughout the day, and opt for drinking about 12–16 cups of water, depending on how often you nurse. Risks and Side Effects When it comes to getting enough micronutrients for optimal health, supplements aren’t a replacement for a healthy diet. They work best when taken as part of a balanced, healthy diet. Supplements can be used to cover any potential gaps in your diet. If you take any medications, check with your health care provider before using vitamin supplements. If you experience adverse reactions or side effects of a supplement, such as nausea, diarrhea, rash or flushing, discontinue use, and speak to your doctor. Conclusion Postnatal vitamins provide the nutrients that women need during the postpartum period, after giving birth. While it’s important for women to maintain healthy levels of all macro- and micronutrients during this period, some vitamins and minerals play an important role in hormone balance, breast milk supply, mood, brain function and healthy energy levels. Some of the most important nutrients during the post-birth period include iron, calcium, vitamin D, choline and DHA. You can get these vitamins and minerals from leafy greens, organic animal meat, dairy products, nuts and seeds, and legumes. Taking a postnatal supplement can help fill any gaps from your diet. To read the original article click here.

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Strange Link Between Fat and Brain Health

The AHA! Team — Wed, 15 May 2024 08:09:10 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – By age 60, you have a 50/50 chance of having a clinically enlarged prostate. And it only gets worse every year. When your prostate isn’t functioning properly, it’s hard to enjoy life. The color beige gets a bad rap. It’s often described as boring and blah. But when it comes to protecting your brain from the devastation of Alzheimer’s and dementia, beige is beautiful – especially when it comes to fat. Let me explain… Your body produces two types of fat – white and brown. White, or visceral fat, is the deadliest kind of fat you can have. It wraps itself around vital organs in your abdominal cavity, including your intestines, liver, and pancreas, and releases inflammatory signals that interfere with your body’s normal hormone functions. This inflammation is at the root of today’s chronic diseases, including diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke, breast– and dementia.1 On the other hand, brown fat is good for your body. It’s much more active than white fat and plays an important role in burning energy and decreasing the white fat deposits that build up around your organs. We now know that white fat can be transformed into tissue that acts like brown fat. It’s called beige fat. This beige fat protects your brain from dementia by activating anti-inflammatory chemicals called cytokines. In a recent study, researchers at Augusta University in Georgia removed a gene in mice that prevented white fat from turning beige. Before long, the animals only produced deadly visceral fat. Within three months, the mice became obese and developed dementia-like behavior. But when the researchers transplanted healthier fat from young, lean mice into the visceral areas of the genetically modified obese mice, beige fat began to form. Before long the mice began to show signs of improved memory and increased cognition. The researchers described beige fat as being “indispensable” in protecting the brain from dementia. As you know, I’ve recommended supplementing with high doses of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA as a way to reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s for years. DHA produces a compound called neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1). It’s one of the first defenses your body activates when brain cells are threatened.2 Studies show that NPD1 lowers inflammation in the hippocampus. That’s a seahorse-shaped area deep inside your brain. It’s called the “seat of memory.”3 In other words, it helps stop the damage that eats away at your memory function. Not surprisingly, NPD1 levels have been found to be low in the hippocampus of patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. But DHA plays another important role when it comes to brain protection… New research has found that DHA plays an important role in turning white fat beige.4 In typical fashion, scientists working on turning white fat to beige want to use their research to develop new Alzheimer’s drugs or gene-editing technologies. But as history continues to prove, these so-called solutions don’t work. And they’re not needed. It’s possible to get the effect you want without Big Pharma or Big Tech’s interference. 3 Easy Ways To Rev Up Beige Fat For Brain Protection I recommend a few different ways for turning brown fat beige… Increase the amount of DHA you eat. As I said, this fatty acid is essential for brown fat activity. Foods rich in DHA include wild-caught salmon and cold-water fish like herring, anchovies, and sardines. Other good sources are grass-fed beef, pastured poultry, and eggs, avocados, and olive oil. But most people don’t get enough from their diet. I suggest supplementing with 600 mg of DHA a day. The purest sources come from krill and calamari oils Eat foods that activate your brown fat. Ginger contains a compound called gingerol that triggers beige fat to become more active. A study in the International Journal of Cardiology proved that aged garlic extract alters the ratio of brown fat to white fat. And a study from the University of Iowa found that ursolic acid boosted brown fat in mice. Ursolic acid is what gives apple peels their sheen. Exercise is key to bringing your brown-white fat into balance. Exercise boosts the activity of UCP1 proteins. Your muscles also release the hormone irisin after exercise. Irisin helps white fat mimic brown fat. In other words, it makes beige fat. Research presented to the American Diabetes Association found that exercise prompted the browning of fat in men who worked out on exercise bikes. The benefits continued to increase even after the 12-week study ended. To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS References: 1. Björntorp P. “Metabolic difference between visceral fat and subcutaneous abdominal fat.” Diabetes Metab. 2000 Jun;26. 2. Bazan NG, et al. “Docosahexaenoic acid and its derivative neuroprotectin D1 display neuroprotective properties in the retina, brain, and central nervous system.” Nestle Nutr Inst Workshop Ser. 2013;77:121-131. 3. Orr SK, et al. “Unesterified docosahexaenoic acid is protective in neuroinflammation.” J Neurochem. 2013;127(3):378-393. 4. Lund J, Hingstrup L, LauritzenL. “Fish oil as a potential activator of brown and beige fat thermogenesis.” Adipocyte. 2018; 7(2): 88–95. To read the original article click here.

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Shield Your Telomeres with Omega-3

AHA Publisher — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 08:00:27 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – You may recall telomeres are the “caps” that protect the ends of your DNA strands. But with each cellular replication, telomeres grow shorter and shorter… It’s like a clock counting down to zero. The shorter they become, the faster you age and the more vulnerable you are to disease. Researchers at Ohio State University wanted to know if high doses of omega-3s could shield telomeres from the free-radical damage caused by stress. In this case, the researchers gave 138 people difficult problems to solve, then studied their bodies’ reactions. For subjects taking 2.5 grams of omega-3s daily, it was smooth sailing. They had 19% lower cortisol levels and 33% fewer inflammatory proteins than normal.1 But for those taking a placebo instead of omega-3s, oh my! They experienced a 25% drop in telomerase, the enzyme that keeps telomeres long and healthy. That’s alarming because without enough telomerase to repair your telomeres, old age and frailty are right around the corner. They also had a 20% DROP in healthy, anti-inflammatory proteins.2 The group taking omega-3s shrugged off the stress and thrived. The other group was shaken to their genetic core. My question: Which of those groups would you rather be in? Use Omega-3 to Shield Your Telomeres If you follow my work at all, you already know I recommend eating wild-caught salmon and supplementation to get enough omega-3s. The key ingredient to look for is docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. I recommend at least 500 mg of DHA and 60 mg of EPA every day! Look for a supplement powered by high-DHA calamari and krill caught in the pristine waters near the Antarctic. But I want to go beyond that advice today to talk about 3 sources of omega-3s you’ve probably never heard about. These foods that are high in omega-3s will help you and your telomeres breeze through whatever stress life sends your way: Omega-3 Surprise No. 1 – Hempseed. These seeds come from a plant in the cannabis family… but without the psychoactive THC. They offer a nearly ideal ratio between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, estimated at between 2:1 and 3:1.3 That’s highly significant because over the last 75 years the disease-causing omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio has jumped to a stunning 20:1… mostly due to grain-fed cattle and cheap vegetable oils. To counteract this trend, use hempseed whenever you can. I sprinkle it on salads, or you can toss it in soups and stews. Omega-3 Surprise No. 2 – Sacha inchi oil. When I traveled to Peru, I discovered a delicious oil that may be the world’s best kept omega-3 secret. Most vegetable oils have only a minuscule amount of omega-3 – just 1% by volume in olive oil, for example. But sacha inchi oil (plukenetia volubilis), made from the peanut-like seeds of a plant found primarily in the Amazonian Rainforest in Peru, is absolutely one of the best fatty acid sources on the planet – a whopping 48% by volume. The indigenous Asháninka people I visited there cultivate it. It’s also high in protein and antioxidants like vitamin A and E. You’ll find it online and at some health food stores. Omega-3 Surprise No. 3 – Organ Meat. As soon as someone says “omega-3s,” you probably think of fish, not meat. Many readers remain unaware that meat is also an excellent omega-3 source. But not just any meat will do: Unless livestock is 100% grass-fed, its omega-3 content will be negligible. The best cuts are organ meat – liver, heart, and kidneys. These are also packed with other vital nutrients such as CoQ10, B vitamins, and protein. To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS References: 1. Ohio State University (2021, April 20). Omega-3 supplements do double duty in protecting against stress. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from ScienceBlog.com website. 2. Ohio State University (2021, April 20). Omega-3 supplements do double duty in protecting against stress. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from ScienceBlog.com website. 3. Rodriguez-Leyva, D., & Pierce, G. N. (2010). The cardiac and haemostatic effects of dietary hempseed. Nutrition & Metabolism, 7(1), 32. https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-7075-7-32 To read the original article click here.

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Higher Doses of Omega-3 Supplements May Be Needed for Averting Cognitive Decline

AHA Publisher — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 07:00:26 +0000

Keck School of Medicine of USC via News-Medical Net – For years, a scientific puzzle has bedeviled researchers aiming to fight Alzheimer’s disease, a common and incurable form of dementia. The results of numerous lab investigations and population studies support the preventive potential of omega-3 fatty acids, “good fats” found abundantly in fish. However, to date the majority of studies evaluating omega-3s for averting or curtailing cognitive decline in human participants have failed to show benefits. Now, a small clinical trial from USC provides important clues about this discrepancy, in the first Alzheimer’s prevention study to compare levels of omega-3s in the blood with those in the central nervous system. The findings suggest that higher doses of omega-3 supplements may be needed in order to make a difference, because dramatic increases in blood levels of omega-3s are accompanied by far smaller increases within the brain. Among participants who carry a specific mutation that heightens risk for Alzheimer’s, taking the supplements raised levels of a key fatty acid far less compared to those without the mutation. “Trials have been built on the assumption that omega-3s get into the brain,” said senior author Dr. Hussein Yassine, associate professor of medicine and neurology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “Our study was specifically designed to address this question.” The paper was published today in the journal EBioMedicine. The researchers recruited 33 participants who had risk factors for Alzheimer’s but were not cognitively impaired. All participants had a family history of the disease, a sedentary lifestyle and a diet low in fatty fish. Fifteen carried a gene variant called APOE4, which is linked to inflammation in the brain and increases Alzheimer’s risk by a factor of four or more; the other 18 were noncarriers. At random, participants were assigned to a treatment group or control group. Members of the treatment group were asked to take supplements containing more than 2 grams of an omega-3 called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) daily for six months. Control group members took placebos each day over the same period. Participants in both groups also were asked to take daily B-complex vitamins, which help the body process omega-3s. Dr. Yassine and his colleagues gathered samples of blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid — a gauge for whether the omega-3s reached the brain — from participants at the outset, and again at the end of the study period. The scientists looked at levels of two omega-3 fatty acids: DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a potent anti-inflammatory that the body derives from a small portion of its DHA intake. Higher Doses for Omega-3s to Be Effective? The researchers found that at the end of the six months, participants who took omega-3 supplements had 200 percent more DHA in their blood compared to those who took placebos. In contrast, the DHA found in cerebrospinal fluid was only 28 percent higher in the treatment group than the control group. This result hints that measuring omega-3 levels in the blood may not indicate how much is reaching the brain. Dr. Yassine and his co-authors also report that, within the treatment group, those without the risk-inflating APOE4 mutation showed an increase of EPA (anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acid) in their cerebrospinal fluid three times greater than what was seen in carriers of the gene. “E4 carriers, despite having the same dose, had less omega-3s in the brain. This finding suggests that EPA is either getting consumed, getting lost or not getting absorbed into the brain as efficiently with the E4 gene.” (Dr. Hussein Yassine, Associate Professor of Medicine and Neurology, Keck School of Medicine of USC) Notably, the 2-gram dose of DHA in this study far exceeded what has been used in major clinical trials testing the preventive power of omega-3s, which typically administer 1 gram or less daily. “If you use a lower dose, you can expect a less-than-10-percent increase in omega-3s in the brain, which may not be considered meaningful,” Dr. Yassine said. The Sacrifice of Study Participants Advances Alzheimer’s Research The investigators worked for two years to recruit participants for the trial. The barrier to entry came from the only method capable of extracting cerebrospinal fluid: a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap. It proved challenging to find people willing to undergo that procedure, which involves a hollow needle piercing the lower back, two times. Dr. Yassine had high praise for the study participants. “They were generous with their time, and they were courageous to do the lumbar punctures,” he said. “The main reason they did this was their desire to advance science.” The participants’ bravery may pay off in the creation of even more knowledge about omega-3s and Alzheimer’s. The preliminary data from the current study was intriguing enough that the scientists were able to attract funding for a larger trial for which recruitment is underway. Following 320 participants over two years, it will examine whether high doses of omega-3s can slow cognitive decline in carriers of the APOE4 gene. Dr. Yassine believes that the progression from a small study to a bigger one is a good model for developing therapies and preventions targeting the brain. “These pilot studies are so important as a step toward much larger, more complicated studies,” he said. “The bottom line is, before you embark upon very expensive clinical trials, you need to show proof of concept, that your drug is getting into the brain and changing biomarkers of disease in the right direction.” To read the original article click here.

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