A recent NIH study assessing the effectiveness of Niaspan (a niacin supplement used to decrease triglycerides and raise HDL cholesterol) was terminated early because of concerns it may actually be harming patients. This also puts into question whether Tricor, another triglyceride lowering agent actuallys prevents heart disease. I follow a simple rule with patients when …
A Brief Overview of Atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis is a process of chronic inflammation of the cells lining the arterial walls. Overtime, scar-like tissue builds up with some deposition of calcium and small dense cholesterol molecules in the tissue. Ultimately, the inflamed atherosclerotic lesion can rupture, a blood clot suddenly forms and an individual will experience a heart …
The Problem According to the American Heart Association, more than 910,000 Americans still die of heart disease annually. And more than 70 million Americans live every day with some form of heart disease which can include high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, angina (chest pain), heart attack and congenital heart defects. The Myth “Being overweight or …
The Study The Women’s Health Initiative was a massive study launched in 1991 to evaluate the health benefits for women if they ate less fat in their diet. This is one of the largest nutritional studies ever done. The study involved almost 50,000 women, some of who were placed on a low-fat, high fruit, vegetable …
Low Fat Dieting Can Increase Heart Disease in Women Read More »
My recent post, Saturated (Animal) Fat Does Not Cause Heart Disease has generated numerous e-mails and comments that seem to focus on the connection between our dietary cholesterol intake and the fact that vascular plaques that lead to arterial blockage also contain cholesterol. One read wrote, “If dietary fat intake doesn’t lead to increased cholesterol …
A Reply To Comments About ‘Saturated (Animal) Fat Does Not Cause Heart Disease’ Read More »
Ever since 1953 when a physiologist named Ancel Keys, Ph.D. compared fat intake and deaths from heart disease in seven countries including the U.S., the American medical establishment has clung to an unproven belief that saturated fat was evil. But in 1957, Jacob Yerushalmy, Ph.D. established this research was false and that Keys was guilty of only …
Saturated (Animal) Fat Does Not Cause Heart Disease Read More »
Many patients I see in my practice are taking fish oil supplements and don’t really understand why they are beneficial but just that everyone seems to recommend taking them. Fish and certain plant and nut oils are common natural sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Fatty acids are special molecules that have a wide array of …
What are the Symptoms of Insulin Resistance? People may have Insulin Resistance for several years without noticing anything. But in many individuals, Insulin Resistance causes a wide variety of common symptoms we often attribute to other medical circumstances. These symptoms often occur because of an imbalance of your autonomic nervous system. Common symptoms from autonomic …
Does Insulin Resistance Have Any Symptoms and What Is Metabolic Syndrome? Read More »
What Causes Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome? The last 20 years has seen an epidemic rise in Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes Mellitus in the United States. Extensive research has helped us to understand that the combination of high carbohydrate diets, lack of exercise and increased portion sizes has lead to this problem. Prehistoric humans …
If I Have Insulin Resistance or Metabolic Syndrome, How Can I Make It Go Away? Read More »
Surprisingly, as little as 30 minutes of secondhand tobacco smoke is as bad for the blood vessels of your heart as actually smoking a pack a day of cigarettes! This was one of the unspoken reasons why cities where trying to ban smoking in public places. The good news is that 90% of the risk …
Many of my patients with heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure have been warned at various times in their lives to avoid caffeinated coffee. They’ve been told that drinking caffeinated coffee could make these medical conditions worse. They’ve even been told that it might cause cancer. Well’ I’m here to clear up the coffee …
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