In this issue:
HealthBeat Weekly Update:
US Government Urges Higher Omega-3 Consumption
Health Protocol:
Heart Disease, Stroke, and Disease Prevention with Omega-3 fatty Acids
Hot Flashes:
Medical Updates, week of September 22, 2003:
* Exercise Improves Diabetes Regardless of Weight
* Parathyroid hormone alone as effective as drugs for treating osteoporosis
* Stress: Warning Signs and Symptoms
Featured Supplements:
Maxi Multi, Max-EPA, Flax Oil, Whole Flax Seed, Flax Seed Starter Kit
Coming next issue: 10 tips for managing stress; how to increase your metabolism; PLUS… the latest-breaking medical news.
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HealthBeat Weekly Update
US Government Urges Higher Omega-3 Consumption
The “Old Line”: No Correlation Between Fat Intake and Heart Disease
Once upon a time, the U.S. Government stated that there was no relationship between dietary fat intake and artery disease. Not only did the government publish their opinion, they enforced it at gunpoint.
The basis for this proclamation was an edict by the FDA that made it illegal to even imply that fats and oils played a role in heart and vascular disease. According to the FDA, making any statement about fat consumption and heart attack risk constituted “misbranding,” a serious criminal offense. To quote:
“The advisability of making extensive changes in the nature of the dietary fat intake of the people of this country has not been demonstrated. It is therefore the opinion of the Food and Drug Administration that any claim, direct or implied, in the labeling of fats and oils or other fatty substances offered to the general public that they will prevent, mitigate or cure diseases of the heart or arteries is false or misleading, and constitutes misbranding within the meaning of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.”* [*Federal Register: December 12, 1959. Reaffirmed by the FDA in the Federal Register: May 18, 1965].
The “New Line” on Fats: There IS a Correlation
On May 27, 2003, The White House urged government health to encourage Americans to increase their consumption of omega-3 fatty acid containing foods and decrease their intake of trans fatty acids. The release issued by the Executive Office of The President reads:
“Health researchers have found that Americans can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease with a modest change in their diets. The government should make this life-saving information as widely available as possible.”
This memo cited the “growing body of scientific evidence, both experimental and epidemiological, that suggests that consumption of trans fatty acids increases the risk of coronary heart disease.”
Why So Long?
The heart-protective benefits of cold-water fish have been known for over 20 years, yet the FDA has censored this information based on the junk food industry’s political and monetary clout. It has taken seven years of legal battles between certain factions of the holistic health (non-junk food) industry and the FDA to finally bring this information to public view.
The New Skinny on Essential Fats
Even a modest intake of Omega-3 fats, as found in fish oil, significantly reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death. According to The White House:
“Since coronary heart disease kills over 500,000 Americans each year, even a small improvement in dietary habits could save thousands of lives.”
This “opinion” is certainly understated, since The American Heart Association published a study of 11,323 heart attack patients showing that those who took a 1000 mg fish oil supplement every day were 45% less likely to be dead at the end of 3.5 years.
Approximately 300,000 of the annual heart attack fatalities are the “sudden death” variety. Omega-3 fatty acids found in cold water fish oils are especially protective against these “sudden death” type of heart attacks. Studies show that as few as two fish meals a week reduce heart attack risk by half.
In the opinion of the Life Extension Foundation:
“If all Americans regularly took fish oil supplements or ate about two cold-water fish meals a week, it could prevent about 150,000 sudden death heart attacks a year. During the seven years it took to litigate the fish oil health claim against the FDA, over one million preventable sudden death heart attacks were suffered by American citizens.”
References
1. Iso H, et al. Intake of fish and omega-3 fatty acids and risk of stroke in women. JAMA 2001 Jan 17;285(3):304-12.
2. Sinclair AJ, et al. Marine lipids: overview news insights and lipid composition of Lyprinol. Allerg Immunol (Paris) 2000 Sep;32 (7):261-71.
3.) Thorngren M, et al. Effects of 11-week increases in dietary eicosapentaenoic acid on bleeding time, lipids and platelet aggregation. Lancet (England) Nov 28 1981, 2 (8257) p1190-3.
4. Yam D, et al. The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Harefuah 2001 Dec;140(12):1156-8, 1230.
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Protocol
Heart Disease, Stroke, and Disease Prevention with Omega-3 fatty Acids
The following protocol should be consideration by people wanting to decrease their risk of heart disease:
1. An optimal dose multivitamin/mineral supplement such as Wellness Club’s Maxi Multi should be taken daily to fulfill basic nutritional requirements and replace depleted antioxidants. The recommended dosage is 9 Capsules per day.
2. Essential fatty acids found in cold water fish, especially salmon, mackerel, sardines and herring have been shown to decrease risk of sudden cardiac death, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. Max EPA contains a balanced combination of fatty acids that have shown the most potent anti-inflammatory effects. Six Capsules daily of Max EPA are recommended. As an alternative, 6-12 Capsules daily of Flax Oil, or 2 TBS. Daily of ground Flax Seed, may be used.
3. Two servings per week of Essential Fatty Acid containing fish is recommended. Wild-caught salmon, even canned, is a good source. Use like you would use tuna fish. Mackerel, herring and sardines are also good sources of Omega-3 fatty acids.
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Featured Supplements
Optimal potency multiple formula. This comprehensive formula includes multiple B-complex vitamins, antioxidant nutrients, a full daily dose of bone-building nutrients (calcium, magnesium, born, vitamin D) and Bioflavonoids. If you only take one supplement this should be THE ONE! The addition of Plant Enzymes ensures absorption of nutrients. This formula is hypoallergenic and suitable for even highly sensitive individuals. B complex vitamins (especially B6, B12 and folic acid), magnesium, bioflavonoids, otassium and antioxidants are especially important for heart-health.
Natural marine lipids (fish oils) in soft gel Capsules supplying high potency Omega-3 fatty acids. Processed at low temperatures without chemicals.
The richest source of alpha-linolenic acid, an essential Omega-3 fatty acid. Only 100% certified organic flax seed is used, and the oil is mechanically cold-pressed below 96 degrees to ensure potency and purity (Flax oil is heat and light-sensitive).
Whole flax seeds, ground to a meal, are one of the best ways to obtain Omega-3 fatty acids. Consider these benefits: I.) Flax oil is fragile and goes rancid quickly after processing. When the Omega-3’s are released from freshly ground flax seeds, the oil is absolutely fresh. (The unground seed is very stable). Hence, no problems with rancidity! II.) Lignans: a special class of fiber found in some vegetables and especially high in flax seed. Lignans are anti-cancer agents that help keep hormone levels balanced. Lignans may be more powerful than the anti-cancer drug Tamoxifen for lowering/normalizing female estradiols. ( Potent estrogens associated with cancer). Lignans also add to daily fiber intake and help improve bowel tone and function, and may help protect against colon cancer.
To order from Wellness Club: Click on any underlined link to be taken to the product order page.
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Hot Flashes: Medical Updates week of Sept. 22, 2003
Exercise Improves Diabetes Regardless of Weight
Men and women who exercise 3 hours per week (such as walking for 30 minutes per day, 6 times a week), are far less likely to develop type II diabetes, whether they are overweight or not. These benefits are seen in both men and women. Dr. Myatt’s comment: Yet another reason to get off your duff and get moving! It doesn’t need to be strenuous, exhaustive or take hours a day. There are many benefits to moderate exercise, and diabetes prevention can be added to the list! (Ref: Amer Jour of Epidemiology, Oct. 2003)
Parathyroid hormone alone as effective as drugs for treating osteoporosis
Combining parathyroid hormone with the osteoporosis drug alendronate does not seem to increase bone density any more than parathyroid hormone alone.
“It looks like you don’t see the synergism or additive effect that we had hoped to see,” said Dennis Black, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco, and the study’s lead investigator.
Dr. Myatt’s comment: If parathyroid hormone (a naturally-produced hormone in the body) works as well as drug for osteoporosis, why isn’t that the treatment of choice? Hint: osteo. drugs make the pharmaceutical companies a LOT of money, but a natural hormone cannot be patented. You do the math.
This study was published in the online version of the New England Journal of Medicine ahead of schedule to coincide with presentations at a meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research and appears in the print journal on 25 September (2003;349: 1019-26).
Stress: Warning Signs and Symptoms
You’ve probably heard that excess stress is harmful, and information continues to stream from scientific studies about the precise effects of stress on our bodies. Here are the physical symptoms that can be caused by stress:
- Dizziness or a general feeling of “being out of it”
- General aches and pains
- Grinding teeth, clenched jaw
- Headaches
- Indigestion
- Increase in or loss of appetite
- Muscle tension in neck, face or shoulders
- Problems sleeping
- Racing heart
- Cold and sweaty palms
- Tiredness, exhaustion
- Trembling/shaking
- Weight gain or loss
- Upset stomach
- Sexual difficulties
Health effects of stress include:
- Forty-three percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress.
- Seventy-five to 90% of all doctor’s office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints.
- Stress is linked to six of the leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide.
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) declared stress a hazard of the workplace. In terms of lost hours due to absenteeism, reduced productivity and workers’ compensation benefits, stress costs American industry more than $300 billion annually.
- The lifetime prevalence of an emotional disorder is more than 50%, often due to chronic, untreated stress reactions.
Coming next issue:10 tips for managing stress; how to increase your metabolism; PLUS… the latest-breaking medical news.
