It is a common misconception that dietary fat is bad for you and should be avoided at all costs. In fact, fats are essential for numerous body functions, including cell membrane repair, body warmth, organ protection and energy; some vitamins, appropriately called fat-soluble vitamins, actually need fat to dissolve and be absorbed by your body. ...Continue reading
Tag: cholesterol
Prevent Stroke: Non-Invasive Ways to Help
Each year in the United States, 785,000 people suffer a stroke. Furthermore, it is the fourth leading cause of death and its consequences are among the top causes of disability in the U.S. The good news is that there are preventative measures you can take to reduce your risk of stroke, and most of them...Continue reading
Taking a Statin for Cholesterol? Relaaax….
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a warning about a possible connection between statin drugs and reversible cognitive impairment, such as dementia (including Alzheimer’s), memory, attention, and mental processing speed. If you heard about those FDA warnings—and a lot of people did—you may have been tempted to stop taking the drugs. Don’t.Continue reading
Weight Loss? There May Be a Pill for That
Anyone who’s ever tried to lose weight has wished they could pop a pill and be done with the whole thing. And we have no doubt that whoever invents that pill will make billions. Over the years, there have been a few drugs that helped with weight management, but in most cases, the side-effects were...Continue reading
Statin vs Stabbin’: Is There a Better Way to Lower Cholesterol?
For most people with high cholesterol, statin drugs are remarkably successful in reducing it. But if you’re taking a statin and you aren’t seeing the results you expected (or need), there may be another option: an injection of a new class of drug called “PCSK9 inhibitors.”
Deadly Differences: Women and Men are NOT the Same
We all know that men live shorter, less-healthy lives than women. Part of the problem is that men’s and women’s bodies respond differently to the same condition. And far too often, those differences kill. The bottom line is that despite attempts to treat men and women the same way, we’re different. And those differences often...Continue reading
Put down the Wine, Buddy, and Back away Real Slow…
Over the years, there have been dozens of studies that document the health benefits of resveratrol, a natural chemical found in the skin of red grapes, pomegranates, and elsewhere. Those benefits include improving cardiovascular functioning, reducing diabetes symptoms, heart attack and cancer risks, lowering cholesterol, slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s, and generally protecting against age-related...Continue reading
Are Statins the New Miracle Drug?
If you’re between 40 and 60 and aren’t taking a statin drug, talk to your healthcare provider about getting a prescription. Statins are typically prescribed for patients who have high cholesterol or some other risk factor of heart disease. But a new report has found that middle-aged men who don’t have heart disease can benefit...Continue reading
Could Ikea Be the Next Health Food Store?
The Mediterranean diet—rich in beans, fish, fresh vegetables, nuts, olive oil, and whole grains—is widely considered a heart-healthy way to lower cholesterol, lose weight, and reduce a variety of health risks. The diet is based on traditional foods eaten in Greece, southern Italy, and Spain. But what if you live someplace where cultural differences and...Continue reading
Drug News: If You’re Taking Statins for Cholesterol or Beta Blockers for Hypertension, Read This.
Statin drugs are remarkably successful in reducing cholesterol for millions of men. They’ve also helped lower the risk of other cardiovascular events (such as heart attack and stroke). But, as with just about everything else in life, there’s the Law of Unintended Consequences. One of those consequences is severe muscle pain and weakness. And a...Continue reading