Update 12/6/22. At one time, Anatabloc was a SUPER popular anti-inflammation supplement. It was sold online and at GNC and elsewhere. It was touted to help reduce pain, help joints and arthritis pain, and reduce chronic inflammation. Anatabloc was unique. It contained an ingredient not found in any other supplement I've EVER seen in over 20 years of investigation. This unique ingredient also contributed to its own downfall. In this unbiased, updated review, I reveal everything you need to know about Anatabloc, from its rise – and fall – to the research and proof and the company which made it. I'll also shed light on other anatabloc supplements too.
What Is Anatabloc
Before we talk about Anatabloc (sometimes misspelled Anatablock), I need to tell you about Anatabine (also called anatabine citrate). Anatabine is the active ingredient in Anatabloc. Anatabine is a chemical found in
- eggplants
- potatoes
- green tomatoes
as well as tobacco and tobacco smoke (remember this).
Chemically, anatabine “looks” like nicotine. Because of this, it was also used some anti-smoking supplements. Anatabine has a longer half life than nicotine, so it stays in the body longer. That's why it was thought it might help people quit smoking.
How Does Anatabloc Work?
Here is the way Anatabloc was supposed to reduce chronic inflammation:
1. Anatabine enters the cells of the body where it…
2. Deactivates a protein called NFkB.
3. When NFkB is deactivated, it can't enter the nucleus of the cell (the brain center of the cell) to cause excessive cellular inflammation.
Inflammation is thought to play a role in MANY diseases, such as:
and many others.
So, if Anabloc worked, it might have disease-modifying benefits. If you read the comments below, you will see some people have said some pretty amazing things too.
Anatabloc Ingredients
Anatabloc contains these ingredients
| Anatabine | 1 mg |
| Vitamin A | 500 IU |
| Vitamin D3 | 40 IU |
This review will focus only on Anatabine because this is “secret sauce” in Anatabloc.
Other Ingredients
These other ingredients are also found in this supplement: Mannitol, natural and artificial mint flavors, sucralose, silicon dioxide, stearic acid, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide (color), natural glaze, methylparaben, propylparaben, triethyl citrate, citric acid, BHT, mono and diglycerides, and polysorbate 80
These ingredients played no role in the results or benefits of Anatabloc.
Anatabloc Research
When this review was originally created, the proof for Anatabloc was mostly on lab animals. There is now human proof. This review will focus only on human research. Much of the research is on Anatabine, which is an active ingredient in Anatabloc. Still, proof for anatabine is proof for Antabloc.
Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals (more on them below) supports and plays a role in much of the research.
Studies On Anatabloc
In one report, researchers in the US gave Anatabloc or a placebo to 146 people with Hashimoto's disease – the most common form of hypothyroidism. People were given 9-24 mg of anatabine in the form of lozenges. Those taking Anatabloc saw a significant reduction in thyroid autoantibodies.
Some people saw over a 20% decrease in thyroid autoantibodies. This means better working thyroid glands.
One small study (10 people) noted a face cream containing anatabine improved skin appearance, reducing redness and blotchy skin appearance. This does make some sense. Niacin, which looks a little bit like anatabine has been used in skin creams for years.
Niacin is also VERY popular in the anti-aging world. See the Niagen review for more on this.
Anatabine cigarettes have been shown to reduce nicotine levels in smokers significantly. This study reflects the interest in using anatabine to help people quit smoking.
Because inflammation follows exercise, researchers were interested in seeing if anatabine would reduce inflammation after people worked out. In this study, 18 men were given either a placebo or 6-12 mg of anatabine per day for 10 days. They also performed an intense exercise program.
Unfortunately, this noted anatabine did not reduce pain, or swelling or help muscle strength. This is noteworthy, given TV commercials featuring pro golfers John Isner and Fred Couples.
In another exercise study, researchers gave Anatabloc or a placebo to 17 men. The dosage of Anatabloc used was 6-12 mg. While these researchers saw that Anatabloc did not reduce exercise-induced muscle damage, it did appear to reduce markers of inflammation such as C reactive protein (CRP). That is interesting.
Preliminary research suggests anatabine activates NFR2, a substance that raises naturally produced antioxidant defenses such as superoxide dismutase (SOD). This is at the heart of some proposed anti-aging supplements, such as Protandim and PB125.
There are also several lab animals and test-tube studies involving Anatabloc/anatabine. I won't cover them here because we are people and not mice, rats or test tubes.
Summary Of Anatabloc Research
Here is a summary of the Anatabloc human research:
- Anatabine reduced thyroid antibodies in people with hypothyroidism
- Anatabine lowers nicotine levels in smokers
- Anatibine did not reduce muscle damage, pain, or swelling but may lower CPR levels
Anatabloc Questions
Let's now answer some common questions people have asked me about this supplement.
Can Anatabloc help muscle soreness?
Muscle soreness after exercise (DOMS) is very common. Currently, the proof seems to show Anatabloc doesn't reduce muscle soreness, swelling or muscle damage. It may reduce a blood test marker of inflammation called CRP. I think we need more exercise research.
Can Anatabloc Help Concussions?
There is brain inflammation when someone gets a concussion. But there is no proof that taking Anatabloc:
- reduces the risk of getting a concussion
- improves recovery time after getting a concussion
- reduces brain damage from concussions
I cannot find any research involving anatabine and concussions.
In December 2013, the FDA sent a warning letter to Star Scientific – makers of Anatabloc – telling them to remove references on their websites which gave people the impression the supplement might help concussions and other forms of traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
For more on concussions and TBI see these reviews:
Can Anatabloc Help Multiple Sclerosis?
The proof that Anatabloc can help MS is in its infancy. There is some mouse evidence it may help, but no human studies have been conducted yet.
What About Anataboc and Weight Loss?
Websites might discuss how anatabine/Anatabloc can help people lose weight or reduce weight gain, which sometimes happens when people quit smoking. But there is no good proof for this. No study has looked at reducing gaining weight after quitting smoking.
What is CigRx?
This is the anti-smoking product Star Scientific was developing before it began researching anatabine for arthritis pain and other health problems. CigRx contains anatabine too.
Anatabloc Dosage
The general recommendation is to take 2 lozenges per day. Do not use more than 6 lozenges per day. Another dosage recommendations= take your body weight into consideration. Here the Anatabloc dosages would be:
- 100-120 lbs: 2 lozenges 3x per day
- 121-170lbs: 2 lozenges 4x per day
- 171-220lbs: 2 lozenges 5x per day
- over 220lbs: 2 lozenges 6x per day
I've never seen this dosage regimen used in human studies. So, I'm not sure how accurate this is.
Who Makes Anatabloc?
Anatabloc is a product of a company called Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals. Another name for this company is Star Scientific. Star Scientific was the original name of the company. When the research changed directions from looking at Anatabine as a cure for smoking to helping arthritis pain, the company changed its name to Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals.
The phone number for the company was 800-778-2031. The company website was Anatabloc.com (the website no longer works). When this review was originally created, the Better Business Bureau listed the company address as 4470 Cox Rd Ste 110, Glen Allen, VA 23060.
There is also a connection to another company called the RosKamp Institute, located in Florida. Some of the research on Anatabloc has been conducted by this company too.
The company has since filed for bankruptcy and is no longer making Anatabloc supplements.
Should I Invest In Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals?
Star Scientific formally changed its name to Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals in 2014. Its stock symbol is RCPI. It's a publicly traded company. Regardless of what you invest in, do your homework.
Be careful with “gurus” who talk stocks up on websites, as you don't always know who you are dealing with. Sometimes unscrupulous people say things about a company to create interest so they can pump the stock price up so they can dump it for a profit. This trick is sometimes called “pump and dump.” Unless you’re an investing pro (think Warren Buffett), I recommend you talk to a financial advisor before risking any money.
Anatabloc And The FDA
Many people think the FDA does not regulate supplements. Anatabloc is proof it does. Almost from the start, the FDA claimed anatabine contained a new dietary ingredient (NDI). A new dietary ingredient is any substance that was not sold as a supplement before 1994.
Products containing new dietary ingredients need to prove to the FDA they are safe. There is also the issue that anatabine is found in tobacco. Tobacco cannot be called a dietary supplement. I think this may also have played a role in the demise of Anatabloc.
Rock Creek pharmaceuticals state that because anatabine is found in things like peppers and eggplants, it is not new and can be sold as a supplement. In the end, the FDA won, and Rock Creek stopped making Anatabloc.
Calls To Bring Back The Sale Of Anatabloc
Problems with the FDA have not stopped people from hoping for the return of Anatabloc.
This has not stopped people who loved Anatabloc from continuing to hold out hope. Former customers have launched a petition at Change.org to petition the FDA to reverse their decision and let Anatabloc be sold again.
They created the website BringBackAnatabloc.org where you can share your testimony of how the supplement helped you, sign an FDA petition to bring Anatabloc back, and read news about the supplement.
How To Buy Anatabloc: Can You Still Purchase It?
While this supplement was once VERY popular and sold at GNC and other stores, it is no longer permitted to be sold in the US. The FDA forced Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals to stop the production of Anatabloc.
Anatabloc Supplements
While Anatabloc is no longer able to be purchased in the US, I did notice other companies selling supplements said to contain anatabine.
One such company is HydraPharm (PredatorNutrition.com). They sell a supplement literally called “Anatablok” which they say contains “pure anatabine.” Predator Nutrition is not based in the US. I am not sure if they are allowed to ship their Anatablok supplement to the US.
The supplement is marked as an anti-inflammatory nootropic (brain enhancer) used to support memory and attention.
The Va Governor Controversy
As if things could not get worse, Rock Creek Pharm found itself at the center of a very public controversy involving the former Virginia governor, Robert McDonnell, and his wife. It's alleged Rock Creek gave $165,000 in gifts to the former Va governor and his wife in exchange for helping Rock Creek's development of Anatabloc.
Anatabloc Side Effects
Anatabloc is probably safe for healthy people, at least for short-term use. Human research shows no significant negative side effects. Mild to moderate side effects reported have included:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Tingling feelings
- Insomnia
In the comments section below, one person reported feelings of depression. This has not been observed in clinical studies.
Does Anatabloc Work?
Despite the problems with the FDA, several people swore Anatabloc worked. I never experimented with it when it was being sold and the only person I knew who did try it told me it did not reduce his pain. Pain is complicated and its possible others may have had better results.
Unfortunately, Anatabolc supplements are no longer available in the US. While, in the past, I have been rather hard on this supplement and Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, I was sad it was taken off the market. I am happy to see some human research on anatabine, look forward to more and hope one day to see it sold once again.
Have you seen this Forbes article that came out recently on Rock Creek and Anabloc? forbes.com/sites/davidkroll/2014/01/31/whats-the-dope-on-anatabine-in-star-scientifics-anatabloc-and-cigrx/
Jennifer, I did see it actually. I’m sure Rock Creek Pharm is probably not happy with all the stuff with the VA Governor.
All IMHO —————
The best part of the article is in the comment section. The comment(s) by “Ben There” is the best factual summary I have read re: Anatabine / Anatabloc of late. Very will presented based on facts and knowledge from following the Company for ~14 years. ( Full disclosure, “Ben There” owns stock in Star Scientific and has experienced the benefits of Anatabloc ever since Anatabine was made available in CigRx.) [BTW: I’m not “Ben There” who wrote the comments.]
If you all have read the Forbes article without reading “Ben There”‘s comment(s), please go back and fully digest the comments to the article by “Ben There”. He knows the facts and presents them well.
Have a great week and stay healthy with Anatabloc.
I’ve seen the antics of this company from the beginning and just have to wait it out as to where Anatabloc will “land”….damn shame as it’s helped many as has been reported……helped me for 4 months and just stopped….I still take some daily….but disappointed…..too pricey too for my wallet….
Hi Joe,
Thanks for taking the time to review the available information about Anatabloc. I had heard about Anatabloc through an investment letter where the author was looking for breakthrough technologies. Through his research, including use of the product, he became convinced that the product had significant benefits for at least some suffering from inflammatory type disease.
As I have been having symptoms of osteoarthritis for years, I ordered it as soon as it became available: Sept 2011. Have been using it since. It used to be that getting up in the morning was a painful process, with some days being really bad. Within a couple weeks of use, I found that some days I had absolutely no joint pain nor stiffness, some days only a minor amount.
Now as the aging process continues (I am 61), minor joint stiffness (and minor pain) occurs most mornings, but still much less than before use of Anatabloc. I am even able to practice martial arts…I do not think I would be doing so without Anatabloc. I have told three other people about the product, two have had benefit and are continuing users, one had no benefit.
It is unfortunate that the sale of this product could cease (due to FDA concerns about the claims), as for me it has truly been a breakthrough technology.
Mark, Im glad Anatabloc is helping you! For what its worth, I dont think they will be prevented from selling Anatabloc. Even though though the company has had some issues (FDA, Virginia Governors controversy) the company still has more going for it than a lot of others out there. I would be surprised if the FDA stopped the sale of Anatabloc.
Thanks Joe. I hope you are right. I do find it interesting that the new CEO was the leader of the testing institute that conducted some of the prior research. Hopefully this means that he liked what he observed during the testing protocols. BTW…thanks for correcting some misspelled words in my prior comment.
Mark, yes, when I learned about the RosKamp institute connection, I separated out all of their studies from the rest for those who might be wondering about it also.
Glad to help with the spelling. Truth be told, I’ve got my share of typos too lol
Those who use anatabloc, recently notice its less effective. Its true, the first bottles had 200 tablets and said take 1 a couple of times a day. (worked great) Newer bottles have 300 tablets and say take 2 a couple of times a day, its very weak. I wish some one else ran the company.
Good Grief, others are saying it’s less effective???? I know FOR SURE, for the months of Jan-April 2013 I was doing so good on it, at first took 6 per day, then did up to 8 per day…could the ingredients have been changed….WHO KNOWS….there had been so much changes in dosing, etc…along the early months when I started with it. I felt so GOOD for a few months and then it stopped for me……I was spreading the word like crazy for a while and now I can’t hardly mention it….I can’t talk something up that isn’t working for me…..and then of course, all the political cwap……too bad….
I suffer from sciatica and have done self testing by going off of Anatabloc from time to time. After a few days the lower back and leg pain starts to come back enough to be annoying. I weigh 250 lbs. I then return to taking 2 tabs 3 times a day. Clears up the pain and I run around like I used too.
Also note that for over a year now I have not taken any Tylenol or Ibuprofen. I used to take them daily. My wife tried A after watching my improvement this year. She is a believer too. One day I started to tell my Dentist about me taking A and he interrupted me and told me about his positive experience regarding his lower back problems….That made for a nice visit comparing notes.
Lots of people have the same complaint. ” it worked great then not so much”. I’ll tell u why, the first bottles had 200 tablets with the real stuff. Then the corrupt and greedy CEO to cut the strength in half and put 300 in the bottles, which means your paying for crap. Taking 1 two or three times a day worked well. Now the dosage says 2 pills 3 times a day. So what does that tell u?
I agree, your right!
Hi Taswell,
I have not noticed a significant decrease in effectiveness. My understanding was that with experience the company felt they could safely increase the dosage based on body weight. Sure, in the two plus years of use I continue to age, and it is true that I do not have the “rush” of feeling so much better than before, because I have almost forgotten what before was like. However, I can say that I have no interest in trying the experiment of stopping use to see if all the pain returns…so I still remember some of it! Has any satisfied user considered or explored purchase in bulk…perhaps as a hedge against manufacturing stoppage?
I was feeling so good in the beginning, it was like a HIGH and in spite of the price I was still going to stay with it as I felt so good….and I’m aging too like all of us, but if it was doing what it was supposed to be doing modulating inflammation, why did it quit….and I eat very healthy and do my best to avoid inflammatory foods, but almost everything we eat is inflammation causing, unless one wants to live on lettuce…
Some were telling me to take 10-12 per day, forget that….
How does one buy in bulk?
Can Anatabine be found elsewhere?
I am very disappointed and just don’t TRUST the star people, how can one?
Star hasn’t done anything wrong. Their old CEO plied the old governor of VA whom BTW is a user of Anatabloc. The guy was going to advocate for government employees to go on Anatabloc to help reduce HC cost. The governor didn’t report some gifts from the CEO, not Star.
Re the benefits of Anatabloc wearing off. If you took the time to research the affects of anatabine on chronic systemic inflammation, you would continue to take it knowing the harmful affects of chronic inflammation has on the body systems. I do. The best part is I don’t feel any different except for no more chronic arthritis pain and no more sinusitis symptoms. Note you have to dose appropriate to your body weight and always under the tongue which is why I switched to unflavored.
Joe, I had almost finished my response to you when I clicked on the first link you provided purportedly showing that supplements don’t work. When I did so, my response disappeared. But here is what that first link showed: “CONCLUSIONS: Long-term supplementation with alpha-tocopherol substantially reduced prostate cancer incidence and mortality in male smokers.”
I don’t know what the heck you’re talking about.
I have spent so much time on this and don’t have time to recreate it again after losing my entire previous email because of a problem with your website. I am exasperated, Joe. You apparently just skim over, at best, what I write, because you keep repeating the same thing as though I never wrote anything. At the end, you advised me to eat a salad regularly. HOLY MOSES AND ABRAHAM, HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO REPEAT THAT I EAT A LARGE SALAD DAILY, AS WELL AS FRUIT AND A VEGETABLE? AND I THINK THEY HAVE BIG HEALTH BENEFITS. MY POINT IS THAT A PERSON WITH 70 PERCENT ARTERIAL BLOCKAGE ISN’T GOING TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM WITH A DAILY SALAD. AND THERE IS PLENTY OF EVIDENCE THAT QUALITY DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS WORK, ENOUGH THAT A PERSON WITH A LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION OUGHT TO TRY THEM. And for you to discourage that is, I think, highly irresponsible.
I just returned from an authors luncheon where one of the speakers was Raymond Francis, a chemist. A man of 76 in great shape, he said his doctor in 1991 told him he was going to die of the cancer he had; nothing could be done. He began to do research and cured himself. His books are “Never Fear Cancer Again,” “Never Be Sick Again,” “Never Be Fat Again,” and “Never Feel Old Again.” He said that since recovering from cancer in 1991, he has been sick twice: He had two colds. I spoke with him afterward and told him I take 36 supplements a day. He said he takes 100. All of the tests show his age in terms of health is in the 20s. And now I envision your hands flying over the keyboard, forming the words, “But did he do any peer-reviewed studies?”
I don’t know, but he sure did a hell of a lot of research. In the back of “Never Fear Cancer Again” are 10 pages of references in quite-small type, approximately 25 on a page, or 250 total. They cite respected scientific papers, such as this random example: “Supplemental Ascorbate in the Supportive Treatment of Cancer: Prolongation of Survival Times in Terminal Human Cancer,” which appeared in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences; and this one in the same journal 27 years later: Pharmacologic Ascorbic Acid Concentrations Selectively Kill Cancer Cells: Action as a Pro-Drug to Deliver Hydrogen Peroxide to Tissues.”
You cite the words in the Peterson study to which the biopharmsci guy referred, “many of the benefits as well as potential adverse effects remain to be examined,” and put total weight on that remark but none on the first part: “IN VITRO AND IN VIVO STUDIES HAVE DEMONSTRATED CONVINCINGLY that dietary supplementation of phytochemicals has beneficial effects against certain types of pathogenesis, disease, cancer, and aging’.”
I guess you’re saying the last part invalidates the first part. And that last part, the “benefits remain to be examined,” is not saying they’re not real. Also, what does he mean by “potential adverse effects”? He’s not providing any evidence they exist, just saying that they should be examined, as with any study. So you see, Joe, you are trying to bend the facts to support your argument. Very unscientific, but that’s what a lot of supposedly scientific studies do.
Except for the effect of beta carotene on smokers, what other evidence have you found of deleterious effects of supplements? We know that every drug has some, and they’re often quite dangerous. Yet the data on bad effects of supplements is sparse.
And the biopharmasci guy wasn’t making any claims about supplements. He was citing the Peterson study. As for his company’s selling supplements, his remarks supporting fruits and vegetables as more beneficial than supplements doesn’t sound like a sales pitch to me. The New York Times? That paper would not carry the opinions of someone who is not highly respected and has the credentials to opine.
But I know, you don’t care about anything except peer-reviewed studies. Be happy in your myopia, Joe.
Robert
I can assure you I’m not skimming over your comments. I spent a LOT of time yesterday replying to you – even though I know I’m not going to change your mind, and I’m OK with that.
As for the studies I listed previously, since we were primarily talking about beta carotene in this discussion, that is why I included study #1 – which if you had read the entire abstract you’d have seen this statement “beta-carotene (n = 14560), prostate cancer incidence was 23% higher.” That is a significant amount and is one of the reasons I don’t feel beta carotene supplements should be taken by any man.
Can I list other instances where isolated supplements have caused harm. Yes I can, but since the thought of lung and prostate cancer aren’t enough, I’m not going to mention them because as I have been reading in your words, I can tell that you are increasingly getting angry and while I appreciate the passion by which you write from, my goal is not to add stress to your life because in the grand scheme of life, stress/anger do nobody any good. As such, I will let our conversation stand as it is for others to judge.
You’re right, Joe. I was getting a little heated. Sorry. When my remarks disappeared for the second time, after I again had spent considerable time and effort researching the subject, my frustration level spiked. Don’t worry about the stress, though. If I could survive 25 years as a newspaper man, this stress is a walk in the park.
Robert, sounds good.
Joe, no, I haven’t seen any peer-reviewed studies on phytonutrient supplements. However, I did find this on biopharmasci.com: “…In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated convincingly that dietary supplementation of phytochemicals has beneficial effects against certain types of pathogenesis, disease, cancer, and aging”.- Ji LL, Peterson DM., Aging, exercise, and phytochemicals: promises and pitfalls. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Jun;1019:453-61.
Dr. Bruce West probably has not done any formal research on the phytonutrients he dispenses to patients. He simply understands why they should be effective and supplies anecdotal evidence of the results. And based on these results, he continues to advocate them.
Do you know any doctors who keep records of how the various drugs they prescribe affect their patients? Does an abundance of anectodal evidence invalidate any claims of efficacy? The guy’s been dispensing them since the 1980s, and if he were lying and they didn’t work, I’d think the message would have gotten out by now that he was a charlatan. He enjoys a sizable reputation among doctors.
Referring to Juice Plus, you said, “I have seen (non scientifically, in a friend) it lower cholesterol levels so I do feel it does something.” So that single instance of anecdotal evidence is enough to make you a believer, but the mountain of anecdotal evidence claimed by Dr. West for his supplements is insufficient for you to grant them any credibility.
Somehow that doesn’t make sense to me, Joe. Unless you think West has been so clever as to dupe people all these years without being exposed. There haven’t been any human studies of the effects of Anatabloc, either, but I’m damned glad I tried it because I’m free of a lot of pain I had as a result.
I tried it because of an investment advisor’s claims of effectiveness and the strong anecdotal evidence provided by persons posting on this blog.
You also said that “isolated phytonutrients might have very different effects when they are pulled out of food and concentrated into supplements.” I might get hit by a car while headed to the store, too, but I have no way of knowing if that will happen. Your remark is completely baseless.
What reason do you have to suspect these different effects from supplements? I know, “the studies from the 1990s showing more lung cancer in smokers who took beta carotene supplements.” But there are so many variables here that those studies prove, or even indicate, nothing.
Perhaps the nicotine and/or tar reacts adversely with beta carotene. Were there any studies showing the effects of beta carotene supplements on non-smokers? You keep arguing that scientific evidence is the only kind that’s valid. How scientific were these studies? Totally unscientific. And who was behind them? The fact they were so limited makes me suspicious of the motives for conducting them. According to the report on
biopharmasci.com, other studies of phytonutrient supplements have shown quite positive effects.
In any case, if I had to choose between synthetic drugs with their adverse side effects and phytonutrient supplements, the decision would be easy for me. There’s no risk, as there is with drugs.
Your argument, Joe, is that supplements aren’t needed. A daily salad and smoothie are enough to correct 70 percent arterial blockage. I’d wager that isn’t enough to even prevent such a condition, much less rectify it. As the literature below shows, one has to consume far more fruits and vegetables just to stay healthy.
Even the standard five servings of vegetables per day isn’t nearly enough because, as I argued before and the literature below shows, agricultural methods have greatly lessened the nutritional content of produce. You say research shows that people who eat fruits and vegetables are healthier. I couldn’t agree with you more; I never said they weren’t conducive to good health and eat them myself.
But you don’t mention anything about what amounts are necessary to achieve salutary results. It’s a vague, general claim. And the varieties of produce affect different conditions. Phytonutrient supplements are targeted to specific conditions. And by the way, Dr. Stephen Sinatra, the noted cardiologist, has his own line of nutritional supplements. If I were trying to correct a health problem, I’d investigate those, too.
Here is literature to ponder:
Interview of high-profile nutritionist Jo Robinson (I lost track of the website)
LRK: Do pesticides and fertilizers affect nutrients?
JR: Surprisingly they do. Let’s look at pesticides. What they do is protect plants from insects and other diseases and problems that would attack those fruits and vegetables. We want them to be perfect-looking — we don’t want any blemishes.
But that plant is so protected that it doesn’t have to make any phytonutrients to protect itself. It’s lower in phytonutrients because we’ve coddled it. We coddle all of our fruits and vegetables and unwittingly reduce their phytonutrient content and their health benefits for us.
JR: A number of studies show that organic production increases phytonutrients a small amount. Not every study shows this, but some do.
New York Times piece by nutritionist Jo Robinson
Breeding the Nutrition Out of Our Food
By JO ROBINSON
Published: May 25, 2013 WE like the idea that food can be the answer to our ills, that if we eat nutritious foods we won’t need medicine or supplements. We have valued this notion for a long, long time. The Greek physician Hippocrates proclaimed nearly 2,500 years ago: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Today, medical experts concur. If we heap our plates with fresh fruits and vegetables, they tell us, we will come closer to optimum health.
This health directive needs to be revised. If we want to get maximum health benefits from fruits and vegetables, we must choose the right varieties. Studies published within the past 15 years show that much of our produce is relatively low in phytonutrients, which are the compounds with the potential to reduce the risk of four of our modern scourges: cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and dementia. The loss of these beneficial nutrients did not begin 50 or 100 years ago, as many assume. Unwittingly, we have been stripping phytonutrients from our diet since we stopped foraging for wild plants some 10,000 years ago and became farmers.
These insights have been made possible by new technology that has allowed researchers to compare the phytonutrient content of wild plants with the produce in our supermarkets. The results are startling.
Wild dandelions, once a springtime treat for Native Americans, have seven times more phytonutrients than spinach, which we consider a “superfood.” A purple potato native to Peru has 28 times more cancer-fighting anthocyanins than common russet potatoes. One species of apple has a staggering 100 times more phytonutrients than the Golden Delicious displayed in our supermarkets.
Each fruit and vegetable in our stores has a unique history of nutrient loss, I’ve discovered, but there are two common themes. Throughout the ages, our farming ancestors have chosen the least bitter plants to grow in their gardens. It is now known that many of the most beneficial phytonutrients have a bitter, sour or astringent taste. Second, early farmers favored plants that were relatively low in fiber and high in sugar, starch and oil. These energy-dense plants were pleasurable to eat and provided the calories needed to fuel a strenuous lifestyle. The more palatable our fruits and vegetables became, however, the less advantageous they were for our health.
From biopharmasci.com
Phytonutrient Supplements: Facts, Fictions, and Foolishness
In the recent edition of a popular men’s health magazine a PhD nutritionist was asked,
“Do people need supplements?” The familiar reply was, “not if they eat a balanced diet
and are in good health.” Most of us could add several other qualifiers, but instead let’s
take the doctor’s response as is.
The Facts
The USDA in its January 2005 Dietary guidelines now recommends a wide variety of 7
servings of fruits and vegetables daily for “average” women and 9 a day for “average”
man. Recommendations go as high as 13 servings as calorie requirements increase for
those larger and more active than average.1 The National Cancer Society admits that the
“5-a-day” gospel was just the bare minimum.2 Nonetheless, it is routinely reported that
only 1 in 5 adults follow this advice and even less children do
The evidence gathered from 1994-2004 from the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by
Individuals concludes, “A significant gap in the variety of fruit and vegetable intake was
also found, which does not allow for an optimal or even near-optimal intake of
antioxidant (and other) nutrients needed to protect against… ‘killer’ diseases.”4
As to the new 2005 USDA guidelines, it has recently been reported that only 3 % of
males report consuming the now recommended 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
In fact, men on average eat only 4 servings a day.
According to recent excerpts from US Government press releases, only 3% of the US
population follow just four out of five of the recommendations of the new food pyramid
guidelines! No wonder that even the AMA recommended recently that everyone take a
multivitamin!8
But the evidence for phytonutrient / phytochemicals keeps growing.
“…In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated convincingly that dietary
supplementation of phytochemicals has beneficial effects against certain types of
pathogenesis, disease, cancer, and aging”.- Ji LL, Peterson DM., Aging, exercise, and phytochemicals: promises
and pitfalls. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Jun;1019:453-61.
Therefore if I were to be asked, “Do people need to take phytonutrient supplements” my
answer might be, “No, not if they follow the USDA guidelines, live a healthy lifestyle, in
a clean and supportive environment, and are in otherwise good health.” How many
patients like this do you have? Of course if you can get your patients to eat their fruits
and vegetables, my hats off to you! But for most clinicians a phytonutrient supplement of
some kind may be the only viable alternative, though admittedly second best.
Robert, I had a feeling my personal thoughts about Juice Plus would come back to haunt me when I said it so kudos for picking up on that. That said I wouldn’t have mentioned it if there was not some studies on the supplement. I don’t think we can compare the research on Juice Plus to Anatabloc because they are different and there is more human research on Juice Plus than Anatabloc.
As for beta carotene and lung cancer, the studies did not show any lung cancer in non-smokers who took beta carotene supplements. This points to a real effect of beta carotene promoting lung cancer in smokers. The reason for this is debated and the studies did use high levels of beta carotene also (I believe it was 1 mg) but it does give some proof that isolated nutrients from food, concentrated in supplements don’t always give the same results as when they are in food.
Studies show that people who eat more fruits and vegetables are healthier – less heart disease, cancer etc. They don’t yet show that those who take those compounds in supplements are. Theoretically a whole food supplement might have a similar effect but we cant know for sure until better research is done. Hence the reason why Id advocate a salad or fruit/veggie smoothie per day.
Joe, thanks for acknowledging the contradiction in your acceptance of a single instance of anecdotal evidence for Juice Plus’s effect but unwillingness to consider far greater anecdotal evidence for other nutrients.
I understand your point that for you, that tiny bit of evidence merely bolstered the evidence provided by the studies. Your investigation of Juice Plus was comprehensive, and I absolutely believe that the product has the health benefits you and the studies claim. And I gave no indication whatsoever that I was comparing the research on Juice Plus to Anatabloc, because as I said, there hasn’t been any human research on Anatabloc as far as I know.
I guess I’ll have to repeat my remark: “There haven’t been any human studies of the effects of Anatabloc, either, but I’m damned glad I tried it because I’m free of a lot of pain I had as a result.” My point obviously was the same one I have been making over and over: To ignore overwhelming anecdotal evidence is to have tunnel vision, especially when one has only a few bucks to lose by trying it to correct a very bothersome or life-threatening problem.
My jaw dropped at the arguments in your next paragraph. You admit that the studies didn’t show any lung cancer in NON-SMOKERS who took beta carotene supplements. Joe, that just proves my point that there might have been something in the nicotine and/or tar of cigarette smoke that reacted badly with beta carotene. Then you say: “The reason for this is debated and the studies did use high levels of beta carotene also (I believe it was 1 mg) but it does give some proof that isolated nutrients from food, concentrated in supplements don’t always give the same results as when they are in food.”
No. 1, you concede that the amount of beta carotene was excessive, so that might gave increased what already was susceptibility to cancer in the smokers. But the second part of that sentence is what leaves me flabbergasted: How in blazes do you conclude that from the results of those studies? That is totally senseless. The studies didn’t have the participants eating food with beta carotene, so neither you nor I nor anyone else has any idea of what the effects on smokers who ate such food would have been. The studies “does give some proof that isolated nutrients from food, concentrated in supplements don’t always give the same results as when they are in food.” Wow! That’s a real head-scratcher. How can there be any proof, or even a scintilla of evidence, when the studies didn’t even include people who derived beta carotene from food?
I am in complete agreement that studies show that the more fruits and vegetables you eat, the healthier you are. But the literature I provided showed large amounts of these the government researchers think you have to eat just to STAY healthy. So, for the umpteenth time, to correct a 70 percent arterial blockage, you’d have to eat yourself into oblivion; a salad or smoothie per day obviously is woefully insufficient to do the job. And how do you know Audrey doesn’t already eat a salad every day?
Then you say, “Theoretically a whole food supplement might have a similar effect but we cant (sic) know for sure until better research is done.” Joe, you said you didn’t even know of any research that was done. And now you’re simply ignoring the beginning of my email and repeating your mantra. The email said, “I did find this on biopharmasci.com: ‘… IN VITRO AND IN VIVO STUDIES HAVE DEMONSTRATED CONVINCINGLY that dietary supplementation of phytochemicals has beneficial effects against certain types of pathogenesis, disease, cancer, and aging’.- Ji LL, Peterson DM., Aging, exercise, and phytochemicals: promises and pitfalls. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Jun;1019:453-61.
The biopharmasci.com guy even cited the reference — a respected scientific journal.
Joe, I think that on this subject, your mindset is impervious to anything, logic or research, demonstrating the fallacy of your positions. I would be banging my head against the wall to try further.
The defense rests.
Robert, I did some checking and I misspoke, it was not 1 mg of beta carotene but rather 20 mg used in many of the studies. This is actually not as high as it sounds given that 1000 mg = 1 grams. Putting things in perspective there are 28 grams in 1 ounce. So these studies used a LOT less than 1 oz.
But, more to the point, The beta carotene studies were born out of the “need” for people to find a common denominator -an explanation if you will – to explain why people who eat more fruits and veggies get less cancer, heart disease etc. For years the “experts” said it had to be beta carotene because this is in many fruits and vegetables. So in the 90s, scientists finally got around to testing this theory. That is why they used supplements and not food. The supplements failed miserably to reduce heart disease or cancer in people.
Here are some studies on this for those who are interested. Note some of these studies also mention vitamin E and its effects as well.
1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9521168?dopt=Abstract
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9193380?dopt=Abstract
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11030804?dopt=Abstract
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10634823?dopt=Abstract
Robert, these are published peer reviewed studies. I want to mention this because now let me summarize the research you sent in your previous comment:
1. Interview of high-profile nutritionist Jo Robinson. This is an interview and hence not peer reviewed. I discount it because its basically an opinion/testimonial.
2. New York Times piece by nutritionist Jo Robinson. The NY Times is a fine newspaper and while I’m sure they do fact checking, I’m sorry but it’s not a scientific publication.
3. You quote a website called biopharmasci.com – a website that sells a line of supplements. Having the word Pharma in the name makes me think this is some sort of a laboratory facility or somewhat akin to a pharmaceutical company. If you look at the “meet the team” page of the site you will see that there are no scientists on the team.
4. You quote a researcher in a study study titled Aging, exercise, and phytochemicals: promises and pitfalls (here’s the link http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15247065 ) but you fail to quote the final statement in the abstract: “However, due to their structural and chemical diversity and complexity, many of the benefits as well as potential adverse effects remain to be examined” This guy mentions potential adverse effects – such as the kinds we are discussing now.
So, to summarize, as proof in your previous comment, you showed me:
1 an interview with somebody (non peer reviewed)
2 words from a website that sells supplement (no peer reviewed)
3. a new York times article (non peer reviewed but better than #1 and #2)
4. words from a researcher who concedes there may be adverse side effects of phytonutrients
Now for the references you listed in this current comment:
1. you showed me the Ji LL, Peterson DM., Aging, exercise, and phytochemicals study again. He agrees with me that more research is needed and concedes there could be bad effects.
2. You show me again the biopharmasci.com – a site that sells supplements and does not appear to have any scientists on their team
Robert I showed you published peer reviewed studies, not interviews and not words from websites that sell supplements.
I know my words will not change your mind on this matter and I really do hope what you are taking are helping you, but please do us both a favor and eat a salad on a regular basis, just in case I’m right. If you do that, then I will be happier for it.
My theory is the more salad and fruits you eat the less crap you eat to aggravate your system. Harmful foods and the air we breathe impacts our health and fuels autoimmune inflammation processes throughout the body especially the cardiovascular system. So yes you can eat healthier and it helps but is not enough, imo, because according to published medical research once the fire of inflammation starts it’s hard to put out.
And ‘the fire within’ (a great Times article on inflammation btw) keeps burning into old age causing a logarithmic rise in aging and age related diseases. Aging itself is said to be a disease brought about by chronic low level inflammation.
You can be sure I take my Anatabloc daily. It’s the only supplement pill, actually I think it is more accurate to say nutraceutical, i.e., food, that has made a material difference in how my body feels. I had arthritis and I don’t anymore. For a guy my age that’s incredible.
On the other hand I could wait for more human studies to prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt or until the feds are sufficiently paid off for their approval. But that would mean more needless pain and suffering and eating NSAIDs. No thanks.
Robert
It’s incredible how you can basically insult Joe on a continual basis, and at the same offer no substantial proof of any points you make in rebutting him. You are actually making a fool of yourself . And, as stated before, there is “boring”, and then there is “BORING”. Robert, do you not understand that probably close to O on this site, other than a few, know what you are talking about.
Sometime ago I bought 3 bottles of Anatabloc for my ailing shoulder just to see what the fuss was all about on this site. Nothing that two Advil didn’t take care of. What a waste of money. Make a deal with you, I will give you 21/2 bottles of Anatabloc, and 10 shares of Star Scientific stock, which is about as worthless, just to Shut-up.
Pete, you bought 3 bottles of Anatabloc and only took 1/2 a bottle? You apparently took it with zero understanding of the science behind anatabine (visit The Roskamp Institute, wiki anatabine, wiki NFkB).
Anatabloc does 1 thing, only 1 thing; Anatabloc with anatabine works to down regulate chronic systemic inflammation throughout the body safely and extremely effectively w/o side effects. Your body then needs time to heal the damage.
I’ve had ‘frozen shoulder’ condition in both shoulders a few times, at one time the orthopedic diagnosed bi-lateral frozen shoulder. I’ve played football for 6 seasons (wasn’t college material), played basketball several seasons, I still play golf and yet my shoulders plagued me. One wrong move and I would either suffer from impingement or a tear.
I’m still very active and enjoy physical activity around the house (carpentry, auto maintenance, heavy gardening, plumbing, etc.) and ever since starting Anatabloc my shoulders are, well they are normal again. You simply need to give your body the time to heal while Anatabloc regulates the inflammation in your joints. You quit too soon.
I’d like to take your comment re the effectiveness of Anatabloc at face value (there are biological outliers, perhaps you are one) but your comment about stock shares tells me you are a short seller (purposely driving the stock price down to rob share holders and the company) and only mean to bash the product. And you do this while knowingly affecting others who would benefit from this product.
Many of these nutraceuticals show promise in vitro and in vivo but many are not very bioavailable. In other words, they pass through the digestive tract with little if any making into the blood stream. Curcumin and Resveratrol are good examples with poor bioavailability (proven). Not so with anatabine and that has been proven through human studies.
Mikel, its not human “studies” (plural) but study (singular) that support the use of anatabine. So far I only found 1 human study on anatabine. Are there other human studies I missed?
Pete, your name sounds familiar. I think you’re the guy I had a disagreement with some time back — the one who condemned Anatabloc as a substance that couldn’t possibly work because science hadn’t proven that it worked. I responded that it was pretty doubtful the overwhelming majority of those who commented favorably were imagining their reduction or elimination of pain. You decided you weren’t going to be involved with Supplement Geek anymore, but I see you’ve found something to come roaring back with and just couldn’t resist the impulse to get even with an ad hominem attack, devoid of any arguments disputing what I wrote weeks ago.
I haven’t commented on this site for several weeks after becoming very frustrated with Joe’s replies to my comments and apologizing for becoming too vehement. Three observations apropos of your remarks, Pete: (1) I can understand why you don’t comprehend anything I wrote because your intelligence level seems inadequate; a course in logic might help. (2) If you don’t understand what I wrote, how can you condemn it? (3) I’m not clear by what authority you speak for anyone but yourself.
Oh, sorry, you are speaking for yourself — and only yourself. You have decided that because Anatabloc didn’t work for you, it couldn’t possibly have worked for anyone else.
I think we all can share our believes and evidence for supplements in a respectful manner without attacking others so lets do that moving forward. Robert, I’m sure anyone who reads our recent disagreements can see that the evidence you provided was just testimonials while I provided studies published in medical journals.
That said we can agree to disagree and at the end of the day I’m happy that anatabloc is helping you and others and, and for those who say anatabloc not helping them, they have a voice here as well and should not be and will not be attacked or deprecated.
So moving forward lets share our believes and/or evidence and weigh in on it with our opinions and counter arguments in a civil fashion. Gridlock and arguments gets us nowhere. As proof of this, just look at the congress and senate. We can do better.
Robert
You are an intelligent guy. I hope from my past post you really did’nt believe me when I mentioned I tried Anatabloc and it didn’t work. I honestly was considering it until I read Jill’s post on it’s non- effectiveness over a period of time. Could Anatabloc have worked on me, who knows, but I decided against it.
Also, about the stock, never owned any,but, per Mikel’s post I wish I would have bought short. Mikel needs to know, it is harder to buy short than he thinks. That is usually the case with any company, not just Star Scientific. Sorry, not a liar and wanted to clear things up. Surely you figured it out, sarcasm. Again, not a liar, but if I offered my apology, I would be deviating from the truth again. lol
For what it’s worth, don’t think you ought to bash Joe with all the hard work he has put into providing you and others with “true” and “honest information. But, there again, this is a site where information is shared. That was really the whole purpose for my post, just thought I would be long- winded like a lot of others. Darn it, there I go again, sarcasm! lol
Hi, I’ve just discovered this site. I fought going on a statin for years. I have genetically high LDL cholesterol that doesn’t respond to diet and exercise. I had had a test several years ago to measure the calcium levels in my arteries; the results horrified me–I have a 70% blockage in more than two arteries. There is also a history of heart attacks and strokes in my family.
Thus, I finally caved and went to a Cardiologist who promptly put me on a statin. Of course, my muscles ache and I have noticed a decline in my mental abilities. I am afraid to go off the medication; yet, after reading the negative research involved, I again am thinking of doing so. But, I have to admit, I am still conflicted.
Audrey, Why dont you try this. Show the information that has you conflicted to your cardiologist and ask what he/she thinks of it. While there are good and bad doctors (like all occupations) I dont for a minute believe your doctor wants to keep you sick. I do feel that you should be able to talk to your doctor about your concerns and fears and even about non-conventional treatments.
Cardiologists as a rule tend to be pretty smart people and I would not be surprised if they haven’t already looked at some alternative therapies and can give you their opinion of them. If not, I’m sure there are cardiologists out there who also specialize/have an interest in alternative therapies.
While it is true that heart disease is a complex process and we dont yet understand everything about it, it is also true that in the US, anybody can write a book about anything – even stuff that is not true.
As you look through alternative treatments that make amazing claims, keep asking yourself this question: “Are there any HUMAN studies published in medical journals to prove what is being said?” Ive looked at several pieces of evidence for some non-conventional treatments and I dont see any human evidence. That doesn’t mean none have any good proof, but human evidence is my “litmus test” that helps me sort through the big words and amazing testimonials that can accompany non-traditional treatments.
In short Andrey, I want you to be healthy, as I’m sure everybody here does. I just feel that the best way to not be conflicted is to take the information you see here -and elsewhere- to your doctor and get the insights from those who know your health history best.
I would do ALL I could to stay off statins….here is a good site to check out, there are MANY more….Omega 3’s are vital…I slacked off for a while and it showed up in my last labs….so now I don’t miss them, I take Jarrow Max DHA omega 3’s….
naturalhealthmag.com › HealthCached
Similar The problem is, too many of us get too much of a good thing. To stay healthy, most doctors recommend keeping cholesterol numbers at or below 200 mg/DL.
Also, do research on the cholesterol myth….my MD is more concerned my homocysteine than cholesterol.
Or just google: alternatives to statins…
we’ve heard from some here that have gotten their cholesterol WAY too low….
Audrey, I too would be horrified if I had 70 percent blockage in two arteries. And while I agree with Joe that the vast majority of doctors want only what is best for their patients, I’m afraid that almost all of them were taught in medical school to believe that drugs, surgery and radiation are the only effective therapies. Your cardiologist may be different, and I suppose it’s worth a try to ask him about other solutions, but I very much doubt he is aware of any.
He might suggest red yeast rice, which actually is the same as a statin and, I have read, just as harmful. I have had zero medical training or education, and speak only as someone who has read quite extensively about nutrition and alternative medicine. While it is true that statins are supposed to reduce inflammation, which is the true cause of heart and vascular problems, there are safe, natural ways of treating that issue. It really is all about diet.
So many people want to eat whatever pleases them and then ask their doctors to solve their health problems by prescribing a magic pill. That would be wonderful if it worked, but it’s wishful thinking. LDL cholesterol clogs the arteries because the liver has produced it and delivered it to those arteries to protect them from inflammation. Inflammation is caused by free radicals that are the result of a diet of too much sugar, processed foods including vegetable oils used to deep-fry restaurant foods and manufacture salad dressings and a host of other foods, breads, pasta, and white rice.
If you must drink milk, don’t drink the low-fat variety, which has been fortified with powdered milk, full of damaged cholesterol. Eat only all-natural or grass-fed beef because the regular kind contains hormones and antibiotics. You should use coconut oil for sautéing, not vegetable oils. Study what top nutritionists recommend. Two very knowledgeable ones are Mike Geary and Nick Pineault. You can find them by Googling. I would bet a lot of money that your cardiologist will tell you that saturated fats are bad for you. He would be completely wrong.
I am testament to that idea. I consume two or three eggs daily, fry with coconut oil, drink whole milk, and eat fatty, all-natural beef and all-natural bacon. My ratio of HDL cholesterol to the total is 39 percent, compared to the ideal 25 percent (I’m way better than the ideal). My triglyceride count is 56 out of a normal range of 0 to 154. And triglycerides are the main concern is heart disease, more so than homocysteine and infinitely more so than cholesterol.
A lady friend has total cholesterol of 300, but her ratio of HDL to the total is high because she eats right and exercises a lot. Like you, she is genetically disposed to producing a lot of cholesterol. But 300 used to be okay, until statin drugs came into vogue, and amazingly, the level considered safe was progressively lowered.
I highly recommend contacting Dr. Bruce West, who has a large practice in Monterey, California and sells phytonutrients that have, he insists, cured or vastly improved many thousands of people with heart and vascular problems. Just Google him. You can learn so much these days by simply Googling the subject you’re interested in.
Good luck.
Robert, I looked up Dr Bruce West. His website never actually says what is medical training is. I did some digging and found that he is a chiropractor. I have nothing against chiropractors but they are not cardiologists. That doesnt mean he cant give good information on health and wellness. Im sure he can. I also believe in the power of phytonutrients and will say that the research is strongest is for eating foods that contain them, not supplements. Andrey, read the book called Amazon Link.” target=”_blank”>the China Study and you will see the research on fruits and veggies.
Joe, yes, I knew that Dr. West was a chiropractor. I subscribed to his newsletter. But he apparently has a huge practice and people obviously have a lot of faith in him. He insists he has cured or significantly reduced heart disease in 70,000 people. Those must be largely folks who have taken his regimen of phytonutrients. And yes, foods provide nutrients. However, as a veteran pharmacist told me, our methods of producing food these days leaves produce (and dairy and meat products) far less nutrient-rich than in decades past.
West says he formulates his phytonutrients to be super-rich and pure. I guarantee that if I had a heart or vascular problem, I would be taking them, even though they’re not inexpensive. I would think that unless a person follows a really stringent diet, it will be difficult to rectify existing problems with food alone, though a reasonably good diet might be sufficient for prevention.
Something stronger is required to alleviate a condition already present, it seems logical to assume. As far as West’s claims of success, I choose to believe him. Some 22 years ago, he offered to solve Dick Cheney’s heart problems, warning that if he continued on his path of taking drugs, he would need a heart transplant in 20 years. Cheney declined, and he had the transplant two or three years ago.
West must have had a lot of confidence to put his reputation on the line with such an internationally famous (or notorious) figure. For the $39-a-year cost of his newsletter subscription, he dispenses personal information through the mail. I asked a question once, and he answered it. The only thing that I have found him lacking in is good advice regarding prostate cancer, which he thinks can best be treated with hormone therapy. None of the other alternative doctors I respect believe that is a good route to go.
I just don’t believe the vast majority of cardiologists in the United States provide salutary service, because they know only synthetic drugs or surgery, neither of which make a person healthy. They have received very little training in natural therapies, and likely will be disciplined if they prescribe them.
However, a few are different. Dr. Stephen Sinatra, co-author of the 2012 best-seller The Great Cholesterol Myth, is a renowned cardiologist whom Audrey ought to investigate. He also offers a line of nutrients. Here’s what the book promo on Amazon says:
“Traditional heart disease protocols–with their emphasis on lowering cholesterol–have it all wrong. Emerging science is showing that cholesterol levels are a poor predictor of heart disease and that standard prescriptions for lowering it, such as ineffective low-fat/high-carb diets and serious, side-effect-causing statin drugs, obscure the real causes of heart disease. Even doctors at leading institutions have been misled for years based on creative reporting of research results from pharmaceutical companies intent on supporting the $31-billion-a-year cholesterol-lowering drug industry.
“The Great Cholesterol Myth reveals the real culprits of heart disease, including:
Inflammation
Fibrinogen
Triglycerides
Homocysteine
Belly fat
Triglyceride to HCL ratios
High glycemic levels
Bestselling health authors Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., and Stephen Sinatra, M.D. give readers a 4-part strategy based on the latest studies and clinical findings for effectively preventing, managing, and reversing heart disease, focusing on diet, exercise, supplements, and stress and anger management
Myth–High cholesterol is a predictor of heart attack.
Fact–There is no correlation between cholesterol and heart attack.
Myth–Lowering cholesterol with statin drugs will prolong your life.
Fact–There is no data to show that statins have a significant impact on longevity.
Myth–Statin drugs are safe.
Fact–Statin drugs can be extremely toxic including causing death.”
Robert, before today I dont think I’d heard of Dr West. His info may be good for all I know. phytonutrient supplements or not Ill still put more faith in a salad a day (or a fruit/veggies smoothie) than isolated nutrients from food. His products may be quality made but isolated phytonutrients might have very different effects when they are pulled out of food and concentrated into supplements. Case in point, are the studies from the 1990s showing more lung cancer in smokers who took beta carotene supplements.
Of all the phytonutrient supplements out there, there is only one, that I am aware of, that has any published peer reviewed evidence and that is Juice Plus. Here is my review of Juice Plus for those who have not heard of it.
I took a look at the Cholesterol Myth book and it has some interesting comments. I found the 1 star comments interesting as well. There is no doubt that heart disease is much more complicated than just cholesterol alone. Here is the Amazon Link.” target=”_blank”>Cholesterol Myth on Amazon for those who are interested.
Joe, that certainly is a comprehensive review of Juice Plus. I notice that studies on its effectiveness conflicted. That’s often the case with studies — another example is those of homocysteine — so how reliable are they? To me, that only shows that relying on studies alone is foolhardy. Doctors and scientists, including the renowned lipid biochemist Dr. Mary Enig, who have investigated studies on statin drugs said they were skewed by their operators, many of whom were affiliated with the pharma companies making the drugs. This is a key phrase in the promo for the Sinatra book:
“Even doctors at leading institutions have been misled for years based on CREATIVE (caps mine)reporting of research results from pharmaceutical companies intent on supporting the $31-billion-a-year cholesterol-lowering drug industry.” If anecdotal evidence of the efficacy of a product or substance is strong, it seems to me illogical and senseless to ignore that evidence. But it appears to me that persons trained in the sciences have difficulty coping with the idea that formal, peer-reviewed studies are not the only measure of legitimacy.
The studies you cite that purportedly show more lung cancer in smokers taking beta carotene supplements appear to be way too narrow to offer any conclusions as to whether supplements work. No. 1, this is only one supplement, and No. 2, the studies apply only to smokers. Perhaps beta carotene interacts negatively with smoke. We have no way of knowing. And we don’t know the quality of the supplements used. They may have been the synthetic store variety, which experts decry as virtually worthless. I’m referring to high-quality, genuine natural supplements.
Joe, there are abundant peer-reviewed studies on phytonutrient supplements. Just check out the National Cancer Institute’s review of studies on lycopene. Here’s a quote from the long review: “Numerous epidemiological studies suggest that lycopene may help prevent cardiovascular disease, although some interventional studies have shown mixed results.”
Here’s another one by the National Cancer Institute, on Vitamin D: “Many studies in humans, but not all, suggest that higher intakes of vitamin D or higher levels of vitamin D in the blood are associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer.”
By the way, Dr. Sinatra is by no means the only M.D. who has written a book on the fraud concerning statin drugs and the myth of cholesterol in heart disease. Uffe Ravnskov, the noted Danish independent researcher, member of various scientific organizations, and former physician, authored at least two books on the subject: “The Cholesterol Myths” and “Fat and Cholesterol Are Good for You” (the latter now out of print). Here is part of a review of the former in “Good Science”: “Using two of my favorite tools — logic and math — he simply shreds the Lipid Hypothesis, often using the proponents’ own data against them. In fact, that was one of the major revelations for me when I read The Cholesterol Myths: not just that the Lipid Hypothesis is wrong, but how much MANIPULATION AND FLAT-OUT DISHONESTY HAVE GONE INTO SUPPORTING IT (my caps), from Ancel Keys on down.
The lipophobes fell in love with their theory and simply aren’t willing to let it go. How else do you explain the theory’s longevity when Dr. Ravnskov — and anyone else who cares to look — can dig up the facts he cites in this book:
Thirty years after the start of the Framingham project, the researchers again asked themselves what had happened. This time, a few more of those with high cholesterol had died. I use the word “few” for a reason: On average, one percent of all men with high cholesterol had died during the 30 follow-up years. Now to the interesting point. For men above age 47, their cholesterol made no difference. Those who had high cholesterol at age 48 lived just as long or longer as those with low cholesterol … I have never met any supporter of the cholesterol campaign who has ever raised an eyebrow when confronted with this astounding fact.”
I seriously doubt that a salad or a smoothie a day will be adequate to rid arteries of 70 percent blockage. Healthy foods definitely are beneficial, but not enough in such serious cases. A host of alternative doctors have said healthy eating is not sufficient for older patients — that supplements are necessary. West’s phytonutrients are highly concentrated and derived from nature. Here is what his website claims: “In 1984 Dr. West founded the health newsletter industry by publishing Health Alert—the first holistic health newsletter in America. Dr. West has developed phytonutrient treatments and protocols that are currently in use by physicians around the world. In fact over 20,000 doctors receive Health Alert monthly.”
Taking them can’t hurt anything but your pocket book with a slight dent (to mix metaphors), and they very well might just do the trick. If it were me, I’d try them in a heartbeat (pun intended).
Robert, yes I do wish the company that makes Juice Plus (NSA) would do some more studies to make more clear what it does /doesn’t do but I have seen (non scientifically, in a friend) it lower cholesterol levels so I do feel it does something. Comparing JP to what Dr West has, it still has more evidence but more than any of them, I still believe a salad or fruit/veggie smoothie is superior when it comes to phytonutrients.
Joe, I believe you implicitly that Juice Plus is a salutary product. However, I don’t know how you can compare what Dr. West has with Juice Plus because I don’t think you really know what Dr. West has. Also, when you say Juice Plus has more evidence “than any of them,” you weren’t even aware that scientific studies had been done on any supplements, though many have, so I fail to see your validity for that claim.
As for believing that a salad or smoothie is more beneficial than Dr. West’s phytonutrients, you again have neither evidence nor logic for that belief, which is, I think, founded purely on bias — very unscientific. And his phytonutrients have abundant anecdotal evidence in addition to the scientific studies supporting the efficacy of phytonutrients in general.
Robert, I say Juice Plus has more evidence than other phytonutrient supplements because I have not seen any that have peer reviewed research. Have you seen any? if yes, let me know because I would love to review that research – and even do a review on that product.
Your right I dont know what Dr West sells but having looked at his website, Id guess if his products have research, that he’d be touting that evidence on his site. he doesn’t so thats why I say he has no studies on his specific products. If he does then, Id like to see it.
The research shows that people who eat fruits and vegetables are healthier – get less cancer, heart disease etc. That research does not say people who eat organic or foods grown in better more soil are heather. It just says eating more fruits and veggies does this. That’s why I say they have more evidence than phytonutrient supplements (even juice plus). Even Amazon Link.” target=”_blank”>The China Study book confirms this. Do read it if you haven’t. Its written by the scientist who did the research. Its a great read.
Gman, I have to tell you that I am a six-pack Joe who has the audacity to doubt much of the conclusions of the Mayo Clinic. It just spouts the standard line of mainstream medicine, ignoring voluminous studies that contradict the claims of traditional medicine. I could cite many of these studies on cholesterol and saturated fats, and did in a magazine article I wrote titled “The Saturation Point,” but we don’t have room here.
However, I am posting excerpts from The Heart Attack Culprit: Cholesterol Isn’t to Blame, a long treatise in, of all places, CBN.com (The Christian Broadcasting Network), by Barry Sears, Ph.D. The website is: http://www.cbn.com/health/naturalhealth/drsears_heartattack.aspx.
Here is the important info on him: Barry Sears, Ph.D. is an American biochemist best known for creating and promoting the Zone diet, which is aimed at achieving stable blood sugar levels, hormonal balance, low inflammation, and good health. As stated in several of his books, the Zone diet was born of his desire to avoid dying of a heart attack, a fate of which all other men in his family had been early victims. In more recent years, Sears has popularized the use of fish oil and Omega-3 fatty acids to reduce system-wide inflammation in the body. He graduated with honors from Occidental College in 1968 and graduated from Indiana University in 1971 with a Ph.D. in biochemistry. He received postdoctoral training in biochemistry at the University Of Virginia Medical School and at Boston University Medical School, Dept. of Medicine, where he was a research instructor. During 1978-1982 he was a staff scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, National Magnet Laboratory.
Below are excerpts from the piece he wrote:
“The most powerful statement on the role of diet in preventing heart disease, however, comes from the Lyon Diet Heart Study. In this study, survivors of heart attacks were split into two groups. One group was put on a diet that followed the American Heart Association recommendations (basically the USDA Food Pyramid), and the second group was put on a Mediterranean-type diet (rich in fruits, vegetables, and fish; supplemented with short-chain omega-3 fatty acids; and very low in omega-6). At the end of four years, the two groups had the same cholesterol levels. There was, however, a more than 70 percent reduction in both fatal and nonfatal heart attacks in the group on the Mediterranean diet compared with the control group, who were allowed to eat hefty amounts of omega-6 fatty acids. This study was very damaging for the cholesterol theory of heart disease.
“More important, during the four years, in which the group on the Mediterranean diet experienced no sudden deaths (a term used to describe electrical chaos in the heart, which makes it stop beating in rhythm and is the primary cause of cardiovascular mortality), the primary difference between the two groups was the ratio of the arachidonic acid to eicosapentaenoic acid in the blood. The AA/EPA ratio of the individuals in the active group was 6.1, compared with 9.0 in the group following the American Heart Association diet.
Thus, a 30 percent reduction in the AA/EPA ratio resulted in a greater than 70 percent reduction in fatal and nonfatal heart attacks, despite the fact that the TG (triglyceride)/HDL ratio didn’t change for either group. This is why I believe that the AA/EPA ratio is by far the most powerful predictor of future heart disease.”
Buried deep in a response from the American Heart Association is this: “The clinical findings from the Lyon Diet Heart Study implicate risk factors beyond lipids and lipoproteins, which have historically been our primary targets of intervention.” Lipids, in case you don’t know, are fats, including saturated fats that come from animal products. Here’s a dictionary definition of lipoproteins: “Lipoproteins in blood plasma are the mode of transport for cholesterol, insoluble by itself. Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) carry cholesterol from the liver, where it is made, to the cells, where it is used; high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) may carry excess cholesterol back to the liver for breakdown and excretion.”
So the American Heart Association was forced by this study to concede that saturated fat and cholesterol have wrongly been associated with heart disease. I read a metropolitan newspaper thoroughly every day, yet I never heard of this study. Why? Obviously, the AHA didn’t publicize it. The proposed new guidelines for statin drug use certainly were publicized. I read the report on the front page. But the criticism of the guidelines, which included comments that statins do not result in lower death rates — made by two medical scientists — was relegated to the op-ed page. This is how the American public is deceived into believing false information provided by the medical establishment.
Research doctor David Brownstein says statins have been shown to reduce the chances of a future heart attack or stroke in people who’ve already had them by 5 percent at most. And even those people haven’t lived longer. And in those without a history of heart problems, statins have not been proven to prevent them or help such people live longer. Brownstein said that the authors of the study recommending more people use statins concluded, amazingly, that the use of target levels for LDL cholesterol is no longer valid. “We have spent billions of scarce health care dollars checking these numbers, only to be told there is no evidence of benefit from lowering LDL cholesterol levels,” Brownstein said.
However, the study authors did say it was okay to lower LDL levels with medications if the patient had a family history of producing large amounts of total and LDL cholesterol. They failed to mention, however, that after age 50, such people, many with total cholesterol of more than 500, live as long or longer than people without the condition. A 24-month study called ENHANCE, combining Zetia with a statin, was conducted on 720 of these patients, But the results were that people treated with both drugs had no less atherosclerosis that the group treated with only a statin.
This was so even though total and LDL cholesterol went down a lot more in the group that got both drugs. This should have been the nail in the coffin for the theory that lowering cholesterol means less heart disease, Brownstein said. But that ENHANCE study has rarely been mentioned by the media. And conventional doctors remain fixated on lowering LDL and total cholesterol numbers.
“You can be sure that the pharmaceutical industry knew about the ENHANCE trial, and understood that their claim that lowering cholesterol would lead to less heart disease was not supported by the data. Therefore, they had to come up with a new rationale for doctors to prescribe their best-selling statin drugs. That’s the real reason we have been given these new guidelines.”
I don’t know what it takes to get people to see what is going on. Even without the many studies showing cholesterol doesn’t cause heart disease, one can figure that out just by using common sense. Grocery store shelves are loaded with low- or no-fat, low-cholesterol items, yet the incidence of heart disease has gone up, not down. A big part of the population uses statin drugs, and look at the results.
The medical establishment is quick to point out that the death rate from heart attacks has gone down. But, as one researcher said, that’s because of improved methods of saving heart attack victims. And what is their lifestyle like after they recover? Very restrictive. What about weight reduction from eating all of this stuff low in saturated fat? Two-thirds of the population is overweight, with at least a third obese.
All of this doesn’t mean that it’s not good to have a high proportion of HDL cholesterol to LDL. The ratio, not the total, is what’s important. My total went down in a few months from 215 to 189, and my HDL went from 70 to 74, for a ratio of 39 percent, which is very high (ideal is said to be 25). I did the same amount of exercise and didn’t change my diet, so what was the reason, I wondered. Then I read this by Dr. Brownstein: “My clinical experience has shown repeatedly that by balancing the hormonal system with bioidentical, natural hormones such as pregnenolone, cholesterol levels will natural fall … .” Aha!
Now I think I know why my total dropped. I’ve been taking pregnenolone the last few weeks. But again, it’s not the total that counts, but the HDL to LDL ratio.
Gman, one can know where the truth lies. It just takes a lot of investigating, and I’ve been doing that for several years.
Some articles back a registered Nurse said that patients should research every prescription ordered by their doctors….hmmmmm. My daughter is a RN as she too has the worst to say about doctors and hospitals, yet she frequently visits her Dr and also her kids. She takes all kinds of meds yet bad mouths them.
Okay….my question is where does the average joe six pack go to research drugs…the FDA..internet? And who does one believe?
For every kind of medicine out there you can find someone who agrees and others disagree? This RN made a point about taking Statins…I am 79 years of age and was found to have had “high” cholesterol….some 25 years ago and have been taking Statins every since. My cholesterol dropped to around 140 and has been there all these years……Occasionally I go off the drug but my cholesterol increases. Dieting and exercising does not do the trick for me…so what should I do? Ignore the doctors order…then why go to him/her in the first place.
Now I do not know if statins do me any good by decreasing my cholesterol or not….I have read where no one has ever died of high cholesterol but have died from the effects of clogged arteries a bi-product of high cholesterol. I am willing to bet that many of the pills prescribed by doctors keep a whole lot of people alive….maybe not always in the best condition but alive…otherwise who knows.
In my view Americans will never be satisfied….sure the medical care and treatment in this country is great…however the cost will drive all of us to bankruptcy….while great… the medical world we are exposed to has run a muk…all in the name of giving Americans the best medical care in the world!!! As an example…..if you go to the doctor for a small case of indigestion or some other medical issue.. you might end up seeing 4 more specialists with instructions to return to each of them after the first consultation…I am willing to bet before one goes through this rat race one or all of them might find something wrong or suggest some kind of treatment.
Who is to supervise and control excessive medical treatments and visits…the federal government…how about the cost of insurance that ought to cut down on some of it? What it has come down to… there is a physician specialist for ever part of the human body….and your good ole fashion corner family doctor will send you to one at a pin drop. In lay terms that is called CYA….afraid of a call from that lawyer. Never mind…. just get a second opinion…and the beat goes on. Side effects…sure every thing one ingest can potentially have side effects. Interesting… my physician once shared with me quite emphatically…you will not leave this earth alive. Excuse me for rambling……Hmmmmmm.
Gman, you bring up a lot of interesting points. I notice a lot of people in the supplement world bash doctors as being uninformed, but as soon as a doctor advocates a supplement, they take their word as gospel. Its like, if you agree with me, your smart, but if you dont, your a dumb dumb. While I’m not an expert on this, I do believe a lot of what you say has to do with cover your butt (CYA). In addition, there will be those people who are best served by consults with specialists. Im sure those people who were saved /best served by additional consultations are very glad for the additional tests they received. You didn’t mention the insurance companies but I’m sure they are somewhere in the mix also.
That said, to your question – “where does the average joe six pack research drugs”, I would recommend you talk to your pharmacist. They know a LOT about drug interactions. I think this is best because the “average joe” might not understand a lot of the science jargon that often goes along with researching drugs (just read the insert that accompanies prescription meds, ugh!). Webmd.com is pretty good at explaining complex information and so too is Drugs.com. If you chose to look stuff up on the web, before you act on that info, I highly recommend you take that information to your doctor or pharmacist and get their insights. This is to cover YOUR butt 🙂
To Gman: Too Low a Cholesterol:
With the increased use of medication to suppress cholesterol, some have expressed concern that lowering cholesterol levels excessively will itself cause disease.
Specific disease entities[edit]Demographic studies suggest that cholesterol levels form an U-shape curve when plotted against mortality; this suggests that low cholesterol is associated with increased mortality, mainly due to depression, cancer, hemorrhagic stroke, aortic dissection and respiratory diseases.[4] It is possible that whatever causes the low cholesterol level also causes mortality, and that the low cholesterol is simply a marker of poor health.[1]
Links with depression have been supported by studies.[5] In contrast, no evidence was found for a link with hemorrhagic stroke (although higher cholesterol levels conferred a relative protection), and neither did statin drugs worsen the risk.[6]
The Heart Protection Study found no increase in either respiratory disease or neuropsychiatric illness in a large trial population taking a statin drug.[7]
I posted a note earlier and don’t see it!!!!
Joy, it should be there. I post everything you submit 🙂
Joe…and All…..let me thank all for the first rate responses and comments to my rambling. I really appreciate the time readers took to respond. There is a lot of good information and food for thought. Let me make a correction for what it is worth…my cholesterol after statins stays around the 160’s….my posting error.
Regarding doing research….This is just one of several statements you can find on the Mayo Clinic website regarding cholesterol….”Cholesterol is a waxy substance that’s found in the fats (lipids) in your blood. While your body needs cholesterol to continue building healthy cells, having high cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease. When you have high cholesterol, you may develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Eventually, these deposits make it difficult for enough blood to flow through your arteries. Your heart may not get as much oxygen-rich blood as it needs, which increases the risk of a heart attack. Decreased blood flow to your brain can cause a stroke” Check out Mayo’s website for a compilation of comments.
So what is too high, too low or just right? Who really knows? There are mounds of literature on this subject. I doubt if Joe sixpack would argue much with the Mayo Clinic.
So I still ask ….how does ole Joe six pack really know who to trust. As I said before …for every medical subject or condition one can find a dispute or difference of opinion whether it comes from Alternative medical journals, the local pharmacy, family doctor, specialists, mom and dad and even Joe. As an example of differences.
I recall when I was researching and looking for the best advice when my PSA jumped 10 points…..indicating that a need for further consultations and examinations for prostate cancer. I got more than one opinion…some said don’t pay a lot of attention to the PSA levels. I learned that the famous John Hopkins Hospital would not perform a prostate operation on a man over 70 years of age while other reputable hospitals would perform such operations (providing the patient was otherwise somewhat healthy) including the Mayo Clinic.
By the way John Hopkins never gave me a reason for its policy..of not performing such operations on men at that age. Yes Hopkins would offer treatments but not removal. What I found were many options out there for prostate cancer treatment and guess who was the final decision maker on the many options…me. Who knows if I made the right decision? By the way I am satisfied with the decision I made…however painful the process.
As a practice I do seek advice and guidance from my local Alternative medicine doctor….I really like him and he has been very helpful….however for major issues my Alternative doctor will urge more technically oriented consultations, xrays, MRI’s, blood tests, and treatments. I probably would not go to him for an organ transplant!!!!
Gman, I think maybe Johns Hopkins is playing the odds, that by age 70 guys are likely to kick the bucket from other things rather than prostate cancer. That said, Id rather have it out regardless of what they say so I share your frustration with that policy they have.
Gman, I don’t have much faith in the conventional MD’s…I see only integrative MD’s….so supplements FIRST and if NEED, then a pharma drug….I’m 75.
Have you done any research on the CHOLESTEROL MYTH and my MD does not have a concern with cholesterol, WE NEED good cholesterol, your 140 sounds WAY TOO LOW….200 is a good total number….Statins are deadly and huge PROFITS for pharma and the MD’s that push them……I’ve seen and read too much in my long years….
Homocysteine COULD really be the culprit for heart disease and NOT cholesterol…cholesterol is need for brain health and much more including depression for a couple. My MD tests my homocysteine levels and does not worry about cholesterol…..cholesterol is a huge money maker…..People need to wise up…..and many are, but NOT enough. My huge 2cents on this issue.
Gman, I spend way too much time reading emails from alternative doctors, some of whose newsletters I subscribe to, or used to. I take 35 supplements daily, all because of reading what these alternative doctors say. You mention that it is hard for one to decide who’s right and who’s wrong. The alternative doctors, many of whom graduated from medical school at or near the top of their class, are uniform in proclaiming that statin drugs are not just ineffective against heart disease, but are harmful.
But you won’t hear that from any but a tiny percentage of mainstream doctors because they haven’t emancipated themselves from the brainwashing they received in medical school. These schools are heavily influenced by the pharmaceutical drug industry, which grants stipends to the schools’ administrators. The alternative doctors have come to realize the folly of what they were taught — that cut, burn and poison are the only healing modalities — and rebelled, often at great risk of discipline and even the loss of their careers.
Dr. David Brownstein is one of them. He was stymied in trying to cure his father of some illness, and it made him feel like a failure. He began investigating the ideas of Dr. Jonathan Wright, famous for his use of natural therapies against illnesses. Wright has degrees from both Harvard University (cum laude) and the University of Michigan. Then Brownstein applied some of them to his father and healed him. Brownstein, now the director of the Center for Holistic Medicine in suburban Detroit, began his own investigations of natural therapies and lectures widely.
Brownstein opposes statin drugs, as do all of the other alternative doctors. He says cholesterol is critical to many functions in the body, and statins of course lower cholesterol. It produces pregnenolone, a hormone that is a precursor to the other adrenal hormones, the depletion of which results in adrenal exhaustion and all sorts of maladies. Other doctors have pointed out that statins cut off the production of Coenzyme Q10, which maintains the strength of muscles, including the heart muscle. That’s why so many people report muscle pains. I know many people who have said as much.
A lady friend of 15 years said her cholesterol was about 300, so her doctor put her on a statin drug. Her feet hurt so badly she could hardly walk, and she stopped taking it. She exercises daily, and still has 300 cholesterol, but a high level of HDL, and that is what is important. She is in top health. Dr. Al Sears says his HDL is 100, which is very high, so his total has to be way over 200. But at age 57, he claims to be as vigorous and healthy as he was at age 30.
The cholesterol standard decades ago was 300 as the safe upper limit, and then statin drugs came along, and their producers began indoctrinating the medical schools in the notion that the limit had to be lower — and it kept coming down. Another bad side effect of statins is amnesia reported by a number of people, including Dr. Duane Graveline, whose My Statin Story will scare the living daylights out of anyone reading it. Statins ruined his health, making a crippled old man out of him.
Cholesterol is not implicated in heart disease, alternative doctors say. Most cholesterol is produced in the liver, and the LDL form shoots to inflamed sites in arteries to protect them. So it’s inflammation that causes heart disease, not cholesterol. And proper diet, low on processed foods, and supplements prevent inflammation. At least one study showed that people over 70 with high cholesterol are less likely to die than those of low cholesterol. These doctors would say that your 140 cholesterol count is dangerously low, Gman.
Studies on homocysteine as a cause of heart problems have shown conflicting results. I’ve read that C-reactive protein level is a good indicator of inflammation, though not just of the arteries.
After the recent, nationally announced call for increased use of statin drugs throughout the population, made by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, two noted medical professionals took exception to the guidelines. They were John D. Abramson, a lecturer at Harvard Medical School and author of Overdosed America: The Broken Promise of American Medicine; and Rita F. Redberg, a cardiologist at the University of California at San Francisco Medical Center and editor of Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine.
They said statins do not offer “meaningful protection” from heart disease, don’t help people live longer or better, and have major adverse side effects. On the other hand, they said, statins can cause muscle pain or weakness, decreased cognitive function, increased risk of diabetes, cataracts, and sexual dysfunction. And here’s the kicker: They said several of the experts on the recommending panel had “recent or current financial ties to drug makers. In addition, both the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology are heavily supported by drug companies.”
It becomes ever more clear that the American medical establishment is motivated largely by money at the expense of people’s health.
Joe, I see that you have not posted the latest results on the “Human tested” Thyroid studies. “Why?”
Don, I actually did. Hit the refresh button on your browser and it should appear. I ordered the study from the library and read the whole thing. I showed what Anatabloc did and didn’t do. I even showed the side effects the people experienced also.
Joe, your logic escapes me. If you can understand, as you say, that my friend’s athlete’s foot was eliminated by free radicals attacking the bacteria, and if the oxygen in H2O2 produces the free radicals, then logically you are saying you believe that H2O2 works in combating one of the causes of disease — bad bacteria, the others being toxins and viruses . So whence cometh your skepticism?
Here is a repeat of information in my posting: “Over 6,100 articles in European scientific literature have attested to the effectiveness of this safe, inexpensive and powerful healing modality, and over 15,000 European doctors, naturopaths and homeopaths have recommended this self-administered, one-minute treatment to more than 10 million patients in the past 70 years … .” Articles in scientific literature. Scientists do research, right? More than 15,000 medical practitioners recommended H2O2 treatment. Of course, you can argue that the One-Minute Cure author simply made up those figures — and likely would ruin her reputation as American medical people who oppose H2O2 would provide information showing she lied. However, this book came out in 2008, I think, and I’ve not found anyone who did so.
And if she’s right — and there’s no reason to believe she isn’t — I’ll follow the advice of those European doctors over what American doctors prescribe without hesitation, because the medical institutions where American doctors are schooled are funded by pharmaceutical companies and those doctors are taught only that drugs, radiation and surgery are efficacious. If you doubt that influence, read the words written for the New York Times by John D. Abramson, a lecturer at Harvard Medical School, author of Overdosed America: The Broken Promise of American Medicine, and an expert witness in litigation involving the pharmaceutical industry; and Rita F. Redberg, a cardiologist at the University of California’s San Francisco Medical Center and editor of JAMA Internal Medicine.
They were decrying the new cholesterol guidelines of the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology: “Several of the experts on the panel have recent or current financial ties to drug makers. In addition, both the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology are heavily supported by drug companies.” Of course, the authors of the article could be lying, too.
Joe, I think that scientific studies are very important. I also think it is very important to consider who conducts them, and critical studies conducted in America have a long history of conflict of interest that have resulted in dishonesty. Thus, placing unequivocal faith in them, while debunking anecdotal evidence as worthless, strikes me as misguided.
It is, I would think, indicative of naivete, a matter of misplaced skepticism. Nothing is certain, and we have to rely on sound judgment in arriving at conclusions. Do you think that the climate of hostility to H2O2 therapy by the American medical community lends itself to freedom to conduct studies on its effectiveness? The American medical establishment punishes doctors who go counter to the strict rules of their crediting organizations and the FDA.
Do you doubt the scientific explanation of H2O2’s effectiveness in dental treatments cited by the dental website that I referenced in my posting?
Since you don’t have the book, I’ll have to quote from it: “Since the 1920s, thousands of scientific articles have been written about the amazing effects of hydrogen peroxide therapy, but it continues to be ignored or called illegitimate. The true reason why hydrogen peroxide is still controversial is due to a political, rather than a health, issue.
Consider that the Medizone Company tried to begin human testing to make ozone therapy commonplace in the 1980s only to be halted by the FDA. If the treatment were to be accepted today, the FDA and many others would have to take responsibility for the thousands of people who have died because they caused this vital information to be withheld from the public.”
Dr. Oz says only a tiny percentage of statin drug users suffer from muscle problems, yet the big majority of present and former statin drug users who I know say they have, or did have, such problems. A horde of other serious problems have been reported. Yet the studies purported to show the drugs were safe. Cholesterol is necessary to produce pregnenolone, Dr. David Brownstein says. Statin drugs guarantee a low level of pregnenolone. This “creates a cascading depressive effect on the rest of the adrenal hormones, including DHEA, testosterone, and estrogen. These hormones all help to maintain a healthy immune system and to keep the body strong by building muscle and bone and improving energy …
I don’t know how anyone could believe that poisoning the enzyme that makes cholesterol — as statin drugs do — could be beneficial to health.” Joe, I don’t know about you, but that leaves me highly skeptical of the studies on statin drugs, and of the medical establishment’s biggest proponent, the much celebrated Dr. Oz.
Robert, this is where my skepticism is coming from. H2O2 killing athletes foot bacteria after directly exposing those bacteria to H2O2 is a big difference from curing /improving Alzheimers disease (or any other diereses) by drinking H2O2. Show me a study where H2O2 helped/cured Alzheimers disease or any other serious medical condition. If you have the one minute cure book, just list a few of studies that they should have at the end of the book I will take a look at them.
“Joe, you may very well be right about hydrogen peroxide’s ineffectiveness against Alzheimer’s. I could find no literature on the Internet that mentions any studies on the subject. However, that could be because they were conducted in Europe or Asia. I read recently that 50 AIDS patients in some African country were treated with H2O2, and 30 went into remission while the health conditions of the rest were much improved. I couldn’t find that when I searched again. I’m glad for your response to my posting because it prompted me to spend hours researching H2O2 therapy and I have gained new insights. A long piece appeared on the Family Health News website, citing studies on AIDS treatment with H2O2. Here are salient parts:
Nathaniel Altman, author of “Oxygen Healing Therapies for Optimum Health & Vitality,” spent the last four years traveling the globe interviewing practitioners of oxidative modalities, visiting their
clinics, conversing with their patients and researching the topic.
In the United States, small pilot studies were developed by Dr. Carpendale and Dr. John Griffiss of the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the University of California School of Medicine in San Francisco to find out if there is a role for medical ozone in the treatment of HIV and associated infections … .
Dr. Carpendale was so encouraged by the results of these studies, he has attempted to secure
government funding for additional ozone studies involving many more people. He has met with no success.
According to Dr. Carpendale, “In the FDA, the drug companies have representatives on nearly all the committees.
If there’s something which may be very effective but may undersell the average drug company, of course they are not going to be very pleased if it gets developed. It might be very difficult for them to compete with that. And ozone is obviously inexpensive to produce, it is very potent [and] if it works half as well as the Germans claim it does, everyone should be using it.”
The use of bio-oxidative therapies is fraught with controversy. On one hand, the pharmaceutical companies, which stand to earn billions of dollars in profits from anti-AIDS medications, are completely opposed to the use of inexpensive, safe and potentially effective substances like hydrogen peroxide and ozone in treating this disease.
“In addition, many physicians are either ignorant of or hostile towards using therapies that can be self-administered, like the sauna bag and rectal insufflation methods mentioned earlier.
“These are some of the reasons why many reputable and caring physicians who have treated AIDS patients with ozone and hydrogen peroxide have been threatened by state licensing authorities, and have had their practices closed down.
“The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have refused to sponsor humans trials for ozone and hydrogen peroxide, and have made it extremely difficult for small independent companies like Medizone International to undertake such research.”
Health Care Fraud Or Medical Miracle (Mr. Altman’s comments continued):
Despite the fact that over ten million patients (including over a thousand AIDS patients) have received ozone therapy in Europe, and that reliable data on the use of ozone and hydrogen peroxide is supported by hundreds of scientific articles and clinical studies, the Food and Drug Administration still maintains that bio-oxidative therapies like ozone have not been proven either safe or effective.
The situation may be changing. After reviewing the laboratory and clinical evidence regarding the use of ozone and hydrogen peroxide, a recent report by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on Alternative Medical Systems and Practices in the United States has recommended that “definitive studies be undertaken to determine whether these treatments have any utility”.
At the same time, a number of states, including New York and North Carolina, have recently passed “freedom of medicine” laws which allow the use of experimental therapies by licensed practitioners. A growing number of physicians are sharing their clinical data with the goal of
presenting their findings to government agencies like the NIH and FDA.
So there you have it, the conclusions of a man who spent four years investigating this subject. It is very difficult for any person or company to conduct research in this country on alternative treatment methods. Mr. Altman, the man who made these observations, seems completely objective. He references Dr. Frank Shallenberger, a pioneer of oxidative therapies in this country, as saying AIDS cannot be cured with H2O2 therapy, but the conditions of patients have been greatly improved and the disease kept under control. Altman says hydrogen peroxide therapy was developed in the United States primarily by Charles H. Farr, M.D., of Oklahoma, a nominee for the 1993 Nobel prize in Medicine. However, Farr advises against oral use of H2O2 because it can have a corrosive effect
on the stomach and small intestine. Here, Mr. Altman is presenting a more balanced case for H2O2 therapy than is Madison Cavanaugh in The One-Minute Cure, which references Drs. Farr and Shallenberger but omits these caveats. Both doctors advocate oxygen therapy in a number of forms: ozone in different ways; hyperbaric oxygen treatment; H2O2 topically, through injections, baths and inhaling.
I might discontinue oral use of H2O2 after an undetermined period and switch to bathing in a solution.
In my Internet search, I came across a plethora of testimonials on the effectiveness of H2O2 on various ailments in the different methods of administering it. Even cancer patients gave detailed accounts of remission. I find no reason to doubt these people. In light of the shortage of studies due to the medical establishment’s discouraging them, I choose to weigh all sides of what these people say and be so guided in my use of H2O2. There has to be a reason why H2O2 has been used so extensively in Europe and very little in the U.S. And I don’t think it’s because the Europeans lack scientific know-how.
They are simply more open to what works and far less motivated by financial gain. I took Anatabloc based largely on testimonials, and it alleviated a lot of pain. I’m doing the same with H2O2. I think each person should investigate all of the claims and counterclaims, the available research, and the testimonials, and decide for himself or herself what path to take. An enormous amount of information is available on H2O2. Something that hasn’t been shown to be effective would not have garnered so much attention.
Robert, I appreciate you looking for that information. I looked at the family health news website and they quote doctors, they cite no studies. The titles of European and Asian studies should be listed in PubMed. One of the reasons I like to link to studies is because I want to show people the evidence. You mentioned that Dr. Carpendale was impressed with the studies he/she saw. Can you show me the abstracts/summaries of those studies?
Joe, were we looking at the same Website page? You say doctors were quoted, but no studies shown. Below are the studies I referred to, including some conducted by doctors (I assume you’re aware that some doctors do research). The summaries are provided:
However, the first documented cases of using ozone to treat AIDS was reported by the German physician Alexander Pruess in 1986. In his work with four patients, Dr. Pruess used ozone in combination with Suramin (a reverse transcriptase inhibitor), immunomodulation therapy, vitamin and mineral supplementation, and the hygienation of intestinal flora. He decided to use ozone because: “As it is well-known that the actual disease(s) occurring through AIDS consists of a combination of viral, fungal and bacteriological infections, I searched for a substance which is viricidal, fungicidal and bactericidal at the same time. Ozone was here the obvious
choice…”
Dr. Pruess noted immediate improvement in all four patients, including the elimination of HIV-related problems like skin diseases, fungal infections, gastrointestinal problems and low energy. Over a year after treatment, all subjects were considered clinically healthy.
In a monograph published in 1993, Dr. Kief wrote about a study comparing 30 patients from the Kief Clinic who were given an enhanced ozone protocol and 20 patients from the University of Frankfurt School of Medicine who received conventional treatment, including AZT. Dr. Kief’s patients were observed over 251 days while the Frankfurt patients were observed for 363. T4/T8 ratios rose from 0.324 to 0.352 among Kief’s patients, while they fell from 0.293 to 0.223 among the Frankfurt patients.
In the United States, small pilot studies were developed by Dr. Carpendale and Dr. John Griffiss of the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the University of California School of Medicine in San Francisco to find out if there is a role for medical ozone in the treatment of HIV and associated infections.
Using two asymptomatic persons infected with HIV, one known as “Patient G”, began with a T-cell count of 309, while the other “Patient I”, began with a T-cell count of 907. The treatment protocol consisted of doses of ozone and oxygen given via rectal insufflation daily for 21 days, once every three days for 16 weeks, and once weekly for 15 weeks, for a total of 73 treatments over a period of 34 to 36 weeks. For the next two years, the subjects treated themselves with a three week “booster dose”, which was repeated from time to time.
The researchers reported that T-cell levels remained within acceptable levels (i.e. over 430) over the next six years, and both individuals “remained in the best of health, with increased feeling of well being and energy, while on ozone therapy and with no infections and no adverse symptoms of malaise for the first five years”.
By that time, “Patient I”, who began the study with a higher T-cell level, not only attained a T-cell count of 1185, but was later tested HIV-negative. However, three months into the sixth year, “Patient G” died suddenly from lobar pneumonia (not AIDS-related PCP pneumonia) after getting soaked in a storm making emergency repairs on a roof while recuperating from the flu.
When he died, “Patient G” was still HIV-positive, yet he had maintained a T-cell count between 500 and 700. In their report, which was published in the Proceedings of the Eleventh Ozone World Congress, in 1993, the researchers concluded:
“These normalizing results support the hypothesis that ozone may be effective in suppressing and possibly eliminating HIV, especially in the stages of the disease when the patient is asymptomatic and has a CD4 cell count in the normal range. It also indicates the potential for self treatment for long term prophylaxis, treatment or care.”
In a related study, which was published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, Dr. Carpendale and his associates gave five AIDS patients suffering from intractable diarrhea daily colonic insufflations of ozone (at doses from 2.7 to 30 mg.) for 21 to 28 days. By the end of the study, three of the four patients were completely relieved of their symptoms, while one patient, whose diarrhea was the result of the parasite cryptosporidium, experienced no change. Relief from secondary infections including herpes simplex, folliculitis and sycosis barbae were also reported. Patients also felt less toxic, less discomfort and more energy than they had before being treated with ozone.
No adverse side effects were reported. Dr. Carpendale was so encouraged by the results of these studies, he has attempted to secure government funding for additional ozone studies involving many more people. He has met with no success.
The results of another pilot study with ozone was presented at the Fourth International Bio-Oxidative Medicine Conference in April 1993 by Dr. Frank Shallenberger, M.D. He administered intravenous ozone to five randomly-selected men diagnosed with AIDS over a period of fourteen days. The total daily dose was calculated to be .15 milligrams of ozone per kilogram of body weight.
On the first day, 1/4 the daily dose was given, on the second, 1/2, and the third, 3/4. From the 4th to the 14th day, the full dose was administered. Patients were carefully monitored and evaluated before and after each treatment. During the period after therapy, no other therapies were given, except for one patient who began taking DDI after the fourth month.
Before the ozone treatments began, each patient participated in a holistic protocol including a whole food nutritional program, meditation and deep breathing, lymphatic drainage massage, nutritional supplements, safe sex practices and regular exercise.
Although Dr. Shallenberger considered the sample too small to be statistically significant, the results included at least a six-month period of overall survival, an immediate increase of the number of T-cells, relief of symptoms from opportunistic infections among most patients, and higher energy levels overall. Shallenberger’s clinical observations follow:
1. S.W (34 years old): Diffuse cutaneous Karposi’s Sarcoma of two year duration went into clinical remission for six months before the lesions returned. Otherwise continues to be in good health.
2. S.S. (27 years old): Chronic diarrhea (cryptosporidium), chronic fatigue, and weight loss >20%. All symptoms disappeared within two months, and the patent remains healthy one year later. CD4 count remains at 7.
3. R.J. (34 years old): Oral thrush, fatigue, and mild hadenopathy [swollen lymph nodes]. Thrush disappeared for six months. Fatigue is gone. Lymphadenopathy has not progressed, and the patient remains in good health one year later.
4. T.B. (32 years old): Hairy Leukoplakia and mild phadenopathy. Neither of these symptoms changed. he remains in otherwise good health one year later.
5. M.P. (41 years old): Neuro-leukodystrophy. Needs assistance to walk, has urinary incontinence and impotence. Within one week of treatment his incontinence and gait improved considerably. One month later, he was walking easily without assistance and had no incontinence. MRI remains stable, showing no progression of lesions, as does the patient at a ten-month interval.”
Shallenberger’s findings support the hypothesis that ozone therapy can have long-term positive effects on AIDS patients, although he does not believe that ozone therapy alone can be considered a cure.
Robert, can you post the studies you are referring to. the references you listed regarding dr Shallenberger look like they are of individual people. Can you give me the title of the study and reference information where its published. that way I can look it up myself.
The information about HIV you listed said “Proceedings of the Eleventh Ozone World Congress.” while this is a good way to get info out to other scientists, its not a peer reviewed publication. As such it carries less weight.
you mentioned something on HIV published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. do you have a citation for that so I can read the study?
Joe, I am merely a layman, but you are a physiologist, if I’m not mistaken. You should have a much better idea how to access these citations than I. I have no idea how to acquire them.
I don’t understand your note about Shallenberger’s study, that they concern individuals. What do studies comprise other than results of therapies on individuals? The results were elaborately detailed, and Shallenberger would have to be a fantastic liar, or a hell of a novelist, to have fictionalized them. I don’t think he had them published, however, because, if you will read what he said, he didn’t think the sample size was large enough to be conclusive.
That doesn’t sound like a liar to me. He also said that while the conditions of the patients was markedly improved, he didn’t think H2O2 could cure AIDS. Even if he considered the sample size were adequate, I doubt he’d publish the results because the mainstream medical organizations would clamp down on him even harder than they already have.
This antipathy by such organizations and the FDA to alternative treatments is a reality that, it appears to me, you refuse to acknowledge, despite persons such as the U. of California School of Medicine researcher saying so. Please correct me if I’ve come to the wrong conclusion. If you read his remarks, he said that he couldn’t get government funding to conduct a large study on H2O2’s effects on the deadly AIDS even though his small studies showed them to be strongly positive.
I neglected to include in my posting the many laboratory studies that supported quite positive effects of H2O2 on AIDS.
Robert, when I search for research studies, I search Pubmed.gov which is a repository of millions of studies from around the world. for example, you can search for “hydrogen peroxide HIV” and see if any studies were conducted. From there we can usually read the summary of the study to see if it was a human study, animal etc. Studies there are peer reviewed. If you could locate a study there on H202 curing/improving diseases like those you mentioned before, that is the kind of evidence that I’d be interested in reading.
Joe, I’m sorry that, after many hours of researching this subject on the Internet, I don’t have the time to investigate further. In any case, I doubt that small studies of the kind referenced in the Family Health News article would make it into PubMed.gov.
Dr. Shallenberger said he didn’t think his study involved enough patients to be conclusive, even though the H2O2 treatment had very good results. Similarly, the U. of California med school professor/doctor/researcher thought a large-scale study was needed to validate the highly positive findings of his small studies.
Such studies are very expensive, and he applied for government assistance to conduct one but was turned down. I’m sorry that I’m repeating all of this, but I don’t seem to be communicating. So in the absence of comprehensive studies, which don’t come about because the powers that would make them possible prevent their implementation, one is left to judge whether the small studies in the U.S., in tandem with the thousands of European studies that are claimed, the purported treatment of millions of Europeans with H2O2, and the abundance of positive testimonials are sufficient evidence of its efficacy to merit putting it to a personal test, considering that very few incidences of serious side effects have surfaced and the stuff is very cheap and easy to administer.
I think all of these factors are sufficient indication that H2O2 holds much promise as a mode of healing and prevention, and adjudge it well worth trying. I accept that you, as a person trained in a particular medical discipline, discount all factors except whether a therapy has successfully undergone peer-reviewed studies, regardless of conditions that may prevent such studies from being conducted.
I don’t think that is tunnel vision and an unreasonable position — I think other factors should be weighed — but it is your prerogative. Accordingly, there is not much point in hashing it over any further. I choose not to deny myself what appear to me to be likely benefits of administering H2O2 merely because of the perception that scientific protocol addressing its efficacy is insufficient. It may not work, but I see very little risk in trying it.
Robert, I totally understand and I appreciate you looking in the first place. If I can add, Pubmed does list small studies so if the small study that was referenced was ever published it should be there. All I would need is the title of the study to find it. Actually studies dont have to be that expensive to do. While I do remain skeptical, if you are happy with the results I am glad for it.
Joe Just curious you are experimenting with Drs Best because it contains something called bioperene thats said to increase the absorption of curcumin. Are you doing this based upon published peer reviewed papers? Have your experimented with peer reviewed Anatabloc yet? Are you concerned about your C-Reactive Protein levels? If so Anatabloc drives it down. Thanks
Adamr, several supplements Ive looked at have included bioperene to increase absoption. consumer lab also mentions that its reputed to do this (but offers no proof unfortunately) but on the off chance it works, I thought Id try it. my CPR levels are actually pretty good. I have not tried Anatabloc yet.
For the most part I try to stay out of the “I tried it and this is what happened” arena because on other reviews Ive written I get slammed for trying something but not reporting results others have gotten when they took it. Basically what I say – good or bad – is just another testimonial. This is why I like to stick to the research. The Anatabloc thyroid research was interesting but it did have some problems but I can commend the company for putting themselves out there.
I just started taking Anatabloc hoping it will provide some relief for my Lymes Disease (3rd day on a 10 tablet a day regime). I should have read this site before starting. It does not sound like this is going to give me much relief. Any suggestions for easing the joint pain I have?
PatCar, Even though my review may not be the most “rosy,” my conclusions are hamstrung by the research that currently exists. Regardless of what the research studies say, I do hope it helps you and I also hope you will let me know either way.
PatCar, hydrogen peroxide is touted in a book titled The One-Minute Cure as being powerfully effective against virtually every disease. The book lists 72 of these, but Lymes is not listed. That doesn’t mean H2O2 doesn’t help it. The 72 do include Chronic Pain and Arthritis. The late Dr. Christiaan Barnhard, best known for doing the first heart transplant, treated his own arthritis and other age-related maladies with H2O2 and began recommending it to his patients — until the medical community ridiculed him so intensely that he stopped claiming affiliation with the hundreds of doctors likewise recommending it (though he continued his personal use). H2O2 is very cheap and easy to administer in several forms: orally, a spray mist, bathing in a solution of it, and topically. It also can be injected by a qualified homeopathic doctor. Of course, it must be heavily diluted, and only 35% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide can be ingested. Even if it turns out not to help with the Lymes, you may benefit in other ways. Also, it’s purportedly a great teeth whitener. The book is available on Amazon for $9.95, and you definitely should read it before embarking on any H2O2 therapy.
PatCar, Here is the One Minute Cure on Amazon. Do read the comments. Hydrogen peroxide generates free radicals which, if it works, probably plays a role in any effects. I would agree with Robert to NOT self inject hydrogen peroxide yourself. I personally am skeptical of the claims of hydrogen peroxide. Robert, did Dr. Barnhard, publish any peer reviewed papers on the effects of hydrogen peroxide?
BTW, Happy New Year to all! Have a safe/fun night tonight if you are going out 🙂
I tried responding Tuesday but the website was down.
The whole theory, which apparently has been scientifically validated, is that H2O2 works because it creates an oxygen environment, in which toxins, pathogens, viruses and bad bacteria cannot survive but healthy cells thrive.
That it works is indicated by the FDA’s permission for 3 percent H2O2 bought at the drug store or supermarket to claim on its label effectiveness as an antiseptic to treat abrasions, etc., and as a mouthwash.
According to the online RDH magazine, which deals with dentistry, “While its most common application involves tooth whitening, significant health benefits are documented using hydrogen peroxide to treat gingivitis and periodontitis. The first use of hydrogen peroxide in dentistry was in 1913, used to decrease plaque formation and to control “pyorrhea” or gum disease.
The now known mechanism of antimicrobial action is the release of oxygen, and pathogenic effects are seen in gram-positive as well as gram-negative organisms.₁ Another mechanism of antimicrobial action is the effect the hydrogen peroxide has on the debridement of bacterial cell walls. A 10 minute exposure to a 1.7% hydrogen peroxide gel penetrates the biofilm slime matrix and debrides the cell walls of in vitro S. mutans biofilms.
Microbiologists have also hypothesized that peroxide delivered and maintained in the sulcus or periodontal pocket releases oxygen and changes the subgingival micro-environment, making it harder for anaerobic bacteria to survive. Oxygen therapy has been shown to greatly reduce or eradicate pathogens in acute necrotizing periodontal disease, the most aggressive form of periodontal disease.”
Here is what comes up on Amazon when one Googles Madison Cavanaugh, the author of The One-Minute Cure: “Over 6,100 articles in European scientific literature have attested to the effectiveness of this safe, inexpensive and powerful healing modality, and over 15,000 European doctors, naturopaths and homeopaths have recommended this self-administered, one-minute treatment to more than 10 million patients in the past 70 years to successfully treat cancer, AIDS, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, herpes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, asthma and most other diseases.”
This is from Dr. David G. Williams, medical researcher, biochemist and chiropractor: “A single atom of oxygen, however, is very reactive and is referred to as a free radical. Over the past several years, we’ve continually read that these free radicals are responsible for all types of ailments and even premature aging. What many writers seem to forget, however, is that our bodies create and use free radicals to destroy harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi.
In fact, the cells responsible for fighting infection and foreign invaders in the body (your white blood cells) make hydrogen peroxide and use it to oxidize any offending culprits. The intense bubbling you see when hydrogen peroxide comes in contact with a bacteria-laden cut or wound is the oxygen being released and bacteria being destroyed. The ability of our cells to produce hydrogen peroxide is essential for life. H2O2 is not some undesirable by-product or toxin, but instead is a basic requirement for good health.” (From the Alternatives Newsletter by David G. Williams)
As for Dr. Barnhard, the information I noted about his use of H2O2 came from The One-Minute Cure. I tried to learn the background of the author but came up empty. However, he is by far not the only one proclaiming the wonders of H2O2. Several other books about it exist.
The only personal knowledge of H2O2’s efficacy comes from a friend, who said he rubbed it on his itching underarms, which were infected with athlete’s foot. The problem quickly disappeared, he said, and never returned.
You are right to be skeptical of anything making such therapeutic claims. It seems to me that such skepticism should lead to investigation, and I would urge you to obtain a copy of the book and read it, and read at least some of the abundant literature on the subject to be found by Googling.
Robert, thanks for that. Since oxygen is a producer of free radicals, I think we are saying the same thing, just using different words for the mechanism of hydrogen peroxide (ie creating an oxygen environment vs promoting free radicals). Because, as we know, anybody can write a book about just about anything, Id like to see a study of it doing some of the stuff its alleged to do, preferably in humans. if 10 million people have been treated successfully with H202, I’d think some of them should be in the form of research studies.
I can understand why hydrogen peroxide helped your friends athletes foot…killing the bacteria that caused it – via promotion of free radicals that killed the bacteria.
I tried Anatabloc…I want tell you my secret but I was able to get a 3 months supply. I am 79 years of age and have a problem with arthritis in my hand. Followed the instructions for 3 months and nothing changed.
Gman, I had 4 great months Jan-April on Abloc, 8 per day. And then it stopped working as it was WHY, I have no clue. I still take 4 per day and other stuff to reduce chronic inflammation….I deal with OA everywhere in this ole bode….also Fibro and a mess from hip replacement….Omega 3’s are IMPORTANT, watching inflammatory foods…..keeping body as alkaline as possible…acidic bodies breed disease….. j
I was just reading that processed meats increase CRP levels, a marker for inflammation.
Absolutely, JOE, I was a bad bad girl in 2013 with processed meats and cheese and it showed in the comprehensive labs on lipids my integrative MD did…guess who is NOT buying salami, processed turkey, etc…..yours truly….keeping cheese LOW too….. I fell off my good healthy eating wagon but back on…slipping here and there but NEVER bring processed meats into my house again…..seeing the labs proved it all….
A PS Here, I have been taking Higher doses of MSM powder for years….it helps to “calm” pain….I learned about the higher dosing from a member of a RA group I visited a lot over the years…..I make a cocktail of MSM powder every morning with a couple oz of pure cherry juice, some aloe vera gel, lemon squirts, and some ACV apple cider vinegar, this is my first MSM cocktail of the day after sleeping all night and stiff as can be when I get out of bed///I stretch a lot before my feet hit the floor. Use a lot of topicals for my messy joints….and ankle and knee supports……what it’s all turned out for me….a life time of high activity to this…..
I’ve been reading the turmeric thread and I’ve used many over the years, various blends….too much turmeric can cause stomach distress, so be careful…I take stomach protector in the form of DGL and it’s keeping me OK.
I have a product in front of me: Bio-Curcumin Phytosome and the label reads: Power Antioxidant, Bio-Enhanced, Turmeric Root Extract, Balanced Inflammatory Response, Increased Bioavailability, this product is from Now Foods via swansons and a very good price….
There are products out there with Turmeric/Ginger combo, Turmeric/Boswellia combo and more….I get MOST of these turmeric/curcumin products from swansons.
Beautiful day here in So. Cal. close to 80 today and feeling sorry for me and my aging joints that I can’t be walking out there as I did for many years…..
Bought a new product, Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate in green canister, amazon has a lot of reviews but I got my first canister from iherb, my gf is giving it a try too. I’m only on it 6 days or so. HOPING for some relief.
Oh goodness, aging with joint mess is a tough road. Take care all and enjoy your holidays…..I keep a pretty low profile, but see my little family and put on a happy face…….joy
Hi Joe. Two years ago I was diagnosed with a rare disorder called Cheilitis Granulomatosa. There Is limited treatment available. One year ago I started taking Anatabloc. Within two days the swelling of my upper lip started to subside. I take the recommended dosage for my weight. Six months ago I saw my specialist and He was amazed at how everything turned out and recommended that I keep taking the Anatabloc.
I recently had my physical and my GP was also impressed with how my lip has healed and also how my blood work has improved. There was a slight improvement in my Cholesterol levels. The most startling change was my THS levels dropped 30%, kidney and liver function were normal. I feel great, better than I have in years.
Anatabloc definitely works for me and others, especially for auto immune related inflammation. However if a person has pain due to non inflammation issues (pinched nerve) then I believe its a waste of money. This is why we are seeing so many people in desperation trying Anatabloc for pain and have all kinds of positive and negative reviews. There is very little in the way of drugs for auto immune disorders.
But I believe that eventually doctors will prescribe anatabine citrate as a first line of defense for these inflictions. Thanks again for posting information about Anatabloc.
Maurice, thanks for writing and Im really glad Anatabloc has been helping you. Glad Anatablc has helped your TSH levels. This Ive always felt was one of the most interesting aspects of the research. There is some preliminary human research on thyroid problems now and I summarized that research in my review. I’m definitely looking forward to more research on this topic.
I’m so glad Anatabine helped you! I have rheumatoid arthritis and am on Enbrel and Methotrexate for that. I used two bottles of Anatabine without any improvement whatsoever. Has anyone else with RA tried this, and how did it work for you? I’m in another flare-up right now, with ALOT of inflammation. I so much hoped it would have helped me.
Roseann, did you ever try tumeric/curcumin? just a thought.
Dear Joe, yes, I have tried Turmeric. I’m embarrassed to say that lately I have felt sick enough that I haven’t taken my supplements regularly. I buy Turmeric at Artesian Health Food Store. How much do you recommend I take? I’m 5’4 and 138 lbs. Any other anti-inflammatory supplements youmcould recommend would be appreciated!
Roseann
Roseann, Ive been experimenting with a brand called drs best which passed the consumerlab tests to show it really had. I dont think there is any specific amount to use and Im just experimenting with it myself. I started with only 1 500 mg capsule a day. Some people have reported good results with tart cherry juice. Im not sure if I mentioned that before or not. I have a review on it also. Sorry you have not been feeling well.
Joe, the Doctor’s Best you referred to, is that Turmeric or curcumin, or are they the same thing? I’ll try it, for sure. Robert, is the oneminutecure an electronic book? Thank you all for your info and caring!
Roseann, curcumin is the compound in Tumeric that is said to be the ‘secret sauce” responsible for its anti-inflammatory effects. I am experimenting with Drs Best because it also contains something called bioperene thats said to increase the absorption of curcumin. Here is the product on Amazon that Ive been experimenting with.
Dear Joe, I did order the product on Amazon that you are trying. I’ll get it soon and start taking it. I read Robert Brink’s information after I already purchased the Doctor’s Best product. I have ordered from Swansons before and like their prices and service. But I DID want to try what you, Joe, are using-I hope it works for whatever you are taking it for.
Robert, THANK YOU for the info on ordering the H2O2 book on Amazon. When I went to the oneminutecure website, the price was $39.95, and I couldn’t tell if it was an actual book or an electronic book. I am old enough, almost 62, to love REAL books, and my iPAD is getting elderly. So my next job is to go back to Amazon.
All this info from you both, Joy, and others is so much appreciated by me! May all of us find good health in the year to come!
Roseann
Roseann, I do hope it helps you and that you also are having a very nice Christmas today also 🙂
Roseann,
As Joe said, he probably got it on sale. I noticed it was on sale at, I think, Vitamin Shoppe, where he got it. I do the same thing: If I can get a better price, I depart from Swanson if I think the quality is as good. The composition of Doctors and Swanson’s curcumin was almost identical, so Doctors on sale probably was the better route in this instance. I don’t know what you paid for the NOW product, Joy, but the Swanson turmeric I use also has phytosome, and meriva, as well. You likely got a good price for the NOW. The recommended dose is one cap a day, but I take two and have no gastrointestinal problems with it.
Roseann, yes, the One-Minute Cure website charges $39.99. That’s why I recommended Amazon, where it’s $9.99 plus $3.99 shipping. But I think the explanatory material is on the website, and it’s fascinating.
Hope everyone’s had a great Christmas so far. I just came from a dinner group, where we discussed alternative medicine and nutrition at length. I’m now headed out for some ballroom dancing to work off that delicious food.
Hi, Robert, I took your advice and ordered the oneminutemiracle on Amazon, instead of on its own website. I found the site for the H2O2, but I’m going to wait to order it after I skim through the book first. Are you taking the H2O2 yet?
Your Christmas sounded fantastic-dinner, good conversation, and then dancing! Like Joy, my old (but not all THAT old) joints don’t allow me to do too much. My husband’s and my families live in WI and NM; we live in Northern CA-but we had a great family Christmas with another extended family here in CA who we love, so it was a great Christmas. May 2014 be a blessed and healthier year for all of us!
Joe, I’m off point, and I apologize. Thanks for your wonderful website.
Roseann, no worries I’m glad you had a nice Christmas. Ive been in North Carolina this week. I’ve had a lot of fun playing with my nieces and nephews, walking on the the deserted beach, watching movies, staying up late and sleeping in. Driving home today…
Good for you, Roseann. Probably a good idea to read The One-Minute Cure before ordering the H2O2.
Maybe it will get your joints operating smoothly and you can go dancing. It’s supposed to be effective against arthritis, among many things. However, injections of H2O2 by a homeopathic doctor probably work best. Also, spraying 3 percent H2O2 in your mouth might be quite potent; a guy details his success in conquering prostate cancer in six days by spraying a mist into his mouth nine times a day. You can find out a lot by Googling.
I am on my 11th day of using the liquid H2O2. Don’t know how effective it will be, but I seem to have more energy already, even though I’m still healing from the neck lift in Tijuana and my neck remains somewhat numb. Today I did 100 pushups at a pop and abdominal exercises, waxed my car, and went ballroom dancing.
PS: Robert, some of my replies to you are way out of sequence. I hope you end up seeing my replies, because I did take ALOT of your advice. I commented on 12/24 and 12/28, but the comments on my iPad, at least, are AHEAD of your replies to me!
To Robert Brink- Robert, I’m not quite sure why my autoimmune diet, provided by the chiropractor who studied diet and autoimmune diseases excluded eggs from my diet. I’ll ask him. It wasn’t for any reason associated with cholesterol levels-mine weren’t all that bad from the start, although they weren’t perfect. Everything he told me to stop eating either had inflammatory or allergic properties, but ONLY for people who had autoimmune diseases. I’ll let you know. Thanks for all your help! I remember reading way back that you were a journalist-I’m sure you were an outstanding one!
Roseann and Joe,
The H2O2 book for $9.95 on Amazon is paperback. Shipping adds $3.99.
The primary ingredient of turmeric and curcumin is curcuminoids, but turmeric contains two other substances. I said in my previous email that I knew of no anti-inflammatory effect of turmeric, but further investigation shows it indeed does work against inflammation. I apologize. Comparing Doctors Best with Swanson: Doctors Best has 120 caps of 1000 mg. for $47.99; Swanson has 60 caps of 875 mg. for $17.99. So you’re getting almost the same strength for $12 less with Swanson — in other words, 25 percent cheaper for 12.5 percent less strength. Swanson’s curcumin won Best Value from Consumer Lab, and contains bioperine for bioavailability, same as Doctors Best.
Here’s what the Natural Healthy Concepts website says about the difference between turmeric and curcumin:
“There have been studies published in the International Journal of Pharmacology that show that turmeric rhizome (ETE) performs better than curcumin. And natural health gurus like Dr. Andrew Weil, recommend turmeric over curcumin for his patients. Dr. Weill says, “I frequently recommend turmeric supplements, and I believe whole turmeric is more effective than isolated curcumin for inflammatory disorders, including arthritis, tendinitis, and autoimmune conditions.”
Roseann, I noticed in a previous posting that you stopped eating eggs. I’m curious why. Eggs are very healthy, and I eat two and sometimes three daily. I’m not concerned about my total cholesterol, except for wanting high HDL and a good ratio between it and LDL. A blood test just showed 189 total and 104 LDL versus 74 HDL, or 41 percent HDL while the touted ideal is 25 percent. My HDL is 64 percent higher, or much better than, the ideal. But I buy supposedly cage-free eggs at $3.65 a dozen from Publix (even these are fed grain, though). And I eat all-natural bacon, high in saturated fat like eggs. So much for Dr. Oz’s warnings against eggs because saturated fat is supposedly harmful.
Here is promotion material by Lee Swanson on its curcumin:
Fargo, ND (VOCUS) March 22, 2011—ConsumerLab.com recently conducted a review of turmeric and curcumin supplements. Not only did Swanson Health Products’ Swanson Superior Herbs Curcumin Complex receive an “Approved” rating, it also received the distinction of “Best Value.” To determine value, ConsumerLab.com evaluates the amount of a particular ingredient in the supplement at the lowest cost.
Curcumin (the major component of turmeric) is known for its health benefits and powerful antioxidant capabilities, as well as a culinary spice. As a spice, turmeric has a sharp taste and is used mainly in curry powders, yellow mustards and in some cheeses.
ConsumerLab.com tests primarily for quality determined by:
•Labeled amount: the supplements are reviewed to verify that products contain the amount of curcuminoids as listed on label;
•Purity: the supplements are tested for contaminants such as heavy metals; and
•Ability to disintegrate: the supplements are evaluated to verify that once consumed, they will break down properly and release the contents of the supplement.
An “Approved” rating from ConsumerLab.com is a testament to the quality of Swanson Superior Herbs Curcumin Complex—it is standardized to 95% of total curcuminoids. The supplement review also noted the enhanced bioavailability of the Curcumin Complex supplement because it features Bioperine, which more than doubles the bioavailability to optimize absorption.
Swanson Health Products is an industry leader in bringing vitamins direct to consumers at the lowest prices possible. Swanson Health Products, headquartered in Fargo, ND, offers the highest quality vitamins, supplements and natural health care products and is Good Manufacturing Practices certified. Swanson Health Products goes a step beyond its competitors by offering powerful guarantees. All products are backed by a 100% Satisfaction, Money-Back Guarantee and Double the Difference Lowest Price Guarantee. For more information, please visit swansonvitamins
Robert, that is correct about swanson. I tried doctors best because thats what I was able to find at vitamin shoppe. If they had swanson I would have gotten that brand to try out.
Joe, you probably got a good sale price for Doctors Best at Vitamin Shoppe. More power to you.
Robert, thanks. I forget what it cost. I think they were on sale.
Roseann, do some research on RA and Prolotherapy. Here is one site to check out… I had Prolo in my foot/ankle last week and it’s helping….had it my shoulder 4 yrs ago and it helped me for 4 yrs.
caringmedical.com/prolotherapyblog/todays-vlog-can-prolotherap…CachedSep 20, 2011 – How would Prolotherapy help a person who has inflammation in the joints? … arthritis, I can do Prolotherapy in that joint, even though it is inflamed. … But, once they can walk, I’m always like, ‘why don’t we try to get you to run?
I know you wanted Anatabloc to work, it worked good for me for 4 months and then pretty much stopped….I take 4 per still. I don’t have RA but lots of OA and Fibro…..joy
Joy, the link went to the website but not to a specific page. when I went there it said “404 page not found.” Just a heads up 🙂
Roseann, I urge you to go to theoneminutecure.com. I was so impressed by what I read about this simple, very inexpensive home therapy using hydrogen peroxide that I have begun it myself. For it to work — against virtually every malady — you apparently have to follow the easy protocol and not be overcome with stress.
Just a heads up that I’ve added the human thyroid study of Anatabloc to my review. Sorry it took so long. I wanted to get the study and read it before I commented on it.
A friend sent an email showing eight doctors who have written books and/or articles exposing the harmful effects and lack of efficacy of statin drugs. As much as I’ve read on this topic, I hadn’t heard of five of them. One is Dr. Duane Graveline, a former Air Force flight surgeon and astronaut. If you want the heck scared out of you, Google Dr. Duane Graveline, M.D., and under the item headed Spacedoc, click on My Statin Story. I almost guarantee you’ll never go near a statin.
Robert, GOOD GRIEF….I just read Dr. Graveline’s Statin Story…..I have a bridge friend, male, who came down with Horrible Issues and his docs said were Parkinsonism in nature….I wonder if this guy is or was taking statins….I sent this to him via his friend…..
Those DRUGS are bad bad bad…thanks for send this hot info….joy
I saw the endorsements from John Isner and a couple of other tennis players, and that got my attention. Although I was completely skeptical, I decided to give Anatabloc a try. I am in my mid 50s and a former college tennis player. Now a weekend warrior, I would get up the day after tennis taking little baby steps as many joints were stiff and sore .this has been going on for over 10 years.
After 5 weeks on Anatabloc, these symptoms disappeared. After playing hard, my muscles are now tired the next day, but hardly sore at all. I have been taking it for over a year now, and recommend it to my friends, but they don’t try it. I researched the company thinking about investing. The CEO seems to have a sketchy past. Nevertheless, I really think they stumbled on to something.
For you Anatablocers that may be interested in Rosacea or have friends with Rosacea, a small study was just released 11-23-13 titled Effects of a Facial Cream Containing
the Minor Alkaloid Anatabine on Improving the Appearance of the Skin in Mild to Moderate Rosacea: An Open-Label Case Series Study.
(Most of you know that the active ingredient in Anatabloc is Anatabine.)
The pdf online published article is @: karger.com/Article/FullText/357019#SA6
Have a healthy and Happy Thanksgiving week!
Allan, thanks for the heads up on this study. I’ve updated my review to include this investigation, and commented on it.
Hey all you…any of your MD’s ever do labs on homocysteine levels…many in the alternative thinking world, believe homocysteine is the real culprit for heart disease….ask them to check these levels…
My integrative MD does this test annually now when I get labs done.
Joy, I think its good to know about homocysteine but everything Ive heard recently says its controversial as far as heart disease is concerned. Several studies note that lowering homocysteine -with folic acid, B12 and B6 – dont seem to reduce the risk of heart attacks. Something does appear to be going on with this compound but what it is, I’m not sure. I think it gets to the nature that CV disease is complex with many things contributing to its occurrence.
Well, Joe, I think it is GOOD to get both tests done….thinking back over my life, the word cholesterol was NEVER around…my parents ate everything and lived into 90’s….so who knows but I’d look and consider both homo and chol.
Weston Price does a lot of research and both and I’ve been a member of their local support groups over the years….
As you know, I’m not a great fan of pharma, but they come in handy…..j
Joy I understand – and for what its worth, I like getting homocysteine measured as well.
Joy, Joe, Roseann,
I, too, read from several sources that taking the B vitamins will not correct the problem of high homocysteine levels. However, homocysteine appears to be associated with heart disease. It also appears that atherosclerosis is caused by inflammation brought on by diet.
This is from former heart surgeon Dr. Bruce Lundell:
“Simply stated, without inflammation being present in the body, there is no way that cholesterol would accumulate in the wall of the blood vessel and cause heart disease and strokes. Without inflammation, cholesterol would move freely throughout the body as nature intended. It is inflammation that causes cholesterol to become trapped.
“Inflammation is not complicated — it is quite simply your body’s natural defence to a foreign invader such as a bacteria, toxin or virus. The cycle of inflammation is perfect in how it protects your body from these bacterial and viral invaders. However, if we chronically expose the body to injury by toxins or foods the human body was never designed to process, a condition occurs called chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is just as harmful as acute inflammation is beneficial.
“What thoughtful person would willfully expose himself repeatedly to foods or other substances that are known to cause injury to the body? Well, smokers perhaps, but at least they made that choice willfully.
“The rest of us have simply followed the recommended mainstream diet that is low in fat and high in polyunsaturated fats and carbohydrates, not knowing we were causing repeated injury to our blood vessels. This repeated injury creates chronic inflammation leading to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity.
“Let me repeat that: The injury and inflammation in our blood vessels is caused by the low fat diet recommended for years by mainstream medicine.
“What are the biggest culprits of chronic inflammation? Quite simply, they are the overload of simple, highly processed carbohydrates (sugar, flour and all the products made from them) and the excess consumption of omega-6 vegetable oils like soybean, corn and sunflower that are found in many processed foods.”
Bruce West, DC, who has a huge practice in Monterey, California, insists that he has cured 70,000 people of heart disease through his regimen of phytonutrients. Some 22 years ago, he offered to solve Dick Cheney’s heart problems and warned him that if he continued with the drugs, he’d eventually have to undergo a heart transplant. It happened a couple of years ago.
Thank goodness that in my new dietary lifestyle, I no longer eat sugars, dairy, gluten, soy, and eggs!! I better stop eating sunflower seeds, though, after reading what you wrote!! I started this new lifestyle in April 2013, and it has helped tremendously. I take good supplements, too, including a glutathione recycler, all prescribed by a chiropractor who has researched autoimmune diseases and diet.
Hi Roseann, good to hear and see you here….and your life as an RN.
I have a confession about my last year….I’ve been so watchful of “crap” I put into my body but the last year I went off the wagon, like an alcoholic only it was processed meats (salami/turkey meats) the processed stuff…
Prior to going nuts on these so called meats, my labs were so good, but just recently my MD did a comprehensive testing, I wonder how much this will cost me, but I’ll handle it….anyway my levels were out of sight….
One in particular was the LDL-P (particles) in the blood…I did some research on this and the major thing I read was how bad processed foods are for this particle factor in our blood…..
I’ve been involved in a lot of statin discussions and one lady on another group talked about her husband on statins and how his muscles are weakening and he was told he has some Parkinsonism symptoms and he is having memory loss…this is from his wife telling us…..He lives on processed meats….and thinks the statins will save him and he can eat anything he wants….not so…
I found out for ME what the processed meats did in the last year and the cheese I was bringing home for the so called comfort foods….
I’m totally off the processed meats and pretty much off most cheese…I’ll eat a little now and then but I’ve learned a lesson on the processed poison.
As a kid we ate lunch meats and then we were young and ran around and I’m sure it didn’t do much harm, plus the meats were a lot CLEANER back then….
Both my parents lived into their 90’s and ate everything and no heart disease….cholesterol was NEVER a word in those days…..my how things have changed….just a confession from one is a pretty clean eater….I’ve stopped all alcohol too for the last few years….old age is tough and it takes work to keep as healthy as we can…. j
Dear Joy, I can sympathize with you on lunch meat and cheese!! That is what I usually ate every evening before I changed my diet-and my husband still eats that most of the evenings. I never was much of a cook. And I grew up and lived in Wisconsin for my first 35 years of life. CA may have happy cows, but the cheese here in CA cannot compare with the purely wonderful cheese of WI! I’m serious. So, not eating lunch meat and cheese was a big hurdle for me when I changed my eating habits.
The more I read about statins, the more I want to write or call everyone I know and tell them NEVER to take even one statin pill. This whole statin-cholesterol-heart disease triad is a huge, awful deception that Big Pharma is playing on the American people, the majority of whom blindly follow their doctor’s advice. Most people don’t look up or investigate anything about the drugs the doctors tell them to take.
I was an RN for 30 working years (I still keep my license up-to-date, so I’ve been an RN for closer to 40 years), and I was so brainwashed at college and nursing school through the UW-Madison system that I actually believed Western medicine (which involves taking drugs) was the only true way to practice medicine. If only I would have been exposed to diet and supplements as the means to health, I probably wouldn’t have gone through all the major health problems I have had for years.
I would encourage everyone to research any drugs your doctor puts you on. Don’t just blindly believe that your drugs will help, so that if you take them, you’ll be so healthy. Most doctors are also innocent victims of their education, like I was. It’s just that most of them don’t believe the natural way works, and they are so busy trying to remember all the rules and regulations of their facilities, their insurance plans, their standards of care, and now the government has standards they must meet, they have no time or motivation to research diet, supplements, and natural therapies.
WE, as individual patients, have to do our research alone or with the help of wonderful websites, like Joe Cannon’s, and people like you who have done research already and are so willing to share with newbies, like me!
Sorry for the long soapbox speech.
I can’t believe what I saw on the news yesterday…new guidelines for adminstering statins!!! A third of Americans are going to meet these guidelines!!!! They showed a black woman in her fifties whose cholesterol level were within normal limits, but she has high blood pressure…SHE was recommended to be on statins!!!!! So scary. Makes me so angry.
Betty, I also felt a little shiver when I saw the news reports about the new statin guidelines.
I was prescribed statins years ago, but because I had heard about the side effects on muscles, I never took them. Diet alone normalized my cholesterol levels. I know at least 3 people personally who experienced horrible side effects from statins. And I also read the articles that Joy and Robert mentioned about cholesterol and the lies that have been fed to the American people.
The people who read your website are more educated people as far as health goes. Most others just believe their doctors, who probably don’t have time or the inclination to read reports from the natural health experts. Doctors are bombarded by Big Pharma disinformation. So I guess it’s up to us to at least ASK our friends and relatives to read “the other side of the story” when they tell us they are on statins. We can’t override their MD’s advice, but if they DO some reading and research, hopefully, it will open their eyes to reality-then THEY can make their own decisions and talk to their own doctors.
Roseann, this is from leading holistic nutritionist Yuri Elkaim of Canada:
RESEARCH STUDY #1 A ten-year study of more than 52,000 subjects, which was published in the August 2011 issue of the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, proved…women with high levels of cholesterol were 30% less likely to die from heart disease, a heart attack or a stroke, than women whose cholesterol was normal. (“High” was any reading above 270 mg/dL, and “normal” was any reading below 193 mg/dL.) – See more at: http://www.supernutritionacademy.com/heart-disease7/?tid=cholesterol#sthash.I8hJ1U1b.dpuf
RESEARCH STUDY #2 In January 2009, the American Heart Journal published a study that found almost 75% of all patients hospitalized for heart attacks had “normal” cholesterol levels — i.e., below 200 mg/dL. Read that last sentence again. Their cholesterol was just fine, and they had heart attacks anyway! This next one is the real kicker: – See more at: http://www.supernutritionacademy.com/heart-disease7/?tid=cholesterol#sthash.lV1qL0SI.dpuf
RESEARCH STUDY #3 The World Health Organization’s MONICA study shows that Australian Aboriginals have the highest occurrence of death from heart disease in the world. In fact, Aboriginals are 30 times more likely to die from heart disease than French people. Yet their average cholesterol level is the lowest of any population group that’s ever been studied! – See more at: http://www.supernutritionacademy.com/heart-disease7/?tid=cholesterol#sthash.lV1qL0SI.dpuf
So much for the salutary effects of statin drugs.
These are great studies for me to show to anyone I know who tells me they were told to get on statin drugs!! Thank you, Robert. I was an oncology RN back in the late 70’s to late ’80’s. This may be anecdotal, but my oncology chief told me that cancer patients who were going into the last stages of cancer before death almost always had big dips downward of their cholesterol levels! I witnessed this numerous times way back then. Thank you for the ammunition for me to share to keep those I care for off statins!
Betty, a word from one of the other ANGRY CLUB members….pharma are so corrupt in so many ways and SADLY so many are asleep with their health.
There are studies out there that Cholesterol is a MYTH and I follow that school of thought….it’s sick sick sick…..
Joy, I’ve read the same thing about cholesterol, or another explanation is that the cholesterol is a sign of something that is going wrong in the body and is meaningless in and of itself.
Judith, that is correct. High LDL cholesterol is a sign that there is inflammation in the arteries, and that cholesterol rushes to the inflammation sites to protect the arteries. That is why plaque build-up occurs. So the cholesterol is not the problem. It’s inflammation, which is caused by bad diet.
In my previous posting, I had a typo. I meant: coconut, palm and olive oil ARE good.
Wow!! I didn’t know that about LDL cholesterol!! I’ve been an RN for almost 40 years-worked for over 30 years. But, then, you might imagine how brainwashed I’ve been until the last 6 or so years! I’m so full of inflammation, although my change in diet has helped tremendously. I wish Anatabloc had worked better for me and my RA, etc. But I’ve learned about A LOT of anti-inflammatory natural supplements from Joe’s site and all his followers.
Betty, I, too, was appalled as I read that Associated Press story on the front page of the Palm Beach Post today. It seems as if there is no defeating these moneyed interests. The recent AP story about eliminating trans fat said at the end that saturated fat also caused heart disease.
I called the AP, which I used to work for, and sent an email to the reporter. I will do the same with this story, chastising the media for accepting carte blanche the dictums of the medical establishment and never seeking the opinions of any of the many leading alternative doctors who have preached for decades that the relationship between cholesterol and heart disease is a myth.
The media won’t provide any health information that isn’t officially sanctioned. They have failed to alert the public that money — for statin drug makers and the food processing industry — drives the narrative that cholesterol is an evil substance produced by the body and saturated fat is harmful. I just received an email from Natural Mentor, containing a long promotion for a $7 e-pamphlet by Canadian holistic nutritionist Yuri Elkaim.
He tells the clearest and most compelling story I’ve read about why cholesterol isn’t the cause of heart disease, mentioning three studies that prove it isn’t. One showed that 75 percent of people who have heart attacks do not have high cholesterol. Another reveals that the Aborigines have the highest rate of heart attacks in the world and also have low cholesterol. (I forget the third study.) The piece gave the diabolical history of how cholesterol became labeled as a culprit, showing that the media trumpeted the results of researcher Ancel Keys, which was just plain bad science. Yes, cholesterol can build up in the arteries as plaque.
The reason it does so is that the arteries are inflamed, capturing the cholesterol in the blood. This inflammation is caused by bad diets. Eating the right foods, low in refined carbohydrates, mainly sugar; and most vegetable oils (coconut, palm and olive oil and good) will reduce or eliminate, and prevent, arterial inflammation. Statin drugs cause muscle problems, weakening the heart muscle; foggy thinking or amnesia; and other ailments; and don’t prevent heart disease except in the most extreme cases.
Robert, I’m glad you took the action you did with the paper….SO MANY just listen to their docs and go with these dangerous side effects and really don’t need them….
I listen to a lot of talk radio during the day and one of the moderators did a segment on statins and had a UCLA doc talk about how great these drugs are…I was almost throwing up….so I sent him an email about what I call the Statin Scam….
He’s said in the past he was a smoker and had a triple bypass a while ago, he’s only 45, good grief I’m 30 yrs older than him. I call him on a lot of stuff he spews to the public who listen to him. Keep up the good work and spread the word to as many as you can get to. Lifestyle changes are what needs to be addressed, not popping a drug.
Joy, I cant listen to day-time talk radio anymore because it raises my blood pressure. Then I’d have to be on BP meds. But that’s another story. Sorry, I couldn’t resist 😉
I know what Joe and Joy are talking about as to listening to talk radio. I’m listening to the Diane Rehm show right now about the new “guidelines” for using statins. The first interviewee was one of the doctors on the board who issued their recommendations. When asked if any of the doctors were connected with the statin “industry”, he “assured” us that less than 50% were and they weren’t allowed to vote on the recommendations. So 49% were connected?? And does anyone believe that they were trying to influence the others? It really makes me mad.
Frankly, I’m surprised that Diane Rehm doesn’t have someone on the program representing those who disagree with this whole nonsense. She’s usually more balanced. I did email her show an article asserting that cholesterol is a symptom of inflammation and not the cause of heart disease.
These guys might just as well be espousing blood letting.
Re: talk radio, I listen ONLY to progressive programs…the others just don’t “fit” my life….
I turn my TV on at 6PM for my favorite stuff, kinda anyway…..fox is NOT on my cable lineup.
My BP is under control and I only like what I hear which I believe is more truth than other talkers….and haters…
There is a site The Dangers of Statins produced by Weston Price Foundation…check it out.
Joy, I personally listen to podcasts on different topics when Im driving, biking etc. Itunes has a lot of them. All of them are free.
Joy, you said it very well. People blindly listen to their doctors, unable to look at the facts and realize that our medical system is very badly flawed, with pharmaceutical companies controlling the medical schools, which pass on the twisted, money-motivated information to the med students.
Hi all again,,,,,this youtube I’m told is great and one friend said it should be sent to MD’s….sadly, now I don’t have speakers so can’t see it, but I hear it great…a couple of us were talking about MD’s and pharma and one gal sent this thru….check it out…send it to your docs….ha ha
I sent my rheumy the latest on the K2 connection with calcium and D3 as she keeps pushing me to take more calcium and I’ve read too much about overloading the body with some of the crappy calcium…what I do take is Rainbow Light (food based) calcium and it’s 500mg and my D3, high magnesium and now Vit K complex..
Anyway, here it is:
Joy, you forgot to copy the link lol
Hope this works:
A golden moment from the golden girls – who has not felt this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zovd9eKvy8s (Preview)
Play (Show link) Golden girls – sick and tired – Golden Moment Andrea Trivi Golden girls – sick and tired –
(Show link) __._,_.___
Joy, the YouTube site is not shown in your posting.
Joy, that was a great clip. Thanks. She says that one day, he’ll be on the other side …There was a film called The Doctor (1991) with William Hurt, about exactly that. He’s a rich, successful, well-known doctor wight he typical attitude and is suddenly diagnosed with throat cancer and slips into that netherworld of hospital visits, etc., with similarly uncaring doctors and suddenly he understands. Good film.
Hi Joe,
What are your thoughts on the recent peer reviewed publication regarding anatabine effect on (human) Hashimoto thyroiditis? Thanks in advance! It would be a nice addition to this web page.
Mike, it looks interesting and I’m glad they have addressed this. I am trying to get the full study to read it. Right now I can only find summaries of the study online.
I think it would be very helpful to find the full report and interpret it for all of us reading this blog.
The abstract mentioned that there were no significant differences in the biomarkers measuring inflammation.
If by this they meant the CRP levels, that would suggest that taking Anatabloc in the amounts recommended by the manufacturer, do not do much for reducing the crp levels in our bodies.
Perhaps the Journal that published the study, can make the full report available to you.
I think this is the single most important piece of information you can share with us on this website.You are , after all, the supplement geek.
By the way, I have been taking Anatabloc for 2 years now. My intent is not to bash the company. It is simply to ascertain the truth about a very expensive supplement.
Thanks.
MD Rosner, my intent was not to bash the company either. I did think it was interesting to note that Rock Creek Pharm is another name for star scientific. Have you noticed a reduction in CPR since you’ve been taking it for 2 years? Ive been interested in this for while now and I think some people have said their CRP was lower after using anatabloc.
MD Rosner, I take it Anatabloc has been working for you if you’ve been using it for a year. If studies determine it doesn’t affect C-reactive protein levels, does that mean you will stop using it because you’re convinced it doesn’t work? Can you clarify?
Incidentally, I received an email from the alternative doctor Robert Rowen, M.D., about hydrogen peroxide. I had previously read about the salutary effects of H2O2, but dismissed it. Upon reading this very convincing email, I decided to check further, and what I found thoroughly impressed me. The literature indicates that all maladies, including arthritis, are the result of oxygen deficiency.
For example, cancer cells proliferate in an oxygen-free environment. They cannot live if sufficient oxygen is present, while healthy cells thrive. Drugs that treat it and other diseases supposedly work by producing oxygen — along with awful side effects, all for a big price. The testimonials of persons who have used super-cheap H2O2 to combat various ailments were amazing, as was the medical literature about its effectiveness and success in Europe, and I bought the promoted book, The One-Minute Cure, and a gallon of 35% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide.
I will begin using it soon. However, it is supposed to be more effective if administered intravenously. There apparently are doctors who do this. If I had a serious illness, I probably would seek one. The email promoted the book for $39.99, but I found it on Amazon for $9.95, and also found what seems to be a highly reputable seller of H2O2, Pure Health Products, and was able to buy the book for $10.13 along with the H2O2. Of course, H2O2 purchased from a store is highly toxic unless diluted, and can even kill you.
Therefore, it is important to use it correctly. People have reported feeling uncomfortable for as long as a day upon first using it, but that supposedly is because the harmful substances in the body are being eliminated. Once that happens, one apparently begins feeling much healthier.
Bob, I have used food grade H2O2 for some years, off and on. I’m off NOW…I would NOT do the vein protocol….a friend or 2 had done this as they deal with chronic fatigue syndrome and their veins were so blown out….
THere is a whole protocol to do it with distilled water dilution…..
My latest labs showed TPO numbers way down from where they were for years….I still take Anatabloc but only 4-6 per day as it kinda stopped doing FOR ME what it did in the beginning, I had great relief for 4 months…..on 8 per day.
On the H202, I met a man probably 18 yrs ago at a Pycnogenol lecture and he said he would NEVER get cancer as he did H202…..I’ve lost contact with me so don’t know his status now, he was probably 75 back then…..
Joy, I haven’t read “The One-Minute Cure” yet, but yes, I understand that the food-grade hydrogen peroxide must be heavily diluted with distilled water (might [probably?] kill you, otherwise) because of the chlorine and other minerals in tap water. You apparently had success with it in lowering your TPO, which I had to look up — thyroid peroxidase.
As for your friend who was harmed by intravenous H2O2, I’m wondering if the doctor knew what he or she was doing. But yes, prolonged therapy apparently can cause vein damage (read below).
This is similar to the Prolozone therapy developed by Dr. Frank Shallenberger. Ozone sheds its extra oxygen atom when coming in contact with cells, which take in the resulting oxygen. He insists that he has stopped or reversed macular degeneration, such that “every single patient I’ve treated has seen a dramatic improvement in their eyesight.”
Here’s what health author/nutritionist Kevin Gianni has to say:
“Hydrogen peroxide therapy, in my basic understanding, helps oxidize infection as well as bring more oxygen to your cells. These both can help boost the immune system. It’s also my understanding that people who are relatively healthy don’t need this type of therapy. Many natural and even integrative practitioners are using this therapy to see if it improves infection and if it has any effect on cancer cells.
They use IV as a delivery system because it is directly fed into the veins so it can go to work on the body.
But just like all therapies, and any good practitioner will tell you, this is best used as a part of the whole program. It may be foolish to just use hydrogen peroxide therapy to help you when there are additional ones that could help, too. As for possible side effects of this therapy, long term use could cause damage to your veins — but in most cases the benefits (since it’s used for sick people) outweigh this possible outcome.”
I’m not recommending H2O2, just informing readers in case they’re curious. Shallenberger addresses other uses of oxygen therapy in special reports provided with a $39 one-year subscription to his Real Cures newsletter.
I had been given the Hashi dx in 2002 as I recall, my numbers were all over the place starting at 240something, going up to as high as 841 at a point, granted I did NOT have TPO’s tested every year, but this last year’s labs had the TPO’s at 84, lowest I know of since I was tested way back….I’ve taken Anatabloc since Jan this year, good results for 4 months then things slipped down for me with joints……why, I’m not sure, I also do acupuncture and backed off for those months so maybe due to no acupuncture going on.
I did NOT go on anatabloc for Hashi but it was good to see my latest low number….I also take selenium daily for Hashi….
So, throwing that out. As always WISH the Antabloc were LESS pricey….money is tighter for me….. so I take 4 per day along with Zyflamend.
Thanks to Leifsmith over on ihub for digging this research information out and posting ——————-
(Point of fact, I’ve had two uncles die from Parkinson’s Disease)
” “Nicotine from Edible Solanaceae and Risk of Parkinson’s Disease”
Publication: Annals of Neurology
Results from a new study suggest that eating a healthy diet full of vegetables from the Solanaceae family of plants may reduce your risk for developing Parkinson’s disease. Researchers from the University of Washington (Seattle, WA) report data from a case-control study of 490 people showing that eating larger amounts of peppers, tomatoes, tomato juice, and potatoes was associated with a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease. This relationship was not evident for consumption all other vegetables combined, suggesting a specific protective effect from Solanaceous vegetables. The researchers hypothesize that this effect may be due to alkaloids naturally present in these vegetables. Interestingly, the authors suggest that anatabine could be the neuroprotective constituent in these vegetables that is responsible, and cite its favorable safety profile relative to nicotine. Preclinical research of anatabine’s effects in models of neuroinflammation and autoimmune thyroiditis conducted and published by researchers from the Roskamp Institute and Johns Hopkins University provide experimental support of this hypothesis.
LINK: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ana.23884/abstract
Found at: starscientific.com/research-and-development-publications Less”
Good luck and good health to all Anatablocers.
Allan, its an interesting study and worthy of future research but population studies sometimes have problems as they dont really determine cause and effect. That says, I 100% support eating more veggies and fruits.
A tomatoe plant and tobacco plant are both very similar but very different. I would suspect that ingestion of lycopene in tomatoes does not result in the loss of elasticity of the arteries that the nicotine from the tobacco plant does even though they are from the same plant family.
I think the “studies” and I use that term loosely, suggest that Anatabloc has very similar side effects that nicotine does, including low birth weight. I think that if this drug eventually is helpful to neurological diseases, there will have to be risks/benefits looked at in regards to side effects.
I think my final comment is that these anatabloc entities may be addicting and may have the dangerous side effects that nicotine does in cigarettes but it’s just being sold under the premise of a natural supplement. Buyer beware!