Here's a breaking news article about Pfizer's recall of Lipitor in the US. If you read on, there are also some alternatives at the bottom part of this news.
Pfizer releases an additional recall of another 38,000 bottles of Lipitor, the medication that aides in the fight of cholesterol. The recall was prompted by reports of odors coming from bottles.
The recall concerns Lipitor 40mg tablets that had been distributed in the United States. The company is claiming that the bottles used came from a third party manufacturer.
Pfizer states that they have thoroughly appraised the core of the cause, which was an sporadic exposure of the bottles to low levels of tribomanisole (TBA) as they are stored or shipped. According to the company the number of compliments was less than three per million of bottles.Pfizer has also recalled greater than 190,000 of Lipitor at the beginning of this year due to compliments of similar odors coming from bottles.
Research shows that a main source of TBA, seems to be 2, 4, 6 tribomanisole(TBP) a chemical used for wood preservatives. Even though TBP usually is used on wood pallets to transport and store an assortment of products, Pfizer bans the use of TBP-treated wood in shipments of their medications.
Pfizer states that a medical evaluation found the risk for health problems in patients to be very small.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports of medication contamination have been associated to mold and musty odors in food and wine products.
The FDA states that current available information shows that serious risk of negative health outcomes have not come from ingestion of medications or foods that were contaminated with the compound levels that were reported.
However, the FDA does take note of another issue which arise from contaminated medications.As noted on the FDA website even though if the health effects are small, they do have concern that patients sensing an unusual odor which is not underling to the product will stop taking their medication.
Pfizer states that they do not foresee a shortage of the product due to the recent recall. Anyone with questions may call 1-888-LIPITOR (1-888-547-4867).Over 106 million adults or one in six have high cholesterol in the United States. This means they have levels of 200mg or higher according to guidelines set by the government.Most conventional healthcare practitioners prescribe medications to lower the levels. The most popular ones include Zocor and Lipitrol.
However, there are alternative treatments to lower high cholesterol besides being dependent on medications which can give side effects the most common ones include headaches, joint and muscle pain, back pain and nausea.If choosing to use alternative treatments and still taking prescribed medications check with your practitioners as some herbs and supplements can cause adverse side effects when used with prescription medications.
Herbal
Garlic: Garlic may just decrease total blood levels of total cholesterol by a couple of percentage points according to studies. Garlic can interfere with certain medications and may extend bleeding and blood clotting time. Do not take prior to having any surgery or if on blood-thinning medications.
Guggulipid: A gum resin from the mukul myrrh tree. It can greatly decrease blood level totals of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Clinical studies in India have substantiated this herb. Further research in the United States is still ongoing to determine safety and effectiveness.
Policosanol: Made from sugar can is found to be effective in decreasing LDL levels in numerous studies.
Alfalfa: Studies have shown that saponins found in alfalfa seeds may block cholesterol absorption. In one small study it found taking 120mg a day had showed a moderate reduction in cholesterol.
Caspicum: Back to those chili peppers once more. In some studies it has been shown to decrease high cholesterol levels.Feenugreek Seeds: Its saponins are considered to stop cholesterol absorption and synthesis. Usual dose to lower cholesterol is three to five grams with each meal or 90gm at one time with a meal. Do not take if pregnant.
Nutrition
Consuming more dietary fiber, soy foods and plant compounds those much like cholesterol can greatly reduce LDL cholesterol.
Fiber: Plant foods like vegetables, fruit and legumes contain fiber. Soulable fiber can be located in foods such as oat bran, barley, apples, lentils, citrus fruits and beans.
Soybeans: By using soybeans or soy protein as a substitute for other types of protein have been proven to prevent coronary heart disease by decreasing LDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides. Soy protein can be found in things like soy yogurt, soy milk, tofu and other food products made from soy beans.
Phytosterols: These are found in small amounts in foods such as whole grains along with numerous fruits and vegetables. They decrease LDL cholesterol.
more from here: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7183520-more-lipitor-recalled
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Oat Extract May Cut Cholesterol
Another study to lower cholesterol. Read on:
A substance found in oats may help keep your cholesterol in check, a new study shows. The study found that oat beta-glucan (a type of carbohydrate compound) helped fight LDL ("bad") cholesterol.
The study included 367 participants with high cholesterol, all of whom ate two servings of a cereal containing either wheat fiber or oat beta-glucan every day for four weeks. Looking at data on the 345 people who completed the study, researchers determined that LDL cholesterol was significantly lower among those assigned to the oat beta-glucan cereal.
Beta-glucan is also found in a number of medicinal mushrooms, such as shiitake and maitake. Test-tube research shows that beta-glucan may stimulate the immune system and therefore combat cancer. However, little is known about beta-glucan's potential to reduce cancer risk in humans.
A number of other natural substances (including red yeast rice and cinnamon) may also help reduce cholesterol levels, according to past research.
More from here: http://altmedicine.about.com/b/2010/10/28/oat-extract-may-cut-cholesterol.htm
A substance found in oats may help keep your cholesterol in check, a new study shows. The study found that oat beta-glucan (a type of carbohydrate compound) helped fight LDL ("bad") cholesterol.
The study included 367 participants with high cholesterol, all of whom ate two servings of a cereal containing either wheat fiber or oat beta-glucan every day for four weeks. Looking at data on the 345 people who completed the study, researchers determined that LDL cholesterol was significantly lower among those assigned to the oat beta-glucan cereal.
Beta-glucan is also found in a number of medicinal mushrooms, such as shiitake and maitake. Test-tube research shows that beta-glucan may stimulate the immune system and therefore combat cancer. However, little is known about beta-glucan's potential to reduce cancer risk in humans.
A number of other natural substances (including red yeast rice and cinnamon) may also help reduce cholesterol levels, according to past research.
More from here: http://altmedicine.about.com/b/2010/10/28/oat-extract-may-cut-cholesterol.htm
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Pfizer Makes Headway in the Fight Against Lung Cancer
Checkout this breaking news about the fight against lung cancer from pfizer. Read on:
Pfizer (PFE) is known as the company that brought consumers erectile dysfunction drug Viagra and the best-selling drug in the world, cholesterol fighter Lipitor. This week it also announced it was making headway in the fight against the most common killer cancer -- lung cancer. The news pushed shares of the world's largest pharmaceutical up 1.7% today to $17.57.
Pfizer's cancer drug crizotinib was able to shrink tumors of non-small-cell lung cancer patients whose tumors carried a specific genetic mutation, EML4-ALK, which fuses two genes. The early-stage study results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
More people die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes. In 2006, it accounted for more deaths than breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer combined. Just over 200,000 people were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2006, and nearly 160,000 died from lung cancer that year.
"It Is Gratifying"
In the crizotinib trial, 82 patients had the gene mutation. The tumors of 46 patients who took the oral drug shrank by more than 30%. One patient's tumor disappeared entirely. That's 57% of patients who had either a complete or partial response to treatment. Crizotinib stopped tumor growth in 27 of the patients, or 33%. The study authors estimated that for 72% of patients, the disease wouldn't worsen for six months.
"It is gratifying to learn of responses like those seen in our study of crizotinib (PF-02341066), especially when you consider that most patients had already received two or more therapies by the time they entered the trial," said Dr. Eunice Kwak, from Harvard Medical School and lead author of the study.
But, as the study also notes, patients without the specific abnormality didn't have a response to treatment. And unfortunately, only 2% to 7% of people with non-small-cell lung cancer have the mutation. Further, another study published in the NEJM reported a patient who developed resistance to the drug. Still, 5% of lung cancer cases is about 10,000 patients in the U.S.
Sponsored Links
Kwak added that the study highlights the need for more studies on specific gene mutations to create better targeted therapies. Indeed, HealthDay notes that the mutation is also found in other cancers such as sarcoma, childhood brain tumors and some lymphomas, breast and colon cancers. Pfizer hopes crizotinib could prove effective in treating those as well.
"While this is a Phase I study, the high response rates observed in patients with ALK-positive (lung cancer) who received crizotinib suggest that we may be one step closer to the development of 'precision' or 'personalized' cancer treatments that target specific genetic factors that drive certain tumors," said Pfizer's Dr. Mace Rothenberg in a statement.
A Phase III trial of the drug has already begun. And according to Reuters, Pfizer said it planned to start submitting data for approval of the drug to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration early next year.
See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/cGpxSG
Pfizer's cancer drug crizotinib was able to shrink tumors of non-small-cell lung cancer patients whose tumors carried a specific genetic mutation, EML4-ALK, which fuses two genes. The early-stage study results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
More people die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes. In 2006, it accounted for more deaths than breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer combined. Just over 200,000 people were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2006, and nearly 160,000 died from lung cancer that year.
"It Is Gratifying"
In the crizotinib trial, 82 patients had the gene mutation. The tumors of 46 patients who took the oral drug shrank by more than 30%. One patient's tumor disappeared entirely. That's 57% of patients who had either a complete or partial response to treatment. Crizotinib stopped tumor growth in 27 of the patients, or 33%. The study authors estimated that for 72% of patients, the disease wouldn't worsen for six months.
"It is gratifying to learn of responses like those seen in our study of crizotinib (PF-02341066), especially when you consider that most patients had already received two or more therapies by the time they entered the trial," said Dr. Eunice Kwak, from Harvard Medical School and lead author of the study.
But, as the study also notes, patients without the specific abnormality didn't have a response to treatment. And unfortunately, only 2% to 7% of people with non-small-cell lung cancer have the mutation. Further, another study published in the NEJM reported a patient who developed resistance to the drug. Still, 5% of lung cancer cases is about 10,000 patients in the U.S.
Sponsored Links
Kwak added that the study highlights the need for more studies on specific gene mutations to create better targeted therapies. Indeed, HealthDay notes that the mutation is also found in other cancers such as sarcoma, childhood brain tumors and some lymphomas, breast and colon cancers. Pfizer hopes crizotinib could prove effective in treating those as well.
"While this is a Phase I study, the high response rates observed in patients with ALK-positive (lung cancer) who received crizotinib suggest that we may be one step closer to the development of 'precision' or 'personalized' cancer treatments that target specific genetic factors that drive certain tumors," said Pfizer's Dr. Mace Rothenberg in a statement.
A Phase III trial of the drug has already begun. And according to Reuters, Pfizer said it planned to start submitting data for approval of the drug to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration early next year.
See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/cGpxSG
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Judge Credits AstraZeneca's 'Prior Invention' Claim in Patent Fight
Here's one news article about a patent fight for the cholesterol-lowering drug Crestor (which is what I'm taking now). Read on:
A federal judge has dismissed a patent infringement suit brought by Teva Pharmaceuticals after finding that its claims of infringing product formulations in the cholesterol drug Crestor were "conceived of and reduced to practice" by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals prior to Teva's patent.
The decision by U.S. District Judge William H. Yohn Jr. in Teva v. AstraZeneca was premised on the century-old axiom in patent law that "a product which would literally infringe if later in time anticipates if earlier."
In other words, a company accused of infringing a patent can win the case by showing that it was the first to invent and use it, and that the other company's patent is therefore invalid because of the prior invention.
AstraZeneca's lawyers decided that was the best litigation strategy when Teva filed suit alleging that the drug Crestor included formulations that infringed on a Teva patent.
In its summary judgment motion, AstraZeneca hypothetically conceded infringement, saying it would agree for argument's sake that the accused formulations in Crestor fell within the scope of the Teva patent.
They then argued that Teva's patent should be declared invalid because of AstraZeneca's "prior invention."
The defense team -- led by Jamie B. Bischoff of Ballard Spahr in Philadelphia and Charles E. Lipsey of Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner in Reston, Va. -- argued that the undisputed evidence showed that AstraZeneca invented the formulations first.
Invoking Section 102(g)(2) as an affirmative defense, AstraZeneca argued that it made the same Crestor product formulations that Teva accuses of infringement before December 1999 -- the earliest date by which Teva claims to have conceived of them -- and that AstraZeneca has not "abandoned, suppressed, or concealed" the formulations.
Teva's lawyers -- Jeffrey J. Toney and Darcy L. Jones of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan in Atlanta -- insisted that AstraZeneca fell short of proving its Section 102 defense.
The plaintiff's team argued that even if AstraZeneca had created the exact infringing commercial formulation in mid-1999, AstraZeneca still could not prove conception or reduction to practice of the invention because there was no evidence that AstraZeneca ever "appreciated" critically important aspects of how the formulations promoted chemical stability.
Now, in a 31-page opinion, Yohn has sided with AstraZeneca on every point.
The hypothetical concession of infringement, Yohn said, satisfied the first prong of the Section 102 defense by showing that Crestor's product formulations meet the limits of the Teva patent.
Yohn also rejected Teva's argument that AstraZeneca cannot show that it appreciated the stabilizing effects of its formulations prior to Teva's patent.
"A prior inventor need not always have appreciated every feature recited in a patent claim in order to have conceived of or reduced to practice the claimed invention," Yohn wrote.
The evidence was undisputed, Yohn found, that AstraZeneca set out to produce a stable pharmaceutical composition containing a statin that could be produced commercially.
"AstraZeneca thus appreciated that its creation possessed the relevant inventive feature -- stability -- even if its understanding of how its creation achieved stability was incorrect," Yohn wrote.
As a result, Yohn found that Teva's discovery that the formulation contributes to stability is "the sort of scientific explanation for a prior art composition's functioning that the Federal Circuit has found to be an inherent property of the prior art in other cases."
The discovery of such an inherent property, Yohn said, "does not make the pharmaceutical compositions claimed by Teva -- which AstraZeneca undisputedly made first -- new."
In his final paragraphs, Yohn declared that AstraZeneca was entitled to summary judgment because it "has presented clear, convincing, and undisputed evidence with which a reasonable jury could not disagree that it conceived and reduced to practice an embodiment meeting the limitations of the asserted claims of Teva's 502 patent before Teva did, and that it did not abandon, suppress, or conceal its invention."
Toney, the lead plaintiffs lawyer, declined to comment on the ruling. Bischoff, in a brief interview, said the decision ends the case and that AstraZeneca is pleased with the result.
More from here: http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202473973070&Judge_Credits_AstraZenecas_Prior_Invention_Claim_in_Patent_Fight
A federal judge has dismissed a patent infringement suit brought by Teva Pharmaceuticals after finding that its claims of infringing product formulations in the cholesterol drug Crestor were "conceived of and reduced to practice" by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals prior to Teva's patent.
The decision by U.S. District Judge William H. Yohn Jr. in Teva v. AstraZeneca was premised on the century-old axiom in patent law that "a product which would literally infringe if later in time anticipates if earlier."
In other words, a company accused of infringing a patent can win the case by showing that it was the first to invent and use it, and that the other company's patent is therefore invalid because of the prior invention.
AstraZeneca's lawyers decided that was the best litigation strategy when Teva filed suit alleging that the drug Crestor included formulations that infringed on a Teva patent.
In its summary judgment motion, AstraZeneca hypothetically conceded infringement, saying it would agree for argument's sake that the accused formulations in Crestor fell within the scope of the Teva patent.
They then argued that Teva's patent should be declared invalid because of AstraZeneca's "prior invention."
The defense team -- led by Jamie B. Bischoff of Ballard Spahr in Philadelphia and Charles E. Lipsey of Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner in Reston, Va. -- argued that the undisputed evidence showed that AstraZeneca invented the formulations first.
Invoking Section 102(g)(2) as an affirmative defense, AstraZeneca argued that it made the same Crestor product formulations that Teva accuses of infringement before December 1999 -- the earliest date by which Teva claims to have conceived of them -- and that AstraZeneca has not "abandoned, suppressed, or concealed" the formulations.
Teva's lawyers -- Jeffrey J. Toney and Darcy L. Jones of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan in Atlanta -- insisted that AstraZeneca fell short of proving its Section 102 defense.
The plaintiff's team argued that even if AstraZeneca had created the exact infringing commercial formulation in mid-1999, AstraZeneca still could not prove conception or reduction to practice of the invention because there was no evidence that AstraZeneca ever "appreciated" critically important aspects of how the formulations promoted chemical stability.
Now, in a 31-page opinion, Yohn has sided with AstraZeneca on every point.
The hypothetical concession of infringement, Yohn said, satisfied the first prong of the Section 102 defense by showing that Crestor's product formulations meet the limits of the Teva patent.
Yohn also rejected Teva's argument that AstraZeneca cannot show that it appreciated the stabilizing effects of its formulations prior to Teva's patent.
"A prior inventor need not always have appreciated every feature recited in a patent claim in order to have conceived of or reduced to practice the claimed invention," Yohn wrote.
The evidence was undisputed, Yohn found, that AstraZeneca set out to produce a stable pharmaceutical composition containing a statin that could be produced commercially.
"AstraZeneca thus appreciated that its creation possessed the relevant inventive feature -- stability -- even if its understanding of how its creation achieved stability was incorrect," Yohn wrote.
As a result, Yohn found that Teva's discovery that the formulation contributes to stability is "the sort of scientific explanation for a prior art composition's functioning that the Federal Circuit has found to be an inherent property of the prior art in other cases."
The discovery of such an inherent property, Yohn said, "does not make the pharmaceutical compositions claimed by Teva -- which AstraZeneca undisputedly made first -- new."
In his final paragraphs, Yohn declared that AstraZeneca was entitled to summary judgment because it "has presented clear, convincing, and undisputed evidence with which a reasonable jury could not disagree that it conceived and reduced to practice an embodiment meeting the limitations of the asserted claims of Teva's 502 patent before Teva did, and that it did not abandon, suppress, or conceal its invention."
Toney, the lead plaintiffs lawyer, declined to comment on the ruling. Bischoff, in a brief interview, said the decision ends the case and that AstraZeneca is pleased with the result.
More from here: http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202473973070&Judge_Credits_AstraZenecas_Prior_Invention_Claim_in_Patent_Fight
Eat office fruit as part of a healthy diet
Here's a news article about munching on fruits instead of junk foods during office hours. Read on:
If you're keen to consume a healthier diet, eating snacks from the office fruit basket could help you out.
There are plenty of treats which are packed full of energy-boosting sugars, while still being tasty and low in fat.
Office fruit grapes, for example, are a great source of the antioxidants phyto-chemicals, which help fight cholesterol and boost the immune system.
Eating treats from the office fruit delivery can be a good way to help you towards your five-a-day, which is becoming even more vital as new statistics have revealed one in ten UK adults is now considered to be obese.
Over the past few years, obesity rates in the country have accelerated rapidly, leading to 2.8 million people now falling into the classification, according to data from Diabetes UK.
"Being overweight can put a serious strain on a person's health," said David Ross, chief executive of The Hospital Group.
"Not only does being overweight have a huge impact on your health but it can also impact a person's confidence and self esteem which can cause their social life to suffer too."
More from here: http://www.fruitfuloffice.com/office-fruit-news-health/eat-office-fruit-as-part-of-a-healthy-diet/1517
If you're keen to consume a healthier diet, eating snacks from the office fruit basket could help you out.
There are plenty of treats which are packed full of energy-boosting sugars, while still being tasty and low in fat.
Office fruit grapes, for example, are a great source of the antioxidants phyto-chemicals, which help fight cholesterol and boost the immune system.
Eating treats from the office fruit delivery can be a good way to help you towards your five-a-day, which is becoming even more vital as new statistics have revealed one in ten UK adults is now considered to be obese.
Over the past few years, obesity rates in the country have accelerated rapidly, leading to 2.8 million people now falling into the classification, according to data from Diabetes UK.
"Being overweight can put a serious strain on a person's health," said David Ross, chief executive of The Hospital Group.
"Not only does being overweight have a huge impact on your health but it can also impact a person's confidence and self esteem which can cause their social life to suffer too."
More from here: http://www.fruitfuloffice.com/office-fruit-news-health/eat-office-fruit-as-part-of-a-healthy-diet/1517
Mower Senior Center: Learn more about how to fight diabetes
Here's an interesting news article about diabetes and hypertension. At the end of the article there are tips on improving one's condition. Read on:
Did you know that 21 million older Americans have diabetes or pre-diabetes — and 60 percent of people with diabetes also have hypertension? If left untreated, these conditions can increase the risk of heart attack; stroke; angina; coronary artery disease; and kidney, eye, and nerve diseases.
Risk factors include age; being overweight and/or physically inactive; smoking; having high blood sugar, high cholesterol and/or consistently high blood pressure readings; and having a family history of diabetes or heart disease.
Medicare covers a number of screenings and supplies that can help you stay healthy. For example, Medicare Part B preventive benefits include diabetes screenings, eye exams and glaucoma tests, and foot exams. Medicare Part B also covers diabetes self-management training and supplies, medical nutrition therapy services and smoking cessation programs. Medicare Part D plans typically cover insulin, oral therapies for diabetes, and hypertension medications.
If you're diagnosed with pre-diabetes, diabetes or hypertension, you also can take the following steps to manage the condition:
• Become active for 30 minutes a day.
• Eat a healthful diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables and exercise portion control.
• Take medication, if prescribed.
• Monitor your glucose levels.
• Quit smoking.
More from here: http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=28&a=475946
Did you know that 21 million older Americans have diabetes or pre-diabetes — and 60 percent of people with diabetes also have hypertension? If left untreated, these conditions can increase the risk of heart attack; stroke; angina; coronary artery disease; and kidney, eye, and nerve diseases.
Risk factors include age; being overweight and/or physically inactive; smoking; having high blood sugar, high cholesterol and/or consistently high blood pressure readings; and having a family history of diabetes or heart disease.
Medicare covers a number of screenings and supplies that can help you stay healthy. For example, Medicare Part B preventive benefits include diabetes screenings, eye exams and glaucoma tests, and foot exams. Medicare Part B also covers diabetes self-management training and supplies, medical nutrition therapy services and smoking cessation programs. Medicare Part D plans typically cover insulin, oral therapies for diabetes, and hypertension medications.
If you're diagnosed with pre-diabetes, diabetes or hypertension, you also can take the following steps to manage the condition:
• Become active for 30 minutes a day.
• Eat a healthful diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables and exercise portion control.
• Take medication, if prescribed.
• Monitor your glucose levels.
• Quit smoking.
More from here: http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=28&a=475946
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sweet Sixteen
When I was 16 years old, I was diagnosed with familial dyslipidemia. Searching the web, it's defined as an abnormal amount of lipids (e.g. cholesterol and/or fat) in the blood. Even though I'm on meds now, I still feel lucky as I was able to find out that I have it at the very early stage of my life. Having it discovered on maybe my 30s, it could have been more harmful to my body as I may have cholesterol build up in my arteries and could be on the verge of a heart attack now.
Anyway, 14 years after my diagnosis, I'm still fighting this battle of lowering my cholesterol through drug maintenance, a healthy diet and lots of exercise. Here's a list of the things I do in order to stay alive and healthy:
My goal is to stay close with the normal levels within then next 6 months. Take note that after 14 years of my battle with cholesterol, it's only now that I'm getting closer to the norm.
Stay tuned from more news, tips and stories on how we can stay fit and stay away from the harmful effects of bad cholesterol in our body.
Anyway, 14 years after my diagnosis, I'm still fighting this battle of lowering my cholesterol through drug maintenance, a healthy diet and lots of exercise. Here's a list of the things I do in order to stay alive and healthy:
- Maintenance Medication, today I'm taking Crestor and Fenoplex as my doctor may have finally gotten the most effective combination to decrease my bad cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Exercise. I'm lucky to get a high discount on one of the best gym clubs in Manila. I hit the gym and take some cardio classes or do some resistance training maybe at least thrice a week to keep my heart strong.
- Diet. This is one of the hardest to maintain. There are times where I allow myself to indulge on the not so good food but most of the time I stay true to my strict diet of high-fiber carbs and low fat food intake.
- Regular checkups. I undergo a stress test once a year and monitor cholesterol levels at least four times a year. This includes lipid profile plus my liver enzymes as my doctor says that this high cholesterol goes with fatty liver.
Just want to share with you my journey on trying to maintain my cholesterol levels by showing this chart.
My goal is to stay close with the normal levels within then next 6 months. Take note that after 14 years of my battle with cholesterol, it's only now that I'm getting closer to the norm.
Stay tuned from more news, tips and stories on how we can stay fit and stay away from the harmful effects of bad cholesterol in our body.
Chocolate compounds fight high cholesterol
Everyone loves chocolates right? Well, aside from the happiness and satisfaction we can get from it, here's a news article that says it also help us in lowering our cholesterol levels. Read on:
(NaturalNews) Chocolate has received a lot of attention for being a treasure trove of nutritional goodness. Polyphenols in cacao beans are linked to promoting heart, brain, and liver health, which has sparked renewed interest in chocolate as a medicinal food. And a new study adds to the growing list of benefits, showing that chocolate polyphenols also help to lower bad cholesterol.
Published in the journal Diabetic Medicine, the study tested the effects of polyphenol-rich chocolate in a group of 12 volunteers with type-2 diabetes. After 16 weeks, the researchers from Hull University in the U.K. discovered that the polyphenols helped lower participants' bad cholesterol levels while raising good cholesterol levels.
"Chocolate with a high cocoa content should be included in the diet of individuals with type-2 diabetes as part of a sensible, balanced approach to diet and lifestyle," said professor Steve Akin, author of the study.
Back in August, NaturalNews covered a Swedish study that found similar results (http://www.naturalnews.com/029559_c...). It also showed that high-flavanol chocolate that has been minimally processed is much different than the highly-processed chocolate candy sold in most grocery stores.
Actual cacao beans are rich in vital nutrients, including alkaloid bitters like theobromine (a different substance than the harmful bromine chemical), which stimulates the heart muscle and dilates blood vessels. This compound and others provide demonstrable benefits in lowering high blood pressure and maintaining healthy arteries.
Processed chocolate, however, has been stripped of most or all of these nutrients. Add in the bad fats and refined sugars and you are left with a chocolate product that is actually bad for your health. So when consuming chocolate, be sure to look for unprocessed, superfood varieties like those made by Transition Nutrition (www.TransitionNutrition.com), Empowered Chocolate (www.EmpoweredFoods.com), Sacred Chocolate (http://www.sacredchocolate.com/raw-...), and WildBar (www.WildBar.info).
See more from here: http://www.naturalnews.com/030098_chocolate_cholesterol.html
(NaturalNews) Chocolate has received a lot of attention for being a treasure trove of nutritional goodness. Polyphenols in cacao beans are linked to promoting heart, brain, and liver health, which has sparked renewed interest in chocolate as a medicinal food. And a new study adds to the growing list of benefits, showing that chocolate polyphenols also help to lower bad cholesterol.
Published in the journal Diabetic Medicine, the study tested the effects of polyphenol-rich chocolate in a group of 12 volunteers with type-2 diabetes. After 16 weeks, the researchers from Hull University in the U.K. discovered that the polyphenols helped lower participants' bad cholesterol levels while raising good cholesterol levels.
"Chocolate with a high cocoa content should be included in the diet of individuals with type-2 diabetes as part of a sensible, balanced approach to diet and lifestyle," said professor Steve Akin, author of the study.
Back in August, NaturalNews covered a Swedish study that found similar results (http://www.naturalnews.com/029559_c...). It also showed that high-flavanol chocolate that has been minimally processed is much different than the highly-processed chocolate candy sold in most grocery stores.
Actual cacao beans are rich in vital nutrients, including alkaloid bitters like theobromine (a different substance than the harmful bromine chemical), which stimulates the heart muscle and dilates blood vessels. This compound and others provide demonstrable benefits in lowering high blood pressure and maintaining healthy arteries.
Processed chocolate, however, has been stripped of most or all of these nutrients. Add in the bad fats and refined sugars and you are left with a chocolate product that is actually bad for your health. So when consuming chocolate, be sure to look for unprocessed, superfood varieties like those made by Transition Nutrition (www.TransitionNutrition.com), Empowered Chocolate (www.EmpoweredFoods.com), Sacred Chocolate (http://www.sacredchocolate.com/raw-...), and WildBar (www.WildBar.info).
See more from here: http://www.naturalnews.com/030098_chocolate_cholesterol.html
Welcome!
Welcome to my blog!
I created this blog to increase awareness of all Filipinos worldwide about the harmful effects of bad cholesterol in our body and what we can do as early as now in order to prevent any diseases related to having high levels of bad cholesterol in our body.
Please take time to subscribe to get the latest news and tips on maintaining bad cholesterol in our body.
I created this blog to increase awareness of all Filipinos worldwide about the harmful effects of bad cholesterol in our body and what we can do as early as now in order to prevent any diseases related to having high levels of bad cholesterol in our body.
Please take time to subscribe to get the latest news and tips on maintaining bad cholesterol in our body.
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