Wednesday, January 18. 2006

Pfox Says "Henhouse is Safe!"

Pfizer Pharmaceuticals reported that the top dose for their drug (80 mg. Lipitor) for cholesterol control is safe and causes minimal long-term damage.?Well, this should come as no surprise that the data may be interpreted to allow the sale of one of the most profitable medications to ever come down the pike.? Pfizer and other drug companies have had great success with the sale of the concept that cholesterol must be driven down as low as possible.? Several years ago a 220 level was "O.K.!"? Now, the studies are being designed to support the idea that any cholesterol -lowering is good lowering.? Hogwash!!!

There are lots of reasons to be cautious with monkeying with the machinery of life.? Cholesterol makes steroid hormones and balances mood and sexual function among many other activities.? Cholesterol should be viewed as a contributor to bad and GOOD body chemistry.? Some of my favorite heart and life-saving interventions include non-drug cholesterol reducing agents:

Policosanol (A waxy alcohol)
Red Yeast Rice Extract
Niacin
Guggulipid
Plant stanols
Fiber
Fish Oils

I could go on and on but I'd only bore you.? Take every thing a Pfox (sic) says with a grain of salt.? Be especially careful regarding?your own ?"henhouse!"? Natural treatments for cholesterol reduction are becoming more and more available every day.? Use them first if you can.? If your cholesterol is in the mid 300's or above you may need medication no matter what you try.? But try!

Posted by Dr. James Mahoney at 21:23 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Exercise Beats Alzheimer's Disease

In the Annals of Internal Medicine, January 17, 2006, a study concluded that Alzheimer?s Disease can be delayed in 40% of people by exercising three times a week.? "We learned that a modest amount of exercise would reduce a person's risk of dementia by about 40%," said Dr. Larson. "That's a significant reduction." The age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio of dementia was 0.62 (95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86; p=0.004). The shape of the survival curves suggested to the investigators that exercise did not prevent dementia but rather led to a delay in onset.??

There are tests to determine your genetic potential for Alzheimer?s Disease that may even produce more specific recommendations.? This study only looked at frequency of exercise and no other factors.? The science is rapidly growing in the area of brain support and prevention.? Some of the things I think help to slow the onset or eliminate the risk altogether include:

Vitamins A, C, E (5 ? 20 times the RDA)
Acetyl-L-Carnitine
Phosphatidyl Serine
Exercise (three times per week)
Avoidance of heavy metals (fish, amalgam fillings)
Chelation (heavy metal detoxification as needed)
Avoiding prescription drugs, especially newer anti-depressants

If I saw you at the Center for Hope and Healing I would work to support all your body?s interlocked systems to create balance and health.? The complex nature of holistic treatment requires some significant changes in the ?normal American lifestyle.?? Most of these can be found at www.betterbodybrightermind.com in a customized program based on individual characteristics and needs.? The end-game is to extend healthy lifespan and delay the onset of disease so that illness only occupies the very last days of our lives.? This is the goal.? Exercise has to be part of your plan or you can?t possibly reach your optimal potential.? Trust me on this one.? Exercise beats Alzheimer?s any day of the week!