The Truth about Statins BiosLifeHealth 4 min - Dec 26, 2007
Bios Life Complete. The Only Clinically Researched and Proven, Natural Drink which Reduces 4 Major Risk Factors for Heart Disease.
1 Unhealthy Cholesterol
2. Diabetes
3. High Blood Pressure
4. Obesity
Extra Benefits, Increase Energy Levels, Adds Valuable Fiber to Diet, Cleanses the Colon,
Provides Vitamins and Minerals, and Strengthens the Immune System
Traditional cholesterol-reducing medications or "statin" drugs reduce cholesterol with only one or sometimes two mechanisms. Bios Life has none of the dangerous side-effects of statin drugs and offers more complete health benefits:
Lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol an average of 31% and as much as to 52%
Raises HDL (good) cholesterol levels an average of 29% and as much as 85%
When taken with statin medications it reduces cholesterol levels an additional 20%. High Triglycerides, which have also been linked to heart disease
If you are interested in ordering Bios Life or owning your own home based franchise email Marian Crocker at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or visit http://tinyurl.com/32x9tq (more) (less)
Ancel Keys - Father of the MRE Legend813a 10 min - Mar 10, 2008
Ancel Benjamin Keys (January 26, 1904 -- November 20, 2004) was an American scientist who studied the influence of diet on health. In particular, he hypothesised that different kinds of dietary fat had different effects on health.
In addition to his role in establishing modern cardiovascular disease (CVD) epidemiology, Keys was closely associated with two famous diets: K-rations, formulated as balanced meals for combat soldiers in World War II; and the "Mediterranean diet", which he popularized with his wife Margaret. Science, diet, and health have been central themes of his professional and private lives.
Early life
Keys attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he received a B.A. in economics and political science (1925), an M.S. in biology (1929), and is a '30 University of California, San Diego Alumus receiving a Ph.D. in oceanography and biology from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.1 He earned a second Ph.D. in physiology at Cambridge in 1938. In 1936, he became a professor at the University of Minnesota, where he established the Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene. Keys directed the laboratory from 1939 until his retirement in 1975.
Professional
During World War II, Keys studied starvation and sustinence diets using 32 conscientious objectors from Civilian Public Service as test subjects in the Minnesota Starvation Experiment, and eventually producing his two-volume Biology of Human Starvation (1950).2 His interest in diet and CVD was prompted, in part, by seemingly counterintuitive data: American business executives, presumably among the best-fed persons, had high rates of heart disease, while in post-war Europe, CVD rates had decreased sharply in the wake of reduced food supplies. Keys postulated a correlation between cholesterol levels and CVD and initiated a study of Minnesota businessmen (the first prospective study of CVD),3 culminating in what came to be known as the Seven Countries Study.4 These studies found strong associations between the CVD rate of a population and average serum cholesterol and per capita intake of saturated fatty acids. Then, as now, critics have rightfully pointed out that this "strong association" vanishes when data from other countries are added to the mix and there have been allegations that Keys "cherry picked" the data to support his hypothesis.
From the early 1950s, Keys actively promoted his findings to an increasingly health-conscious public. The resulting "cholesterol controversy" revealed sharp divisions in post-war scientific culture over whether the statisticians' "strong associations" could provide scientific certainty. In its simplest form, the debate over dietary fat and CVD pitted "interventionists" against those calling for further studies--preferably clinical or laboratory studies. While Keys was able to convince the US government to promote his idea that reducing the intake of fat would reduce the incidence of CVD, what happened in the intervening years when Americans took this advice indicates that Keys' basic premise was wrong. While consumption of dietary fat decreased from the 1960s to the 1990s, the rate of CVD did not change substantially and the incidence of obesity and Type II diabetes soared.
Keys was always considered an interventionist. He generally shunned food fads and vigorously promoted the benefits of "reasonably low-fat diets," instead of following "the North American habit for making the stomach the garbage disposal unit for a long list of harmful foods."citation needed Keys' studies and recommendations have had a substantial impact on changes in the U.S. dietcitation needed that may have caused a downward trend in CVD.1 although several recent studies of low-carbohydrate diets, essentially the opposite of Keys' recommendations, have show that these diets are more effective at improving markers of CVD than low-fat diets. Because of his influence in dietary science, Keys was featured on the cover of the January 13, 1961 issue of Time magazine.
Ancel Keys died of old age on November 20, 2004, two months before his 101st birthday.5
How To Self Test For Cholesterol russg22 2 min - Jun 6, 2008
from the website www.howto.tv
One important area of personal health management is testing your cholesterol levels.
Anyone over 20 should have their levels checked and there is now a range of over the counter home tests that can monitor these accurately. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist which test is most suitable before you buy. The kits will come with easy to follow instructions, and give accurate results in about three minutes. Make sure you read the manufacturers guidelines carefully before proceeding with any tests.
The kit should contain the sealed test, a lancet, plaster and the set of instructions.
High cholesterol significantly increases the risk of having a heart attack. Cholesterol is an oily substance which is a building block for manufacturing many of the body's vital chemicals.
The main reason for high cholesterol levels in this country is a poor or unhealthy diet. It's important to know what your cholesterol level is, as high levels can go undetected for a long time and become noticeable when it blocks blood vessels.
There are two types of cholesterol in the body - LDL, which deposits cholesterol in arteries of the heart. HDL type actually removes cholesterol from the blood, reducing the risk of a heart attack.
Some test kits show total cholesterol, others total and HDL cholesterol levels. Results on most kits are easy to interpret, reporting low, Ok or high levels.
Ideally measure your cholesterol on an empty stomach. Some kits require you to fast for 12 hours before carrying out the test.
The kit gives you all the equipment needed to collect a finger prick sample of whole blood - if your cholesterol levels are high, you must consult your GP for further tests, and if you have any concerns about the test itself, you should seek advice from a medical professional.
Ayurvedic Medicine For Optimizing Cardiovascular Health
Ayurvedic Medicine For Optimizing Cardiovascular Health indiaherbs 8 min - Jul 17, 2007
Contributed by: (http://www.india-herbs.com)
Cardiovascular disease refers to the class of diseases that involve the heart and/or blood vessels (arteries and veins). While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system, it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis (arterial disease). These conditions have similar causes, mechanisms, and treatments. In practice, cardiovascular disease is treated by cardiologists, thoracic surgeons, vascular surgeons, neurologists, and interventional radiologists, depending on the organ system that is being treated. There is considerable overlap in the specialties, and it is common for certain procedures to be performed by different types of specialists in the same hospital.
Most Western countries face high and increasing rates of cardiovascular disease. Each year, heart disease kills more Americans than cancer. Diseases of the heart alone caused 30% of all deaths, with other diseases of the cardiovascular system causing substantial further death and disability. It is the number 1 cause of death and disability in the United States and most European countries. A large histological study (PDAY) showed vascular injury accumulates from adolescence, making primary prevention efforts necessary from childhood. By the time that heart problems are detected, the underlying cause (atherosclerosis) is usually quite advanced, having progressed for decades. There is therefore increased emphasis on preventing atherosclerosis by modifying risk factors, such as healthy eating, exercise and avoidance of smoking.
Attempts to prevent cardiovascular disease are more effective when they remove and prevent causes, and they often take the form of modifying risk factors. Some factors, such as gender, age, and family history, cannot be modified. Smoking cessation (or abstinence) is one of the most effective and easily modifiable changes. Regular cardiovascular exercise (aerobic exercise) complements the healthful eating habits. According to the American Heart Association, build up of plaque on the arteries (atherosclerosis), partly as a result of high cholesterol and fat diet, is a leading cause for cardiovascular diseases. The combination of healthy diet and exercise is a means to improve serum cholesterol levels and reduce risks of cardiovascular diseases; if not, a physician may prescribe "cholesterol-lowering" drugs, such as the statins. These medications have additional protective benefits aside from their lipoprotein profile improvement. Aspirin may also be prescribed, as it has been shown to decrease the clot formation that may lead to myocardial infarctions and strokes; it is routinely prescribed for patients with one or more cardiovascular risk factors.
One possible way to decrease risk of cardiovascular disease is keep your total cholesterol below 150. In the Framingham Heart Study, those with total cholesterol below 150 only very rarely got coronary heart disease.
A magnesium deficiency, or lower levels of magnesium, can contribute to heart disease and a healthy diet that contains adequate magnesium may prevent heart disease. Magnesium can be used to enhance long term treatment, so it may be effective in long term prevention.Excess calcium may contribute to a buildup of calcium in the veins. Excess calcium can cause a magnesium deficiency, and magnesium can reduce excess calcium.
Eating oily fish at least twice a week may help reduce the risk of sudden death and arrhythmias. A 2005 review of 97 clinical trials by Studer et al. noted that omega-3 fats gave lower risk ratios than did statins. Olive oil is said to have benefits. Studies of individual heart cells showed that fatty acids blocked excessive sodium and calcium currents in the heart, which could otherwise cause dangerous, unpredictable changes in its rhythm.
Treatment
Treatment of cardiovascular disease depends on the specific form of the disease in each patient, but effective treatment always includes preventive lifestyle changes discussed above. Medications, such as blood pressure reducing medications, aspirin and the statin cholesterol-lowering drugs may be helpful. In some circumstances, surgery or angioplasty may be warranted to reopen, repair, or replace damaged blood vessels.
Ayurvedic Medicine Versus Western Medicine Discussed
Ayurvedic Medicine Versus Western Medicine Discussed indiaherbs 8 min - Apr 28, 2007
Contributed by: (http://www.india-herbs.com):
What is Ayurveda good for?
The goal of Ayurvedic medicine is to prevent diseases before they occur. Studies have suggested that Ayurveda may be particularly effective at reducing the risk of heart disease. For example, a recent study found that this traditional Indian medicine helped reduce plaque and reverse the thickening of artery walls known as atherosclerosis in both healthy adults as well as adults at high risk for heart disease. (Atherosclerosis is a slow, complex disease in which fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium, and other substances build up in the inner lining of an artery. This build-up, also known as plaque, can lead to heart attack and stroke.)
Diagnosis Process
The imbalance of doshas and the course they follow to cause disease is termed samprapti or pathogenesis. Since diseases develop in distinct stages, a good knowledge of those helps in early recognition of disease. Ayurveda thus elaborates a six stage process for diagnosis called Kriya (action) Kal (time). The first 4 stages being unique to Ayurveda in that they permit recognition and elimination of the disease before it ventures into differentiated clinical symptoms.
One who knows the various stages of pathogenesis accumulation (sanchaya), provocation (prakopa) spread or migration (prasara), deposition or augmentation (sthana samshaya), manifestation (vyakti) and the differentiation (bheda) is entitled to be a physician.
Stage One: Accumulation (Sanchaya)
Weak digestive power and excess of dosha is responsible for such a condition.
Here toxins (ama) produced by improper digestion collects in the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract.
Toxins resulting from a kapha imbalance accumulates in the stomach, those associated with a pitta imbalance collects in the small intestine, and that related to vata malfunction amasses in the colon.
Due to the presence of one of these toxins, mild and ill-defined symptoms may show.
We should recognise and eliminate the cause instead of ignoring or suppressing it.
Causes aversion to similar things and attraction for contraries.
Stage Two : Aggravation (Prokapa)
The accumulated, stagnant doshas are now excited' by factors as ahara, vihara & seasons.
The toxins amass in such degree to get provoked in the site of production in the GI tract.
Stage Three : Spread (Prasara)
In this stage, the toxins accumulated in the GI tract start overflowing.
Generally, up to this stage the damage is entirely reversible and restoration of doshic balance can be achieved with proper measures. Or there may be spontaneous prashama (remission) influenced by seasonal changes. Thus there is sanchaya of pitta in rainy season, prakopa in fall and prasara in early winter. Based on degree of excitation, it might even passed the stages of prashama or prasara.
Stage Four : Agumentation (Sthana Samshraya)
Overflowing toxins migrate, entering and taking refuge in localised, weak or defective dhatus thereby leading to malfunction and structural damage.
It is from here that specific degenerating disease and susceptibilities to serious infections begin.
Stage Five : Symptom Manifestation (Vyakti)
Differentiated symptoms first begin to appear from the location.
Manifested symptoms being used by modem medicine for classification & diagnosis of disease.
Stage Six: Complications/Differentiation (Bheda)
The disease having taken taken years or even decades to reach this final stage, becomes chronic.
Offers detailed understanding of the group of symptoms thereby making clear nature of disease.
Might act as predisposing factors for the spread of other diseases.
Examination Process
To confirm, evaluate and treat a disease, physicians need to perform clinical examinations of patients -- wherein textual knowledge (aptopadesa), direct perception (pratyaksha) and inference (anumana) are all very important components. The examination of patients can be carried out in the following manners:
Three (Tri) fold (Bidha) Examination (Pariksha)
Covers a general examination of the patient.
Involves:
Visual observation (Darshan)
Tactile perception (Sparsha)
Questioning (Prashna)
Examination of the pulse (nadi pariksha) :
The foremost clinical art in ayurvedic diagnosis it can provide deep insights into the history of the patient. The ideal time for pulse examination is early morning in empty stomach. But in case of emergency, it can be examined at any time of the day or night. An experienced ayurvedic physician can assess your body's nature (prakriti), pathological state (vikruti), imbalances of body type, very subtle observations & even prognosis of disease through the pulse.
