Re: cholesterol, statin medications

[Guest guest]

Hi :

I can only talk for myself. There was a time when I thought 172

pounds was my 'optimal weight'. That was before I joined this group

where I became acquainted with 'the WUSTL study'. Then my interest

in CR was tweaked. When I started my transition to CR I weighed 174

pounds and had noticed that my systolic BP was creeping slowly up

from a previously healthy level towards an unhealthy one.

I now weigh seventeen pounds less than I did at that time and my SBP

is twenty points lower. I do not think these two changes are

unconnected. The WUSTL subjects also had lost a lot of weight and

they had SBP averaging 100. Perhaps some people will not experience

a drop in blood pressure with weight, but from what I have seen the

vast majority seem to.

In addition the WUSTL subjects had astonishingly good lipids

numbers. I doubt that was unconnected with their weight loss

either. I have not had my lipids checked since I started CR, but I

am confident they will be better now than they were. My current plan

is to stop my gradual weight loss when I weigh what I did when I was

a very athletic fourteen year old. Then think hard before going any

lower.

So my opinion is that to improve CVD risk factors one does not need

to spend a ton of money on the services and products of doctors and

drug companies. Instead one should save a ton of money by buying and

eating less food. The mice experiments suggest this will also

dramatically reduce your chances of getting cancer, diabetes and many

other diseases.

And, of course, do not forget 'ON'.

Rodney.

--- In , Short <ottawan50@...>

wrote:

>

> I have enjoyed reading the posts for some time. I am 54,

high blood pressure, and with high cholesterol. Still my weight has

gone from 195 to 170. This had quite a positive effect on my blood

pressure. Basically I have to admit my practice is based on keeping

this ideal weight, and avoiding bad foods. I have been taking a

statin for 2 years for high cholesterol. This reduced my low density

liptoproteins but stangely didn't help my ratio ,high to low as much

as it should have because my high lipto proteins also were lowered.

Recently I have stopped taking my cholesterol medication, because I

could no longer run around the block, and my heart felt weak, and my

appearance was bad. All this happened without much attention to

reducing calories. Since I stopped taking the cholesterol medication,

I have felt much better, look a lot better, can do exercise, and have

gained 10 pounds!!! Now I have to do real CR again to keep at a

healthy weight. Soon I will see my doctor again. It

> seems probable to me that the statin medication I was taking was

reducing my muscle mass, and fat mass, and possibly over the long

term damaging my organs. However I do not believe any real damage

occured. Modern medecine is a wonderful thing, but in my own family

there are several instances of medications being given with reactions

that have consequences more serious than the original problem. It is

proven that statins reduce the risk of heart attack in people with

high cholesterol and yet there are many people including my mom and

dad still living at 80 who cannot tolerate them well. The strange

rthing was that taking the statin my weight was always around 170

didn't matter if I cheated, now I have stopped and I feel better ,

look better, and am stronger, but I guess my cholesterol is worse,

and my organs healthier, so I am asking for any comments, and if CR

can cure cholesterol, and blood pressure problems based on personal

experience or statistical studies. I know that I will

> value my doctor's opinion, but based on my experience a doctor in

the Canadian system will give perfunctory attention to the wider

implications of this question. Anyone have a point of view?

[Guest guest]

Hi :

I can only talk for myself. There was a time when I thought 172

pounds was my 'optimal weight'. That was before I joined this group

where I became acquainted with 'the WUSTL study'. Then my interest

in CR was tweaked. When I started my transition to CR I weighed 174

pounds and had noticed that my systolic BP was creeping slowly up

from a previously healthy level towards an unhealthy one.

I now weigh seventeen pounds less than I did at that time and my SBP

is twenty points lower. I do not think these two changes are

unconnected. The WUSTL subjects also had lost a lot of weight and

they had SBP averaging 100. Perhaps some people will not experience

a drop in blood pressure with weight, but from what I have seen the

vast majority seem to.

In addition the WUSTL subjects had astonishingly good lipids

numbers. I doubt that was unconnected with their weight loss

either. I have not had my lipids checked since I started CR, but I

am confident they will be better now than they were. My current plan

is to stop my gradual weight loss when I weigh what I did when I was

a very athletic fourteen year old. Then think hard before going any

lower.

So my opinion is that to improve CVD risk factors one does not need

to spend a ton of money on the services and products of doctors and

drug companies. Instead one should save a ton of money by buying and

eating less food. The mice experiments suggest this will also

dramatically reduce your chances of getting cancer, diabetes and many

other diseases.

And, of course, do not forget 'ON'.

Rodney.

--- In , Short <ottawan50@...>

wrote:

>

> I have enjoyed reading the posts for some time. I am 54,

high blood pressure, and with high cholesterol. Still my weight has

gone from 195 to 170. This had quite a positive effect on my blood

pressure. Basically I have to admit my practice is based on keeping

this ideal weight, and avoiding bad foods. I have been taking a

statin for 2 years for high cholesterol. This reduced my low density

liptoproteins but stangely didn't help my ratio ,high to low as much

as it should have because my high lipto proteins also were lowered.

Recently I have stopped taking my cholesterol medication, because I

could no longer run around the block, and my heart felt weak, and my

appearance was bad. All this happened without much attention to

reducing calories. Since I stopped taking the cholesterol medication,

I have felt much better, look a lot better, can do exercise, and have

gained 10 pounds!!! Now I have to do real CR again to keep at a

healthy weight. Soon I will see my doctor again. It

> seems probable to me that the statin medication I was taking was

reducing my muscle mass, and fat mass, and possibly over the long

term damaging my organs. However I do not believe any real damage

occured. Modern medecine is a wonderful thing, but in my own family

there are several instances of medications being given with reactions

that have consequences more serious than the original problem. It is

proven that statins reduce the risk of heart attack in people with

high cholesterol and yet there are many people including my mom and

dad still living at 80 who cannot tolerate them well. The strange

rthing was that taking the statin my weight was always around 170

didn't matter if I cheated, now I have stopped and I feel better ,

look better, and am stronger, but I guess my cholesterol is worse,

and my organs healthier, so I am asking for any comments, and if CR

can cure cholesterol, and blood pressure problems based on personal

experience or statistical studies. I know that I will

> value my doctor's opinion, but based on my experience a doctor in

the Canadian system will give perfunctory attention to the wider

implications of this question. Anyone have a point of view?

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

As Rodney mentioned, by eating moderately you can save money and be

healthier. We are conditioned to follow our doctor's advice because

we trust that their knowledge can help us improve our health.

Unfortunately, doctors are too eager to prescribe medications rather

than prescribe self-restraint.

The weakness that you felt in your heart from the statin drugs could

have been due to rhabdomyolysis, which is caused by muscle wasting.

Statins inhibit not only cholesterol synthesis, but also synthesis of

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) which leads to a reduction of high energy

phosphates, anaerobe metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction that may

cause muscle damage. Bayer had to pull its statin drug Baycol in 2001

when people stated dying from muscle-related ailments.

Cholesterol level is regulated by fat metabolism. High

cholesterol is generally caused by consumption of too much saturated

fat, too many carbohydrates (which turn into saturated fat [palmitic

acid]), not enough polyunsaturated fats (omega-6 fatty acids from

walnuts and sunflower seeds), and not enough soluble fiber (oat bran).

Check out these three web pages to learn some of the biochemistry of

cholesterol:

http://www.scientificpsychic.com/health/cholesterol.html

With regard to your weight, your ideal weight should correspond to a

Body Mass Index (BMI) of around 22, or perhaps a little bit more if

you are muscular, but in any case, your waist-to-height ratio should

be less than 0.5. I.e., your waist size should be less than half of

your height.

A healthy, well-balanced diet and moderate consumption (so that you

are hungry several hours per day) can probably improve your lipid

profile in a few weeks. A lifestyle of moderation with adequate

nutrition can add years to your life.

Tony

--- In , Short <ottawan50@...>

wrote:

>

> I have enjoyed reading the posts for some time. I am 54,

high blood pressure, and with high cholesterol. Still my weight has

gone from 195 to 170. This had quite a positive effect on my blood

pressure. Basically I have to admit my practice is based on keeping

this ideal weight, and avoiding bad foods. I have been taking a statin

for 2 years for high cholesterol. This reduced my low density

liptoproteins but stangely didn't help my ratio ,high to low as much

as it should have because my high lipto proteins also were lowered.

Recently I have stopped taking my cholesterol medication, because I

could no longer run around the block, and my heart felt weak, and my

appearance was bad. All this happened without much attention to

reducing calories. Since I stopped taking the cholesterol medication,

I have felt much better, look a lot better, can do exercise, and have

gained 10 pounds!!! Now I have to do real CR again to keep at a

healthy weight. Soon I will see my doctor again. It

> seems probable to me that the statin medication I was taking was

reducing my muscle mass, and fat mass, and possibly over the long term

damaging my organs. However I do not believe any real damage occured.

Modern medecine is a wonderful thing, but in my own family there are

several instances of medications being given with reactions that have

consequences more serious than the original problem. It is proven that

statins reduce the risk of heart attack in people with high

cholesterol and yet there are many people including my mom and dad

still living at 80 who cannot tolerate them well. The strange rthing

was that taking the statin my weight was always around 170 didn't

matter if I cheated, now I have stopped and I feel better , look

better, and am stronger, but I guess my cholesterol is worse, and my

organs healthier, so I am asking for any comments, and if CR can cure

cholesterol, and blood pressure problems based on personal experience

or statistical studies. I know that I will

> value my doctor's opinion, but based on my experience a doctor in

the Canadian system will give perfunctory attention to the wider

implications of this question. Anyone have a point of view?

>

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

As Rodney mentioned, by eating moderately you can save money and be

healthier. We are conditioned to follow our doctor's advice because

we trust that their knowledge can help us improve our health.

Unfortunately, doctors are too eager to prescribe medications rather

than prescribe self-restraint.

The weakness that you felt in your heart from the statin drugs could

have been due to rhabdomyolysis, which is caused by muscle wasting.

Statins inhibit not only cholesterol synthesis, but also synthesis of

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) which leads to a reduction of high energy

phosphates, anaerobe metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction that may

cause muscle damage. Bayer had to pull its statin drug Baycol in 2001

when people stated dying from muscle-related ailments.

Cholesterol level is regulated by fat metabolism. High

cholesterol is generally caused by consumption of too much saturated

fat, too many carbohydrates (which turn into saturated fat [palmitic

acid]), not enough polyunsaturated fats (omega-6 fatty acids from

walnuts and sunflower seeds), and not enough soluble fiber (oat bran).

Check out these three web pages to learn some of the biochemistry of

cholesterol:

http://www.scientificpsychic.com/health/cholesterol.html

With regard to your weight, your ideal weight should correspond to a

Body Mass Index (BMI) of around 22, or perhaps a little bit more if

you are muscular, but in any case, your waist-to-height ratio should

be less than 0.5. I.e., your waist size should be less than half of

your height.

A healthy, well-balanced diet and moderate consumption (so that you

are hungry several hours per day) can probably improve your lipid

profile in a few weeks. A lifestyle of moderation with adequate

nutrition can add years to your life.

Tony

--- In , Short <ottawan50@...>

wrote:

>

> I have enjoyed reading the posts for some time. I am 54,

high blood pressure, and with high cholesterol. Still my weight has

gone from 195 to 170. This had quite a positive effect on my blood

pressure. Basically I have to admit my practice is based on keeping

this ideal weight, and avoiding bad foods. I have been taking a statin

for 2 years for high cholesterol. This reduced my low density

liptoproteins but stangely didn't help my ratio ,high to low as much

as it should have because my high lipto proteins also were lowered.

Recently I have stopped taking my cholesterol medication, because I

could no longer run around the block, and my heart felt weak, and my

appearance was bad. All this happened without much attention to

reducing calories. Since I stopped taking the cholesterol medication,

I have felt much better, look a lot better, can do exercise, and have

gained 10 pounds!!! Now I have to do real CR again to keep at a

healthy weight. Soon I will see my doctor again. It

> seems probable to me that the statin medication I was taking was

reducing my muscle mass, and fat mass, and possibly over the long term

damaging my organs. However I do not believe any real damage occured.

Modern medecine is a wonderful thing, but in my own family there are

several instances of medications being given with reactions that have

consequences more serious than the original problem. It is proven that

statins reduce the risk of heart attack in people with high

cholesterol and yet there are many people including my mom and dad

still living at 80 who cannot tolerate them well. The strange rthing

was that taking the statin my weight was always around 170 didn't

matter if I cheated, now I have stopped and I feel better , look

better, and am stronger, but I guess my cholesterol is worse, and my

organs healthier, so I am asking for any comments, and if CR can cure

cholesterol, and blood pressure problems based on personal experience

or statistical studies. I know that I will

> value my doctor's opinion, but based on my experience a doctor in

the Canadian system will give perfunctory attention to the wider

implications of this question. Anyone have a point of view?

>