The Hidden Diabetes Link No One is Telling You About...
By Suzy Cohen, R.Ph.
Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States, killing one in five adults, and doctors are very quick to prescribe statins. In fact, statin drug sales rank in the billions each year globally.
These drugs are so pervasive that they are no longer just indicated for hypercholesterolemia, they are also being prescribed for elevations in C reactive protein, and are promoted for kids as young as eight years old.
Heart disease is so pervasive that some have boldly suggested that we should put statins in our water supply as some kind of protection.
This is very disturbing.
Do You Really Need a Statin Drug?
By far, statin drugs are the most popular cholesterol-lowering drugs available today. They work in your liver by preventing your body from making cholesterol. The drugs block an enzyme called HMG-CoA Reductase. This can be helpful, but only if you are one of those people who happen to produce too much cholesterol.
It doesn't do a good job at removing it from your clogged arteries, contrary to what most people think.
Physicians and health experts now agree that statins seem to offer more benefit through their ability to reduce dangerous inflammatory chemicals in your body, rather than by reducing production of cholesterol, which usually leads to uncomfortable, unwanted and dangerous side effects. One study found that lowering cholesterol too much actually backfires.
Cholesterol is good for you; it's one of your body's most powerful antioxidants, it makes important neurotransmitters and sex hormones so this madness to lower it as much as possible really concerns me. Plus, I believe the indiscriminate use of statins has contributed to the staggering rise in diabetes…
The Statin—Diabetes Connection Few People Know About
I watched this happen to my mom who was given a statin, and then told months later she suddenly had diabetes. All of a sudden? This happened many years ago, and it began my search to understand the connection. It also prompted me to write a book on the subject entitled "Diabetes Without Drugs" (Rodale, 2010).
It typically happens like this:
Many statin users come back to see their physician for a routine visit and after the blood work is drawn, they find their cholesterol ratios may be improved, but now they have high blood glucose.
It's entirely possible that some physicians then mistakenly diagnose their patients with "Type 2 diabetes" when in fact they just have hyperglycemia—a side effect, and the result of a medication that was prescribed to them months earlier.
Do you think you have type 2 diabetes?
I will provide more information so you can see for yourself that so-called "diabetes" diagnosis might not really be genuine diabetes. It may just be hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)—the result of your cholesterol medication, and for some people, it may be reversible with drug discontinuation. Whether or not you are able to discontinue your medication is between you and your physician.
Research Suggesting Raised Blood Sugar is a Side Effect of Statin Use
Several studies have indicated that statins can cause high blood sugar, which can be mistaken for "diabetes." For example, researchers in Glasgow, Scotland conducted a meta analysis, known as the JUPITER trial, which took into account 13 statin trials that each included 1,000 patients or more. The participants were followed for over than a year. The conclusion was there was indeed an increase, albeit small, in the development of Type 2 diabetes.
It should be considered that some of the patients in this meta analysis already had symptoms of insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome, so it could be said that they were on their way to diabetes anyway.
Now consider another meta-analysis published in the Lancet Here, the researchers reviewed randomized controlled trials beginning in 1994 and ending in 2009, for a total of 91,140 participants who took either a statin or a placebo.
They found that people treated with statin drugs showed a nine percent increase for diabetes. They did not evaluate other factors however, which would be considered pre-diabetes, so I suspect their nine percent number to be on the low side.
Insulin is a pancreatic hormone that reduces blood sugar. You want some insulin to maintain blood glucose levels, but too much of it is bad—it's an inflammatory compound in your body when it is elevated. And guess what? The use of statin drugs appears to INCREASE your insulin levels! High insulin is extremely harmful to your health.
For starters, elevated insulin levels lead to heart disease, and isn't that the reason cholesterol drugs are prescribed in the first place?
The ratio of glucose to insulin should be less than 10:1, this ratio is far more important than the levels of glucose or insulin alone. Keep that in mind if you seek a complete recovery. For more information about the harmful effects of elevated insulin levels, see my article on dearpharmacist.com, or my book Diabetes Without Drugs.
You want to keep insulin normal, to protect yourself from heart disease and high blood pressure. Chronically elevated insulin causes a cascade of inflammatory chemicals and high cortisol which lead to belly fat, high blood pressure, heart attacks, chronic fatigue, thyroid disruption, plus major diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and cancer.
Unfortunately, the most popular cholesterol drugs in the world seem to increase insulin levels. However, that's just one mechanism by which these drugs can raise your risk for diabetes.
How Statins Raise Your Insulin
Keeping things simple, you might imagine it like this: When you eat a meal that contains starches and sugar, some of the excess sugar goes to your liver, which then stores it away as cholesterol and triglycerides. Now stay with me -- when you have a statin on board, it's like a message to your liver saying, "No! Don't make any more cholesterol, please stop."
So your liver sends the sugar back OUT to your bloodstream. As a result, your blood sugar goes up.
In 2009, it was proven that statins could directly raise blood sugar, whether or not you have diabetes. Over 340,000 people were included before this conclusion was made. The people who did not have diabetes but took statins experienced a rise in blood glucose from 98 mg/dl to 105 mg/dl. Those who already had diabetes and also took statins experienced a rise from 102 mg/dl to 141 mg/dl.
After adjustments for age and medication use were considered, researchers concluded that both diabetic and non-diabetic statin users showed a statistically significant rise in blood sugar.
Why take all these risks, just to get the convenience of taking a pill instead of eating a better diet and exercising?
It's been scientifically discussed and even published in JAMA that eating a better diet could lower cholesterol as well as the statin drug lovastatin.
And of course, there are so many other benefits to eating a healthier diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and lean meats. Besides feeling better and increasing lifespan, you can squeeze into those skinny jeans you're hiding in your closet.
Another way statins can affect your blood sugar is via their "drug mugging" effect. A drug mugger is my term, and the title of my newest book, which describes how a drug can rob your body's warehouse of a valuable nutrient. In the case of statins, they rob your body of two different nutrients, both of which are needed to maintain ideal blood sugar.
Two Important Nutrients Decimated by Statins
The first nutrient that is mugged is vitamin D. There have been mixed studies regarding the D-depletion effect of statins, but statins reduce your body's natural ability to create active vitamin D called 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, shortened to "calcitriol" when it is eventually converted to its active hormone form.
This happens because statins reduce cholesterol, and you need cholesterol to make vitamin D! It is the raw material that exposure to UVB from sunlight will convert to vitamin D.
It is well documented that D improves insulin resistance, so needless to say, when you take a drug mugger of vitamin D (like statins), then you increase your risk for diabetes.
More specifically, a 2004 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition determined that raising a person's serum vitamin D levels (from 25 to 75 nmol/l) could improve insulin sensitivity by a whopping 60 percent.
Compare that to the blockbuster diabetes drug metformin, one of our pharmaceutical gold-standards, which can dispose of blood sugar by a meager 13 percent according to the New England Journal of Medicine.
Now, statins also suppresses your natural coenzyme Q10— also called "ubiquinol" in its active form; it makes energy for every cell in your body, and it's produced mainly in your liver.
This powerful antioxidant just so happens to also play a role in maintaining blood glucose. When you deplete levels of CoQ10 by taking a drug mugger of it, like a statin drug, then you lose that benefit. You also raise your risk for heart failure, high blood pressure and heart disease as CoQ10 deficiencies can contribute to those conditions. A study by Hodgson et al, published in 2002 found that 200mg CoQ10 taken daily caused a 0.4 percent reduction in hemoglobin A1c.
Moreover, CoQ10 protects your body from oxidative stress, a strong contributing factor in the development of diabetes, metabolic syndrome and heart attacks. You want to make sure you have enough CoQ10 (or ubiquinol) on board to protect every cell in your body. The take home point is that statins annihilate this compound and you need it for good health.
In summary, if you take a statin medication and you've been told that you have diabetes, it may be drug-induced, and it's possible that it can be reversed over the course of time. However, you will have to eat right, exercise, and take supplements that help to lower your risk for heart disease naturally.
About the Author
Suzy Cohen, R.Ph., has been a licensed pharmacist for 22 years, and has had a weekly syndicated health column for the past 13 years which you can get for free by signing up at her website Widely recognized as "America's most trusted pharmacist," she has appeared on The Dr OZ Show, The View, Good Morning America Health and The 700 Club.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
ProAlgaZyme Algae infusion (PAX) is now known as Kardiaxyme from Xooma
According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 102 million adults in the U.S. qualify as having high blood cholesterol. From a supplement standpoint, fiber, phytosterols and fish oil are the most go-to natural products for cholesterol support, though traditional therapy typically includes extra attention to diet and exercise in combination with aspirin or statin therapy.
For the last two years, Scottsdale, AZ-based Health Enhancement Products, Inc. (HEPI) has been studying the cholesterol-lowering effectiveness of its naturally-derived ingredient called ProAlgazyme and has so far enjoyed very promising results.
ProAlgaZyme Algae infusion (PAX) is a liquid product produced from algae grown in 100% distilled water. The liquid in which the algae are grown is drawn off, filtered, tested and bottled as ProAlgaZyme. The product is made from algae but does not contain algae. According to HEPI, PAX has demonstrated the ability to support heart health, immune defense, blood sugar maintenance, weight management and healthy inflammation response.
But it’s been the product’s ability to lower LDL cholesterol that has garnered the most noteworthy attention. In 2009, researchers at Wayne State University’s Department of Nutrition and Food Science put the product through clinical paces and found it had the capacity to lower LDL cholesterol while raising HDL cholesterol in animal subjects.
Specifically, results indicated that test subjects demonstrated a “31% decrease in LDL cholesterol” with “no significant impact on triglycerides,” as well as a “3% decrease in total cholesterol”—all without any observed adverse effects.
Buoyed by the positive findings, HEPI set out to identify and isolate the active cholesterol agents, which were intermingled with thousands of biological components, including numerous proteins. Earlier this year, HEPI announced that its work was successful, and subsequently filed a protective patent application.
In a HEPI Power Point presentation encapsulating ProAlgazyme, Dr. Fazlul H. Sarkar, professor of Pathology at Wayne State University School of Medicine’s Karmanos Cancer Institute, stated that ProAlgazyme and Platelet factor-4 (PF4), an amino acid protein, “significantly and beneficially change the rate of synthesis of key proteins involved in lipoprotein metabolism.” He further added that “Oral administration of ProAlgaZyme & PF4 is highly effective, and well-suited as a nutritional supplement or as the foundation for development of novel drugs.”
HEPI is optimistic that ProAlgazyme is poised for success in the realm of products that provide support for healthy cholesterol. The company said its product is in a unique position because its efficacy has already been proven not just in animals but also in humans.
To further cement the confidence in ProAlgazyme, HEPI has also prepared a GRAS panel review for submission to FDA, and has not ruled out pursuing the FDA’s Qualified Health Claims. The company also hasn’t ruled out the idea that the ProAlgazyme’s active cholesterol-regulating agent could be a suitable pharmaceutical candidate, however the financing and research involved in that type of endeavor is a weight task that the company is not yet ready to pursue.
“We are approaching the food ingredient and nutraceutical markets with a truly unique offering—a portfolio of bioactive compounds well-suited as ingredients or supplements, tailored to desired health attributes,” the company said. “On the horizon are other applications, ranging from pre-surgical treatments to medicinal foods and the promise of unique health and wellness therapies.”
Get KardiaXyme for 30 days, Click Here to Order. It will automatically add a 30 day supply to your cart. Just fill in the required shipping and CC info. a 30 day supply is only $150. We have been seeing some amazing positive changes in peoples cholesterol !
Call me if you have any questions !
Article credit - www.nutraceuticalsworld.com
For the last two years, Scottsdale, AZ-based Health Enhancement Products, Inc. (HEPI) has been studying the cholesterol-lowering effectiveness of its naturally-derived ingredient called ProAlgazyme and has so far enjoyed very promising results.
ProAlgaZyme Algae infusion (PAX) is a liquid product produced from algae grown in 100% distilled water. The liquid in which the algae are grown is drawn off, filtered, tested and bottled as ProAlgaZyme. The product is made from algae but does not contain algae. According to HEPI, PAX has demonstrated the ability to support heart health, immune defense, blood sugar maintenance, weight management and healthy inflammation response.
But it’s been the product’s ability to lower LDL cholesterol that has garnered the most noteworthy attention. In 2009, researchers at Wayne State University’s Department of Nutrition and Food Science put the product through clinical paces and found it had the capacity to lower LDL cholesterol while raising HDL cholesterol in animal subjects.
Specifically, results indicated that test subjects demonstrated a “31% decrease in LDL cholesterol” with “no significant impact on triglycerides,” as well as a “3% decrease in total cholesterol”—all without any observed adverse effects.
Buoyed by the positive findings, HEPI set out to identify and isolate the active cholesterol agents, which were intermingled with thousands of biological components, including numerous proteins. Earlier this year, HEPI announced that its work was successful, and subsequently filed a protective patent application.
In a HEPI Power Point presentation encapsulating ProAlgazyme, Dr. Fazlul H. Sarkar, professor of Pathology at Wayne State University School of Medicine’s Karmanos Cancer Institute, stated that ProAlgazyme and Platelet factor-4 (PF4), an amino acid protein, “significantly and beneficially change the rate of synthesis of key proteins involved in lipoprotein metabolism.” He further added that “Oral administration of ProAlgaZyme & PF4 is highly effective, and well-suited as a nutritional supplement or as the foundation for development of novel drugs.”
HEPI is optimistic that ProAlgazyme is poised for success in the realm of products that provide support for healthy cholesterol. The company said its product is in a unique position because its efficacy has already been proven not just in animals but also in humans.
To further cement the confidence in ProAlgazyme, HEPI has also prepared a GRAS panel review for submission to FDA, and has not ruled out pursuing the FDA’s Qualified Health Claims. The company also hasn’t ruled out the idea that the ProAlgazyme’s active cholesterol-regulating agent could be a suitable pharmaceutical candidate, however the financing and research involved in that type of endeavor is a weight task that the company is not yet ready to pursue.
“We are approaching the food ingredient and nutraceutical markets with a truly unique offering—a portfolio of bioactive compounds well-suited as ingredients or supplements, tailored to desired health attributes,” the company said. “On the horizon are other applications, ranging from pre-surgical treatments to medicinal foods and the promise of unique health and wellness therapies.”
Get KardiaXyme for 30 days, Click Here to Order. It will automatically add a 30 day supply to your cart. Just fill in the required shipping and CC info. a 30 day supply is only $150. We have been seeing some amazing positive changes in peoples cholesterol !
Call me if you have any questions !
Article credit - www.nutraceuticalsworld.com
Monday, March 21, 2011
Health Enhancement Products Updates Shareholders
Monday, 21 March 2011 04:00
SCOTTSDALE, AZ--(Marketwire - March 21, 2011) - Health Enhancement Products, Inc. (OTCBB: HEPI) today outlined recent developments within the company in an effort to keep shareholders informed of its progress.
HEPI has been notified by its exclusive distributor, Xooma, that it has re-branded HEPI's ProAlgaZyme® product as "Kardiaxyme." (Xooma assumed Zus' rights and obligations under the distribution agreement between HEPI and Zus).Xooma plans to officially launch the newly branded product with its impressive new packaging within the next 45 days. Individuals who wish to purchase the product now can do so by contacting Xooma at www.kardiaxyme.com.Xooma has already completed a successful pre-launch of the Kardiaxyme product to a select group of distributors. Based on the results of this pre-launch, Xooma has requested that HEPI expand its production to a level that is more than twenty times HEPI's previous capacity. The company is hopeful that the expected increase in orders from Xooma will result in much improved operating cash flows.
HEPI recently announced the leasing of a new facility which it intends to use for its headquarters and production space. HEPI's objectives in seeking new space were threefold.First, the company needed a space that it could more easily convert into a GMP (good manufacturing practice) compliant facility.Secondly, the company was seeking a more efficient manufacturing space that could help it overcome production challenges.Thirdly, there was a desire to reduce operating expenses, if possible.The company believes that the new space meets all of the above objectives.
HEPI's Research and Development efforts have been directed toward actively pursuing an analysis of PAZ™ to try and identify the "class of compounds," and the "active ingredient," to identify the single molecule or molecules, if possible, responsible for the potential cholesterol benefits the company's testing has identified.Substantial time, money, and effort have been expended in this regard.The company believes that it is making substantial progress towards achieving these hoped for results, but more investigation is needed. The company plans to update shareholders as the identification process is completed.
John Gorman, HEPI Executive Vice President of Operations, commented, "We are pleased that we now have a facility that with appropriate improvements can accommodate production of our product on a mass scale. Xooma will be an excellent marketing partner as they now have first-hand experience when discussing our product." Mr. Gorman concluded, "Moving into our new facility will allow us to more fully automate everything from growing, harvesting, filtering and bottling in a straight line production. It marks another important milestone in allowing us to finally begin the process of monetizing our valuable asset."
About Health Enhancement Products, Inc.
Health Enhancement Products, Inc. (OTCBB: HEPI) is a health & wellness company engaged in the development of products comprised of pure, all-natural compounds that can be used as a dietary supplement and food additive. The Company's product is ProAlgaZyme ® (PAZ™) a liquid product drawn from living algae grown in purified water. The water in which the algae are grown is drawn off, filtered and bottled under the trademark ProAlgaZyme ®.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ--(Marketwire - March 21, 2011) - Health Enhancement Products, Inc. (OTCBB: HEPI) today outlined recent developments within the company in an effort to keep shareholders informed of its progress.
HEPI has been notified by its exclusive distributor, Xooma, that it has re-branded HEPI's ProAlgaZyme® product as "Kardiaxyme." (Xooma assumed Zus' rights and obligations under the distribution agreement between HEPI and Zus).Xooma plans to officially launch the newly branded product with its impressive new packaging within the next 45 days. Individuals who wish to purchase the product now can do so by contacting Xooma at www.kardiaxyme.com.Xooma has already completed a successful pre-launch of the Kardiaxyme product to a select group of distributors. Based on the results of this pre-launch, Xooma has requested that HEPI expand its production to a level that is more than twenty times HEPI's previous capacity. The company is hopeful that the expected increase in orders from Xooma will result in much improved operating cash flows.
HEPI recently announced the leasing of a new facility which it intends to use for its headquarters and production space. HEPI's objectives in seeking new space were threefold.First, the company needed a space that it could more easily convert into a GMP (good manufacturing practice) compliant facility.Secondly, the company was seeking a more efficient manufacturing space that could help it overcome production challenges.Thirdly, there was a desire to reduce operating expenses, if possible.The company believes that the new space meets all of the above objectives.
HEPI's Research and Development efforts have been directed toward actively pursuing an analysis of PAZ™ to try and identify the "class of compounds," and the "active ingredient," to identify the single molecule or molecules, if possible, responsible for the potential cholesterol benefits the company's testing has identified.Substantial time, money, and effort have been expended in this regard.The company believes that it is making substantial progress towards achieving these hoped for results, but more investigation is needed. The company plans to update shareholders as the identification process is completed.
John Gorman, HEPI Executive Vice President of Operations, commented, "We are pleased that we now have a facility that with appropriate improvements can accommodate production of our product on a mass scale. Xooma will be an excellent marketing partner as they now have first-hand experience when discussing our product." Mr. Gorman concluded, "Moving into our new facility will allow us to more fully automate everything from growing, harvesting, filtering and bottling in a straight line production. It marks another important milestone in allowing us to finally begin the process of monetizing our valuable asset."
About Health Enhancement Products, Inc.
Health Enhancement Products, Inc. (OTCBB: HEPI) is a health & wellness company engaged in the development of products comprised of pure, all-natural compounds that can be used as a dietary supplement and food additive. The Company's product is ProAlgaZyme ® (PAZ™) a liquid product drawn from living algae grown in purified water. The water in which the algae are grown is drawn off, filtered and bottled under the trademark ProAlgaZyme ®.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Jeff Staples lowers his cholesterol with Xooma Kardiaxyme by Larry Petrucci
My good friend Jeff Staples from Gilbert, AZ decided to try Kardiaxyme a little over 30 days ago in the month of February. Many times during his work week, his profession has him directly involved with the aftermath of poor health decisions and chronic disease.
Jeff also understands the side effects of statin drugs and even though he has a hereditary cholesterol condition, he has personally chose not to go on statins.
Jeff knew he was feeling better and even though the typical retesting after starting on this product is 90 days, Jeff was curious and wanted 30 day results.
this turned out to be nothing short of amazing !!
Total Cholesterol went from 296, down to 268...... Down 28!
LDL the Lousy Cholesterol went from 200, down to 180 ...... Down 20!
HDL the Healthy Cholesterol went from 49, up to 50 ..... up 1!
Triglicerides went from 200 down to 191 ..... Down 9!
I cant wait to see what the recommended 90 day retesting results will be !
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
What is KardiaXyme / ProAlgaZyme ® ?
KardiaXyme / ProAlgaZyme ® (also called ‘PAZ’) is an Algae Infusion for Total Body Health. Our unique algae were discovered decades ago within a secret freshwater ecosystem. They are now grown in a controlled environment in pure water, nourished by simulated sunlight. The water they live in is filtered to make ProAlgaZyme® Infusion. ProAlgaZyme® is composed of unique bioactive elements, extensively researched to maximize potential as a dietary supplement, functional food and pharmaceutical. Independent clinical testing has shown ProAlgaZyme® provides immune support, maintains cardiovascular health, promotes normal inflammation response, and helps to maintain healthy weight and blood sugar levels within the normal range*.
Buy 4 bottles @ the member only price: $149.97 (ITEM #2704)
There is no charge to purchase at the member only price. You will be assigned your own ordering website that you may use to reorder the following month.
We are so confident that this product will satisfy your expectations that we invite you to do your due diligence and decide yourself. Money Back Guarantee.
Get KardiaXyme for 30 days, Click Here to Order. It will automatically add a 30 day supply to your cart. Just fill in the required shipping and CC info. a 30 day supply is only $150. We have been seeing some amazing positive changes in peoples cholesterol !
Call me if you have any questions !
KardiaXyme / ProAlgaZyme ® (also called ‘PAZ’) is an Algae Infusion for Total Body Health. Our unique algae were discovered decades ago within a secret freshwater ecosystem. They are now grown in a controlled environment in pure water, nourished by simulated sunlight. The water they live in is filtered to make ProAlgaZyme® Infusion. ProAlgaZyme® is composed of unique bioactive elements, extensively researched to maximize potential as a dietary supplement, functional food and pharmaceutical. Independent clinical testing has shown ProAlgaZyme® provides immune support, maintains cardiovascular health, promotes normal inflammation response, and helps to maintain healthy weight and blood sugar levels within the normal range*.
Buy 4 bottles @ the member only price: $149.97 (ITEM #2704)
There is no charge to purchase at the member only price. You will be assigned your own ordering website that you may use to reorder the following month.
We are so confident that this product will satisfy your expectations that we invite you to do your due diligence and decide yourself. Money Back Guarantee.
Get KardiaXyme for 30 days, Click Here to Order. It will automatically add a 30 day supply to your cart. Just fill in the required shipping and CC info. a 30 day supply is only $150. We have been seeing some amazing positive changes in peoples cholesterol !
Call me if you have any questions !
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