[pct-l] Rx Vytorin

Thu Feb 17 16:55:14 CST 2011

Eric,

I agree with most of what you say.

Per my statement below: "while eating saturated fats is most likely bad",  I
never said it has been absolutely proven (like trans-fats).  At one time,
this was a slam dunk, but I totally agree that it is now in question.
However, there is still a lot of circumstantial evidence that certain types
of saturated fat increase the probability of heart disease.  The research
continues...

While it is more difficult to get all your protein, vitamins, and minerals
by going totally vegan (especially in our culture), it is very possible.
The "hassle" factor is one reason that I also eat fish, dairy, and eggs.

 There are a lot of other reasons for not eating animal products besides our
personal health:  environmental impacts (the amount of water required and
hiking trails  torn up from cattle, increased methane in the atmosphere,
increase use of antibiotics, etc.) as well as the cruel treatment we often
give to the poor animals whom we eat and make use of their bodies.

I think we all gotta draw the line somewhere.  I choose my line and you
choose yours.  I imagine that you do not eat cats or dogs.  Why not?  Many
people do.  It is kind of an arbitrary decision...

Sym

>  On Thu, Feb 17, 2011 at 2:11 PM, Eric <johner27 at evergreen.edu> wrote:
>
>> Sorry to bust your bubble, but the lipid hypothesis is false. There is no
>> correlation between increased intake in saturated fat and increased
>> cholesterol.  However, you hit the nail on the head with the bad veggie
>> foods, which is what many vegetarians and vegans subsist on, sadly. These
>> foods, along with other grains and compounded with the chemicals such as MSG
>> in processed foods, are the real culprit in cholesterol levels, obesity, and
>> type 2 diabetes that is so prevalent nowadays.
>>
>> Going vegetarian and eating REAL FOOD is a good way to reduce cholesterol,
>> but you're losing a huge range of vitamins and minerals offered by animal
>> meats.  Organ meats are in face the most nutrient dense, and as you said,
>> grass-fed and open range organic animals are the way to go.  Combining these
>> healthy sources of protein with vegetables, nuts, seeds, dairy (if you can
>> process it) and some fruits and berries seems to be the best way to go; why
>> lose a whole food group?
>>
>> Fat calories are generally not a problem when consumed with protein, as
>> the combination of these two leads to sustained satiety.  Other than that, I
>> agree completely with you :) Basic idea: eat REAL food!
>>
>> Regards,
>> Eric
>>
>>   On Thu, Feb 17, 2011 at 1:31 PM, Sym Blanchard <symbiosis222 at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>>  Yoshi,
>>> I believe the study you referenced which showed that some vegetarian
>>> foods raised the bad LDL cholesterol was based on people eating a lot of
>>> bad
>>> vegetarian foods, such as potato chips, french fries, white rice, white
>>> flour, sugar, candy, deep fried vegetables, cake, hydrogenized vegetable
>>> oils, soft drinks, etc.
>>>
>>> Eating good vegetarian foods such as whole fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts,
>>> seeds, legumes, and whole grains have consistently shown to lower bad LDL
>>> cholesterol and raise good HDL cholesterol.  Choosing foods to get a good
>>> ratio between Omega 3 fatty acids and Omega 6 fatty acids will also have
>>> a
>>> good affect.
>>>
>>> I agree that many animal foods, such as fish, shrimp, squid, eel, etc.
>>> have
>>> lots of Omega 3 fatty acids and will help cholesterol levels.  And
>>> although
>>> I don't eat any land animals, I understand that wild game and some cuts
>>> of
>>> appropriately raised land animals can be good as well (grass fed,
>>> open-range, non-steroidal, etc.).
>>>
>>> I don't think the amount of the good fat is a problem, except that fat is
>>> high in calories and so must be balanced with other foods and exercise.
>>> Studies have shown that eating lots of mono and poly-unsaturated fats is
>>> generally good, while eating saturated fats is most likely bad (but there
>>> is
>>> still controversy, especially with medium-chain saturated fats like
>>> coconut
>>> oil), and trans-fat is definitely bad.
>>>
>>> But eating bad animal foods, such as hamburgers, hot dogs, deli meats,
>>> prime
>>> rib, Chicken McNuggets, etc. usually have lots of saturated fats, which
>>> causes the body to create the bad LDL cholesterol.  It is my
>>> understanding
>>> that our cholesterol levels come 80% from our own bodies and 20% from
>>> outside sources.  So it is better to minimize eating bad fats, which come
>>> mainly from land animals.  Even though eggs have lots of cholesterol, I
>>> think they are still very healthy because they result in very little
>>> affect
>>> on cholesterol levels.
>>>
>>> I totally agree with you that the use of Statins only lowers the bad LDL
>>> cholesterol and overall cholesterol, but has not been shown to have a
>>> good effect on heart disease.   A relationship between the good HDL
>>> cholesterol and the total cholesterol/HDL ratio of less than 3 has been
>>> shown to have a very positive effect.
>>>
>>> So Melinda's outstandingly great HDL cholesterol of 80 (I am impressed)
>>> gives her a great cholesterol ratio. I am very proud of my 66 HDL and a
>>> total cholesterol 139.
>>>
>>> I think it is so important to eat whole natural foods, do cardio
>>> exercise,
>>> lift weights, get enough sleep, manage stress, avoid environmental
>>> toxins,
>>> indulge in CHD, and try to miminize the "quick-fix" medicines that we are
>>> constantly being fed because so few people want to do the right things to
>>> begin with.
>>>
>>> Just not part of our American culture...yet.  Hopefully we pick up some
>>> of
>>> the habits of your Okinawan bretheren.
>>>
>>> Just my 2 cents.
>>>
>>> Symbioisis
>>> ------------------------------
>>>
>>> Message: 23
>>> Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2011 12:53:28 +0900
>>> From: Yoshihiro Murakami <completewalker at gmail.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Rx Vytorin
>>> To: Melanie Clarke <melaniekclarke at gmail.com>
>>> Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net, Amanda L Silvestri <aslive at sbcglobal.net>
>>> Message-ID:
>>>       <AANLkTikBGkQ7UiOa3-adMRE5Ve6H3=HUTYW9-t+piwr6 at mail.gmail.com>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>>>
>>> Dear Amanda
>>>
>>> This topic is difficult for me, there are many technical terms and
>>> great disputes concerning the cholesterol. I will write very briefly,
>>> because I have enough time now.
>>>
>>> In Japan, there is a great dispute among doctors. I got a guideline of
>>> cholesterol control for longevity. But I cannot translate properly
>>> into English. I will try to translate very small parts from the
>>> guideline.
>>>
>>> According to the recent findings( from 2006 ), Statin (control drug )
>>> decreases LDL cholesterol, but it has no effect to  cardiovascular
>>> disease, and no effect to longevity. Then, the great dispute arise.
>>>
>>> The food intake of vegetable fat in place of  animal fat proved to
>>> increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and  sudden
>>> death. Dear Melanie, you need not avoid animal fat, of course you need
>>> pay attention to the total amount of fat. Lesser is better.
>>>
>>> The hypothesis of HDL-C and LDL-C in not supported by recent findings.
>>> In the general population, death rate of high LDL-C group is lower
>>> than low LDL-C group. The guideline stated that this hypothesis is not
>>> recommended to use.
>>>
>>> To prevent the cardiovascular disease, fish fat ( EPA ) proved to be
>>> effective. So, Melanie, eat fish sometime. I eat one in a week.
>>>
>>> In Japan, margarine is a product from vegetable oil, but margarine is
>>> proved to increase the risk of kidney trouble and cancer. So,
>>> margarine is not recommended.
>>>
>>> The guideline recommended the control technique of food to  the total
>>> cholesterol ( 280mm/dL) group and to LDL-C( 180 mg/dL ) group.
>>>
>>> Amanda, at least, you need second opinion.
>>> My recommendation is almost the same with Melanie. Avoid medication,
>>> Eat lesser fat, but need not to be a vegetarian. And do physical
>>> exercise regularly. Control your weight.
>>>
>>> No time now. bye.
>>> ___________________________________________________
>>> 2011/2/17 Melanie Clarke <melaniekclarke at gmail.com>:
>>> > Dear Amanda,
>>> >
>>> > My cholesterol was 230 so I only ate chicken or fish. ?When I went
>>> back a
>>> > year later it was 235. ?Then I became vegetarian but I did not eat any
>>> > cheese or animal fat of any kind. ?That means I could only drink non
>>> fat
>>> > milk and eat non fat yogurt and cottage cheese. ?It worked. ?I lowered
>>> my
>>> > cholesterol to 170. ?My "good" cholesterol was always high, 80 so 170
>>> is a
>>> > very good total for me.
>>> >
>>> > Consider managing your cholesterol by being vegetarian with non fat
>>> milk
>>> > products and only the egg whites. ?We are active and exercise so it
>>> should
>>> > work for you.
>>> >
>>> > Melanie
>>> >
>>> > On Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 4:42 PM, Amanda L Silvestri
>>> <aslive at sbcglobal.net>wrote:
>>> >
>>> >> ?My doctor is think of putting me on Vytorin for cholesterol control
>>>    but
>>> >> said that a possible side effect could be muscle weakness. ?I am 59
>>> years
>>> >> old and hiking to Canada this summer. ?I am concerned about muscle
>>> >> weakness. ?I know you can't give out medical advice over the Internet
>>> and
>>> >> without seeing my blood work, but I would like to know if anyone has
>>> >> experienced muscle weakness on Vytorin.
>>> >>
>>> >> Shepherd
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Because we don't think about future generations, they will never forget
>> us.  ~Henrik Tikkanen
>>
>> “The things you own end up owning you.”* -*Tyler Durden, *Fight Club*
>>
>> "The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a
>> monthly salary."—David Hieatt
>>
>>
>