Diet, Not Drugs

As a society we spend so much money that is absolutely wasted on medication. The disease is not high cholesterol or even obesity. The disease is our diet and our lifestyle. When we address these issues then all the symptoms, yes - all, disappear and we can lead a healthy long life. 

A recent randomized controlled study (NORDIET) on 88 mildly people with elevated cholesterol showed how simple the solution is. 1One group had a diet rich in high-fibre plant foods: fruits, berries, vegetables, whole grains, grapeseed oil, nuts, fish and low-fat milk products, but low in salt, added sugars and saturated fats. The other group had the average western processed diet. Compared with controls, those on the healthy Nordic diet (ND. similar to the Mediterranean diet) had a decrease in plasma cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, LDL/HDL and apolipoprotein (apo)B/apoA1. The ND also had reduced insulin and systolic BP by compared with the control diet. Body weight decreased after 6 weeks in the ND compared with the control group. The conclusions after 6 weeks in the study was that a healthy ND improves blood lipid profile and insulin sensitivity and lowers blood pressure at clinically relevant levels in people with elevated cholesterol without any medication. 

While cholesterol is not a health problem it is an indicator of poor health, primarily stress on the liver and growing research is also showing that cholesterol may actually be protective. 

A study of 6984 patients aged 65 years or older found mortality was inversely related to cholesterol levels. That is low cholesterol levels were associated with in-hospital mortality 2. The study concluded that among older hospitalized adults, low serum cholesterol levels appear to be an independent predictor of short-term mortality.  

In another study of more than 52,000 Norwegians over a 10-year period the overall risk of death was the same in men with cholesterol levels of 7.0 mmol/l or higher than in individuals with levels of less than 5.0 mmol 3. In the individuals with cholesterol levels in the 5.0 – 5.9 mmol/l the risk of death was 23 per cent lower than in men with the lowest cholesterol levels. In women, the higher the cholesterol level the lower the overall risk of death. The third study of 82,000 adults in the UK over 8 years again found that higher total cholesterol levels were actually associated with a reduced risk of death due to stroke and that higher cholesterol levels are not a risk factor for heart disease 4.  

There is no valid reason to focus on lowering cholesterol and especially no valid reason to take statin medication which has serious side effects, when the solution really is so simple.  

References: 

1 

Adamsson, et al 2011. Effects of a healthy Nordic diet on cardiovascular risk factors in hypercholesterolaemic subjects: a randomized controlled trial (NORDIET). 

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2010.02290.Journal of Internal Medicine 

Volume 269, Issue 2, pages 150–159, February 2011 

2 

Onder G, Landi F, Volpato S, Fellin R, Carbonin P, Gambassi G, Bernabei R  

The American Journal of Medicine [2003, 115(4):265-271]  

DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9343(03)00354-1  

3 

Petursson H, et al. Is the use of cholesterol in mortality risk algorithms in clinical guidelines valid? Ten years prospective data from the Norwegian HUNT 2 study. J Eval Clin Pract. 25 Sept 2011 [Epub ahead of print] 

4 

Hamer M, et al. Comparison of risk factors for fatal stroke and ischemic heart disease: A prospective follow up of the health survey for England. Atherosclerosis epub 22 August 2011. 

Complimentary and Sustainable Medicine

Complimentary and Sustainable Medicine 

A recent study of 14,329 employed adults in the US found that doctors and nurses use complimentary medicine more than the general population 1. They found 76 percent of healthcare workers use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) compared to 63 percent of the general population. 

On the one hand this is positive, but on the other this is concerning given not only the lack of encouragement from the medical establishments to use CAM, but also their willingness to dish out drugs which could otherwise be treated by CAM. However, this is understandable given that the doctors know more about the toxic, even deadly side effects of drugs. There are more than 400 000 adverse reactions to pharmaceutical drugs in Australia each year and probably more than 10 000 people die as a result of these drugs (although true numbers are not available). Government information from the US shows that there were 3,764,698,318 prescription drugs filled in the US in 2011. The average American aged between 19 and 64 used 12 prescriptions a year and those over 65 used 28 prescriptions each year. Males used 9.7 prescriptions on average while females used 14.3. 

The study shows that most doctors and nurses who operate in mainstream medicine actually have more knowledge and appreciation for alternative medicine than most people suspect. 

Another study in the UK in 2010 2 showed growing numbers of people are turning to alternative medicines and that sales of alternative medicines are booming 2. The market has reportedly grown by 18 per cent in two years and they predict sales will increase by 33 per cent over the next four years as more patients reject prescription drugs in favour of natural remedies. This growth can be explained by the acceptance of many treatments such as acupuncture, which is available on the NHS as well as a move away from potentially dangerous prescription drugs. 

There are many other additional benefits of using CAM in Australia, including financial ones. The study found herbal preparations and omega-3s are effective treatments against an array of illnesses including osteoarthritis, heart disease and depression and could save the country more than $220m every year. However, the real benefit is that these supplements have no negative side effects and can help with multiple conditions. Omega 3 oils can assist in more than 50 different health conditions from asthma, cancer, CVD to depression and Alzheimer’s.  

The researchers found omega-3s were effective against heart disease and that St John’s Wort could save $50m annually in anti-depression pharmaceutical spending.  

The clinical evidence showing complementary medicine can play a vital role in improving an individual's health has been clear for some time and needs to be considered as a serious part of the health care system in Western nations. 

References  

1) Johnson, Pamela Jo, Andrew Ward, Lori Knutson, Sue Sendelbach4 

Personal Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) by U.S. Health Care Workers. Health Services Research. Volume 47, Issue 1pt1, pages 211–227, February 2012 

Article first published online: 22 AUG 2011 

DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2011.01304.x 

2) Alternative medicine sales soar as consumers shake off cynicism By Daily Mail Reporter. 26th January 2010