Did you know that 8% of major league basketball players were on ADD (attention deficit disorder) psychostimulant medication during the 2008 season? They had to get exemptions because these drugs are normally banned in the major league games. ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is an umbrella term for behavioural disorders among both children and adults and the side effects of these drugs have been the source of a controversial debate. Other conditions which fall under this umbrella are attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and ODD which stands for Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

Strattera Comes Under Fire

There is a heated debate in the Australian Parliament at the moment about one of these drugs for attention deficit disorder which is called Strattera. There have been 56 reports that Starattera can cause suicidal thoughts and even cause patients to inflict injuries on themselves. Under the Australian Health Scheme, the government has funded resources for this drug to the tune of $100 million dollars to cover the period 2004 -2007. Debate has raged on whether the government should be spending such a lot of money on a drug which can lead to suicides especially as they have now added in an a higher dose version of the drug! There must be a safer way and it is outlined below.

ADHD Alternative Therapy

ADHD is the type of disorder where hyperactivity is a prevalent symptom although it may co-exist with inattentive ADHD where the child/or adult is spaced out and has great problems in focusing and concentration. Inefficient and messy multi-tasking may well be a symptom of this behaviour disorder. As well as treating this condition with one of several drugs similar to Stattera (Ritalin, Concerta and Adderall are others), there are several other alternative therapies which can either replace these potentially harmful drugs or be used in conjunction with other therapies.

Exercise Is Great For Hyperactive Children

Exercise for hyperactive kids has had a good deal of publicity lately. A recent study carried out by the State University of New York at Buffalo showed that exercise had a beneficial effect on the children’s behaviour and attention deficit disorder problems were much reduced after the exercise program had finished. The children who were tested were aged between 5 and 12 and they had to do just forty minutes of exercise for 5 days a week for a six week period. The experts there believe that when we exercise, positive changes occur in brain chemistry. We also know that aerobic exercise releases the ‘feel-good’ endorphins which increase feelings of pleasure. Other neurotransmitters affect mood, anxiety and attention span.This explains why hyperactive kids are always more manageable after a period of exercise.

The problem is that the children of to-day lead increasingly sedentary lives and the only parts of the body exercise are the wrists and the hands ! Apart from parenting techniques, diet and exercise, there are difficult decisions to take about which treatment can be adopted for attention deficit disorder.

Obviously more and more parents are becoming alarmed at the side effects of ADHD psychostimulants. What is the alternative ? The link below will take you to a site which has all the answers for a safe attention deficit disorder therapy which will guarantee a quiet life for all the family.

Irritable bowel syndrome, often known as IBS, is a rather complex disorder that has a variety of symptoms, some of which may be diet related. In order to help people obtain relief from the symptoms of IBS, the kind of eating habits a person has must be addressed.

If someone tends to skip meals, has a low intake of fluid and fiber, eats a lot of fatty food, has a sensitivity to milk as well as other dairy products and drinks excessive alcohol and caffeine, then these problems must be addressed and resolved before one can consider a diet for IBS.

One of the most common dietary treatments for sufferers with IBS includes a high fiber diet. This is a positive recommendation for those IBS patients who suffer from constipation. However, some people will receive no benefit from the increase in fiber, and in some patients their symptoms may worsen.

Increasing the fiber in one’s diet should be a gradual process, should involve a good choice of fibers and one should accompany this dietary change with an increase in fluid intake. The rule of thumb is to drink from 6 to 8 glasses of water a day, and that excludes other beverages. Caffeinated drinks such as carbonated soft drinks and coffee may just serve to aggravate IBS symptoms so they should be limited.

The symptoms of IBS seem to worsen after eating large meals, especially if the meal has been quickly eater and if the meal has a high fat content. It would be very beneficial if the food was spread over 3 meals as well as 3 snacks each day. Try not to down your food all in one gulp.

Remember, you are not going to a fire! Don’t you recall that your mother told you to chew each spoonful of food 25 times before going to the next bite? Also, try to relax after you have eaten. Sometimes regular light exercise may help to alleviate or reduce symptoms.

If you are having problems with excessive gas, then try to avoid such vegetables as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and legumes which include baked beans. Once the symptoms have settled down, these foods may be slowly reintroduced. Carbonated soft drinks may also be a culprit in causing excessive gas. Remember to spread your fluid intake across the day.

Some people who suffer with IBS may find that they may like to try a lactose-free period in their diet. Lactose is found mainly in dairy products such as ice creams, and milk. You should keep in mind that these foods supply the body with important nutrients. If you decide that you may want to cut out dairy products from your diet, then you may want to consider taking a calcium supplement.

It would be well to keep a journal of the types of food you eat, what fluids you drink and any notable symptoms. This will help you to observe the role that diet and some other factors such as stress play in your IBS symptoms. Maintain a diet that is high in fiber if this is tolerated well.

Begin with the basics of three high fiber and low fat meals accompanied by two to three snacks each day. Make sure that you drink an adequate amount of fluids, but try to avoid a lot of caffeine and other carbonated drinks. Remember to eat slowly and make your meal time as relaxing as you can. If you have different sensitivities to food, eliminate one food from your IBS diet at a time until you find which one is causing or aggravating your symptoms.

Make sure to record your results in your journal. Once the symptoms have calmed down, then you may think about reintroducing the food and note any symptoms. You may even wish to consult a dietitian for individual counseling about your IBS diet and any modifications that could be made. Common diets for irritable bowel syndrome is just something you need to take your time and plan out.

Have you been suffering from a chronic yeast infection that just doesn\’t seem to go away? If so I have some suggestions as to why you\’re suffering from a constant yeast infection and how you can cure it for good.

Why do you have a constant yeast infection?

There are a few reasons for this:

Prescription or OTC drugs - Have you used a drug such as Monistat to treat a previous yeast infection? If so, this could be why you\’re suffering from a constant yeast infection. Drugs such as Monistat have been shown to cause constant yeast infections because they create what are known as super strains of yeast. This drug resistant yeast is very similar to the anti-biotic resistant bacteria that so any people are developing now due to an over-use of anti-biotics. We can learn from the same mistakes by not using these drugs to treat yeast. This super yeast is virtually invincible and will continue to wreak havoc causing constant yeast infection.

Dietary problems - If you eat sugar regularly in the form of anything from straight sugar to fruits and grains you will encourage yeast growth and allow their numbers to skyrocket out of proportion. The best thing to do is to stop eating these foods. This will starve out the yeast and make a significant difference in your fight against a constant yeast infection.

Genital Environment - Do you swim in chlorinated pools often? If so this would be the cause for your constant yeast infection. As chlorine kills beneficial bacteria in your genitals this opens up the gates to yeast infections coming in and causing problems. On top of this make sure to air open your genitals, tight clothing suffocates them and allows yeast to grow at a heightened pace.

How do you eliminate your yeast infection for good? Use natural treatments that are proven to work and provide rapid relief in sometimes only minutes!

Discover how I got relief from my Vaginal Yeast Infection in hours without the use of harmful drugs (MONISTAT), antibiotics or expensive supplements…

Click the link NOW for immediate Relief

Click Here > http://www.HowToCureYeastInfections.com

Note: You may wish to publish this article for your website, blog, etc. As long as the article remains in its full entirety; including the links and the about the author resource box.

During pregnancy, it is hard to predict whether irritable bowel syndrome is going to ease or become more “aggressive”. The hormonal changes that women go through, as well as the physical pressure on the gut from the growing foetus can impact the symptoms of IBS. So, how are irritable bowel syndrome and pregnancy related?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder of the intestines. It is considered as a functional disorder, as the bowels do not function or work, as they should in relation to digestion and stimuli.

The most common symptoms are adbominal pain and cramping, diarrhea, constipation and bloating (gas).

It is believed that around 1 in 5 people are effected by IBS and two thirds of the cases diagnosed with IBS are women, which has led to the belief that hormones can influence IBS symptoms, as women go through a larger range of hormone levels during a monthly cycle.

The symptoms of IBS can be both physically and psychologically trying. It can interfere with the quality of life and influence many eating habits and lifestyle choices.

However, IBS is not a disease, and it does not damage the gastrointestinal (GI) tract at all. In fact, the bowels show no signs of any changes other than an increased sensitivity to stimuli and greater motility.

Also, IBS does not seem to effect nutrient absorption, with children who are diagnosed growing and developing at a normal rate.

IBS does not impact on a woman’s chance of getting pregnant, nor effect the health of the baby during pregnancy.

Although IBS symptoms can either get better or worsen during pregnancy, for the majority of sufferer’s the symptoms do seem to worsen due to the hormonal changes that are occurring in the body.

Continue reading to discover how to sign up for our free newsletter and find out how to relieve IBS symptoms naturally.

In the 1st trimester, it is not unusual to see the symptoms of IBS reduce, or even disappear. This can be useful, as there may be feelings of “morning sickness” and nausea.

In the 2nd trimester the changes that are happening to the women are more apparent, and IBS symptoms will often be present. Unfortunately, symptoms may even be stronger than they would normally feel.

In the 3rd trimester the IBS symptoms are likely to continue if they are present in the 2nd trimester, although the predominant symptom tends to be constipation during this period.

The risk of constipation increases as the levels of progesterone has been increased in the body, and progesterone is a muscle relaxant, causing the contractions that evacuate waste to be weaker.

That being said, women who do not have IBS are also prone to suffer with constipation during this period also.

Some women chose to take medication during this period, or laxatives. However, discuss this option with your doctor before progressing to make sure they are safe for you and your unborn baby.

Some natural ways to alleviate constipation include:

- Increasing the intake of water to help soften the stool and ease passage

- Increase the volume of fiber, particularly soluble fiber, to help bulk and soften the stool.

- Carry out exercises that are safe during pregnancy. Exercise stimulates the digestion and reduces stress

Although there is a link between irritable bowel syndrome and pregnancy the symptoms can often be relieved with the adoption of a good diet, regular gentle exercise and a little knowledge.

There are many natural ingredients that can help reduce cholesterol levels and thus reduce the risk of various diseases associated with elevated cholesterol: arteriosclerosis, heart disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, kidney failure, etc. However, until recently medical scientists believed that diet alone couldn’t substantially reduce cholesterol levels in persons confronted with high cholesterol problems. Compared to cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins (medications that block the enzyme that stimulates the production of cholesterol at the level of the liver), most diets were considered to be inefficient in dealing with cholesterol. However, a newly published diet has clearly contradicted such beliefs, proving to be as efficient as many existing cholesterol-lowering medications.

Combining a series of natural ingredients renowned for their efficiency in reducing cholesterol levels, the special diet can cut down cholesterol by up to 30 percent. Thanks to its remarkable efficiency, the diet is considered to be a good replacement for synthetic cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins, which are known to produce a series of pronounced side-effects on long-term use. The diet limits the intake of foods rich in saturated fat and simple carbohydrates and encourages the consumption of soy proteins, nuts, viscous fibers (found in barley and oats) and plant sterols substance with beneficial action, contained by non-starch and leafy green vegetables, as well as most vegetable oils.

A recently conducted clinical study has clearly revealed that the special diet is actually very efficient in reducing cholesterol levels and preventing the occurrence of multiple diseases associated with elevated cholesterol. The study involved the participation of 13 people, who were asked to follow the dietary plan over a period of one month. The subjects’ regime consisted solely of the following foods: carrots, broccoli, tomatoes, onions, beans, cauliflower, red peppers, eggplant, oats, barley, almonds, fresh fruits, vegetal margarine and soy products (soy milk, tofu, soy substitutes for meat). The study participants had the liberty to choose the amount of foods consumed with each meal and combine the ingredients any way they wanted. However, all study participants were asked to only stick with the ingredients included in the diet.

By the end of the study, all subjects had substantially reduced their bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and had increased good cholesterol (HDL) levels. The average reduction in cholesterol levels registered in all 13 participants was around 30 percent, very similar to the effects of statins and other commonly used cholesterol-lowering medications. Considering the fact that it produces very efficient results, the special diet can actually be regarded as a suitable replacement for treatments with cholesterol-lowering drugs.

If you want to find great information about many cholesterol subjects like low cholesterol food, low cholesterol food or many more please visit us at http://www.cholesterol-info-guide.com/

Millions of people search the phrase ‘pass kidney stone’ and want to know how to flush their kidney stones and pain away! However, each day thousands of doctors recommend drinking plenty of water to their hopeful kidney stone patients. Unfortunately, not all kidney stones will pass with merely a glass of water.

But many doctors are now recommending something more than water because of stunning new research which is showing how natural acids found in many fruits and beverages can slowly dissolve calcium based kidney stones. Along with plenty of water, most kidney stones will pass in a matter of days by using a simple natural treatment.

Why You Should Flush Your Kidney Stones at Home

As you might know, all kidney stones are different in size, shape and composition. Most kidney stones are made up of calcium and are less than 5 mm in diameter. These stones can usually be passed with plenty of water and proper nutrition. In most cases, these stones can pass in weeks to sometimes months.

The other 20% of stones are made out of uric acid, struvite, cystine, xanthine or silicate and can be much larger than 5 mm. Because all stones are different, many times water will not be sufficient to pass the kidney stone. In these cases, many doctors will recommend either medication treatment or sometimes surgery. These procedures can costs thousands of dollars and may cost you months of pain.

But as kidney stone research has grown in the last decade, many doctors are now recommending patients to use natural acids to help pass their kidney stones.

The Early Research on Acidic Natural Remedies

The decade was the 1950s and Dr. Ludwig Blau found a cure for gout. Dr. Blau showed how eating 6-8 cherries could offset the pain caused by gout (a painful form of arthritis). The doctor also discovered something about uric acid kidney stones too.

Dr. Blau also found that a daily regimen of eating one-half pound of cherries a day for 3-5 days will help pass uric based kidney stones. Many questioned this discovery but this early study would push many researchers to test the validity of acidic natural remedies.

And as you may have guessed, researchers also found that acidic remedies can dissolve calcium based kidney stones. Like calcium build up on your bath tub, calcium deposits can be dissolved by using phosphoric acid based cleaning products. And because phosphoric acid can be consumed, it is also used in many soft drinks for citrus flavor.

Using this knowledge, many health doctors and some traditional doctors recommend using a simple natural remedy that uses phosphoric acid.

Pass Kidney Stone 101

Knowing how to pass a kidney stone at home takes a little science.

The phosphoric acid in many common beverages can break down the kidney stones into smaller stones that are able to pass painlessly. The sufferer should also be consuming water soluble fiber which will act as a diuretic to flush the smaller stones.

Because the liver plays no role in acid base regulation. Literally, all acids are able to get to the kidneys with no filtration. The pH change produced by the acid causes increased hydrogen ion secretion in the nephons of the kidney.

Typically, the kidney stones will pass in less than 24 hours.

Be Kidney Stone Free by Tomorrow

Would you try a simple, effective remedy that is 100% guaranteed to work? Of course, because a 100% satisfaction guarantee allows you to try the remedy and see if it works before you give up any money!

And this is the reason why Barton Publishing has sold over 10,000 Kidney Stone Remedy Reports with an 85% success rate. In fact, 256 of the last 300 people who have tried our remedy report have passed their kidney stones without pain. To download your report in minutes, please visit our Pass Kidney Stone website.

 

The National Headache Foundation says that more than 29.5 million Americans have migraine, and although some rely on prescription medications, a growing number prefer natural remedies for migraine headaches.

A natural remedy for migraine headaches might be anything from herbs to supplements, acupuncture to aromatherapy.

Choosing a Natural Remedy for Migraine

If you choose a natural remedy for migraine treatment, you might try something from one or more of these categories.

Seven Nutrients

These nutrients are listed alphabetically to avoid indicating a preference.

1. 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan)

5-HTP is a compound the body produces from tryptophan, an amino acid. The body uses it to make serotonin. Since supplements that affect serotonin levels are used for migraines, 5-HTP has been put forward as an effective natural remedy for migraine treatment.

2. Butterbur

An extract of butterbur root has been found to be an effective natural remedy for migraine in children and adolescents. A clinical trial of this herb was reported in an early 2005 issue of the journal “Headache”. Butterbur appears to relieve pain and spasms.

3. Fatty Acids

Research done in the U.S. suggests that fish oil combined with magnesium taurate may be a great natural remedy for migraine. Both reduce blood vessel spasms, which appear to be the main cause of migraines.

4. Feverfew

This herb has long been considered a natural remedy for migraine and other headaches. Feverfew relieves pain and has an anti-inflammatory effect. It treats migraine by inhibiting the platelets’ release of blood vessel-dilating substances. It also inhibits the production of inflammatory substances.

5. Magnesium

This mineral is one of the most promising natural remedies for migraine headaches. Contained in fish, nuts, seeds, soybeans, whole grains, and vegetables, magnesium is needed for healthy muscle, nerve and blood vessel tone. As a natural remedy for migraine, it is thought to help prevent blood vessel spasms.

6. Petasite (Petasites hybridus)

It was in Germany that Petasite was found to be an effective natural remedy for migraine. German researchers showed that people taking Petasite had fewer migraine attacks, and their attacks were shorter. They also had less pain than those taking a placebo.

7. Vitamin B2

Belgian researchers in a 1998 double-blind study learned that vitamin B2 (riboflavin) gave more effective migraine relief than a placebo. This natural remedy reduced both the severity and frequency of migraine headaches.

Manual Therapy

Since no one treatment will work for everyone, you may want a natural remedy for migraine that involves manual therapy. Two possibilities are acupuncture and shiatsu.

1. Acupuncture

The Chinese art of acupuncture triggers relief by inserting delicate needles at specific points in the neck and head. Many people, including German researchers, have found it an effective natural remedy for migraine. Acupuncture is commonly used for migraines in Germany.

The researchers gave almost 900 patients one of three treatments: standard migraine drugs, traditional Chinese acupuncture, or “fake” acupuncture. Those who received “fake” acupuncture treatments had needles inserted in areas of the skin not used in traditional practice. In each group, virtually the same percentage of people cut in half the number of days affected by migraine each year.

2. Shiatsu

Shiatsu is a form of acupressure rather than acupuncture. As a natural remedy for migraine, shiatsu massage helps relieve tension and reduce stress. Whereas migraine tends to block blood flow or cause “overflow” to the lower head, shiatsu massage releases the blood flow and energy, restoring natural flow.

You can learn to do shiatsu for your own migraines, and get almost instant relief. Or have a family member give you shiatsu. The technique is simple, and regular massages are both preventative and remedial.

In a future article, we will consider the value of additional natural remedies for migraine headaches. If you are pregnant, be sure you ask your health care professional before using this advice. All migraine sufferers should seek professional counsel on using a natural remedy for migraine.

Don’t even think about taking more statin drugs to lower your cholesterol before you read this!

High cholesterol is a threat to a healthy heart. It happens to millions of people each year. You go to your doctor for a regular check-up which includes a blood test. You think nothing of it, until your doctor calls you and gives you the results of the blood test, which include a diagnosis of "high cholesterol."

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is made by the liver for normal body functions like formation of cell membranes, production of hormones, vitamin D and bile acid. It is also present in the food we eat. Animal products like meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products usually contains high cholesterol levels compared to fish while on the other hand, plant products like fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds and the like contains NO cholesterol at all.

When diagnosed with high cholesterol, doctors often prescribe drugs known as statins, or prescription strength cholesterol lowering drugs.

But Do "Cholesterol Lowering" Drugs actually work?

The hype surrounding statins is the con job of the decade, and statin manufacturers are laughing all the way to the bank. But all this begs the question: is there really any health benefit to taking statins? If so many doctors and drug companies are pushing this drug, it must be saving lives or improving peoples’ health, right?

Nope. A critical review of thirteen clinical trials, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reveals some startling facts about statins:

. Statin drugs save zero lives.

. Statins are utterly useless as prevention.

. Even in people with high cholesterol, statins don’t reduce the risk of death one iota.

. There has never been a single study that demonstrated statins extend life for women.

So much for the hype surrounding statins.

To make matters worse, statins are known to produce some unwanted and very serious side effects including lack of libido, memory loss, CoQ10 deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, muscle fatigue, sudden death and widespread hormonal imbalances. Statins actually cause disease while preventing nothing!

STATIN DRUGS ARE UTTERLY USELESS AND SERVE NO PURPOSE OTHER THAN TO EXTRACT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PROFITS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC. EVEN PEOPLE WITH HIGH CHOLESTEROL DON’T BENEFIT FROM STATINS, THE RESEARCH NOW SHOWS.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs are a scam!

So What Should I Do?

Extensive research reveals that, proliferation of cholesterol in society is a direct manifestation of our changed lifestyles. When people around the world experience similar problems, it’s not a random incident but a methodical process spreading across cultures and borders.

You see, our lifestyle choices have gotten us into this mess. We need to make the right choices to get us out.

The fact is the exponential increase in heart disease is really the result of the way our lives have changed. The bad news is we are used to living a certain way now and it isn’t easy to change. The good news is that change is in our power and with it better heart health.

Coronary heart disease is killing us as a society. One in two people dies of heart attack. The change we need to make in diet and lifestyle is NOT an option, it’s mandatory.

Get rid of urinary tract infection and save money! What? That sounds ridiculous! Because…

It pays to be in the medical and pharmaceutical business! Money magazines agree that the medical business is the next monopoly of the 21st century. And this makes sense considering health insurance is at an all-time high. Doctor visit costs have doubled in the last decade. And it is only going to get worse!

And if you are suffering from a urinary tract infection, you could spend hundreds to sometimes thousands after repeated doctor visits and the expensive medication that go along with the infection. But if you don’t want to throw your money to the wind, you should consider how you can naturally get rid of urinary tract infection and save hundreds in the process.

Though pharmacists look nice in those white coats, no one should get paid 6 digits to count pills and read you the instructions a computer prints out. Here are 5 secrets the pharmacies do not want you to know about urinary tract infections.

5 Reasons to Get Rid of Urinary Tract Infections Naturally

1. The Miraculous Body! Some body parts have been hailed as reasons to believe in a higher power. And you would be amazed how changes in your diet or lifestyle can alter how your body functions. For instance, by eating a specific diet full of natural acids (mostly citrus fruits); you can naturally get rid of urinary tract infection naturally. The acids create a hostile environment for the E coli bacteria (cause of infection) and kill it. The infection will be gone in 12 hours.

And this only makes sense, because U.T.I.s have been around sense of the beginning of time. And synthetic medications have been around for only the last century. The U.T.I. natural remedy has been documented to kill the E coli infection and cure the problem naturally.

2. Vitamin C is cheap! I couldn’t sugar-coat this one! But unfortunately most people are not taking a Vitamin C supplement. That is ridiculous considering how cheap Vitamin C tablets are!

You can naturally boost your immune system to help kill the bacteria causing the infection. Chances are you contracted the infection because of a weakened immune system. You can remedy the problem by taking 2-3 Vitamin C tablets daily.

3. Antibiotics work like Acids! The word ‘antibiotics’ literally means ‘no life’. Antibiotics will work to kill the bacteria cells. So do natural acids! For instance, acids in cranberries are toxic to the E coli bacteria. By knowing how to consume the right acid, you can naturally cure a urinary tract infection by killing the U.T.I. bacteria.

4. E Coli Clings to Urinary Tract Walls- Though you might think, “Why do I need to know this?” You can actually flush the E coli bacteria by knowing that a substance in cranberries will actually cause the E coli to un-cling from the urinary tract walls. The bacteria then will be flushed from the bladder naturally.

5. You Need a Flush! Have you taken your annual body flush? Did you know that natural health doctors recommend an annual body flush to keep impurities, toxins and bacteria at low levels? Our Urinary Tract Remedy Report shows how you can do a simple flush that is used by thousands of health-conscious people.

Cure U.T.I. in 12 Hours!

Guaranteed to Work! Research-based! Medical Doctor-Approved! Our step-by-step Urinary Tract Infection Remedy Report has helped thousands naturally get rid of their infection. If you are interested in a 12 hour cure that uses ingredients you can get at any grocery store, please visit our Get Rid of Urinary Tract Infection Website Today!

Cholesterol knows no boundries, it can be a problem for anyone.  The problem is when it becomes a problem it has been elevated for to many years. I have found the best way to lower cholesterol is with phytosterols. What are phytosterols you ask?

 

Phytosterols come from plants and are chemically similar to cholesterol; phytosterols replace cholesterol in the digestive system, preventing cholesterol from entering the bloodstream.

 

The Journal of the American Medical Association, 2003 stated this, The combination of eating a high fiber diet and supplementing with phytosterols is just as effective at lowering cholesterol as popular statin drugs-of course without the adverse side effects.

 

Lipitor is often the drug of choice.  Side effects of this drug are; 

1. Headache– in up to 16.7 percent  

 

2. Infections — up to 10.3 percent    

 

3. Muscle pain — up to 5.6 percent    

 

4. Diarrhea — up to 5.3 percent

 

5. Joint pain — up to 5.1 percent

 

6. Inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis) — up to 6.4 percent

 

7. Accidental injury — up to 4.2 percent.

 

Other common side effects that were observed in more than 2 to 4 percent of people included: Unexplained rash, abdominal pain (stomach pain), General feeling of weakness (asthenia), the flu, Back pain, Allergic reaction, Constipation, Inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis), Sore throat (pharyngitis).   There are a number of side effects with Lipitor that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider. These include, but are not limited to: Signs of liver damage, such as yellow eyes or skin, upper right abdominal pain, dark urine, and elevated liver enzymes. Muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have a fever or feel ill, since these may be signs of serious breakdown of muscle, known as Rhabdomyolysis. Significant, unexplained changes in the amount of urine you produce (which may be a sign of kidney problems) Signs of an allergic reaction, such as: A rash, Itching, Hives, Wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat.    

 

Two lawsuits are currently in progress; Wilson, one of the 2 plaintiffs who has filed a lawsuit: took Lipitor for 17 months from 2002 to 2003 and blames the drug for memory loss, nervous-system damage, and weakness in his arms and legs, which caused him to leave his job, according to Krum (the plaintiff’s lawyer). Mazzariello blames Lipitor for memory loss and muscle damage, said Krum, and he needs a cane to walk.    

 

My intention is not to bash Lipitor but to help people realize there are much safer alternatives, that work just as well or better.  What has out of these studies is that phytosterols are most effective when taken with a high fat diet. This raises a quandary as to how can we use them to lower cholesterol when we need  fat in our diet to get the full benefit of what they do?    

 

A  process has been developed where the plant phytosterols are combined with omega-3 fatty acids and the combination has proven very effective. Not only is cholesterol reduced but triglycerides are reduced as well. What is really beautiful is the fact there are no side effects experienced at all.  Independent clinical studies show phytosterols reduce cholesterol up to 29%. Let’s compare a few products with phytosterols to fight cholesterol that are available now;    

 

Coromega Omega-3 Packets contain 650mg of Fish Oils & Omega 3’s and cost about $1.01 cents per day. There are no phytosterols for cholesterol in this product.    

 

Twinlab’s Cholesterol Success has 900mg of phytosterol Esters but no Omega-3’s and costs about $0.89 per day.    

 

Enzymatic therapy’s Cholesteril Plus has 400mg phytosterol esters and no Omega-3’s and costs about $1.02 per day.    

 

Lipitor the drug alternative costs about $3.12 per day, the side effects were discussed above.    

 

The supplement I used and highly recommend reduced my choleserol to safe levels costs $0.67 per day and has 1500mg of plant phytosterol esters and 1000mg of Omega-3’s.  The two together are a wonderful team. The fish oil supplies the fat needed for the plant phytosterols to really do their job at attaching cholesterol while at the same time the Omega-3’s do their job with triglycerides and many other functions in the body. There you have it; the best of science and the best of nature working together and bringing a super cardivascular benefit to you