Posted by vitaqueen on June 3, 2005, at 13:25:26
In reply to Re: Anyone sea that infomercial for Sea Vegg? » vitaqueen, posted by Larry Hoover on May 31, 2005, at 9:32:25
> For most people (well over 95% of the population), the liver produces the cholesterol in the blood. Dietary cholesterol is a poor predictor of blood cholesterol, no matter what the "standard wisdom" says. The thing is, what variables signal the liver to produce cholesterol, *and* more importantly, what form does the cholesterol take? VLDL, LDL, HDL?
> What's your HDL/LDL ratio, though? And your triglyderides? From all that I've read, those are more important than total cholesterol. Restricting protein and fat might be your problem. It's not fat per se, that is the problem. Individual fatty acids do different things. Most saturated fats are actually cholesterol nuetral. They do nothing, vis a vis cholesterol. You're high-carbing?
Goodness, this is all so interesting. Things your doctor never tells you. And yes, I have a tendency to high carb. I find myself craving carbs and I wish I could stop. By the way, the carbs you refer to do not include vegetables, fruit, and whole grains, right?
My last lab bloodwork was in February after I had stopped Crestor & Zetia in November (but before Red Yeast Rice) -- My #s were LDL (389), HDL (51), VLDL (47), Triglycerides (235) and Homocysteine (9.8). As I mentioned before, I took a home test in late April (after being on Red Yeast Rice 2400/day for a little over a month), and the total # was 298 (no breakdown available). I'm scheduled for another lab test next week. They usually order the basic blood tests -- since I have been taking all these supplements for so many months, is there a specific panel I should ask the doctor to order for me, other than the routine?
> I'd go with the red yeast supp as the independent variable.
Should I increase the daily dosage? Are there unsafe levels of red yeast rice? I have heard that red yeast rice is in most statin medications. Is that true, and if so, do they carry similar side effects after long-term use?
> Fish oil shifts the HDL/LDL ratio, and substantially lowers VLDL (i.e. triglycerides).
I did not know this. I have only been taking 600mg/day. As you note later, I should be on 5000 -- do you recommend a certain type? I was ordering for awhile a product from Iceland Health, claiming to be the only pure fish oil -- yada yada -- you know the old story. I would like one that doesn't repeat on me (that one didn't), and I do take it with a meal.
And what about flaxseed oil. Take in addition to fish oil? Take instead of? Would like to understand the beneficial differences between the two, especially as it pertains to my condition.
> The UL (safe average daily intake, the Upper Limit) for vanadium is 1.8 mg/day. That said, acute treatment of vanadium deficiency (I'm talking the philosophy of treatment of mineral deficiency in general) would allow higher doses for a limited time (to saturate the tissues that need vanadium). So, let's assume that you have accomplished this task, and cut the vanadium down to 1 mg/day. You have to presume *some* intake from food.To be honest with you, I'm not quite sure why I'm still taking vanadium, except perhaps because I read this about it . . . "Vanadium is a trace element that was named after the Scandinavian goddess of youth and beauty. It is necessary for cellular metabolism and for the formation of bones and teeth. Vanadium inhibits cholesterol synthesis and plays a vital role in growth and reproduction of the body. This mineral has been shown to improve insulin utilization, resulting in improved glucose tolerance, and in recent years. Foods that contain Vanadium are dill, fish, olives, meat, radishes, snap beans, vegetable oils, and whole grains."
Maybe it was the bit about cholesterol that got me -- I'm obsessed with getting it down without meds. Is there really any benefit from garlic pills?
> I'm going with the conservative medical people on the vanadium. There are people who routinely take 60-100 mg/day, without apparent adverse effects other than gastrointestinal disturbances, but fatigue and lethargy are also known side effects. In animal studies, similarly high doses of vanadium led to kidney failure. That's the basis for the setting of the UL at 1.8 mg/day (which happens to be about 100 times the typical dietary intake already).
Now you got my attention -- I should mention that I only have one kidney (congenital), but 5000mcg/day doesn't sound dangerous. Perhaps I should discontinue completely? Is there anything else I should be careful of taking that could be harmful to my kidney?
> Vitamin D is undergoing a sea change in medical perception. The RDA used to be 200 IU, and it's gone up to 400 IU, and soon (if not already) it'll be 1000 IU. Recent research has shown that 4000 IU might be closer to the essential need (but, remember, your body does manufacture this stuff, if exposed to UV light). Despite all the hoo-haw about excess vitamin D being toxic, that actually refers to plant-source vitamin D, ergocalciferol. When given as a high-dose supplement, that stuff can be toxic, but it may simply be a case of the *conversion* of ergocalciferol to the active hormone form that induces toxic stress.Very interesting. Isn't there Vitamin D in fish oil?
> CoQ10 is a fat-soluble vitamin. The forms that are supplied as gelcaps in oil have the highest bioavailability (up to 9 times the bang for the buck of dry forms). Usually, it's CoQ10 in rice bran oil, and I have no idea why they chose that oil.
I may decide to stay with 100mg/day of CoQ10 -- my question is . . . can I do any long term damage by taking it every day?
> I just don't know if long-term use of herbs is safe, without breaks. I'm applying a general concept to the specific herb milk thistle. I'll go rooting around again, on that.
Thank you, I would find that helpful as I want to keep my liver healthy, but I don't want to kill it with kindness either.
> > > You don't need to take the antioxidant polyphenol supps every single day. (lycopene, grape seed) . . . The half-lives of these substances are more than 24 hours. . . . Just for the record, the RDA is conceptually based on a full week's intake, divided by seven, to give an *average* daily requirement.I have always wondered about that. It is good to know.
> > > Oral glutathione is a waste of money, in that the glutathione is digested. Glutathione is a protein, and it doesn't survive the stomach intact. You're better off just ignoring this, or substituting in some whey protein powder (high in cysteine). Or some other source of cysteine, such as N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) . . . 500 mg/day would be plenty, IMHO, but more than that if you suspect any sort of liver stress. Up to 2000 mg/day, I'd suggest.I'm not aware of any liver stress now that I'm off statins, but I bought the NAC (600mg was all I could find) and will incorporate it. Explain what this "cysteine" is versus the one in homocysteine (which I'm trying to lower)>
>
> There is no mineral that you are more likely to not get from diet; zinc deficiency in American diets is widespread.OK . . . you convinced me. I will reinstate it.
> Especially with your cholesterol issue, I would strongly recommend you up your fish oil intake towards 5000 mg/day. Take fish oil with a meal, the fattier the better. I know you are trying to avoid fats (from what you said about diet), but that is wrong-headed.
I do have olive oil every day -- is this enough fat? I know to stay away from the hydrogenated oils and trans fats, but are there any "saturated" fats that are good for you? I was always taught to stay away from those and lean toward the poly and mono fats.
>It gets complicated (the explanation), but high-carb diets promote cholesterol, via an inducible liver-mediated process called de novo lipogenesis. The fats are synthesized directly from carbs, and those fats just happen to be the ones that also signal the liver to produce cholesterol, particularly VLDL and LDL.
I find this ever so fascinating. I just wish I could figure out the right formula for weight loss/control. Also, know of anything that either restricts cortisol or helps reduce it? Ever heard of Holy Basil? I want to lose weight, but safely.
> You had GERD? Try some bromelain.
I definitely will! Never heard of this before. Is this something you take as needed?
> Well, iherb has a good encyclopedia section.
>
> http://www.iherb.com/health.html
>
> If you want the low-down on what a nutrient really does, and why you need the amount you do, you can search here:
> http://lab.nap.edu/nap-cgi/discover.cgi?term=dietary+reference+intake&restric=NAP&mw=
>
> I've got the link set to "dietary reference intake", which is now the official term for what used to be the RDA. All the books that come up are the official ultra-conservative collective medical opinion of the Academies of Science. All the books are free to read, online. In each box that describes a particular book, on the right side, is a button with an eyeball symbol. That lets you read the whole thing online.Wow! This is great and invaluable information. Thank you so much. Up to now, I've been sort of floundering through.
> I'm sometimes slow answering a thread, and sometimes forget to do so at all......so I don't mind getting reminders like you gave me. I don't mind at all.I was just concerned that you may not of seen the reply. Again . . . a thousand and one thanks for your patience and time.
One last (I think) question, Larry. There are so many different companies to choose from. I try to lean toward Solgar because of the vegetarian capsules, and TwinLab -- what other manufacturer would you recommend that sells high quality supplements?
I am very appreciative of your knowledge and guidance, Larry. After rereading this, I am a bit embarrassed that I've asked you so many questions. I hope I'm not taking advantage of your kindess. Thanks again and have a great weekend.
Donna
poster:vitaqueen
thread:469333
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050510/msgs/507327.html