Dr. Bob

08/13/2025

Great news. You can now purchase Standard Process Inc. products directly from my website. Check it out.

Purchase Standard Process products online from Apol Chiropractic. We are a premier practitioner authorized to sell Standard Process Inc. supplements.

08/11/2025

DON’T FALL FOR FAT MYTHS

The Truth About Essential Fats

Not all fats are created equal. Fresh, unprocessed seed and cereal oils are rich in essential fats—vital nutrients our bodies need. However, when these oils turn stale or rancid, their valuable E and F complexes are destroyed. Dr. Royal Lee noted in 1956 that rancid oils, common in commercial products, may be a primary cause of E and F deficiencies, as these “bad” oils deplete the body’s goodness.

Fats aren’t just optional—they’re essential for life. Your brain and nervous system are 65% fat, and every cell membrane in your body relies on fat. Healthy fats nourish your skin, bolster immunity, reduce diabetes risk, and ferry vitamins and minerals where they’re needed. They’re the building blocks of hormones, improve cholesterol levels, support heart health, and even aid in cancer prevention. Fats are nutritional powerhouses.

Why the Bad Rap?

So why are we told to shun fats? The confusion stems from unnatural fats—those processed or altered beyond recognition. These “bad fats” wreak havoc, contributing to heart disease, cancer, immune issues, pain, and obesity. Our bodies can’t process them, so they linger, clogging up healthy functions.

Think of it like car oil: if a mechanic says your oil’s gone bad and won’t protect your engine, would you ditch oil entirely? Of course not—you’d replace it with good oil. Yet today, we eat harmful fats, get sick, and then hear “avoid all fats.” That’s absurd. We need fats—just the right ones.

Good Fats vs. Bad Fats

The key is simple: natural, unrefined fats are healthy; processed, damaged fats are not. Oils from whole foods like olives, seeds, nuts, pasture-fed animals, wild cold-water fish, and even leafy greens are goldmines of nutrition—when extracted properly. Heat, oxygen, and chemical solvents can ruin even the best oils, turning them toxic.

Bad Fats to Avoid:
•Corn, soybean, safflower, sunflower, cottonseed, and canola oils (often heat- or chemically processed)
•Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils
•Trans-fats (the worst offenders)

Why Are Fats Ruined?

Food scientists process oils to cut costs and extend shelf life. Hydrogenation—adding hydrogen to vegetable oils—creates trans-fats, boosting stability but destroying nutritional value. These unnatural fats linger in your body for up to 255 days, gumming up the works like bad oil in an engine. Over time, they’re linked to heart disease, cancer, and immune dysfunction. You’ll find them in margarine, shortening, and most packaged snacks—cookies, crackers, chips, and more.

Natural vs. Man-Made: The Fat Divide

It boils down to this:
•Good Fats: Found in natural, unprocessed foods.
•Bad Fats: Heated, chemically altered, or rancid.

Take Control of Your Fats

Here’s how to make fats work for you:
•Eliminate: Hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated, and trans-fats. Check labels and toss offenders.
•Avoid: Corn, soybean, safflower, sunflower, cottonseed, and canola oils in cooking or packaged goods.
•Embrace: Butter, extra-virgin olive oil, grass-fed meats, free-range eggs, wild cold-water fish, organic coconut oil.
•Supplement: High-quality essential oils from trusted sources like Standard Process and MediHerb.
•Consider: Fish oil or cod liver oil for an extra boost.

Healthy Fats That Heal

Standard Process and MediHerb offer oils processed in an oxygen-free environment—using a vacuum and inert gases—to preserve their potency. Here are some standouts:
•Cataplex F (Tablets & Perles): Since 1934, supports fat and calcium metabolism, muscles, skin, hair, and prostate.

•Linum-B6: Since 1962, an Omega-3 from flaxseed for hormone production, skin, and nervous, cardiovascular, and immune health.

•Wheat Germ Oil: Since 1939, an Omega-6 rich in Vitamin E and octacosanol, aiding muscles, spine, skin, heart, and fertility.

•Sesame Oil: Since 1962, an Omega-6 that boosts blood health, immunity, Vitamin E activity, and liver function.

•Black Currant Seed Oil: An Omega-6 for inflammation, immunity, fat metabolism, PMS, and menopause support.

•Super EFF: Since 1949, a polyunsaturated fatty acid for nervous system health, energy, and degenerative conditions.

•Evening Primrose Oil: An Omega-6 for skin, immunity, and hormonal balance.

The Bottom Line
Fats aren’t the enemy—bad fats are. Swap them out for nature’s best, and your body will thank you.

08/04/2025

What Does Zypan Do for Your Body?

Zypan from Standard Process is a natural supplement made from whole foods to help your digestion work better. It combines betaine hydrochloride, pancreatin, pepsin, and a special mix of ingredients like bovine pancreas Cytosol™ extract, bovine spleen, and ovine spleen. It’s designed to support you in a steady, gentle way rather than giving a quick fix. Here’s how it helps your body, explained simply:

1. Gets Your Stomach Acid Just Right
Betaine hydrochloride adds hydrochloric acid (HCl) to your stomach, making it more acidic (a pH of about 1.5–3.0). This acid turns pepsinogen into pepsin and starts breaking down proteins from your food into smaller pieces, making digestion smoother and less likely to cause trouble like bloating.

2. Breaks Down Proteins Really Well
Pepsin and pancreatin are powerful enzymes for proteins. Pepsin starts the job in your stomach, and pancreatin—with enzymes like trypsin and chymotrypsin—finishes it in your small intestine. This turns protein into amino acids your body can use for muscles, enzymes, and immune health.

3. Helps Digest Fats and Carbs Too
Pancreatin also has lipase and amylase. Lipase breaks fats into fatty acids and glycerol, which your body uses for energy and building cell walls. Amylase turns starches and glycogen into simple sugars for steady energy, taking some work off your pancreas.

4. Gets More Nutrients from Your Food
By fully breaking down proteins, fats, and carbs, Zypan makes it easier for your small intestine to soak up nutrients. Stearic acid in the mix protects pancreatin so it works best in the small intestine’s alkaline environment (not the stomach), giving you the most from your meals.

5. Eases Tummy Troubles
With all these enzymes, Zypan cuts down on undigested food that can cause gas, bloating, or indigestion. It also keeps your stomach acid at the right level, which might help with things like acid reflux or heartburn if your stomach acid is too low to begin with.

6. Supports Your Gut Health
The blend has bovine pancreas Cytosol™ extract, bovine spleen, and ovine spleen, which give nutrients to your pancreas and spleen. Your pancreas makes digestive enzymes, and your spleen helps your immune system by filtering blood, so this might keep your gut in better shape.

7. Works as a Team with Whole Foods
Each two-tablet serving has 595 mg of this special blend, plus things like ammonium chloride and plant-based stearic acid. These extras team up with the enzymes to make everything more usable for your body, helping with cell health and keeping your energy balanced.

How It Helps You Day-to-Day
Zypan isn’t about fast, big changes, it’s a steady helper. Taking three or four tablets with each meal gives your digestion a consistent boost. It doesn’t list big doses of vitamins or minerals—just relies on its natural mix to work. It’s great for breaking down food, easing tummy issues, and supporting your gut, especially if your digestion feels slow or your stomach acid is low. How much it helps depends on what you eat and how your body’s doing.

07/31/2025

Your No-Nonsense Guide to a Happy Gut

Digestion is your body’s unsung hero, turning food into fuel and keeping you humming along. When it’s firing on all cylinders, you feel unstoppable. But when it’s off? Cue the bloating, gas, or worse. Let’s break it down: how your body tackles proteins, carbs, and fats, red flags to watch for, and simple tricks to keep your gut thriving.
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Proteins: The Stomach’s Heavy Lifting
Proteins—think steak, eggs, or lentils—get tackled in your stomach. Acid and enzymes (picture tiny shredders) slice them into bits your body can use. If acid levels dip, digestion stalls, and trouble brews.
Warning Signs:
• Foul gas or p**p (like something’s fermenting).
• Irregular bathroom trips.
• Bloating or heartburn—often from too little acid, not too much.
Quick Fixes:
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Stir 1-2 tablespoons into water and sip before meals. (Honey softens the bite.) It revs up your stomach.
• Zypan: A supplement packing acid and enzymes for protein digestion
• Chew slower. Relax while you eat—stress kills acid production.

Why It Matters: Low acid lets proteins linger, stinking up your gut and inviting bad bacteria. Overusing acid-blockers (like Prilosec) long-term can tank nutrient uptake and gut health—studies say they’re a short-term fix only.
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Carbs: The Colon’s Playground
Carbs—bread, fruit, pasta—kick off in your mouth with saliva, but the real actions in your colon. Good bacteria there turn carbs into energy. Unhappy bacteria? You’ll know.
Warning Signs:
• Loud, frequent gas (not smelly, just annoying).
• Sluggish p**ping.
• Energy rollercoasters.

Quick Fixes:
• Fermented Foods: A bite of sauerkraut or kefir loads up good bacteria.
• Lactic Acid Yeast: A prebiotic to boost carb breakdown.
• Ditch excess sugar—it feeds the wrong crowd.
• Pile on veggies—they’re bacterial superfood.
Why It Matters: A slightly acidic colon keeps the good guys winning. If it’s off, gas piles up, and you drag. Real food keeps the party rocking.
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Fats: The Gallbladder’s Moment
Fats—butter, nuts, oils—rely on bile, a slick fluid from your liver, stored in your gallbladder. Bile chops fats into usable nuggets. If it’s sluggish or thick, digestion falters.
Warning Signs:
• Greasy, stubborn p**p.
• Feeling off after fatty foods.
• Low levels of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K).
Quick Fixes:
• Beets: Roasted or greens, they keep bile flowing.
• Betafood: Beet-based support for fat digestion.
• Sip lemon water or nibble pickles to nudge bile.
• Stick to good fats—olive oil, coconut oil, not greasy takeout.

Why It Matters: Bile isn’t just for fats—it flushes toxins too. No gallbladder? Your liver still pumps it, but it’s a slow drip—not ideal for big meals. That can sap vitamins or tire out your liver. Beets have been a gallbladder MVP for ages.
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The Gut Squad: Acid, Bile, Bacteria
Your digestion’s a team effort:
• Stomach Acid: Slices proteins, kills germs.
• Bile: Masters fats, detoxes.
• Good Bacteria: Powers up carbs.
One slacker, and you’re bloated or gassy. Keep them in sync, and you’re golden.
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Why Gut Woes Are Everywhere
So many folks—more than you’d guess—battle digestion hiccups. Irregular p**ps, post-meal puffiness—it’s rampant. Blame stress, junk food, and skimpy nutrients. Millions hit the doctor, drop billions, and miss work over it.
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Easy Habits for Gut Bliss
•Slow Down: Chew well, savor it, skip the stress-eating.
•Mostly Clean: Go 90% wholesome—veggies, fruits, quality meats—10% fun stuff.
•Hydrate: Aim for half your weight in ounces of water (150 lbs = 75 oz).
•Snack Light: Skip sugar bombs between meals.

Top Picks:
• Bright veggies and fruits.
• Pasture-raised or wild-caught meats.
• Fermented goodies—yogurt, kraut.
• Solid fats—nuts, olive oil.

Ditch These:
• Processed dairy (raw’s better if you can get it).
• Sugary trash or fake sweeteners.
• Fried junk and cheap oils.
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Raw vs. Processed: A Snapshot
Raw milk from grass-fed cows? Gut gold. Store-bought? Overcooked and irritable. Nature wins.
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Gut Check
Heartburn bugging you? Sip apple cider vinegar. If it soothes, you’re low on acid. If it burns worse, you’re fine (but that’s rare). Easy test!
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The Bottom Line: Feed It Right
No magic pills needed—just real eats. Load up on veggies, fermented bites, and good fats. Cut sugar and rushed meals. Your gut’s a powerhouse—treat it right, and you’ll feel unstoppable.
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Supplements We Love
We back Standard Process—whole-food nutrition pros since the ‘30s. Their digestive lineup fixes past food sins:

•Zypan: Enzyme-packed for protein power and stomach strength.

•Betafood: Beet-powered for fat digestion and liver love—key for junk-fat diets.

•Multizyme: Replaces enzymes zapped by cooking, hitting proteins, carbs, and fats.

•Lactic Acid Yeast: A prebiotic to boost carb breakdown.

Get Started: Pair good food with these and reclaim the energy you’re meant to have.

07/28/2025

Understanding the Effects Metabol Complex on Your Body

You may have heard about using natural ingredients like fenugreek seeds, black cumin seeds, bitter melon fruit, and cinnamon bark to support your health. These plants have been used for centuries in traditional medicine, and today, science is starting to uncover how they work in the body. If you’re thinking about trying this combination here’s what you need to know about how it might affect you.

What Are These Ingredients?

• Fenugreek Seeds: Small, golden seeds with a slightly bitter taste, often used in cooking or as a supplement.

• Black Cumin Seeds: Tiny black seeds (sometimes called nigella seeds) with a peppery flavor.

• Bitter Melon Fruit: A green, bumpy fruit that tastes very bitter, popular in some cuisines and herbal remedies.

• Cinnamon Bark: The sweet, spicy bark from a tree, often ground into powder or used as sticks.

How Do They Work Together in Your Body?

When you combine these four ingredients, they may team up to help your body in a few key ways:

1. Keeping Blood Sugar in Check
o All four can help manage your blood sugar. Fenugreek slows down how fast sugar gets into your blood after eating. Bitter melon acts a bit like insulin to move sugar into your cells. Cinnamon helps your body use insulin better, and black cumin may support your pancreas, which controls blood sugar. Together, they might help if your sugar levels are too high, like in diabetes.

2. Fighting Inflammation and Damage
o Your body can get stressed from things like poor diet or illness, causing inflammation (like internal swelling) or damage from “free radicals.” Black cumin and cinnamon are packed with antioxidants that calm this down. Bitter melon adds extra protection with its vitamins, and fenugreek chips in too. This could help your heart, liver, or other organs stay healthier.

3. Supporting Healthy Cholesterol
o Fenugreek and black cumin might lower “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and fats in your blood (triglycerides). Cinnamon may boost “good” cholesterol (HDL). Together, they could be good for your heart and blood vessels.

4. Helping Digestion
o Fenugreek and bitter melon wake up your digestive system, making it easier to break down food. Cinnamon might speed up your metabolism a little. This combo could make your stomach feel better and help you absorb nutrients.

5. Energy and Weight
o By keeping blood sugar steady, this mix might stop those energy crashes after meals. It could also help your body handle fats better, which might support weight control over time.

What Might You Feel?
• You might notice steadier energy or less bloating if digestion improves.
• If your blood sugar or cholesterol is high, this could help bring them down—but you won’t “feel” that directly without a test.
• Some people feel warmer or more alert from cinnamon’s mild boost.

The Bottom Line

Fenugreek seeds, black cumin seeds, bitter melon fruit, and cinnamon bark might work together to support your blood sugar, heart, digestion, and overall energy. They’re natural, but they’re not magic—results take time and depend on how you use them. Always listen to your body and check with your healthcare provider to make sure this fits your health needs.
If you have questions about how this might work for you, feel free to ask me.

07/24/2025

Understanding and Managing Type 2 Diabetes

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a chronic condition where your blood sugar (glucose) levels rise too high because your body either doesn’t use insulin effectively (insulin resistance) or doesn’t produce enough of it. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, normally moves glucose from your blood into cells for energy or storage. When this process fails, excess sugar builds up in your bloodstream, potentially leading to serious health issues over time. Once considered an older adult disease, T2D now affects people of all ages, including children and teens, and accounts for 90-95% of all diabetes cases.

Why Does This Happen?
Glucose, derived from carbohydrates in your diet, is essential for energy. In T2D:
• Insulin Resistance: Cells resist insulin, blocking glucose entry.
• Pancreatic Strain: The pancreas overproduces insulin to compensate but eventually falters.
• Rising Blood Sugar: Over time, this imbalance causes T2D.
The condition’s prevalence has soared—by 2011, 8.3% of U.S. adults had diabetes, with many more at risk (pre-diabetes).

What Causes T2D?
Several factors increase your risk:
• Weight: Excess belly or liver fat is the leading cause, affecting about 80% of T2D patients.
• Lifestyle: Poor diet (e.g., processed foods) and inactivity are major contributors.
• Toxins: Exposure to chemicals like pesticides or plastics may play a role.
• Medications: Drugs like steroids or antidepressants can worsen insulin resistance.
• Genetics: A family history of diabetes heightens your risk.

How is T2D Diagnosed?
Doctors use blood tests to confirm T2D:
• HbA1c Test: Measures average blood sugar over 2-3 months; 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes.
• Glucose Tests: Check sugar levels after fasting (126 mg/dL or higher) or a glucose challenge.
• Symptoms: Increased thirst, hunger, fatigue, frequent urination, or slow-healing sores may appear, though early stages can be silent.

Historically, fasting levels above 140 mg/dL defined diabetes, but today’s lower threshold (126 mg/dL) allows earlier detection.

What Happens if T2D Isn’t Managed?
Uncontrolled high blood sugar can lead to:
• Heart disease (e.g., heart attacks, heart failure)
• Poor circulation (e.g., foot ulcers)
• Eye damage (up to blindness)
• Kidney failure
• Nerve damage (tingling, pain)
• Cognitive decline or depression

Medical Treatments for T2D
Doctors typically aim to control blood sugar with:
• Medications: Pills like Metformin or insulin injections lower glucose but may cause side effects (e.g., weight gain, hypoglycemia) and don’t cure T2D.
• Surgery: Gastric bypass can reduce blood sugar in some cases but carries risks like nutrient deficiencies.
However, these approaches don’t always prevent complications, and overly strict drug-based control can sometimes cause harm. Treatment must be personalized.

The Power of Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes can dramatically improve—or even reverse—early T2D:
• Exercise: Activities like walking or strength training help muscles use glucose without insulin, lowering blood sugar quickly.
• Sleep: Adequate rest enhances sugar metabolism.
• Weight Loss: Losing even 5-10% of body weight boosts insulin sensitivity.
Studies show lifestyle adjustments often outperform medications in improving energy, blood sugar control, and heart health.

Eating Right for T2D
Diet is critical. T2D is rare in populations eating traditional whole foods but common where processed “nonfoods” dominate.

• Avoid: Sugary drinks, white bread, white rice, processed meats, and artificial sweeteners (which disrupt hunger cues).
• Enjoy: Vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and dairy (e.g., yogurt, cheese). Aim for 25-35g of fiber daily from sources like oats or lentils.
• Quality Matters: Opt for fresh, organic foods over processed options that spike sugar and leave you unsatisfied.

There’s no universal diet—low-carb (e.g., Mediterranean) or high-fiber vegetarian plans work for different people. Test your blood sugar post-meal to find your best fit.
• Glycemic Index (GI): Measures how quickly a food raises blood sugar (e.g., carrots score high but are healthy).
• Glycemic Load (GL): Adjusts GI for portion size (e.g., two slices of white bread have a higher GL than a few carrots).
• Tip: Pair carbs with protein or fat (e.g., nuts with fruit) to blunt sugar spikes.

Nutrients and Supplements for Blood Sugar Control and Cravings

Your body may benefit from specific nutrients and supplements (consult your doctor first):
General Nutrient Support
• Chromium and Magnesium: Enhance insulin function.
• Vitamins C, D, B12: Support cellular health and energy.
Supplements for Blood Sugar and Cravings
1. Gymnema
o Reduces cravings for sugar, carbs, alcohol, and sweets (helpful when quitting smoking).
o Lowers blood sugar, improves insulin sensitivity, reverses insulin resistance, and may regenerate pancreatic insulin-producing cells with long-term use (18+ months).
o Normalizes cholesterol; contains natural chromium.
o Dosage: Take twice daily.

2. Cataplex B Core
o B vitamins aid food-to-energy conversion at the cellular level.
o Corrects deficiencies from refined carbs or synthetic B vitamins (which lack cofactors and may cause fatigue if stopped—adjust dosage to compensate).

3. Trace Minerals B12
o Includes zinc (insulin production), copper (energy, adrenal support), manganese (insulin, energy), and other trace minerals for overall health.

4. Tuna Omega-3 Oil
o Supports fat metabolism (disrupted by high insulin) and insulin receptor function.
o Should not smell/taste rancid.

5. Inositol
o A sweet B vitamin that aids sugar and fat metabolism; chewable to curb cravings.
o High doses (12-18g/day, 1-1.5 tsp 4x/day) act as a natural antidepressant—pair with extra Cataplex B Core.

For Insulin Resistance, T2D, and Metabolic Syndrome
6. Pancreatrophin PMG
o Protects against pancreatic autoimmune damage and supports cell regeneration.
o Sample Use: Take before two meals with other supplements like Hepatrophin PMG (liver support), Cataplex B, G, GTF, and C.

7. EZ-Mag (Magnesium)
o Suppresses excess insulin release and boosts energy from blood sugar.
8. Cataplex GTF (Natural Chromium)
o Enhances insulin sensitivity and lean muscle growth with naturally occurring glucose tolerance factor (GTF), unlike synthetic chromium picolinate.

9. Metabol Complex (4 Herbs)
o Fenugreek: Lowers fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, and cholesterol.
o Black Cumin: Reduces cholesterol and blood pressure.
o Bitter Melon: Cuts post-meal and fasting blood sugar, improves insulin function.
o Cinnamon: Lowers fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, waist size, and fat (including organ fat).

Turmeric Forte
o Reduces inflammation, blood sugar, insulin resistance, cholesterol, and body/organ fat while supporting liver function.
Take Charge of Your Health

T2D doesn’t have to define you. While medications have been used for decades with mixed results, early action—through diet, exercise, sleep, and targeted supplements—can transform your health. Work with your doctor to customize a plan, starting small if needed. Combining lifestyle changes with natural supports can help you manage blood sugar, curb cravings, and feel your best. You’ve got this!

07/18/2025

High Cholesterol Myths

It is now an accepted fact that unsaturated fatty acids in the diet produce a beneficial influence by acting to lower elevated blood cholesterol levels, . . . This simple biochemical fact has been difficult for test-tube minded investigators to accept. Despite the unsaturated fatty acids’ consistent pattern for lowering cholesterol. Especially natural flaxseed oil.
- 1959 Dr. Royal Lee

Hardly an hour of TV passes or ten pages of any magazine are turned without seeing something about a drug or a diet which reduces blood cholesterol. Is cholesterol that bad? How could a natural substance produced in our bodies as a basic building block of every cell as well as the hormone system and nervous system cause us so much trouble? Do we want to lower cholesterol at any cost?

It is a known fact that drugs recommended to reduce cholesterol interrupt normal physiology and are laden with serious side effects. Low fat diets designed to lower cholesterol often throw out good fats and replace them with sugar and unhealthy processed fats. What happened to common sense?

Cholesterol is vital to healthy body function but misinformation about cholesterol leads us to believe cholesterol is dangerous. What are the facts?

Cholesterol Facts
- Cholesterol is an essential building block made by the body which is vital to the healthy structure and function of cell membranes.
- Cholesterol enables binding of essential proteins in cell walls and assists in the transport of nutritional essentials in and out of the cells.
- Cholesterol is transported by LDL to the tissues that require cholesterol to maintain healthy function and returned by HDL for use and removal by the liver.
- Cholesterol returned to the liver is involved in the creation of hormones and excreted in the bile to the benefit of bowel pH and improved colon functions.
- Cholesterol is thought to be protective against infections and atherosclerosis.

Cholesterol Myths

1. High cholesterol is the cause of heart disease.

2. High cholesterol is the cause of atherosclerosis – hardening and clogging of the arteries.

3. High cholesterol is caused by eating foods high in cholesterol.

4. Lowering cholesterol with drugs is safer than having high cholesterol.

Why are there Cholesterol Myths?

The myths about cholesterol have been drilled into us through the media for over 50 years. High cholesterol is a consequence in an unhealthy person – not the cause of un-healthfulness. Artificial “foods”, toxins in our environment, and unwholesome lifestyles have been on the rise for many decades and these cause high cholesterol levels.

So, one may ask – who must gain from these myths? Companies who patent low fat “foods” and create medicines designed to lower cholesterol levels profit from distorting the truth. We need to clear our heads of these cholesterol myths and look at the facts.

Myth One – Cholesterol is the Cause of Heart Disease

Researchers find that high cholesterol is “present” in cases of heart disease nearly as often as high cholesterol is found in patients with no heart disease. Research also indicates that high cholesterol in old age is linked to a longer life. Heart disease is more often directly linked with diet and lifestyle choices and NOT with high cholesterol in the blood stream.

Myth Two - High Cholesterol is the cause of Atherosclerosis.

Studies show little or no evidence that atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries is caused by high cholesterol. In fact, when comparing signs of atherosclerotic plaquing of the aorta with the average blood cholesterol levels of Japanese (170) to Americans (220) there was no notable difference in this Harvard Medical School study. In another study using over 1400 Japanese and 5000 Americans it was found that in all age groups Japanese people were more atherosclerotic than Americans even though they had much lower cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is not likely linked with hardening of the arteries.”

Myth Three – High Cholesterol is caused by eating foods high in cholesterol.

Tens of thousands of people from dozens of different countries have been tested in peer reviewed published research projects studying the effects of diet on blood cholesterol. No significant association of blood cholesterol levels to diet was noted in any of them except when artificial fats (margarine) and high sugar were consumed. Dozens of independent researchers found no significant benefit in lowering cholesterol in the diet.

Myth Four – Lowering Cholesterol with Drugs is Safer than High Cholesterol

A foundational principle of The Nutritional Essentials is “nature knows better.” Give the body the wholesome food it needs in a stress-free environment and it can heal itself. To go into the health risks of interrupting normal biochemical pathways in this article is impossible due to its length. It is common sense to say interrupting biochemical pathways is a last resort, yet we are told by the pharmaceutical companies that living on statin drugs are safer than high cholesterol! The risks far outweigh the benefits.

While statins inhibit the production of cholesterol, statins also inhibit other substances with important biological functions such as antioxidation and the appropriate clotting of blood. Additionally, statins reduce the activity of smooth muscles. Each of these functions inhibited by statins are essential to healthy function.

Side Effects of “Cholesterol-lowering” Drugs

When these biochemical processes are interrupted, and blocked with synthetic chemicals, such as the statin drugs, side effects abound. You need look no further than the statin labels themselves for the adverse effects of statin drugs: Symptoms: Nausea, Diarrhea, Constipation, Muscle Aching, Memory loss, Emotional Imbalances, Central Nervous System vascular lesions including bleeding, swelling around the brain, optic nerve degeneration, corneal opacity (cataract), and retinal loss in dogs.

Myopathy / Rhabdomyolysis. This muscle disease is the breakdown of muscle fibers resulting in the release of muscle fiber contents into the circulation. Besides the autoimmune reactions which are likely from this breakdown of proteins into the blood, some of these proteins are toxic to the kidney and frequently result in kidney damage. One statin drug, Baycol, was taken off the market after 31 reported deaths due to rhabdomyolysis. www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/baycol Other statins have a similar effect.

Elevated liver enzymes. Statin use causes liver damage. Does it make sense to risk damage to the very organ which helps to metabolize cholesterol during healthy function? Before we continue – remember these are the negative effects of statin type drugs listed on the packaging of the drugs themselves! Our review here does not list the many side effects reported by users nationwide who complain of dozens of curious conditions once they began to take the statins.

The Real Cholesterol Story

When one is healthy, cholesterol levels are regulated by the body naturally. High cholesterol is an indicator that an unhealthful lifestyle may need attention. Just as it makes no sense to pull the battery out of a noisy smoke alarm, it makes no sense to lower cholesterol with drugs – rather than put the fire out.

Research shows that high cholesterol does not cause disease but is present in certain disease conditions. The facts support the concept that cholesterol has a healing effect and is elevated when needed by the body to affect a change.

Healthy Cholesterol Levels and The Nutritional Essentials

Lifestyle choices are the key to a healthy body and cholesterol levels. Stress, refined sugar, hydrogenated and trans fats, toxic overload on the liver, B Complex and antioxidant deficiencies all lead to heart, vascular and liver disease.

If you are concerned about cholesterol levels – focus on eating whole foods and whole food concentrates as follows:

- Include healthy oils in your food plan, especially Omega 3 oils like flaxseed oil (Linum B6) and healthy fish oil.
- Include foods rich in iodine for healthy metabolism of fats.
- Eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits for antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber.
- Avoid unhealthful, unnatural “foods” like processed flour, sugar, oils and margarine and junk “foods.” Avoid fake “fats”.
- Remove sugar from your diet.
- Support your healthy life with whole food concentrates from Standard Process.
Ask me which of these supplements might be right for you!

Cholaplex, introduced in 1959, is a special combination product that helps support the healthy metabolism of blood fats, including cholesterol.

AF Betafood, introduced in 1951, is a gallbladder and liver decongestant, supports fat metabolism, thinning and mobilization of bile and assists in the conversion of blood fat to sugar. It contains naturally occurring betaine, essential for the conversion of homocysteine. It is the presence of elevated levels of homocysteine that are truly associated with increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
Cataplex F Tablets since 1934. It is often necessary to supply a source of iodine when increasing essential fatty acid (EFA) intake. As fats are metabolized, the thyroid gland works to meet the demand, and iodine is essential for thyroid function. The tablet form of Cataplex F has the addition of iodine.

Tuna Omega 3, introduced in 2005. The modern American diet is extremely low in life-sustaining omega-3 essential fatty acids. These necessary nutrients promote and support healthy cardiovascular, nervous, and immune system health.