Lisa Good (www.drgood.com) : Blog http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php This page contains the blog. Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:36:15 -0800 http://ubertor.com/?v=1.0 en The Overuse of Statin Drugs http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/the-overuse-of-statin-drugs Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:41:11 -0800 Lisa Good General http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/the-overuse-of-statin-drugs A recent article in the Vancouver Sun discusses some of the negative effects of cholesterol lowering Statin Drugs. Statins are big business and big money; millions of Canadians take the pills, even those at low risk for heart disease.

Dr. Beatrice Golomb is an associate professor of medicine and lead researcher of the Statins Effects Study at the University of California. Dr. Golomb has seen an increase in aggression among people on Statins (especially women and the elderly).

Co-managing director Dr. Jim Wright of The Therapeutics Initiative at UBC has said that his group's previous research showed that among people without cardiovascular disease, the chance of dying or being hospitalized isn't reduced with Statins.

A study published last year in the British Medical Journal involving more than two million men and women from England and Wales linked Statin use to a decreased risks of esophageal cancer, but increased risks of liver dysfunction, kidney failure, moderate or serious myo-pathy and cataracts.

In Golomb's database, cognitive problems are the second most frequently cited complaint, after muscle pain, among Statin users.  The reason is that cholesterol plays a vital role in neuron signaling, and it makes sense that when cholesterol drops mood and behaviour will be affected.

There was a recent study in Clinical Cardiology that concluded: "Statin therapy is associated with decreased myocardial [heart muscle] function." Meaning Statins are causing the opposite of their intended affect.

Another negative affect of Statins is that it lowers CoQ10, an antioxidant, which helps, convert food into energy. CoQ10 is found in almost every cell in the body, it fights free radicals, which damage cell membranes, tamper with DNA, and cause cell death. CoQ10 helps with heart-related conditions, because it can improve energy production in cells, prevent blood clot formation, and is a very powerful antioxidant.

Statin drug labeling in Canada clearly warns of CoQ10 depletion. However most Doctors never recommend their patients take CoQ10 in conjunction with Statins. As the body gets more and more depleted of CoQ10, people may suffer from fatigue, muscle weakness and soreness, and eventually heart failure, so it is imperative if you take Statin drugs that you also take CoQ10.

There are many natural, healthy ways to maintain optimal cardiovascular health without resorting to the use of Statins.

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/growing+downside+cholesterol+drugs/5917977/story.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20027659

]]> Not all sunscreens safe! http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/10 Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:00:00 -0800 Lisa Good General http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/10 The Environmental Working Group is an amazing non profit group that works to expose threats to our health and the environment. They have recently released their annual report to consumers on sunscreen, they say that only 39 of the 500 products they examined were considered safe and effective to use! In a perfect world the ideal sunscreen would block UV rays, immune suppression and damaging free radicals, it would remain effective on the skin for several hours and not form harmful ingredients when degraded by UV light. But in the US there is currently no sunscreen that meets all these criteria. The full list of the best and worst sunscreens can be found on the EWG's searchable database: http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/]]> New Alarm Bells about Chemicals and Cancer http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/9 Tue, 11 May 2010 14:43:08 -0700 Lisa Good General http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/9 The 2008/09 Annual Report of the President's Cancer Panel was recently published; the title is "Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk". This report is groundbreaking because the President's Cancer Panel is extremely mainstream and conventional, finally mainstream docs are saying what Naturopath's have been saying for some time now, that environmental chemicals are harmful! An article by Nicholas D. Kristof in the New York Times reviews the recommendations made in the Report. These recommendations include:

  • Choose foods, toys and garden products with fewer endocrine disruptors or other toxins, especially during pregnancy and childhood (Information about products is at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com or www.healthystuff.org.)
  • Filter drinking water.
  • Store water in glass or stainless steel containers, or in plastics that don’t contain BPA or phthalates (chemicals used to soften plastics). Microwave food in ceramic or glass containers.
  • Give preference to food grown without pesticides, chemical fertilizers and growth hormones. Avoid meats that are cooked well done.
  • Check radon levels in your home. Radon is a natural source of radiation linked to cancer.

The read the full 200+ page report visit:
http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/pcp08-09rpt/PCP_Report_08-09_508.pdf

To read the entire article visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/opinion/06kristof.html

]]> Agave Nectar worse than High Fructose Corn Syrup! http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/8 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:41:18 -0700 Lisa Good General http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/8 This is such bad news! Agave Nectar/Syrup has been marketed as a healthy alternative to sugar especially for diabetics because it has a low glycemic index and doesn't spike blood sugar. While it is true that it does have a low glycemic index, what it does have is the highest fructose content of any commercial sweetener! The fructose content ranges from 70 to 97 percent, depending on the brand, which is FAR HIGHER than high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which averages 55 percent. It is important to understand that fructose does not increase insulin levels, which is not necessarily good as what it does do is radically increase insulin resistance, which is FAR more dangerous. In addition to insulin resistance, your risk of liver damage increases, along with triglycerides and a whole host of other health problems.

To learn more about the dangers of high fructose corn syrup, watch this CBC video:

http://www.cbc.ca/video/player.html?category=News&clipid=1444422465

To read more about the dangers of agave nectar visit:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/03/30/beware-of-the-agave-nectar-health-food-fraud.aspx

http://www.westonaprice.org/Agave-Nectar-Worse-Than-We-Thought.html]]> Please put down the Margarine http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/7 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:40:09 -0800 Lisa Good General http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/7
A new meta-analysis in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, concluded that evidence does not support the conventional idea that reduced saturated fat intake is beneficial for cardiovascular health. The study shows that increased carbohydrate consumption is to blame for poor cardiovascular health, not saturated fat. To read more about this study visit:

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Atherosclerosis/18538?utm_content=GroupC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=mSpoke

]]> The Devil in the Milk http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/6 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:00:47 -0800 Lisa Good General http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/6
There is no food I am asked about more than milk, should we drink it, should we not? What about raw milk? I wish there was a straightforward answer to that question, but unfortunately there isn’t. “The Devil in the Milk” is a new book by Dr. Keith Woodford which helps to clarify some of these issues.  Dr. Thomas Cowan wrote the books forward, in which he talks about the type of Cows that are used for milk today. Our milk comes from Holstein and Friesian cows, these cows give milk that contain beta-casein type A1, which behaves like an opiate and which epidemiological studies have implicated in heart disease, diabetes, autism and schizophrenia. Beta-casein is a protein, a protein is along chain of amino acids with many branches. Old fashioned cows such as Jersey’s have a beta-casein chain of amino acids with the amino acid proline at number 67 (these cows are called A2). Thousands of years ago a mutation occurred in this proline amino acid converting it to the amino acid histidine, cows that have this mutation are called A1, which include the Holstein’s where we get milk from today. The side chain that comes off either the histidine or proline amino acid is called BCM 7, which is a powerful opiate, proline (found in Jersey cows A2) binds strongly to BCM 7 so it stays in the animal, while histidine (found in Holsteins A1) only weakly holds onto BCM 7, so it is liberated into their milk. This book outlines all the research done on the effects of BCM 7 on humans, the author Dr. Woodford shows a direct correlation between the incidence of A1 milk consumption and auto-immune disease, heart disease, type 1 diabetes, autism and schizophrenia. It also binds to the epithelial cells of the mucus membranes (i.e. the nose) and stimulates mucus secretion. To read more about this subject and this book, visit:

http://thebovine.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/the-devil-in-the-milk-dr-thomas-cowan-on-how-a2-milk-is-the-answer-to-the-mystery-of-why-even-raw-milk-sometimes-does-not-seem-to-be-enough-of-an-improvement-over-store-bought/


The Weston A Price foundation is a great resource to read more about raw milk:
www.westonaprice.org

Another great resource is the amazingly informative cook book by Sally Fallon, “Nourishing Traditions”
]]> Chemicals found in plastics linked to less masculine play behaviour in boys http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/5 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:58:34 -0800 Lisa Good General http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/5
The public and especially parents are becoming more aware of toxic chemicals found in plastic, and most ethical retailers are no longer carrying plastic items (baby bottles, water bottles, toys) that contain bisphenol A (BPA). BPA isn’t the only harmful chemical found in plastics, people also need to be aware of phthalates. Phthalates are pervasive in the environment and used in everything from vinyl floors, to food containers, to children’s toys, to cosmetics (hair sprays, lotions, make up, powders, nail polishes, perfumes).

Phthalates are used in some but not all PVC formulations, and there are no labeling requirements for phthalates specifically. PVC plastics are typically used for various containers and hard packaging are labelled "Type 3" for recycling reasons.

Since all cosmetic products in Canada should be labeled with their ingredients, check for phthalates in your cosmetics using their full name ie. dibutyl phthalate and diethyl phthalate. To see if there are harmful ingredients such as phthalates in your cosmetics or baby care products go to www.cosmeticsdatabase.com to find out more about the products you are using.

Recently a study published in International Journal of Andrology, found that elevated levels of phthalates in pregnant women’s urine are linked to less-masculine play behaviour by their sons several years later. Phthalates have become associated with changes in development of the male brain as well as with genital defects, metabolic abnormalities and reduced testosterone in babies and adults.

To learn more about phthalates and other harmful chemicals in our environment visit The Environmental Working Group at www.ewg.org.

]]> I really hope this is my last H1N1 blog http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/4 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:34:53 -0800 Lisa Good General http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/4 I’m getting so sick of hearing about H1N1, yet I’m compelled to read every article about it. Finally there is a doctor willing to take a stand about the overblown panic of the whole thing. Dr. Richard Schabas is Ontario’s former chief medical officer, and he believes that the hype and hysteria around the H1N1 pandemic, the millions of dollars spent so far on responding to it, and the dire warnings are all unwarranted, he also questions the pandemic label. By December it is estimated that H1N1 will have killed between 200 and 300 Canadians – making it one-tenth as lethal as the seasonal flu. While mortality rates among people 20 and younger in Canada will be slightly higher than in a normal flu season, the actual number of deaths among healthy youngsters will be in the range of just seven. According to Schabas, "the risk of a young person being killed by a car in Ontario ... is 100 or more times higher than the risk of being killed by H1N1." Just about every media outlet is stating that H1N1 outbreak has peaked, yet Canada has ordered another 15 million doses (enough to vaccinate half the Canadian population). Not surprisingly making the infamous vaccine manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline the biggest beneficiary of all the H1N1 fear tactics.

]]> New study finds tylenol linked to asthma risk http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/3 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:15:47 -0800 Lisa Good General http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/3 Reported in the Vancouver Sun today, researchers in BC have reviewed 19 studies involving 425,000 people, and have found that the risk of asthma increased by 60% in those children given acetaminophen (tylenol) in the year prior. The risk of asthma in adults who used acetaminophen was 75% higher than those who did not. This study was initiated because the incidence of asthma has increased steadily over the past 20 years, which corresponds with a change in practice when doctors began to recommend acetaminophen for children instead of aspirin (due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome).

A fever is the bodies innate and intelligent way to fight an infection, a fever should not be suppressed, treating a fever with tylenol, aspirin or ibuprofen does not allow the body to naturally fight the virus that and may prolong the duration of an illness; and as this study shows could increase the risk of developing asthma. However if the person is severely uncomfortable or if the fever starts to climb above 103 then tylenol, aspirin, or ibuprofen chould be considered at a safe dose.

Most people are not aware of the toxicity of tylenol, every year it is responsible for more than 100,000 calls to poison control, nearly 56,000 emergency room visits, over 26,000 hospitalizations, and 450 deaths due to liver failure.

]]> Vitamin D and H1N1 http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/2 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:37:54 -0800 Lisa Good General http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/2
Everyone should be on Vitamin D, especially in our climate and especially with H1N1 lurking! Here is an interesting story on the protective benefits of vitamin D for H1N1. There was an H1N1 outbreak at Central Wisconsin Center (CWC) a long-term care facility for people with developmental disabilities. This center has 275 residents and approximately 800 staff. Serum 25-OHD has been monitored in virtually all residents for several years and all patients were supplemented with vitamin D. In June, 2009, at the time of a spike of H1N1 in Wisconsin, two residents had positive tests for H1N1, on the other hand, 60 staff members were tested and found to have H1N1, and another 43 called in sick with H1N1 type symptoms. So, it is remarkable that only two residents of 275 developed H1N1, while 103 of 800 staff members had contracted it. It appeared that the staff were much more susceptible to the H1N1 virus due to their lack of Vitamin D supplementation. Even if the 43 staff members who called in sick with symptoms were excluded, 0.73% of residents were affected, as compared to 7.5% of staff. This 10-fold difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). That is, the chance that this was a chance occurrence is one less than one in a thousand.

Vitamin D acts as an immune modulator and stimulates immune fighting cells such as: neutrophils, monocytes, and natural killer cells in the epithelial cells which line the respiratory tract.

A good study on Vitamin D and the flu: http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/pdf2html.php?url=http://www.biochem.wisc.edu/courses/biochem901/secure/materials/readings/09_Cannell.pdf&images=yes

]]> H1N1 Fear Mongering http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/1 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:55:30 -0700 Lisa Good General http://www.drgood.com/Blog.php/1 In the history of the pharmaceutical business I don't believe big pharma has ever so blatantly and obviously manipulated the public in an effect to sell a vaccine. The H1N1 fear mongering has reached unprecedented proportions, the cover of The Vancouver Sun on Aug 29, made it look like we better hunker down and kiss our loved ones goodbye. Reading the various articles in the Sun that day, further illuminated the issue for me. Lets start with Dr. Perry Kenall, the chief provincial health officer, who states that the predicted surge in H1N1 cases is likely to be no worse than a bad year of seasonal flu, which we see on a fairly regular basis, and add to that chilling prediction the fact that those over the age of 55 don't tend to be affected. So really it's just a regular flu season, and those that tend to be the most at risk from flu related complications (the elderly) are not at risk with H1N1. Now a little bit about the vaccine they are struggling so fast to get onto the market, I will quote directly from Brian Brodie, president of the BCMA, as reported by the Sun, because this really says it all. "A great deal of faith is being put into the vaccine, but there is also the possibility that it will not be entirely effective and could even make people sick, as was the case with the 1976 swine flu vaccine which was linked to a nervous system disorder called Guillian-Barre syndrome," and I continue with direct quotes from Brodie, "It's going to be somewhat untested. We really don't have data on what kind of reactions we're going to see", and "this is a vaccine that we just will not have up to the regular standards of screening by the time we need to give it. There's just no long-term data about the safety and reactions." So while we have no data on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, what we do have is data on the effects of the H1N1 virus, effects that are less harmful and fatal than severe vaccine reactions. The fatality rate for H1N1 is .03%, which is approximately the same as for the seasonal flu (.02%), however children, those with weakened immune systems, and pre-existing medical conditions are hardest hit. In cases where people are particularly susceptible, and a vaccine could save their lives, I am not definitively against its use for that purpose. To expose healthy individuals to unknown serious vaccine reactions just so they can at worst avoid a few days of flu symptoms, is representative of corporations that play on people's fear, and trades lives for money.

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