Dr. Sekula on weight loss, fitness and nutrition

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming (Top 10 non-generic and generic prescription drugs) to bring you this, what appears to be a concerted effort on the part of Big Pharma to keep their precious statins high on the list of prescribed drugs. (can you blame them? Between Lipitor and Simvistatin you’re looking at 109.2 million prescriptions and $7.4 billion in sales per year!).

In case you haven’t heard, statins and big pharma took it on the chin in a new study from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The results showed niacin was significantly more effective at reducing carotid artery plaque than statins alone. In fact, results showed plaque continuing to grow in the statins only group while regressing in the niacin group. I’m not going to detail the study and author’s conclusions, Dr. Eades has done a wonderful job of that.

I’m not even going to get into whether or not reducing LDL prevents heart attacks. I’m taking a different approach.

Now, a normal thinking individual might conclude niacin as a better alternative to statins in preventing cardiovascular disease. Such as Dr. William Davis over at the Heart Scan blog. He’s not really normal thinking, more like forward thinking (WAY forward compared to his colleagues) and he’s been banging on statins and tooting the niacin horn for a while.

What really has me perturbed is a concerted effort to keep precious statins at the top of the prescription list. For example, a Google news search today (11/20/09) showed 800+ stories on the search term: statin+niacin. Scrolling through the headlines of those on the first page, you see phrases like, “Vitamin B niacin offers no extra benefit to statin therapy,” “Niacin may not help arteries,” “No benefit for statin patients,” and on and on.

Another example is this, a press release published November 20, 2009, which relates study details showing an approximate 1/3 drop in “bad” cholesterol levels in the US from 1999 to 2006 (study abstract here). The last sentence in the first paragraph sums it up nicely,

“But a high percentage of adults still are not being screened or treated for high cholesterol levels.” 

I’m not sure what they mean by high. As you’ll see in my next post, about 1 in 2 adults in the US are taking a statin. You would think this one-third drop would be cause for celebration, and it is among the statins crowd. But while there is a significant drop in the number of cardiovascular-related deaths, incidence hasn’t decreased.

So the question isn’t whether or not statins work. They reduce LDL cholesterol but they don’t reduce the incidence of heart disease. So why take them? Why prescribe them? It’s like the statinators and policy makers can’t see the forest for the trees.

The unfortunate (for them) news on the effectiveness of niacin, the quick-to-the-table message parroted by the media, that the incidence of cardiovascular disease has not decreased and the $7.4 billion cash cow of statins is enough to make one skeptical, or disgusted.

Your thoughts?

This post is part of the Kathleen Show, Prevention not Rx.

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In last weeks post I detailed the Top 10 prescription drugs for the US in 2008. And since I was half-way through before realizing it was non-generic only, I decided to complete it and follow up with this one.

In a follow-up post I’m going to get into the metrics a little more, comparing generic and non-generic.

Let me preface the descriptive nature of this post by saying it’s amazing we prescribe drugs at this rate. I knew we took too many prescription drugs. I knew we were too dependent on them. But actually looking at this data and what it says sheds light on the extent of the problem, which is why I’m writing a follow-up. So on with this one…

Forty percent of non-generic drugs are related, one way or another, to hyperinsulinemia. For generic drugs, it’s 50% and for the same conditions – metabolic syndrome. Table 1 shows Top 10 Generic Drugs by number of prescriptions (millions). Additionally, the table also shows total sales (billions) and rank (in parentheses).

Table 1. Top 10 Generic Drugs in US for 2008.

Metabolic Syndrome Fab 5

The 50% of drugs related to metabolic syndrome (italicized in table) account for 258.1 million (or 44%) of prescriptions and $3.3 billion (or 40%) of retail sales. Chew on that for a moment…258.1 million prescriptions related to hyperinsulinemia, which is 25.1 (edit: 21.5 – operator error) million prescriptions and $270 million in retail sales per month.

Think anyone’s interested in keeping that kind of cash flowing? Do I have to ask?

Furthermore, these dollars are only a small part of the direct costs. No estimates for other direct or indirect costs are included.

Pretty disgusting, actually.

I mentioned last week that cognitive dissonance was to blame. I’m not so sure anymore. In my opinion, what we’re seeing here is nothing short of disgusting. There is plenty of research showing most of these problems can be fixed with simple changes in diet and exercise. Yet those recommendations aren’t coming. The ADA, for example, thinks type 2 diabetics need to eat 45-60 grams of carbs at each meal! It’s like telling someone with lung cancer that it’s okay to smoke one cigarette a day. Statinators are blind or on the dole. American Heart still spouts the low-fat dogma that has blinded all of them.

The more I think about it and the more I write about it, the more disgusted I get. What I need is a good laugh.

This post is part of the Kathleen Show, Prevention not Rx.

References (both are pdf documents)

1. 2008 Top 200 generic drugs by total prescriptions

2. 2008 Top 200 generic drugs by retail dollars

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At least that’s the message from top researchers who wanted to set the record straight.

Let’s lay the groundwork. Three top researchers (as labeled by the press release) wanted to correct the inaccuracies and misunderstandings about high fructose corn syrup and it’s impact on the American diet.

At the Institute of Food Technologists annual meeting, a session entitled “High Fructose Corn Syrup: Sorting Myth from Reality” was held to set the record straight.

The first quote is telling.

Contrary to its name, high fructose corn syrup is essentially a corn sugar, stated sweetener expert John S. White, Ph.D., president of White Technical Research. "Recent marketing claims that sugar is healthier than high fructose corn syrup are misleading to consumers.

Yeah, sort of like saying stabbing myself with a big knife will hurt more than with a small knife. I can read the headlines already. “Leading researchers have discovered that stabbing yourself with a smaller knife causes less pain.” Somehow the whole wound thing gets completely ignored.

It’s convenient for them to gloss over the influence of HFCS (and sugar) in heart disease and a whole host of metabolic disorders, which happen to have coincided with an approximately 20% increase in fructose consumption from 1970 to 2007. Yikes, that’s a big knife!

After a few more mundane quotes aligning the similarities between sugar and HFCS, we get to the meat of the special session and press release.

This is a marketing issue, not a metabolic issue," stated David Klurfeld, Ph.D., national program leader for human nutrition in USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and editor of the June 2009 Journal of Nutrition supplement, "The State of the Science on Dietary Sweeteners Containing Fructose," in response to recent reformulations by manufacturers of products that once contained high fructose corn syrup. "The real issue is not high fructose corn syrup. It’s that we’ve forgotten what a real serving size is. We have to eat less of everything," he noted.

And there you have it…a marketing issue. It’s not about whether people are confused. In fact, these people are confused. They start with marketing and end with just eat less of everything. Can we apply that eating less mantra to HFCS?

It seems more like an act of desperation. Remember the Corn Refiners HFCS commercials? Here’s one and two.  And I don’t think people are confused. Here’s a list of HFCS spoofs on youtube. Accurate and funny.

To strengthen my hypothesis, I looked through the exhibitor list of the IFT annual meeting. I sorted by nutritive sweeteners and featured exhibitors. Here’s what I found (it’s an interactive database, so not sure results will come up properly – select featured exhibitors and nutritive sweeteners from the ingredient list). It’s pretty populated, showing a large number of nutritive sweetener exhibitors (somewhere between 40 and 50%). There’s also some overlap between featured exhibitors, sponsors and manufacturers of nutritive sweeteners. I’ll just say it’s pretty interesting…

What’s next, a special session on soy eggs? I produce plenty of estrogen, thank you very much.

Brian

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CSPI has released their 2009 Xtreme eating awards. The press release is here and their website announcement is here. 

Should I laugh? Should I cry? Or should I get pissed off? There hasn’t been much sleep this week, pissed off is leading down the stretch. 

CSPI does not have the public interest at heart (watch the first video).  They think you can’t make a decision on your own. You’re too dumb to decide, so they should decide for you.

This whole idea that I, you or anyone else will suddenly change our mind on what to order at the counter when presented with caloric content is silly. And to blame restaurants and fast food on obesity is further destruction of personal responsibility.

And I’m not so sure McDonald’s is responsible. Sure, there’s Spurlock and Supersize Me. But there are major issues with Spurlock, which I won’t completely detail here but he has refused to show his food logs – raising questions on the 5,000 daily caloric intake.

Next, he gained 10 pounds in one week. If the obesity argument is all about calories in versus calories out, how do you explain that? That’s an extra 35,000 calories in one week. That’s an extra 5,000 calories per day, with emphasis on extra! So if we take him at his word, that he was eating 5,000 calories per day, where does this extra fit in?

Which brings me back to CSPI and their Xtreme awards. If they really stood by their name – Center for Science in the Public Interest, they would promote what we’ve learned from science and not personal dogma. Science has taught us a significant reduction, if not complete elimination of bad carbohydrates from the body leads to a multitude of positive health benefits.

Now that I got that off my chest, it was a photo finish and feeling better won by a nose.

Brian

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First, you need to get into my boot camp. Today is the last day of the first week, but you can still register – right up until next Friday!
Second, If you’re skeptical of the results you can get from a Boot Camp, read this article.here.

Finally, the best Boot Camps are fun, challenging, rewarding and most importantly, get results. Exactly what you get.

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This article, published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association concludes that heart disease risk may increase with a lack of Vitamin D. The benefits of Vitamin D and cancer prevention (bone health too!) have been known for years. In June of last year, I had a blog post regarding this. Actually, the benefits of Vitamin D have been known for a while. Read this excellent post by Dr. Mark Hyman for more details. There are many others who espouse the benefits of Vitamin D – too many to list here. So let’s get to the article. “Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, above and beyond established cardiovascular risk factors,” said Thomas J. Wang, M.D., assistant professor
of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass. “The higher risk associated with vitamin D deficiency was particularly evident among individuals with high blood pressure.” 

Those with a Vitamin D blood level below 15 ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter) had twice the risk compared to those with higher blood levels of Vitamin D.

This is important…

And somewhat disappointing…

This article by Dr. Sears indicates…

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January 07, 2008.

From a recent article posted in the San Jose Mercury News by Melinda Sacks…

I took the liberty of highlighting important benefits in each of the points. The benefits of weight training are numerous and this article does a good job of highlighting some of the more
important ones.

Even though this article is geared toward women, the same benefits listed apply to men. So you guys don’t get off that easy.

Researchers say that most women who exercise still spend the majority of their time doing cardio, often ignoring the benefits of weight lifting. But unless a doctor advises otherwise, weight lifting can provide enormous advantages for most women, according to studies from such institutions as the Mayo Clinic, Harvard and Stanford universities. As with any new physical activity, check with your doctor if you have any health issues.

Here are the top 10 reasons sports medicine doctors and fitness experts agree weight lifting is good for you:

1. By becoming physically stronger, you will make routine tasks easier and safer to perform, from carrying heavy groceries from the car to picking up the kids.
2. Weight lifting will help you lose body fat and gain lean muscle. As this happens, your body mass decreases, your resting metabolism increases, and your clothes will fit looser. For every additional pound of muscle you gain, you will burn 30 to 50 more calories a day. Weight lifting is often touted as a proven way to keep weight off as women age.
3. Women don’t need to worry about bulking up as they get stronger. Unlike men, women do not have enough testosterone to build bulky muscles. Men have 10 to 30 times more of the hormone than women.
4. The risk of osteoporosis goes down as you gain muscle strength. Weight training can increase spinal bone density significantly in just six months.
5. Risk of injury decreases when you are stronger. You will be less prone to everything from back pain to arthritis to depression.
6. It’s good for your heart. Lower blood pressure, improved cardiovascular health and higher levels of “good cholesterol” have been found to be the side benefits of regular strength training, according to numerous studies.
7. The risk for diabetes declines because weight training has been found to improve the way the body processes sugar.
8. You can start weight training at any age. Research has shown that even women in their 80s can still build muscle strength.
9. Weight lifting can improve mood and fight off anxiety and depression. One Harvard study found that after weight training for 10 weeks, those suffering from clinical symptoms of depression felt better than those who received only counseling.
10. For women in middle age, strength training can help prevent the predictable metabolic sluggishness that often occurs. Many say it is not dieting, but weight lifting that is the true secret to keeping off middle-age pounds.

 

I will comment on one thing. In the opening paragraph, the author suggests that a majority of women spend their time doing cardio. I believe this is true. In my humble opinion, walking on a treadmill for 30- to 60-minutes is like Chinese water torture. You’re better off cranking up the intensity and going for a shorter period of time.

And don’t get me started on the benefits of slow-cardio and fat burning.

It simply isn’t a good use of time in a world where we’re all busy.

Off the soapbox…

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On Friday I mentioned a new service debuting today. You can find more info on that and other services we offer guaranteed to help you achieve your weight loss goals.

• Looking for a trainer? You found one here. But what if you don’t live in or near Sugar Land. What if you are really serious about achieving your goals this year but are hesitant to just hire any old trainer? I don’t blame you! What if you’re nervous about joining a gym and just want to workout at home?
  The answer to all of those questions and more is my newest service, BSFC Remote. When you sign-up, I’ll design a workout program specific to you. It will be based on your current abilities and the goals you want to achieve. It will include a daily schedule for weight training, cardio and stretching. Every activity I give you will have illustrations showing you the exact beginning and ending position. Additionally, each activity will have a text description “talking” you through performing it. These two things ensure you will perform the exercises safely and properly – leading you right down the path of success. It’s a step-by-step guide to reaching your goals. As if that weren’t enough, you’ll have unlimited email support throughout your program. Have a question? No problem, shoot me an email and I’ll get back to you. I know it sounds good and you’re ready to go. That’s great, but you better sign-up today. I’m having a serious special on this program. A limited number of spots are available and when they are full, I’m raising the rates. So get yours today for an amazingly low price!

   

If you’re like most Americans, you want to get in shape this year. I can’t think of a better option than BSFC Remote (unless you want to train with me in person).

• Don’t forget, the day after tomorrow (Wednesday) is the free webinar on living, looking and feeling younger. I’ll be covering all the keys you need to unlock a more youthful body. But, you can’t get those keys without registering. Click here to learn how to live, look and feel younger.
  
• Don’t forget #2. Next Monday (January 14, 2008) is the first day of class for my 6-week Boot Camp. Imagine reaching all of your weight loss goals by the middle of February! You can do it with this Boot Camp. In six weeks you will do more for your health and body than you ever thought possible. You’ll burn fat, get stronger and leaner, get rid of those aches and
  pains, have more energy, and more. Like I said last week, if you live within 10 minutes of the SW Freeway and Beltway 8, you are making a mistake by not signing up. There is an AM session and a PM session, so I’ve got your morning and afternoon workout covered. We start January 14 and spots are limited (and filling up fast) so if you’re ready to change the way you feel and the way your body looks, sign-up today!

 

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That’s all for today. Make it a great day. I’ll see you soon. Until then, break a sweat today. It will do your body good. Brian

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Links for you:
Live, Look and Feel Younger
6-week Boot Camp
BSFC Remote

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go here to find out…6th paragraph down.

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If you are in the health care industry, whether it be pharmaceuticals, medicine, research, administration, or you’re just interested in your own health and wonder what others think, read this article.

If you’re somewhat skeptical of medicine, health care and big pharma, and you think the health care system needs revamping, you really should read this. It’s long but very provocative.

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From the American Heart Association…

“Research shows that when properly supervised and prescribed in the light of a patient’s history and condition, whether they have cardiovascular disease or not, resistance training increases muscular strength, endurance, independence, and ability to perform a large range of activities. It reduces disability and enhances quality of life. Other benefits include increase in bone mineral density and lean body mass.”

In their recently updated public statement (a full pdf version can be found here) on weight lifitng and heart disease, the AHA has recommended doctors encourage their patients to participate in strength training exercise.

Anyone in the fitness industry worth their credentials on the wall could have told you this years ago. I don’t know how many older clients I’ve trained that walked at least twice as fast once their session was over compared to when it started – no comments about trying to get away from me as fast as possible either .

But it’s good to know that an organization the size of the AHA is getting serious about weight training for heart health. As we age, health becomes our main concern. And rightfully so. If we can’t live independently, the golden years are less enjoyable.

Resistance training increases our ability to live independently. We are stronger. Our joints are more mobile. And, importantly, our balance is better by default. So what other benefits could be more important? If you have some better (or if I’ve left something important out), please let me know.

If you’re not lifting weights, start a program now. It’s never too late. There are even fitness centers that cater to those 55 and older. Additionally, most clubs will offer a discount to senior citizens. If the one you’re looking into doesn’t, go somewhere else.

Until next time, lift weights today and break a sweat. It just might do you some good!

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