We know about smoking, blood pressure and cholesterol and their relationship to heart disease. Or do we? Regular readers and patients of mine are aware that the only cholesterol lowering medication that has been shown to have any significant benefits are the STATINS (Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor, etc) We know that herbal supplements are useless as well as certain expensive prescriptions, like NIASPAN. We are now questioning whether HDL means anything or not, and the only thing we think we do know is that a low LDL cholesterol seems to offer the most benefit for decreasing cardiovascular risk.
Well, it's time to rethink STATINS, CHOLESTEROL AND HEART DISEASE!
A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at the association of CHOLINE (egg yolks and meat) and a compound found in the intestines called TRIMETHYLAMINE-N-OXIDE (TMAO) which may be a powerful marker of atherosclerosis and heart disease!
The theory is that the choline in the diet is altered by bacteria in the gut.Recently there was also an article about CARNITINE (red meat), which can also raise TMAO levels. Please be aware that choline is also found inenergy drinks and diet supplements.
Now it gets interesting:
It may not be about cholesterol and statins, but rather altering TMAO metabolism which will decrease heart disease as the TMAO alters cholesterol metabolism and THAT is what may lead to heart disease.
Blood levels of TMAO were suppressed by antibioyics, only to return to high levels after the antibiotics were discontinued.
The next question is:"What does all this mean?"
Right now it is too premature to stop taking your statins, but in the near future our treatment options may consist of probiotics and/or TMAO modifying drugs. Of course, you can also limit your intake of eggs and meat.
It wasn't until 1991 that we discovered the connection between H. Pylori bacteria and stomach ulcers!

HARVEY S. MISHNER MD
KAIZEN TOTAL WELLNESS CENTER
LAKEWOOD RANCH, FLORIDA
941-747-2090

Recently we warned of diabetes, obesity and even liver disease for those who consume sugar sweetened drinks (Sodas and Fruit Drinks). Here is a study from the journal CIRCULATION (March 12,2012) that now links sugar to HEART DISEASE, ABNORMAL LIPIDS, INFLAMMATION AND DECREASED LEPTIN LEVELS (the hormone that makes you feel full and satisfied).
They found a 20% higher relative risk of these disorders in HEART DISEASE in men between 40-75 years old who drank on average 6.5 drinks/week.
Please note that there were NO ADVERSE events noted with ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS.
 
KAIZEN TOTAL WELLNESS
LAKEWOOD RANCH, FLORIDA 3420
941-556-7788

A study just released from Europe showed data from 75,000 people linking high BMI’s to heart disease.
Forget genetics, the higher the BMI, the higher the likelihood of obesity related diseases (26%)
Let’s now add in genetics and the risk goes up to 52%!
It is standard medical practice to control risk factors by lifestyle changes. Even angioplasties do not compare favorably to lifestyle changes when it comes to survival.
At KAIZEN, and in our medical practice we will continue to emphasize the importance of risk factor modification on your health.

Why play guessing games with non-physicians and internet entrepreneurs?
Come visit and meet our dieticians, fitness trainers and physical therapists. See our own office based state of the art safe, low impact gym.
Our programs are open to the public and we will be happy to send reports to your physician.
Call for more information or to schedule your free Power Plate / bioDensity demonstration.
941-556-7788

This is one of the reasons we have developed a total wellness program for our patients and friends. Everyday, we read about the connection between “fat” and heart disease. There is a reason why we measure waist lines (not belt or pants sizes): Any man with a waist greater than 40” or woman greater than 35” has elevated visceral (belly) body fat. This is the fat that literally surrounds and infiltrates important organs in the body. Notice its link to inflammation. Most chronic diseases are also linked to obesity. Arthritis. Cancer. Diabetes.
With diet and exercise, we believe that most illnesses can be either prevented or diminished. Of course, once the horse has left the barn........
For more information, or to schedule a free demo, including a measurement of your abdominal body fat, call 941-556-7788.

Adipose tissue pro-inflammatory gene expression is associated with cardiovascular disease
Authors: Weiss, T. W.; Seljeflot, I.; Hjerkinn, E. M.; Arnesen, H.
Source: International Journal of Clinical Practice, Volume 65, Number 9, 1 September 2011 , pp. 939-944(6)
 

Background:  Obese patients are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Several studies suggest obesity as an independent risk factor. Adipose tissue is now accepted as an endocrine organ that produces and secretes a variety of cytokines, hormones and other metabolic players involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Among this versatile group of mediators and effectors of inflammation and atherothrombosis, we have studied the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). All these markers, in their circulatory form, have been associated with cardiovascular disease. However, there is no much data available on their expression in adipose tissue in human subjects with and without cardiovascular disease.

Material and methods:  We successfully isolated RNA from subcutaneous fat biopsies of 61 patients with or without cardiovascular disease. We then measured the RNA expression of MMP-9, TIMP-1, PAI-1, IL-18 and IL-6 with Real-Time PCR, using relative quantification.

Results:  Albeit not statistically significant, all inflammatory mediators - except IL-18 - were highly expressed in patients with cardiovascular disease (n = 16) compared with those without (n = 45). Pooling the gene expression data, trying to capture the overall inflammatory activity in adipose tissue in a score system, we observed a highly significant association with CVD.

Conclusions:  Trying to capture the overall inflammatory activity, in addition to the mass of adipose tissue, could provide useful hints towards a pathogenetic link between obesity and presence of cardiovascular disease.

www.kaizentotalwellness.com   (941)556-7788

Everyone knows that too much salt is not good for you. It can cause High Blood Pressure and Heart disease. But did you know it has also been associated with brain disease? Sedentary adults who ate a lot of salt showed an increase in dementia. On the other hand couch potatoes who watched their salt intake showed NO increase in dementia.
 
 
 
 
Research has shown consuming too much salt and being inactive leads to heart disease, but now a new study shows the same combination also can be bad for brain health.
Canadian researchers studied the salt intake and physical activity levels of 1,262 healthy men and women ages 67 to 84 over three years and found those with the highest levels of sodium (3,091 milligrams a day and greater) and the lowest levels of exercise tended to show poorer cognitive performance than those with a low sodium intake and an active lifestyle. The findings were published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging.
"These findings are important because they help people know they can be proactive in retaining healthy brains as they age," says Carol Greenwood, one of the study's lead researchers and a professor at the Baycrest Center for Geriatric Care at the University of Toronto. "Baby Boomers especially need to know that sitting on the couch watching television for long periods of time and eating salty snacks is not good for them."
Four million to 5 million adults in the USA have some form of dementia, and those numbers are expected to soar as Baby Boomers grow older.
Among other findings: Sedentary older adults showed no cognitive decline over the three years if they had low sodium intake.
One teaspoon of salt is equal to 2,000 milligrams. In the study, low and medium sodium intake were defined as not exceeding 2,263 and 3,090 milligrams respectively.
"This is one of the first studies that looks at sodium," says Deborah Barnes, a dementia expert at the University of California-San Francisco, who was not associated with the study. "It's another important point about diet. You need to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and stay away from processed foods."
Hold the salt
Daily recommended sodium limits:
2,300
milligrams or less for many people

1,500
milligrams or less for people who are 51 and older and those of any age who are African American or have hypertension, diabetes or chronic kidney disease.

www.kaizentotalwellness.com   941-556-7788
www.drmishner.com   941-747-2090

Please read the following article. It examines the benefits of certain spices added to foods. Please note it studied the actual spices and not antioxidant pills. At Kaizen Total Wellness, we recommend healthy eating, not taking unproven pill supplements! Enjoying real spices and fruits and veggies are not only cheaper then pills but taste better.

Barbara Bingham, Director
Kaizen Total Wellness Center
Nutritionist,  Wellness Coach

Eating a diet rich in spices, like turmeric and cinnamon, reduces the body's negative responses to eating high-fat meals, according to Penn State researchers.
"Normally, when you eat a high-fat meal, you end up with high levels of triglycerides, a type of fat, in your blood," said Sheila West, associate professor of biobehavioral health, Penn State, who led the study. "If this happens too frequently, or if triglyceride levels are raised too much, your risk of heart disease is increased. We found that adding spices to a high-fat meal reduced triglyceride response by about 30 percent, compared to a similar meal with no spices added."
West and her colleagues prepared meals on two separate days for six men between the ages of 30 and 65 who were overweight, but otherwise healthy. The researchers added two tablespoons of culinary spices to each serving of the test meal, which consisted of chicken curry, Italian herb bread, and a cinnamon biscuit. The control meal was identical, except that spices were not included. The team drew blood from the participants every 30 minutes for three hours. They reported their findings in the current issue of the Journal of Nutrition.
"In the spiced meal, we used rosemary, oregano, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper, cloves, garlic powder and paprika," said Ann Skulas-Ray, postdoctoral fellow. "We selected these spices because they had potent antioxidant activity previously under controlled conditions in the lab."
When the meal contained a blend of antioxidant spices, antioxidant activity in the blood was increased by 13 percent and insulin response decreased by about 20 percent.
According to West, many scientists think that oxidative stress contributes to heart disease, arthritis and diabetes. "Antioxidants, like spices, may be important in reducing oxidative stress and thus reducing the risk of chronic disease," she said, adding that the spice dose they used provided the equivalent amount of antioxidants contained in 5 ounces of red wine or 1.4 ounces of dark chocolate.
Skulas-Ray noted that adding two tablespoons of spices to meals did not cause stomach upset in the participants. "They enjoyed the food and had no gastrointestinal problems," she said. But, she added, "The participants were notified ahead of time that they would be eating highly spiced foods and they were willing to do so."
In the future, West plans to investigate whether she can get the same results by adding smaller doses of spices to meals.


Other Penn State researchers on the paper include Ann Skulas-Ray, graduate student; Penny Kris-Etherton, Distinguished Professor of Nutrition; Danette Teeter, former research assistant; and John Vanden Heuvel, professor of veterinary science. Chung-Yen (Oliver) Chen, scientist, Tufts University, also was involved in the study.
The McCormick Science Institute and National Institutes of Health supported this work.

www.drmishner.com   (941)747-2090
www.kaizentotalwellness.com   (941)556-7788

Here is a simple primer on Heart Attacks:  The older you are, the more likely you are to get a heart attack, but younger people are susceptible, too
Risk factors include hypertension, elevated lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides), diabetes, smoking, and obesity.
However, the worst risk factor for heart disease is genetic. A family history or heart disease at a young age is very  worrisome.
Please be aware that 25% of patients have NO chest pain or warnings!
Most men, however will experience a tightness on their chest; women are more likely to complain of shortness of breath, especially when performing routine chores.
Sometimes indigestion can mimic or mask heart disease!
 
For further information, call Dr. Mishner at 941-747-2090 or the Kaizen Total Wellness Center at 941-556-7788 (both located at 11505 Palmbrush Trail in Lakewood Ranch).

Nutritional benefits of almonds and walnuts are more commonly known, but other nuts can provide a healthy variety for recipe ingredients or snacks as long as you are getting raw or roasted, not salted or sweetened.   Pistachios are rich in lutein, beta-carotene and vitamin E and can have cardiovascular benefits including lowering 'bad' LDL cholesterol.  Antioxidants found in pistachios (and many other foods) have been scientifically proven to help with a variety of health concerns including cancer prevention, improved immune function, healthier skin or reduced risk of heart disease.    Brazil nuts are an abundant food source of the antioxidant selenium.   A recent study showed that eating just one Brazil nut each day for 8 weeks significantly increased plasma selenium status as well as an increase in the enzyme glutathione peroxidase-1 which protects the body from oxidative damage. 

Drinking brings up many health concerns.  A new article features study results from recent tests showing possible connections between alcohol and stroke risk.  Here's some of what it showed:
Men with a severe form of hypertension showed a 12–fold increased risk for cardiovascular disease mortality associated with heavy binge drinking.

Many people associate heavy alcohol use with liver disease. However, most are unaware of it’s harmful effects on the cardiovascular system. Besides causing weight gain, diabetes and hypertension, it is also a poison to the heart. Holiday heart syndrome is a disease where binge drinking is associated with atrial fibrillation which can lead to heart attacks or strokes-even in the absence of any pre-existing heart disease. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy (weakening of the heart muscle) is also very common.
One or two drinks per day is probably healthy, but beware of heavier use.

An almond-enriched diet improves LDL-Cholesterol and Insulin Sensitivity which are major risk factors for heart disease and type-2 diabetes.

Also olive oil and leafy vegetables have been shown to decrease heart disease in women by 40% according to a recent study that lasted 8 years.