What are triglycerides?
March 15, 2009
Triglycerides are present in blood plasma and are derived from fats eaten in foods or made in the body from other energy sources like carbohydrates. Calories ingested in a meal that are not immediately needed to supply energy needs are converted to triglycerides and transported to fat cells to be stored. Excess triglycerides in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia) are a risk factor for heart disease. It is recommended that your triglyceride level be less than 150 in order to minimize the risk of heart disease. Omega-3 fish oils are one of the best ways to lower triglycerides in the blood.
As always, here’s wishing you a naturally healthy day!
Dr. Joe Mix
NaturalHealthMix.com
Is prostate cancer overdiagnosed and overtreated?
March 11, 2009
Hi, Dr. Mix here with some health news for you. I was home sitting in my chair watching Charlie Gibson on ABC News last night, and a report of a new prostate study from the Netherlands caught my attention. The study, and an accompanying editorial by Michael J. Barry and Albert J. Mulley, Jr. of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, were published in the March 10, 2009 edition of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (see references below) and suggest that many men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer may have been better off never knowing they had the disease.
In a study of American men that lasted from 1985 to 2000, the researchers found that between 23% and 42% of prostate cancers identified by the PSA test are so slow-growing that they probably would never have posed a health threat. In other words, most of these men would have lived a full life and died from another cause entirely, never knowing they had these slow-growing cancers. Instead, the authors maintain , the men were subjected to unnecessary treatment as well as the psychological trauma that goes along with a cancer diagnosis.
Something to talk to your doctor about, heh?
Dr. Joe Mix
NaturalHealthMix.com
References:
Draisma et al. Lead Time and Overdiagnosis in Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening: Importance of Methods and Context. J Natl Cancer Inst, March 10, 2009;101:374-383.
Barry, MJ and Mulley, AJ. Why Are a High Overdiagnosis Probability and a Long Lead Time for Prostate Cancer Screening So Important?
J Natl Cancer Inst, March 10, 2009;101:362-363.
Why is HDL cholesterol “good”?
March 8, 2009
There are primarily two types of cholesterol in the body: LDL or “bad” cholesterol and HDL or “good” cholesterol. In a previous post, I discussed the health risks associated with LDL, which is largely attributed to the fact that it is so readily oxidized. Oxidized LDL initiates an inflammatory response by the body which is thought to result in plaque formation (atherosclerosis) and blockages of the coronary vessels. HDL is the other type of cholesterol and is commongly referred to as “good cholesterol”. This nickname stems from the fact that HDL acts as a scavenger by binding to the LDL and transporting it to the liver where it is incorporated into bile and removed from the body through the intestinal tract.
Until next time, here’s wishing you well, my friend!
Dr. Joe Mix
NaturalHealthMix.com
Why is LDL cholesterol “bad”?
March 1, 2009
There are, generally speaking, two types of cholesterol: LDL or “bad” cholesterol, and HDL or “good” cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is readily oxidized by free radicals (highly unstable molecules, usually containing oxygen, which attempt to “steal” electrons from healthy cells and tissues in order to acheive stability). Oxidized LDL cholesterol is seen by the body as a foreign substance and an immune response is initiated. Specialized cells of the immune system, known as macrophages, attack and engulf the oxidized LDL cholesterol in an attempt to control it. The result is a “foam cell” which ruptures and spills it cholesterol-laden substance on the lining of blood vessels, thereby increasing the liklihood of plaque build up and blocked blood vessels.
Don’t let this happen to you! Be sure to consume foods and supplements which contain plenty of plant sterols and antioxidants. As always, have a naturally healthy day!
Dr. Joe Mix
NaturalHealthMix.com