mercola--2020-03-12--Hovering Between Worlds: Awake During Brain Surgery

There are certain areas in which conventional medicine excels , and the ability to perform brain surgery to remove tumors is one of them .
This is particularly true in the case of awake brain surgery , also known as intraoperative brain mapping , which is performed while the patient is sedated but awake .
Awake brain surgery is typically performed to treat epileptic seizures or remove tumors without clear borders that have spread throughout the brain .
Because the tumors are often close to brain regions responsible for controlling vision , language and movement , it would be too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the patient is completely under anesthesia , as doing so could result in a significant loss of function.1 Awake brain surgery allows neurosurgeons to remove or shrink tumors that may otherwise be inoperable , while preserving the patient 's speech and other skills .
In the video above , you can watch a particularly remarkable case , in which a woman not only remained awake during brain surgery but played her violin throughout — ensuring she would n't lose this skill that she held near to her heart .
Violinist Dagmar Turner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tumor in the right frontal lobe , which is near the area that controls fine movements of her left hand.2 As a musician who plays with the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra , Turner was concerned about losing the ability to play the musical instrument , so she asked her doctor if she could play the violin during the procedure .
Surgeons at King 's College Hospital in London agreed .
Dr. Keyoumars Ashkan , her neurosurgeon , told Time : Before the surgery , doctors mapped brain areas that were active when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awoken in the middle of the surgery to play the violin and `` ensure the surgeons did not damage any crucial areas of the brain that controlled Dagmar 's delicate hand movements , '' according to a statement from the hospital.4 '' The thought of losing my ability to play was heart-breaking but , being a musician himself , professor Ashkan understood my concerns , '' Turner told Time .
`` He and the team at King 's went out of their way to plan the operation — from mapping my brain to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in to play .
`` 5 In a similar case , South African musician Musa Manzini also played a musical instrument during brain surgery to remove a tumor .
Playing the guitar requires complex interactions in the brain , and by playing during the surgery , `` It increased the margin of safety for us , in that we could have real-time feedback on what we were doing , '' Dr. Rohen Harrichandparsad , one of the neurosurgeons involved in the procedure at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban , told The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 90 % of the tumor being removed and Manzini 's ability to play the guitar preserved .
Other cases have also made headlines , including a musician who played a saxophone during brain surgery in 2015 and an opera singer who sang during a brain operation in the Netherlands in 2014.7 There are a number of considerations that go into deciding whether awake brain surgery is the best option .
In his book , `` Do No Harm : Stories of Life , Death , and Brain Surgery , '' British neurosurgeon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is better to leave the patient 's disease to run its natural course and not to operate at all .
`` 8 According to Johns Hopkins , other considerations include the patient 's general health , as awake brain surgery is n't performed in people who are obese or have sleep apnea .
The patient must also be able to stay calm during the surgery and respond to the neurosurgeon , and the tumor must be able to be removed without causing damage to critical areas of the brain.9 The patient may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be sedated or put to sleep at the beginning and end of the procedure and be awake only in the middle .
The neurosurgeon then uses small electrodes to stimulate the brain , and , to locate functional areas of the brain to avoid , will ask the patient to perform different tasks such as speaking , counting or playing an instrument .
Computer images of the brain help with this , creating a map of functional areas of the brain .
Marsh wrote:10 Still , even under the best circumstances , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severely disabled if even a small area of the brain becomes unintentionally damaged .
Even Marsh wrote , `` Despite all this technology neurosurgery is still dangerous , skill and experience are still required as my instruments sink into the brain or spinal cord , and I must know when to stop … And then there is luck , both good luck and bad luck , and as I become more and more experienced it seems that luck becomes ever more important .
`` 11 Benefits of Being Awake During Brain Surgery There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brain surgery , including cost .
`` The total inpatient costs for awake craniotomies were lower than surgery under GA [ general anesthesia ] , '' researchers wrote in the journal Neurosurgery.12 While total inpatient expenses per patient for awake craniotomy came in at $ 34,804 , this rose to $ 46,798 for surgery under general anesthesia .
Further , the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life years for the awake craniotomy group was $ 82,720 less than the general anesthesia group .
Awake brain surgery also required fewer days in the hospital — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared to 7.61 days for the general anesthesia surgery group .
`` This study suggests better cost effectiveness and neurological outcome with awake craniotomies for perirolandic gliomas , '' the researchers noted.13 Another of the primary benefits is avoiding the risks that come along with general anesthesia , which can be significant .
Research published in the journal Anesthesiology compared the effectiveness of local versus general anesthesia for hip fracture surgery and found the local anesthesia was associated with better outcomes , with researchers writing , `` Regional anesthesia is associated with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complications among all hip fracture patients compared with general anesthesia .
`` 14 Research into outcomes of awake brain surgery have also suggested positive outcomes .
In a review of medical records for 35 patients who had awake right hemisphere brain operations , 68.7 % of those with seizures became seizure-free and 77.7 % of those with moderate to severe headaches improved significantly .
`` There were also improvements in speech and language functions in all patients who presented with speech difficulties , '' the researchers noted , adding , `` When combined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and motor function can be well preserved .
`` 15 That being said , most research into awake brain surgery has focused on preserving language and motor function , while the monitoring of other cognitive functions has been less explored .
In a systematic review of 360 studies , tests to assess memory , calculation , emotions and other cognitive functions were reported in only a minority of cases , as were tests for visuospatial domain and motor and sensory functions .
On the contrary , tests to assess language functions were widely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for development of tests or paradigms for assessment of other cognitive functions so that the broad spectrum of cognition can be monitored during awake brain surgery , '' researchers explained16 and , indeed , there remains much to be learned about the human brain as a whole , let alone how it responds to interventions like surgery .
As with all surgery , there remain risks for awake brain surgery , which include:17 In the U.S. , an estimated 700,000 people are living with a primary brain tumor and 87,000 more will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a brain tumor include : EMF exposure , including cellphone use , contributes to chronic illness including brain tumors , and you 'd be wise to reduce your exposure to cell towers , cellphones , microwaves , `` smart '' products , Wi-Fi and wireless products .
Increased peroxynitrites from cellphone exposure will damage your mitochondria , and your brain is the most mitochondrial-dense organ in your body .
This is but one risk factor for brain tumors , which often occur without a known cause .
Other risk factors may include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weakened immune system , as well as potentially infection with certain viruses or exposure to certain chemicals such as vinyl chloride , pesticides and petroleum products.19 As much as possible , be proactive in using a healthy lifestyle to support and protect your health and remember , too , that even your brain is capable of being regenerated .

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mercola--2020-03-12--Time-Restricted Eating — A Powerful Way to Prevent Dementia

Research overwhelmingly supports the notion that ditching the “ three square meals a day ” approach in favor of time-restricted eating ( also referred to as intermittent fasting ) can do wonders for your health , as your body simply can not function optimally when there ’ s a continuous supply of calories coming in .
The cycling of feasting ( feeding ) and famine ( fasting ) mimics the eating habits of our ancestors and restores your body to a more natural state that allows a whole host of biochemical benefits to occur .
It ’ s a powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but also helps reduce your risk of chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes , heart disease , cancer and Alzheimer ’ s .
While there are many variations , time-restricted eating typically involves not eating for at least 14 consecutive hours a day .
However , not eating for 16 to 20 hours is likely closer to a metabolic ideal .
This means you eat all of your meals for the day within a four- to eight-hour window .
Among the many benefits of time-restricted eating is the upregulation of autophagy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ optimal cellular renewal and function .
In a January 2020 review paper,1 researchers explain how caloric restriction helps combat Alzheimer ’ s specifically , through these autophagy pathways .
As explained in “ The Effects of Caloric Restriction and Its Mimetics in Alzheimer ’ s Disease Through Autophagy Pathways , ” 2 two of the pathology hallmarks of Alzheimer ’ s are amyloid beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles formed by aggregates of tau protein .
“ The aberrant accumulation of these misfolded and aggregated proteins results in neurotoxicity , and AD is therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paper states .
Other pathological events frequently seen in the brains of Alzheimer ’ s patients include:3 Many of these occur as a result of “ insufficient elimination of neurotoxic proteins or damaged intracellular organelles , ” the paper notes .
In other words , they occur when there ’ s insufficient autophagy occurring in your body .
The good news is you can upregulate autophagy , and one of the simplest ways is by implementing time-restricted eating .
As explained in this review:4 Autophagy dysfunction has been identified in several neurodegenerative and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s , Parkinson ’ s , amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( ALS ) , Huntington ’ s disease , ischemic stroke , schizophrenia and even drug addiction.5 Hence , it is believed that autophagy activation has an important role to play in the prevention and treatment of these conditions .
Importantly though , using autophagy stimulators such as drugs , gene therapy or supplements can have undesirable side effects in some people , and may not be ideal .
Time-restricted eating , or calorie restriction , the authors note , is a safer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So , just how does calorie restriction or intermittent fasting induce autophagy ?
There are several mechanisms at play , but two important ones are activation of monophosphate-activated protein kinase ( AMPK ) and inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin ( mTOR ) pathway.6 Calorie restriction also helps ameliorate Alzheimer ’ s and other degenerative conditions by lowering inflammation and improving insulin sensitivity , mitochondrial function and oxidative stress .
AMPK is an enzyme essential for maintaining energy balance .
It consists of three proteins ( called sub-units ) that together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressed in various tissues , including the brain , liver , skeletal muscle and fat cells , and is essential for activating autophagy .
It ’ s sometimes referred to as a `` metabolic master switch '' because it plays an important role in regulating metabolism.7 It shifts energy toward cellular repair and maintenance , thus helping your body return to homeostasis ( balance ) .
Low AMPK has been linked to insulin resistance , mitochondrial dysfunction , obesity , neurodegeneration and chronic inflammation .
Activating AMPK produces many of the same benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of which are known to benefit a range of chronic diseases and ill health .
AMPK is also an important neuroprotector,9 thus making it particularly relevant in Alzheimer ’ s prevention and treatment .
In addition , AMPK stimulates cellular and mitochondrial autophagy ( mitophagy ) and mitochondrial biogenesis , as well as five other critically important pathways : MTOR is also an important pathway responsible for controlling autophagy .
When you inhibit mTOR — which you can do through time-restricted eating — you activate autophagy .
MTOR is basically a nutrient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intake of carbohydrates , mTOR primarily senses protein .
That said , other nutrients can also activate or inhibit mTOR .
Nutrients that activate mTOR include branched-chain amino acids , glutamine , methyl folate and vitamin B12 .
Nutrients that inhibit mTOR include polyphenols like curcumin , fisetin , quercetin , resveratrol ( found in wine ) and epigallocatechin gallate ( EGCG , found in green tea ) .
Organic coffee and dark chocolate also contain high amounts of mTOR inhibiting polyphenols .
Why Cycling in and Out of Autophagy Is so Important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so well is because you ’ re cycling through autophagy on a daily basis ( opposed to only occasionally , were you to do longer fasts once a month or quarterly , for example ) .
This cycling is really crucial .
You don ’ t want to inhibit mTOR and activate autophagy all the time .
There needs to be a balance between breaking down and building back up .
When you eat , your insulin goes up , mTOR is activated and autophagy is inhibited , thus allowing for cellular rebuilding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fast , insulin goes down , mTOR is inhibited and autophagy activated , thus allowing for the breakdown and elimination of dysfunctional cellular components .
The next time you eat , the cycle of rebuilding begins anew , and so on .
When you ’ re continuously eating , autophagy will be severely inhibited .
As a result , damage continues to build up as damaged cells can not be efficiently eliminated and regenerated .
Many hormonal shifts also occur during fasting , including growth hormone .
Opinions about how long one should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general rule , the recommended range is between 12 and 18 hours of fasting each day .
I ’ m of the opinion that 16 to 18 hours of fasting might be the sweet spot , as this allows your body to deplete the glycogen stores in your liver more and suppress mTOR and activate autophagy better .
As noted in “ The Effects of Caloric Restriction and Its Mimetics in Alzheimer ’ s Disease Through Autophagy Pathways , ” a number of animal studies have demonstrated that time-restricted eating helps prevent memory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state , in part:10 The Case for Eating Less , Period Both animal and human studies also suggest people with a low calorie intake overall have a reduced risk for Alzheimer ’ s compared to those eating a high-calorie diet.11 In one animal study , animals whose diet was 30 % lower in calories than normal restored memory performance after 10 months .
High-calorie diets were also shown to result in autophagic failure in the hippocampus.12 Animal studies have further demonstrated that low-calorie diets reduce the amount of amyloid beta and tau in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them.13 The beautiful characteristic of time-restricted eating is that it appears to replicate most of the metabolic benefits of calorie restriction without actually restricting calories .
Additionally , because it is such a restricted eating window and a person ’ s appetite is reduced , they typically wind up eating fewer calories anyway without any feeling of deprivation .
Siim Land does a great job on expanding on the differences between these two as they relate to longevity in the video at the top of the article .
Even though the comparison is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also active in Alzheimer ’ s , such as sirtuins , AMPK and NAD+ .
“ The Effects of Caloric Restriction and Its Mimetics in Alzheimer ’ s Disease Through Autophagy Pathways ” also addresses the use of calorie restriction mimetics , compounds that mimic the effects of calorie restriction .
The most thoroughly studied and well-recognized mimetic is resveratrol , a polyphenol found in grape skins and certain berries , including blueberries and cranberries .
According to the authors:14 Aside from time-restricted eating , there are many other strategies that will help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treat ) Alzheimer ’ s .
Here ’ s a rundown of what I believe are some of the most important :


mercola--2020-03-11--Are You Sitting on a Health Crisis?

Are You Sitting on a Health Crisis?

In this short video by Green Science Policy Institute , you 'll discover how flame retardants are one of six classes of chemicals found in consumer products that negatively affect your health .
While adding chemicals to slow fire ignition may have begun with good intentions , the chemicals are worse than ineffective — they are dangerous .
If they were effective , their strongest supporters would be firefighters .
Yet , this population is among the strongest opponents of adding fire retardant chemicals to products .
As demonstrated in the video , when treated furniture burns , it releases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ untreated furniture .
Fire retardants also create a health burden in everyday use as the chemicals leach from products and land in household dust .
Until 2004 , the primary chemical was from a family of polybrominated diphenyl ethers ( PBDE ) with 209 possible brominated substances.1 By 2013 , octaBDEs used in business equipment made from plastic were voluntarily withdrawn .
However , the replacement chemicals , namely organophosphorus compounds , have some of the same health risks and behave similarly in the environment .
Brexit,2 the term used to describe the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was formalized on January 31 , 2020 .
However , the exit from the economic and political union binding 28 European countries together has been far from smooth .
The BBC reports there are months of negotiations ahead to decide what a future relationship might look like between the U.K. and the remaining countries .
George Monbiot , environmentalist and columnist for The Guardian,3 raises concerns that the disruption during the exit is distracting the media and the public from the destruction of public protections that are happening .
His biggest concern is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1990s , most of the deaths and injuries inflicted by fires in the U.K. have been caused not from burns , but by inhaling toxic smoke.
” He references a recent environmental audit by Parliament:4 Until 2016 , Terry Edge5 was the U.K. 's leading expert in Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety regulations .
At that time , he blew the whistle6 on the Department for Business , Energy and Industrial Strategy .
In 2014 , a match test proved 90 % of the furniture in the U.K. is ignitable and the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Edge writes that even if assumptions are correct:7 The Environmental Audit Committee8 of the British House of Commons published a report in summer 2019 , which began to get media attention before the challenges with Brexit pushed public health concerns to the back burner .
Once PBDEs were phased out in the U.S.,9 manufacturers began using organophosphate ester flame retardants ( OPFRs ) .
Researchers10 compared OPFRs with PBDEs across a range of properties , including interactions in the environment , indoor levels of the chemicals and evidence of adverse health effects from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and accumulate in the environment at higher concentration levels than PBDEs .
In the review of 100 peer-reviewed studies , scientists found OPFRs are at levels 10 to 100 times higher in the water , air and dust than were PBDEs .
In addition , they were also found in nearly every person who participated in the research study .
Data from several studies show the levels were high enough to negatively affect brain development in children and fertility in adults .
Scientists expected OPFRs would be less persistent than PBDEs , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on the compounds ’ physical and chemical properties .
OPFRs have a higher vapor pressure and shorter half-life which led the experts to believe they would travel shorter distances and have a lower concentration .
However , they 're more soluble in water and persist in an aqueous solution .
Measurements throughout the world have found higher levels of OPFRs in areas as remote as the North and South poles , as well as in urban areas .
These measurements have also confirmed OPFRs in locations that could not be explained by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used heavily in the electronics industry and are detected at higher levels indoors .
The application of OPFRs was identified by researchers as a “ regrettable substitution , ” or a replacement that lacked sufficient toxicity testing for a chemical being phased out as a known hazardous material:11 The most common and aggressive type of thyroid cancer is papillary thyroid cancer ( PTC ) .
Researchers have found there 's a link between exposure to flame retardants in the home and the development of PTC .
In one study12 researchers set out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a higher risk of PTC .
They enrolled patients at Duke Cancer Institute and evaluated the correlation between flame retardants found in household dust and PTC .
What they found suggested exposure in the home was associated with both a higher risk and increased severity of the disease .
A commentary in Nature stressed the importance of analyzing the effects flame retardants have as chemical mixtures , as this is the “ most physiologically relevant situation given the reality of current exposures to multiple chemicals.
” 13 The commentary continued : The information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hormone system and are linked to the development of cancer is well-established and accepted by everyone except the chemical industry .
You ’ ll find more information on this topic in my previous article , “ Thyroid Cancer Rates Are Skyrocketing From Flame Retardants.
” Half of Firefighters Believe Cancer Larger Risk Than Fire Firefighters are charged with entering a burning building to save lives and to limit property damage .
But the danger becomes greater when burning flame retardant chemicals create toxic fumes .
San Francisco has the largest percentage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up 16 % of the entire force .
In 2018 , 15 % of the women ages 40 to 50 had “ been diagnosed with breast cancer , which is six times the national average.
” In the last 10 years , more than 250 men and women in the San Francisco Fire Department have died from some form of cancer .
The fire department believes this increase is the result of the burning of synthetic materials that is exposing firefighters to dangerous fumes .
In addition , Jeanine Nicholson , Deputy Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department , said to NBC News:14 Chronic exposure places firefighters at greater risk for all cancers .
The leaders of two statewide surveys of 1,300 active firefighters in Ohio found that about half believed cancer was their greatest occupational risk , up from 5 % surveyed 10 years before.15 Cities and states are taking steps to protect the men and women who protect their citizens , but the movement is slow .
In 2019 , Massachusetts failed to pass a bill banning flame retardants despite a push from lawmakers and pediatricians.16 The legislator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the retardants died of brain cancer at 66 , himself a firefighter .
In Minnesota,17 the story was different as the governor signed a bill into law in May 2019 that would ban certain flame-retardant chemicals .
As of January 2019 , San Francisco banned the sale of flame-retardant furniture18 and in March that same year , an ordinance was passed in Anchorage , Alaska , with a unanimous vote prohibiting specific products with flame retardant chemicals.19 While the movement is slowly making its way through the U.S. , it is important to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales , which means anything sold before the ban will still be a potential health hazard in your home .
Fire retardant chemicals are also found in drinking water and local bodies of water .
It is important to reduce your exposure .
Consider the options discussed in “ Fire Retardant Chemicals Are Contaminating Drinking Water Across the U.S. ” and those listed below : • When purchasing items , ask if there is an option without flame retardants • To reduce your exposure , clean and dust with a damp cloth to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a HEPA filter and wash your hands , especially before eating • Avoid purchasing foam carpet padding unless you ’ re sure it does n't contain flame retardants


mercola--2020-03-11--How You’ve Been Misled About Statins

How You’ve Been Misled About Statins

Statins are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors ; that is , they block the enzyme in your liver responsible for making cholesterol ( HMG-CoA reductase ) .
According to Drugs.com , more than 35 million Americans are on a statin drug , making it one of the most commonly prescribed medicines in the U.S.1 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data suggest 47.6 % of seniors over the age of 75 are on a statin drug.2 Lipitor — which is just one of several brand name statin drugs — is the most profitable drug in the history of medicine.3,4 Collectively , statins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were introduced.5 This , despite their being off patent .
There is simply no doubt that selling them is big business with major financial incentives to distort the truth to continue their sales .
Statin recommendations have become fairly complex , as they ’ re recommended for various age groups under different circumstances , and whether they ’ re used as primary prevention of cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) , or secondary prevention .
Guidelines also vary slightly depending on the organization providing the recommendation and the country you ’ re in.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available are from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force ( USPSTF ) ,7 and the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association.8,9 The USPSTF guidelines recommend using a statin for the primary prevention of CVD when a patient:10 • Is between the age of 40 to 75 • Has one or more CVD risk factors ( dyslipidemia , diabetes , hypertension or smoking ) • Has a calculated 10-year risk of a cardiovascular event of 10 % or greater In secondary prevention of CVD , statins are “ a mainstay , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ College of Cardiology.11 Secondary prevention means the drug is used to prevent a recurrence of a heart attack or stroke in patients who have already had one .
A February 2020 analysis12 in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine ( paywall ) brings up the fact that while the use of statins in primary prevention of CVD “ has been controversial ” and there ’ s ongoing debate as to “ whether the benefits outweigh the harms , ” drug regulators around the world — which have approved statins for the prevention of CVD — have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ?
The analysis goes on to note : Have We Been Misled by the Evidence ?
In her 2018 peer-reviewed narrative review,13 “ Statin Wars : Have We Been Misled About the Evidence ?
” published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine , Maryanne Demasi , Ph.D. , a former medical science major turned investigative health reporter , delves into some of these ongoing controversies .
While Demasi ’ s paper is behind a paywall , she reviews her arguments in the featured video above .
Among them is the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ built on prescribing these drugs to people who really don ’ t need them and are likely to suffer side effects without getting any benefits .
For example , some have recommended statins should be given to everyone over the age of 50 , regardless of their cholesterol level .
Others have suggested screening and dosing young children .
Even more outrageous suggestions over the past few years include statin “ ’ condiments ’ in burger outlets to counter the negative effects of a fast food meal , ’ ” and adding statins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professionals are now largely divided into two camps , one saying statins are lifesaving and safe enough for everyone , and the other saying they ’ re largely unnecessary and harmful to boot .
How did such a divide arise , when all have access to the same research and data ?
Demasi suggests that in order to understand how health professionals can be so divided on this issue , you have to follow the money .
The cost of developing and getting market approval for a new drug exceeds $ 2.5 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fast-track company profits is to broaden the use of an existing drug , ” Demasi says , and this is precisely what happened with statins .
By simply revising the definition of “ high cholesterol , ” which was done in 2000 and again in 2004 , millions of people became eligible for statin treatment , without any evidence whatsoever that it would actually benefit them .
As it turns out , eight of the nine members on the U.S. National Cholesterol Education Program panel responsible for these revisions had “ direct ties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that public revelation sowed the first seed of suspicion in many people ’ s minds .
Skepticism ratcheted up even more when , in 2013 , the American College of Cardiology and AHA revised their statin guideline to include a CVD risk calculation rather than a single cholesterol number .
U.S. patients with a 7.5 % risk of developing CVD in the next 10 years were now put on a statin .
( In the U.K. , the percentage used was a more reasonable 20 % . )
This resulted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statin treatment even though they didn ’ t have any real risk factors for CVD .
Worse , a majority of these were older people without heart disease — the very population that stand to gain the least from these medications .
What ’ s worse , 4 of 5 calculators were eventually found to overestimate the risk of CVD , some by as much as 115 % , which means the rate of overprescription was even greater than previously suspected .
While simple revisions of the definitions of high cholesterol and CVD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry-funded studies have further fueled the overprescription trend .
As noted by Demasi , when U.S. President Ronald Reagan cut funding to the National Institutes of Health , private industry moved in to sponsor their own clinical trials .
The vast majority of statin trials are funded by the manufacturers , and research has repeatedly found that funding plays a major role in research outcomes .
It ’ s not surprising then that most statin studies overestimate drug benefits and underestimate risks .
Demasi quotes Dr. Peter Gøtzsche , a Danish physician-researcher who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later launched the Nordic Cochrane Centre : “ The very nature of science is its contestability , ” Demasi notes .
“ We need to be able to challenge and rechallenge scientific results to ensure they ’ re reproducible and legitimate.
” However , there ’ s been a “ cloud of secrecy ” around clinical statin trials , Demasi says , as the raw data on side effects have never been released to the public , nor other scientists .
The data are being held by the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists ( CTT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Rory Collins , which periodically publishes meta-analyses of the otherwise inaccessible data .
While the CTT claims to be an independent organization , it has received more than £260 million from statin makers .
Inevitably , its conclusions end up promoting wider use of statins , and no independent review is possible to contest or confirm the CTT Collaboration ’ s conclusions .
Tricks Used to Minimize Harms in Clinical Trials As explained by Demasi , there are many ways in which researchers can influence the outcome of a drug trial .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ such a way that it minimizes the chances of finding harm .
The example she gives in her lecture is the Heart Protection Study .
Before the trial got started , all participants were given a statin drug for six weeks .
By the end of that run-in period , 36 % of the participants had dropped out due to side effects or lack of compliance .
Once they had this “ freshly culled ” population , where those suffering side effects had already been eliminated , that ’ s when the trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divided into statin and placebo groups .
But since everyone had already taken a statin before the trial began , the side effects found in the statin and placebo groups by the end of the trial were relatively similar .
In short , this strategy grossly underestimates the percentage of the population that will experience side effects , and this “ may explain why the rate of side effects in statin trials is wildly different from the rate of side effects seen in real-world observations , ” Demasi says .
Public opinion can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A common statistic used to promote statins is that they lower your risk of heart attack by about 36 % .15 This statistic is derived from a 2008 study16 in the European Heart Journal .
One of the authors on this study is Rory Collins , who heads up the CTT Collaboration .
Table 4 in this study shows the rate of heart attack in the placebo group was 3.1 % while the statin group ’ s rate was 2 % — a 36 % reduction in relative risk .
However , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the two groups , i.e.
, 3.1 % minus 2 % — is only 1.1 % , which really isn ’ t very impressive .
In other words , in the real world , if you take a statin , your chance of a heart attack is only 1.1 % lower than if you ’ re not taking it .
At the end of the day , what really matters is what your risk of death is the absolute risk .
The study , however , only stresses the relative risk ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk ( 1.1 % ) .
As noted in the review,17 “ How Statistical Deception Created the Appearance That Statins Are Safe and Effective in Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease , ” it ’ s very easy to confuse and mislead people with relative risks .
You can learn more about absolute and relative risk in my 2015 interview with David Diamond , Ph.D. , who co-wrote that paper .
Yet another strategy used to mislead people is to create the illusion of “ consensus ” by silencing dissenters , discrediting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her lecture , Demasi quotes Collins of the CTT Collaboration saying that “ those who questioned statin side effects were ‘ far worse ’ and had probably ‘ killed more people ’ than ‘ the paper on the MMR vaccine ” … “ Accusing you of murdering people is an effective way [ to ] discredit you , ” she says .
Demasi also highlights the case of a French cardiologist who questioned the value of statins in his book .
It received widespread attention in the French press , until critics started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posed a danger to public health .
One report blamed the book for causing a 50 % increase in statin discontinuation , which was predicted would lead to the death of 10,000 people .
On this particular occasion , however , researchers analyzed the number of actual deaths based on national statistics , and found the actual death toll decreased in the year following the release of the book .
The authors , Demasi says , noted that it was “ ’ not evidence-based to claim that statin discontinuation increases mortality , ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should assess ‘ real effects of statin discontinuation rather than making dubious extrapolations and calculations.
’ ” Statins , originally introduced three decades ago as secondary prevention for those with established CVD and patients with congenital and familial hyperlipidemias , have now vastly expanded thanks to the strategies summarized above .
Tens if not hundreds of millions of people are now on these drugs , without any scientific evidence to show they will actually benefit from them .
As noted in the EBM analysis , “ Statins for Primary Prevention : What Is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ :18 Considering the discrepancy in reported side effects between statin trials , clinical practice and statin usage surveys , what responsibility do regulators have ?
According to “ Statins for Primary Prevention : What Is the Regulator ’ s Role ?
” 19 regulators have a responsibility to “ engage and publicly articulate their position on the controversy and make the evidence base underlying those judgments available to third parties for independent scrutiny , ” none of which has been done to date .
The paper adds : Do Your Homework Before Taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of evidence to suggest drug company-sponsored statin research and its PR can not be trusted , and that few of the millions of people currently taking these drugs actually benefit from them .
Some of the research questioning the veracity of oft-cited statin trials is reviewed in “ Statins ’ Flawed Studies and Flawed Advertising ” and “ Statins Shown to Extend Life by Mere Days.
” To learn more about the potential harms of statins , see “ Statins Double Diabetes Rates , ” “ Statins Trigger Brain Changes With Devastating Effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You Should Not Take Statins .
”


mercola--2020-03-11--Most Tap Water Is a Toxic Soup of Chemicals

Discussion of the safety of tap water often only occurs when an immediate threat is identified like the lead crisis in Flint , Michigan,1 and ongoing Legionella outbreaks.2 But the state of U.S. tap water , whether from wells or municipal water systems , is very concerning even when it is not in the news .
Just because tap water looks clear and seems to taste normal does not mean it is safe or pure .
It is often brimming with pesticides , herbicides , pharmaceuticals , cyanobacteria , disinfection byproducts ( DPBs ) and fluoride , but few realize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are drinking .
Results from tests conducted by the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) from 2010 to 2015 on 50,000 water utilities in 50 states found 500 different contaminants.3 How many people would drink the tap water if a label disclosed such contaminants ?
`` Our research shows that the nation ’ s water supply is under assault from a toxic stew of pollutants , '' wrote EWG.4 The toxins include `` fluorinated chemicals called PFAS , lead from old pipes , runoff from farmland that carries millions of tons of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streams , '' wrote EWG .
You may be aware of harmful algal blooms that are caused by manure , sewage and fertilizer runoff .
These algae overgrowths can contain toxins like the cyanobacteria microcystis5 and the cyanobacteria metabolite BMAA,6 yet the toxicity of the blooms ca n't be determined from the way they look or smell .
Microcystis can cause skin irritations , neurological symptoms and liver and kidney damage in humans and even harm pets.7 BMAA is suspected of causing neurological diseases like Alzheimer 's , Parkinson 's and amyotrophic lateral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journal PLOS One , researchers studying the effect of BMAA on dolphins wrote:9 Exposure to algal toxins can come from contact with the water or algae , breathing airborne toxins , eating contaminated fish and shellfish10 and drinking contaminated water.11 Algae overgrowth also has tremendous environmental implications .
The density of blue-green algae blocks light and can deplete oxygen in the water , leading to huge dead zones and fish kills .
The U.S. 's largest dead zone is located at the mouth of the Mississippi River and measures nearly an astounding 9,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of New Jersey.12 Researchers are now identifying another driver of harmful algal bloom : glyphosate , the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide .
Scientists originally did not think that plankton , which include cyanobacteria , could use phosphonates like glyphosate as fuel .
But Bowling Green State University professors R. Michael McKay and George Bullerjahn determined that cyanobacteria do access phosphonates as fuel.13 This is what the professors wrote about their findings:14 The professors ' findings were buttressed by the subsequent research of Christopher Spiese , an Ohio Northern University chemist .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One also found that glyphosate was used as a fuel by some cyanobacteria species:16 Glyphosate 's contribution to algal toxins and contaminated drinking water adds to the already known harms of this controversial herbicide .
Other Farming-Related Causes of Contaminated Tap Water Algal toxins , boosted by glyphosate , are not the only toxins found in tap water because of irresponsible farming practices .
Concentrated animal feeding operations ( CAFOs ) and large-scale monocrop farms contribute to high levels of nitrates found in drinking water .
Exposure to nitrates can cause blue baby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems,19 disruption of thyroid function and birth defects in humans.20 A recent opinion piece by two professors of public health in the Des Moines Register conveyed the enormity of the nitrate and drinking water problem:21 Seventy percent of the world 's water is now monopolized by agriculture .
CAFOs and large-scale monocrop farms also deplete aquifers of valuable drinking water .
Other Causes of Contaminated Tap Water Another group of harmful chemicals in drinking water are PFAS ( per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ) , which include PFOA ( perfluorinated carboxylic acid ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the EPA:22 PFAS are especially found in drinking water that is near affected landfills , wastewater treatment plants , manufacturers who use PFAS and firefighter training facilities , says the EPA.23 PFAS have been dubbed `` forever chemicals '' because they build up in the blood and organs and resist degradation.24 According to Children 's Health Defense , PFAS levels in tap water have increased significantly since the late 1980s in the U.S. and `` widespread PFAS infiltration of community water supplies and private wells around the world '' is now seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from PFASs are most concerning in children and may include:26 Cyanobacteria , nitrates , lead , fluoride and PFAS are just a few of the chemicals lurking in tap water .
Also present are chemicals like carcinogenic volatile organic compounds ( VOCs ) and hexavalent chromium , says research in the journal Heliyon , taking a tremendous toll on U.S. health:27 Chemicals that may not be harmful by themselves may interact with other chemicals , hypothesize the authors:28 Other risks present in tap water include the bacterium Legionella , mercury from `` silver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( THMs ) and haloacetic acids ( HAAs ) , pharmaceuticals flushed down the toilet and from urine and feces and endocrine-disrupting personal care products .
Water Filtration Infrastructure Is Part of the Problem When it comes to tap water pollution , glyphosate may do more harm than increase algae-related cyanobacteria .
Research indicates the herbicide , which was originally patented as a descaling agent,29 can also chelate the lead out of pipes and transfer it into the water people drink .
Old worn-out pipes can also deposit copper into tap water .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ widely used in CAFOs , are also a tap water risk .
It is a misconception that water filtration and treatment plants remove pharmaceutical drugs from tap water , according to a 2011 Harvard Health Letter:30 Your safest bet against the risk of toxins and contaminants in your tap water is to install a quality water filtration system in your home .
There are a variety of options , most of which have both benefits and drawbacks .
Ideally , you want a filtration system that uses a combination of methods to remove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removal of the widest variety of unwanted chemicals and substances .
Below are a few of the most common filtration options .
• Reverse osmosis ( RO ) — In addition to removing chlorine , inorganic and organic contaminants in your water , RO will also remove about 80 % of fluoride and most DPBs .
Drawbacks of RO include the need for frequent cleaning to avoid bacterial growth .
Your best alternative is to use a tankless RO system with a compressor .
Cost is another consideration since you may need the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system operative .
Note that in addition to removing harmful contaminants , RO will also remove many minerals and trace elements that might be valuable or desirable .
• Ion exchange — Ion exchange is designed to remove dissolved salts in the water , such as calcium .
This system also softens the water and helps prevent the creation of scale buildup .
While advantages of ion exchange include a high flow rate and low maintenance cost , disadvantages can include calcium sulfate fouling , iron fouling , adsorption of organic matter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contamination and chlorine contamination.32 • Granular carbon and carbon block filters — These are the most common types of countertop and undercounter water filters .
Granular activated carbon is recognized by the EPA as the best available technology for the removal of organic chemicals like herbicides , pesticides and industrial chemicals .
One of the downsides to granular carbon filters is that the loose material can `` channel '' — the water creates pathways through the carbon material and escapes filtering .
Carbon block filters offer the same superior filtering ability but are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solid form .
This eliminates channeling and gives the ability to precisely combine multiple media in a sub-micron alter cartridge .
By combining different media , the ability to selectively remove a wide range of contaminants can be achieved .
With the shocking breadth of chemicals that are now found in tap water , a home filtration system is a wise investment .
It ’ s also important to continue opposition to glyphosate , CAFOs and monocrop farms and products and manufacturers that pollute the environment with PFAS .


mercola--2020-03-10--Doctors Hid Data on Stent Deaths

Doctors Hid Data on Stent Deaths

A stent is a wire mesh tube that may be implanted into a coronary artery during a percutaneous coronary intervention ( PCI ) , or angioplasty , procedure .
It ’ s intended to treat a clogged artery , which has reduced blood flow due to a buildup of fatty deposits , or plaque .
The blockage can lead to a heart attack , but the stent helps to prevent this by expanding the artery and holding it open , improving blood flow to the heart .
According to the American Heart Association , in over one-third of patients who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the artery becomes narrowed again within months , in a process known as restenosis .
As such , most angioplasties include stents.1 The procedure is also said to have a much faster recovery period , and be less uncomfortable , than coronary artery bypass surgery , making them “ fairly common.
” In the U.S. , more than 1.8 million stents are implanted annually , with 965,000 of them being coronary stents .
Stenting procedures have been under scrutiny in the past , when it was estimated that about 30 % of such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renewed once again , amid news reports suggesting the procedure not only may be ineffective but may cause more deaths than alternatives — a finding not made public because key data were held back from publication.3 The Excel trial , which was sponsored by U.S. stent manufacturer Abbott , compared the use of drug-eluting stents , which are covered in drugs to help prevent the blood vessel from reclosing , to coronary-artery bypass grafting ( CABG ) for patients with left main coronary artery disease .
The primary end point of the study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause , stroke or heart attack at three years .
The results found that , at three years , death had occurred in 15.4 % of patients in the stent group and 14.7 % of those in the bypass group , a result that showed the two treatments to be equivalent , or noninferior .
The researchers concluded “ … PCI with everolimus-eluting stents was noninferior to CABG with respect to the rate of the composite end point of death , stroke , or myocardial infarction at three years.
” 4 The results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the full picture , according to a BBC Newsnight investigation .
At the time of the study ’ s publication , the researchers had access to data from some of the original enrollees , which had had the procedure performed five years ’ prior .
There was evidence that the stents weren ’ t performing as well as CABG , but the researchers chose to only look at the data up to three years — and not a day after .
A spokesman for Abbott told BBC , `` The study 's execution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were entirely performed by independent research organizations .
The publication of three-year Excel data reflects the original follow-up period and endpoints the study was powered to assess .
`` 5 Professor Nick Freemantle , a biostatistician at University College London , had a different view entirely , telling BBC:6 When the five-year data were factored in , there was evidence that stents were causing more deaths than bypass surgery .
According to Newsnight , “ [ T ] he unpublished data that used the universal definition to measure MI [ myocardial infarction ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with stents had heart attacks than those who had surgery.
’ ” 7 BBC News further reported that there were doubts even after three years:8 European clinical guidelines for treatment of left main coronary artery disease were drawn up based on the Excel trial , but the European Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery ( EACTS ) withdrew its support of the guidelines following the investigation.9 A statement from EACTS secretary-general , Domenico Pagano , says:10 Analysis of Data May Be Biased The study ’ s authors have stated that Newsnight was supplied with “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ methodology .
And a follow-up study , which includes five-year outcomes , also states that PCI is equivalent to CABG with regard to the rate of death , stroke or heart attack , although it states in the results , “ Death from any cause occurred more frequently in the PCI group than in the CABG group ( in 13.0 % vs. 9.9 % … ) .
” 11 According to Cardiovascular News:12 A number of surgical organizations and others have called for an independent review of the raw data used in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but there is concern that the reviewers may not be truly independent .
“ Various names have been put forward by the researchers and the European Society of Cardiology about who is doing the analysis .
All have ties to the researchers , guidelines process or medical device industry , ” BBC News reported.13 Stents No Better Than Drugs , Lifestyle Changes Results from ISCHEMIA , a $ 100-million study funded by the National Heart , Lung , and Blood Institute that looked into the use of stents versus medical therapy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients with heart disease , has added further questions surrounding the use of stents.14 The study , which involved 5,179 participants , revealed that people with stable heart disease who are treated with medications and lifestyle changes are no more at risk of heart attack or death than those who undergo invasive surgical procedures like stent placement or cardiac bypass surgery.15 This wasn ’ t true for those who also had angina , or chest pain caused by restricted blood flow to the heart .
In that case , stents or bypass surgery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the study suggests that for many people with heart disease , surgery may be unnecessary .
The results , which were presented at the 2019 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , are likely to change practice guidelines , according to commentators.16 Stent Placement May Be No Better Than Placebo In still other research published in The Lancet , researchers from Imperial College London investigated the difference between patients who had received a stent for stable angina and those who underwent a placebo intervention.17 The researchers recruited 200 participants with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the U.K.18 During the initial six weeks , all patients underwent an exercise test followed by intensive medical treatment .
At that point they were randomly assigned to two groups .
The first underwent a PCI during which coronary angioplasty was performed and a stent was placed .
The second group also underwent a PCI procedure with an angiogram but without a balloon angioplasty or stent placement .
For the following six weeks , neither the patient nor the physician knew if the patient received the stent .
At the conclusion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an exercise test and were questioned about their symptoms .
The researchers found both groups experienced nearly identical improvements in exercise tolerance and no difference in reported improvements of their symptoms .
Even though the PCI procedure may improve blood flow through the blocked artery , it did not improve symptoms or exercise tolerance in study participants .
Meanwhile , angioplasty is not without risk .
At least one serious side effect has occurred in 7.6 % of those undergoing angioplasty , according to one study.19 If you find out you have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response may be that you need to unblock it using invasive procedures , but there are alternatives .
A noninvasive alternative treatment covered by Medicare and used in university and specialty clinical settings like Cleveland Clinic20 is enhanced external counterpulsation ( EECP ) .
This is a painless treatment used to help develop collateral circulation in your heart muscle .
If you have blockage in your left anterior descending artery the procedure is not recommended .
During the treatment , long inflatable cuffs are wrapped around your legs and buttocks .
An electrocardiogram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cuffs with the rhythm of your heart .
While your heart is at rest between beats , the cuffs inflate and squeeze blood from your legs toward your core .
Physicians use this procedure to treat stable and unstable angina , chronic heart failure , coronary artery disease and ischemic cardiomyopathy .
The additional pressure from the treatment triggers your body to form new blood vessels and thereby improve collateral circulation in your heart .
In the video above , Dr. Thomas Cowan , family physician and a founding member of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discusses the function of your heart and circulatory system in a way that may change the way you understand heart disease .
Meanwhile , foundational principles to improve your heart health include positive nutritional choices , quality sleep , pure , fresh water and exercise .
These principles — diet , exercise , stress reduction and heart-based connections — actually alter gene expression involved in the development of heart disease , and to greatly reduce your risk , including the need for stent placement or other related surgery , read about my top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


mercola--2020-03-10--Six of 10 Vaccines Studied Increase Mortality

The December 27 , 2019 , Science News DK article,1 “ Vaccines — An Unresolved Story in Many Ways , ” touches on one of the crucial talking points of vaccine safety and informed consent advocates , which is the intentional cover-up of real-world vaccine injuries and deaths .
While the vaccine industry and most public health organizations insist vaccines are universally safe and effective and that the science on this “ is settled , ” much of the actual data tells a very different story .
‘ Vaccination Opponents Are Justified in Being Concerned ’ The problem is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much less take the time to interpret it and , thus , the lie , through simple repetition , becomes “ established fact.
” As noted in the Science News DK article : So , where are the headlines declaring the scientific conclusion that vaccination opponents are justified in their concern ?
As expected , the information — published in Clinical Microbiology and Infections2 — has not been well received by health authorities , including the World Health Organization .
It ’ s been largely ignored wholesale .
This , despite the researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effects of vaccines in their paper .
“ Communicating this message is a little easier , ” admits Stabell Benn , one of the authors of the paper .
The fact , though , is that while there appear to be benefits , there also appear to be significant drawbacks and risks , and this too needs to be fully acknowledged , especially in light of the current march toward medical fascism where people who point out potential problems are branded as dangerous and threatened with everything from loss of employment to imprisonment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Increase Mortality As reported in “ Vaccines — An Unresolved Story in Many Ways , ” 3 a new high titer measles vaccine rolled out in Africa in 1989 was found to double mortality from other diseases in girls .
At first , the WHO refused to believe the results .
The WHO didn ’ t withdraw the vaccine until 1992 , after studies in Haiti , Sudan and other countries confirmed that female young children were dying in higher numbers .
During the 1990s , Stabell Benn and her colleague Peter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other vaccines on overall mortality , coming to the shocking conclusion that six of the 10 vaccines investigated actually INCREASED mortality by rendering children more susceptible to other lethal diseases .
The diphtheria , tetanus and pertussis ( whooping cough ) vaccine ( DTP ) had the same disastrous effect as the measles vaccine — it doubled mortality among children under the age of 5 , and girls were again more likely to die .
Overall , live attenuated vaccines — the older measles vaccine , the bacillus Calmette-Gueri against tuberculosis , oral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all seemed to offer nonspecific protection against deadly diseases , contributing to lowering overall mortality .
Inactivated ( non-live ) vaccines , on the other hand — the DTP , pentavalent vaccine , inactivated polio vaccine , H1N1 influenza vaccine and the hepatitis B vaccine — increased overall mortality , especially among girls , even when they offered a high degree of protection against the target disease .
More recently , GlaxoSmithKline ’ s antimalarial vaccine ( RTS , S/AS01 or RTS , S , sold under the brand name Mosquirix ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 36.3 % protection against malaria depending on the age group,4 was also found to increase overall mortality .
As reported by “ Vaccines — An Unresolved Story in Many Ways , ” “ Overall mortality was 24 % higher among people who had been vaccinated against malaria compared with unvaccinated individuals.
” Stabell Benn told Science News DK:5 Stabell Benn also admits she “ would not voluntarily give my newborn the hepatitis B vaccine let alone want to be forced to do it , ” considering its hazards .
She told Science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s disturbing findings , showing GlaxoSmithKline ’ s new antimalarial vaccine doubles mortality among girls , the WHO went ahead and introduced the vaccine in Malawi , Ghana and Kenya anyway .
January 24 , 2020 , Stabell Benn , Aaby and colleagues published a pointed analysis7 in The BMJ , noting that Phase 3 trials of the vaccine have already identified three safety concerns : • Increased risk of meningitis ( 10 times higher that of unvaccinated individuals ) The WHO is now planning to decide whether to extend the vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s only been in use for 24 months .
This is problematic , as the initial data tend to provide a skewed view of the vaccine ’ s safety and effectiveness .
According to Stabell Benn and Aaby , the vaccine appeared to be “ more efficacious in the first year to follow-up in the Phase 3 trials.
” The rise in cerebral malaria and female mortality doesn ’ t become apparent until after the booster dose , which is given 20 months after the first dose .
“ We recommend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mortality ’ to assess vaccine performance and that study populations are followed for the full four to five years of the study before a decision on rollout is made , ” the authors state.9 A February 26 , 2020 , BMJ special report10 by associate editor Peter Doshi brings up yet another malaria vaccine-related concern — that of informed consent or , rather , the lack of it .
Doshi reports that “ WHO ’ s malaria vaccine study represents a serious breach of international ethical standards , ” as there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in the study .
He writes:11 WHO training materials shared with The BMJ do not mention the doubled risk of death among girls , Doshi points out .
It ’ s also unclear whether the WHO ’ s Research Ethics Review Committee has formally waived the informed consent requirement , and WHO did not answer the question directly .
McGill bioethicist Jonathan Kimmelman told Doshi that human subjects in research trials must provide informed consent , and that since the Malaria Vaccine Evaluation Programme in Malawi , Ghana and Kenya has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducted as research , and thus must conform to “ all sorts of rules and oversight mechanisms.
” The WHO has also come under fire for changes that make it even easier than before for vaccine makers and researchers to hide adverse events .
The 2018 paper , “ Revised World Health Organization ’ s Causality Assessment of Adverse Events Following Immunization — A Critique , ” makes a number of salient points:13 In my 2013 article , “ Pulling Back the Curtain on the Organized Crime Ring That Is the Pharmaceutical Drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant portion of corporate crime is committed by drug companies .
Crimes committed by some of the most well-known drug companies include : • Covering up serious problems with their drugs • Bribery , illegal kick-backs , and defrauding Medicare , Medicaid and even the FDA • Immoral threat and intimidation tactics ( recall Merck actually had a hit list of doctors to be `` neutralized '' or discredited for criticizing the lethally dangerous painkiller Vioxx ) More recently , the Children ’ s Health Defense , chaired by Robert F. Kennedy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine science .
Kennedy says the fraud Merck committed in its safety testing is ( a ) testing Gardasil against a neurotoxic placebo , and ( b ) hiding a 2.3 % incidence of autoimmune disease occurring within seven months of vaccination .
On average , 1 in 43,478 women will die from cervical cancer .
If 2.3 % of girls develop an autoimmune disease from Gardasil , then that translates into 1,000 per 43,500 .
Even if a 1 in 43,478 chance of dying from cancer is eliminated ( which there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and young women trade that risk elimination for a much larger 1 in 43 chance of getting an autoimmune disease from the vaccine .
Kennedy also describes another trick used by Merck to skew results : exclusion criteria .
By selecting trial participants that do not reflect the general population , they mask potentially injurious effects on vulnerable subgroups .
For example , individuals with severe allergies and prior genital infections were excluded , as were those who ’ d had more than four sex partners , those with a history of immunological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , seizure disorders , other medical conditions , reactions to vaccine ingredients such as aluminum , yeast and benzonase , and anyone with a history of drug or alcohol abuse .
Despite these deceptions , Merck ’ s own trial data still reveal Gardasil increases the overall risk of death by 370 % and the risk of a serious medical condition by 50 % .
Since its U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in 2006,15 Gardasil has raised a firestorm of controversy , as young , healthy girls ( and boys ) have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
In January 2020 , the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine published16 a critique of Merck ’ s clinical trials for Gardasil , stating they were never designed to detect whether HPV vaccination actually prevents cervical cancer .
Disturbingly , Merck ’ s trial data even shows Gardasil may actually increase the risk of cervical cancer if given after HPV infection.17 If you have been exposed to HPV strains 16 or 18 prior to vaccination , you may increase your risk of precancerous lesions caused by these two strains by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cancer Research UK announced the cervical cancer rate among 24- to 29-year-olds ( the first generation to receive the HPV vaccine ) has skyrocketed by 54 % .18,19,20 Similarly , a 2019 study21 found the cervical cancer rates in Alabama are highest in counties with the highest HPV vaccination rate .
A 2012 systematic review22 of pre- and post-licensure trials of the HPV vaccine also concluded that the vaccine ’ s effectiveness is both overstated and unproven .
According to the authors , the review revealed : A December 2017 Slate magazine article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trials were intentionally hiding safety risks .
The public has been told HPV vaccines marketed in the U.S. have been tested on tens of thousands of individuals around the world , without any compelling evidence of serious side effects having emerged .
In fact , those studies were designed in such a way that makes detecting and evaluating serious side effects essentially impossible .
One of the most egregious examples of this is the recording of serious side effects as “ medical history ” rather than vaccine adverse events .
When adverse events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical history ” instead of being tagged and investigated as potential side effects , is it any wonder “ no side effects have been found ” in any of these trials !
?
Actually , even that statement is a gross misstatement of facts , as at least one Gardasil trial of the new nine-valent vaccine reported 9.7 % of subjects who received the vaccine suffered “ severe systemic adverse events ” affecting multiple organ systems within 15 days of vaccination , and 3.3 % reported “ severe vaccine-related adverse events.
” 23 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Google and most major internet platforms are now actively censoring vaccine safety news , preventing the sharing of information that questions vaccine safety or highlights the dangers associated with routine immunizations .
They ’ re even blocking first-hand testimony of vaccine harms .
That ’ s precisely what happened to Nick Catone , a former professional mixed martial arts fighter , who blames the DTaP vaccine for the death of his 20-month-old son .
His son , Nicholas , died just 17 days after vaccination.24 In the wake of Nicholas ’ death , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online memorial where he shared and processed his grief daily .
February 25 , 2020 , Facebook permanently removed his account without warning , which included not only Nicholas ’ memorial page , but also Catone ’ s business and fan pages .
“ One of our main priorities is the comfort and safety of the people who use Facebook , and we don ’ t allow credible threats of harm to others , support for violent organizations or exceedingly graphic content on Facebook , ” the Facebook notification reads,25 suggesting Catone ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grounds that he was spreading dangerous anti-vaccine propaganda that might hurt public health .
February 26 , 2020 , Catone posted the following note to Instagram:26 Clearly , Catone has cause to be suspicious .
A perfectly healthy child doesn ’ t just die for no reason , and classifying injuries and deaths shortly after immunization as “ coincidental ” simply doesn ’ t confer trust .
I ’ ve said it before , and I ’ ll say it again : The public ’ s growing distrust of vaccines is not due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they don ’ t understand .
It ’ s driven by an ever-growing number of parents who have lost their children or watched them regress into chronic poor health after being told vaccines are perfectly safe and essential — a “ promise ” based on falsified or shoddily constructed studies designed to hide rather than reveal safety problems .


mercola--2020-03-10--Why Bill Gates Is Accelerating a Toxic Food System

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest charitable foundation in the world , with a trust endowment valued at $ 48 billion1 and yearly grant payments in excess of $ 5 billion annually.2 In addition to being one of the largest contributors to the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , with heavy involvement in global public health , the Gates Foundation is deeply involved in agricultural development .
Their website lists four strategic goals as being key to their goal to drive agricultural transformation:3 It 's a noble cause but one that 's being carried out using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeds and corporate control — interests that undermine regenerative , sustainable , small-scale farming .
In a report by Global Justice Now , the excessive global influence held by the Gates Foundation is illustrated , starting with the $ 2 billion the foundation has spent on agriculture , primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia .
`` It is the world 's fifth largest donor to agriculture , spending $ 389 million in 2013 ; only Germany , Japan , Norway and the U.S. have larger bilateral aid programs to agriculture , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With funding comes in influence .
`` 4 Indeed , in February 2012 , when the Gates Foundation announced a $ 200 million donation to the International Fund for Agricultural Development , Gates talked of the importance of brining `` agricultural science and technology to poor farmers .
`` 5 These are buzzwords that imply genetically modified organisms ( GMOs ) and biotechnology , which are heavily favored by the Gates Foundation .
The No .
1 strategy invested in to drive agricultural change is , in fact , `` new products , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approaches to advance inclusive agricultural transformation .
These products may include new livestock vaccines , or new traits that increase a crop 's drought tolerance , '' i.e.
, GMOs , the Gates Foundation website states.6 As further noted by Global Justice Now:7 The Gates Foundation funds the Cornell Alliance for Science , which is essentially a front group for the agrichemical industry , which makes sense , since Gates has also bought millions of dollars ' worth of shares in Monsanto stock , according to AlterNet ( and also invested in soy- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He 's also furthering the Green Revolution , the Rockefeller Foundation-funded conversion of natural farming to a system dependent on chemicals , fossil fuels and industry , and in so doing , `` Bill Gates is continuing the work of Monsanto , '' Vandana Shiva , environmental activist and anti-globalization author , stated in an interview with France 24 .
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa ( AGRA ) , which has received about $ 420 million from the Gates Foundation , is essentially a Gates Foundation subsidiary , and while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beneficial , most of its goals are centered on promoting biotechnology and chemical fertilizers .
`` The main problem with AGRA , '' Global Justice Now explains , `` is that it is laying the groundwork for the deeper penetration of African agriculture by agribusiness corporations , '' and:9 Gates Foundation May Be the Biggest Funder of GMO Research Another red flag into the Gates ' Foundations antiregenerative intentions is its heavy funding of research into genetic engineering ( GE ) .
Global Justice Now states the Gates Foundation is `` probably the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genetic modification ] research in the global south , '' noting:10 In addition to funding GE research , the Gates Foundation has funded public relations activities that support the widespread adoption of GMOs , including influencing national regulations that favor GE technologies .
Meanwhile , the Gates Foundation is targeting new markets in Africa to implement the adoption of these new GE products .
In Africa , more than 80 % of the seed supply comes from small farmers recycling , saving and exchanging seeds each year , but AGRA is pushing patented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corporations to control the seed supply , production and distribution , forcing small farmers to be dependent on them for their very livelihoods to continue.12 Keep in mind , too , that a whopping 35 % of cereal and soy , much of it GE , harvested globally is fed to animals being raised on CAFOs ( concentrated animal feeding operations ) .13 Where you could once find locally grown food nearby , we 're now very much dependent on the industrial agriculture complex for our very sustenance .
By taking the power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the hands of multinational corporations like Monsanto , we have a worrying consolidation and industrialization of agriculture and the food supply .
To put the Gates Foundation in perspective , Global Research noted:14 The Gates Foundation 's continued support of chemical-intensive industrial agriculture is detrimental for human health .
In March 2015 , the International Agency for Research on Cancer ( IARC ) , which is the research arm of the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , determined glyphosate to be a `` probable carcinogen '' ( Class 2A ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ acquired by Bayer in June 2018 ) , has been inundated by lawsuits from people claiming their cancer was caused by Roundup , which contains glyphosate as its active ingredient .
In the U.S. , approximately 42,700 U.S. lawsuits from individuals alleging that glyphosate caused them to develop cancer have already been filed.15 Bayer is in settlement talks to resolve the litigation but continues to deny that the chemical causes cancer .
Ken Feinber , a court-appointed mediator , stated in January 2020 that Roundup cancer claimants could surpass 75,000.16 Research published in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low concentrations ( in parts per trillion ) may induce cancer in cells when combined with microRNA-182-5p ( miR182-5p ) .17 Likewise , in a comprehensive analysis of glyphosate exposure over a lifetime in animals , its carcinogenicity was further revealed , with `` 37 significant tumor findings . ''
Researchers stated:18 In the first three Roundup-cancer cases to go to trial , Bayer has been ordered to pay billions of dollars to the plaintiffs , although the awards were later slashed to the tens of millions range .
Now , in February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was instrumental in the Monsanto acquisition , announced he was stepping down , effective April 2020.19 It 's the latest upheaval for the company which , in 2019 , saw 55.5 % of its shareholders vote against ratifying the management 's actions.20 In response to the minority percentage of votes in favor of ratifying the actions of Bayer 's board of management , the company 's supervisory board said it would stand behind them , including in their efforts to appeal the trials concerning glyphosate .
`` While we take the outcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' meeting very seriously , Bayer 's supervisory board unanimously stands behind the board of management , '' Wenning said in a news release in April 2019.21 '' The outcome of the vote … does nonetheless show that the annual stockholders ' meeting wanted to send a clear signal to the board of management that Bayer AG should bring out the company 's strengths to a greater extent in the future .
`` 22 While some questioned the timing of Wenning stepping down amid settlement talks for the glyphosate lawsuits , Wenning said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made and continue to make progress in handling the legal issues in the U.S. That 's why now is a good time to hand over to my successor .
`` 23 Thousands of Farmers Lining up to Sue for Dicamba Drift Dicamba , a highly volatile herbicide known for drifting and damaging off-target crops , is another example of industrial agriculture gone wrong .
Millions of acres across the U.S. have been damaged by dicamba drift,24 and there 's also disturbing information that the chemical is harming trees .
Dicamba use has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those experiencing damaged crops blame neighboring farms for spraying dicamba .
Lawsuits are now springing up , including the case of a Missouri peach farm , which was awarded $ 265 million in compensatory and punitive damages due to dicamba damage .
More than 2,000 U.S. farmers have since stepped up with additional dicamba damage to their crops and are likely to be included in upcoming dicamba-damage lawsuits against dicamba makers Bayer and BASF.25 What many people do n't realize is that pesticides are not the answer to productive agriculture and feeding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that most farmers could cut pesticide usage by 40 % without harming their production .
Eighty-six percent of these farms would even improve their production as a result,26 so why is n't this something the Gates Foundation is standing behind ?
To opt-out of the madness , seek out non-GMO , organic foods as much as possible , and support farmers who are using regenerative and biodynamic farming principles instead of chemical pesticides .
The fact remains that one of the best ways to fight back against the multinational corporations and industry-controlled front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food supply is to make an effort to support the farmers who are farming the right way , using regenerative farming techniques — without the help of GMOs , Roundup , dicamba and other toxic agricultural chemicals .


mercola--2020-03-09--Weekly Health Quiz: Sugar, Stroke and Herbicides

1 Which of the following amino acids are considered `` essential , '' as your body can not produce them and must obtain them from your diet ?
• There are 20 basic amino acids that make up the proteins in your body .
Nine of them — histidine , isoleucine , leucine , lysine , methionine , phenylalanine , tryptophan , threonine and valine — are considered `` essential '' as they must be obtained from your diet .
Moringa is an excellent protein source , containing 19 amino acids in total , including all nine essential amino acids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 40,000 plaintiffs , which of the following herbicides is accused of having caused their non-Hodgkin lymphoma ?
• More than 40,000 people in the U.S. have filed lawsuits alleging exposure to Roundup is the cause of their cancer .
Once a rare cancer , non-Hodgkin lymphoma is now the seventh most common cancer in U.S. men and women .
Learn more .
3 Recent research found the more added sugar your diet contains , the : • None Higher your intake of important vitamins and minerals • None Lower your intake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent research , the more added sugar your diet contains , the lower your intake of important micronutrients such as calcium , folate , iron , magnesium , potassium , selenium , vitamin C , vitamin D and zinc .
Learn more .
• None More likely you are to exercise • None The less likely you are to exercise 4 When suffering a stroke , when is the right time to start neurocognitive training to optimize neuroplasticity and recovery of lost function ?
• None Immediately ( in the ambulance or in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's imperative to rapidly implement neurocognitive training after a stroke , as your brain circuits need the proper stimulus to reroute and make new connections .
Ideally , start as you 've been diagnosed with a stroke at the hospital , or even while you 're in the ambulance to the hospital .
Learn more .
• None Within one to three weeks 5 Who headed up the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 2002 and 2009 , and in 2010 became the president of Merck 's vaccine division ?
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 2002 and 2009 .
After leaving the CDC , she took over Merck 's vaccine division , where she has so far made more than $ 16.5 million on company stock options alone .
Learn more .
6 Which of the following is the most important in terms of priming a child 's immune system to make it function optimally ?
• Microorganisms in your gastrointestinal tract play an integral part in your health .
The groundwork for your microbiome is laid from birth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother during vaginal delivery , which primes their immune system so that it can learn to function optimally .
Skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding also provide valuable microbes .
Learn more .
• None Feeding only raw foods during first two years of life • None Skin-to-skin contact directly after birth and during infancy 7 Vaccine research and development taking place in Biosafety Level 3 and 4 laboratories is primarily conducted for the purpose of creating : • None Vaccines against weaponized pathogens developed in the same or similar lab Vaccine research and development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 laboratories is primarily conducted for the purpose of creating vaccines against weaponized pathogens developed in the same ( or similar ) laboratory , so that when used as a bioweapon , the nation can protect its own allies .
Learn more .
• None Vaccines against hitherto unknown disease-causing pathogens that may arise from the bombardment of the earth by meteor showers


mercola--2020-03-09--Chicory in Your Salad or Coffee Is Great for Digestion

The common chicory ( Cichorium intybus ) is an herb belonging to the Asteraceae family and is native to Europe .
It is versatile and often grown as fodder for livestock .
Traditionally , most parts of the plant are used in cooking and medicine .
Chicory has a woody stem , long taproot and bright blue flowers .
More rarely you may find it with white or pink flowers.1 Currently the plant is cultivated throughout the Netherlands , France and Germany and is so common it may be found growing along the roadside in temperate regions to a height @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a healthy addition to your meals as it contains a variety of vitamins including A , B6 , C , E and K. The plant also contains calcium , iron , manganese , potassium and zinc .
It is rich in inulin , which is why it ’ s believed to carry numerous digestive health benefits .
Some varieties are cultivated for salads and others for the long taproot that is baked , ground and either added to coffee or used as a coffee substitute.3 Chicory has a long list of roles it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an antioxidant , anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial .
It ’ s also gastroprotective without all the side effects you might experience with medicines made from chemicals .
The history of chicory can be traced back to ancient Egypt in writings in the Ebers Papyrus dated about 4,000 BC .
A Greek doctor was the first to write about the restorative powers of the plant.4 Horace , Virgil and Pliny the Elder all wrote about the health benefits of chicory .
By the 1600s monks were raising the plants and the Dutch discovered chicory could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taste .
One of the benefits when used in coffee is that it 's more soluble , which means you can use less of it when brewing coffee .
The mixture of chicory and coffee likely began in Holland , but it was n't until 1801 when it was introduced to France that it became popular .
Once brought to the U.S. in the 1800s,5 it grew in popularity with coffee aficionados and became synonymous with New Orleans traditions.6 By 1840 , New Orleans was importing more coffee than all but one other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using chicory to flavor their favorite beverage .
It was during the U.S. Civil War that chicory became popular as a way to stretch coffee supplies , since shipments were being held up by the Union Army before reaching port .
During shortages in the Great Depression , chicory coffee was used again as it 's more economical and helps to stretch supplies .
But New Orleans natives , having embraced chicory as an essential part of coffee history , believe it 's all about tradition and taste .
The gut-brain axis is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary brain in your head and what is referred to as your “ secondary brain ” in your gut .
This communication links your cognitive center and emotional responses with your intestinal function.7 The importance of your gut microbiota to these interactions can not be overstated .
Clinically , the evidence of dysbiosis in central nervous system disorders such as anxiety and depression , is evident .
Thus , it is important to care for your gut microbiota for more reasons than you may have thought .
For instance , alterations in diet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children with neurological issues such as autism and seizure disorders.8 By addressing the gut-brain interaction through correcting digestive imbalances , you can impact physical and mental health .
Chicory offers a unique and powerful means of changing your gut microbiota and improving your gut-brain axis .
Many of the health benefits are associated with the prebiotic fiber called inulin .
Although it is indigestible , it helps nourish beneficial bacteria found in your gut .
Once in your intestines , inulin ferments and is converted to short-chain fatty acids ( SCFAs ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lona Sandon , Ph.D. , from the University of Texas , commented on the way SCFAs are used:9 Caring for the Gut Supports Brain and Immune Health Inulin has also been found to increase the concentration of beneficial bacteria in the gut .
Using 12 volunteers who ingested 10 grams per day of inulin for 16 days , scientists compared their fecal samples with those in a control group who did not take any supplements .
They wrote:10 A second bacterial species11 that responds well to the addition of inulin to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beneficial to your gut microbiota , and ultimately to your health .
The growth of beneficial bacteria helps reduce your risk of leaky gut by producing nutrients that protect the lining of your intestines .
Acid reflux , heartburn and indigestion appear to respond to the addition of inulin to your daily nutrition as it helps reduce the body ’ s acidity.12 The anti-inflammatory properties of chicory root13 and its ability to boost beneficial bacteria may influence symptoms of inflammation in the bowel .
Chicory ’ s sedative qualities may help reduce anxiety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alternative to sleeping pills.14 It ’ s estimated that 16 % of the general population deals with chronic constipation.15 While many will experience this as a temporary problem linked to a change in diet or hydration , chronic constipation is characterized by hard , dry , difficult-to-pass stools that happen less than three times per week .
Some of the more serious health problems associated with chronic constipation include colorectal cancer16 and kidney disease.17 Although the condition can cause significant health problems , thankfully the most common causes — not getting enough fiber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first step is to add fiber .
Foods rich in inulin are a good choice for adding bulk to the stool and improving intestinal movement , which in turn helps reduce constipation .
It ’ s important to stay hydrated as well or the additional fiber will make things worse when your body attempts to maintain hydration by pulling water from your intestines .
Since inulin is resistant to digestion it 's fermented in the colon , accounting for the increasing microbial biomass in the stool.19 In one randomized , double-blind , placebo-controlled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers wrote:20 In addition to affecting older adults more than others , the risks associated with chronic constipation are greater in the elderly.21 The loss of mobility , the use of multiple medications and/or ignoring calls to defecate may increase risks leading to impaction and incontinence .
As stool gets lodged in the colon or rectum , liquid stool can bypass the impaction and be mistaken for diarrhea .
In the elderly , an impaction can increase the risk of confusion , ulceration , intestinal obstruction or bowel perforation .
These problems can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one study,22 supplementation with 15 g of chicory inulin was assessed in an elderly population , evaluating bacterial levels in the stool as well as the impact consumption would have on constipation .
After 28 days the researchers found that those taking inulin experienced satisfaction with their digestion and reported a reduction in difficulty with having a bowel movement .
Some reported flatulence ( gas ) but not enough discomfort to stop taking the supplements .
Obesity is more than a major global health issue — It ’ s actually considered an epidemic.23 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 billion overweight adults worldwide , of which 650 million are obese .
These numbers mean 39 % of all adults ages 18 and older are overweight .
Following a reasonable weight loss and weight management program increases your potential for successfully reaching your goal .
Including foods high in inulin , like chicory or chicory coffee , can help you achieve your desired results .
This is because inulin can help promote weight loss and increase feelings of satiety .
Inulin helps regulate ghrelin , a hormone associated with food seeking behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impact chicory could have on the weight loss process by reducing ghrelin and thus the drive to overeat .
They found that ghrelin was lowered when the rats were fed oligofructose , a subgroup of inulin.25 In a recent pilot study26 involving animals , researchers sought to address the prebiotic effects chicory has on the gut microbiome as well as its possible effect on appetite control .
Over the course of five weeks with an intervention , researchers studied the modulation of bacterial groups in the animals .
At the same time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lab to study the effect inulin had on satiety hormones produced by the cells .
They found chicory root had a positive effect on the gut microbiome of the mice .
In the lab , tissue digestion of chicory root significantly increased the levels of satiety hormones , which may have in turn reduced appetites .
Consider the Side Effects of Chicory Although there are many benefits , like anything else too much of a good thing is not necessarily a better thing .
Women who are pregnant , planning to become pregnant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is because it can cause muscle contractions that may stimulate menstruation and lead to a miscarriage.27 If you have a history of allergies to daisies , ragweed or marigolds , an allergic reaction chicory is not uncommon as they belong to the same family .
Consult with your physician if you have any underlying medical conditions that may be affected by chicory , such as gallstones , since too much chicory can exacerbate gallstone symptoms .