Health News Summary from Dr. Joseph Mercola (posted 09/23/24). Selected headlines, stories at a glance, and PDF links.
All analyses below are by Dr. Mercola unless otherwise specified.
🩺 Why Is Low Blood Cholesterol Associated with Increased Late Life Mortality? (09/23/24)
Story at a Glance
Low cholesterol levels are associated with increased mortality risk in older adults
Cholesterol plays crucial roles in cell membrane structure, hormone production, vitamin D synthesis and nerve function. Adequate levels are especially important as we age.
Both very low and very high levels increase diabetes risk, with the lowest risk occurring at moderate levels.
Maintaining adequate cholesterol levels is important for brain health, particularly in post-menopausal women.
A possible relationship exists between low cholesterol and increased risk of blood cancers.
Cholesterol protects immune function and regulates cancer cell proliferation
🩺 Lyme Disease — The Quiet Epidemic (09/21/24)
Story at a Glance
Lyme disease affects 500,000 Americans annually, with up to 20% experiencing long-term symptoms.
Lyme disease mimics various conditions, leading to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. Symptoms resemble chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis and even Alzheimer's.
Standard testing and treatment protocols are unreliable.
The documentary — The Quiet Epidemic — highlights patients' struggles along with promising research in imaging techniques that could definitively detect Borrelia bacteria, which causes Lyme disease.
Needed: A shift in medical approaches to complex, chronic illnesses and improved diagnostic tools.
🩺The Vast Overtreatment of Blood Pressure (09/20/24). Reprint of an abridged article by A Midwestern Doctor
Source: midwesterndoctor.com/p/…
Story at a Glance
High blood pressure (hypertension) is increasingly common.
At least 25% of hypertension diagnoses are due to inaccurate measurements.
The cause of hypertension is unknown for over 90% of patients.
Aggressively treating blood pressure is believed to prevent cardiovascular disease but only has a limited effect on strokes, not heart disease.
The correlation between high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease is often misinterpreted; impaired circulation causes blood pressure to rise, not the other way around.
Article discusses the limitations of conventional blood pressure perspectives and the actual causes of high blood pressure (hypertension).
🩺 Aspirin's Forgotten Anticancer Function (09/19/24)
Story at a Glance
Aspirin shows promising anticancer properties for both cancer prevention and treatment. A more potent analog, 2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid, shows even greater promise.
Combining aspirin with vitamin C shrinks tumors and extends survival times better than either compound alone or conventional chemotherapy drugs, while being gentler on healthy cells
Long-term, low-dose aspirin use (75 mg+ daily for several years) can significantly reduce colorectal cancer incidence and mortality.
Beyond colorectal cancer, aspirin also could reduce risks for esophageal, stomach, lung, prostate and breast cancers, with overall cancer incidence potentially reduced by 20% to 30% after three to five years of use.
Choose immediate-release aspirin without additives. Optimal dosage ranges from 82 mg to 325 mg daily, taken with meals.
Genetic testing may help personalize aspirin use for cancer prevention in the future.
🩺 How Dairy Can Boost Fat Loss. By Ashley Armstrong (09/17/24)
Story at a Glance
Dairy products can aid fat loss and improve body composition.
Studies: High-calcium dairy diets led to greater fat loss, particularly belly fat, compared to standard low-calcium diets. There’s an inverse relationship between dairy intake and obesity risk
Dairy's weight loss benefits may come from its unique nutrient profile, including calcium, protein, and other minerals, rather than calcium alone. Calcium from dairy inhibits fat formation, increases fat oxidation, and preserves thermogenesis (heat production) during calorie-restricted diets.
Both low-fat and whole-fat dairy products can be part of a balanced, calorie-controlled diet for weight management.