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Don't become a victim of cholesterol lowering drugs!

5/15/2002 12:00:00 AM

Just about everyone knows the dangers associated with elevated levels of cholesterol and how it can lead to heart attacks and strokes. If you are a new subscriber you may not have read the information included in the two recent issues of XTEND-YOUR-LIFE dated the 3rd and 17th April 2002. These newsletters gave a general explanation of all the common markers for potential heart disease and stroke. I also recommended in those issues for you to arrange to have a blood test so you know what your 'markers' are, and how to understand what they mean.

In an effort to reduce the risks inherent with high cholesterol levels a relatively new class of cholesterol lowering drugs was developed and these have been taking the world by storm over the last few years.

You will no doubt have seen the adverts on TV and in magazines extolling the virtues of these drugs which are called 'statins' and are promoted under a variety of trade names, generally with 'statin' at the end of the name. Chances are that your Doctor may have already prescribed them to you.

Apart from these adverts the media in general have also been heavily pushing these drugs. Even the government is indirectly pushing them by coming out with aggressive new recommendations which suggest physicians should be prescribing more of these drugs even to relatively healthy individuals. It is projected that if these guidelines are followed that 36 million Americans alone will soon be taking these drugs...good news for the pharmaceutical companies who are already enjoying multi-billion dollar sales of statin drugs, thanks largely to massive PR and advertising.

Are you being led down the 'garden path'?

As a member of the public you must ask yourself, "am I being lead down the correct path? Is this the correct way to lower my cholesterol?" It would seem that it is the right path judging from the support these drugs appear to have from the media, the government, and the medical profession!

Typical of the support given to statin drugs was an item by ABC news on the 16th May last year by their health correspondent Dr Tim Johnson who has been singing the praises of statins for some time now.

You must question whether these types of articles that are being presented in ABC news and other media are based on impartial facts with your best interests in mind? Also...

• Are they being presented in good faith?
• Do they carry out research on alternatives?
• Are these news organizations or their executives influenced either by the PR machines of the pharmaceutical Companies or the Companies themselves?
• Do they receive benefits like many Physicians in the form of lavish all expenses paid 'conferences' in exotic locations for both them and their partners?

I'll be kind and say it's due to lack of effort in researching the alternative. In our opinion based on well researched facts the public is definitely being led down the 'garden path'...

Dangerous Side Effects!

It has been known for some time (well before the ABC article) that these drugs are dangerous. In fact it wasn't long after the ABC article that one of the FDA approved statin drugs 'Baycol' was taken off the market due to many deaths and other side effect problems. Right from the outset it has been known that these drugs can cause liver problems...in fact, this is even referred to in the ABC article but downplayed. (Note: The cause of the deaths in the Baycol case was through a different side effect)

The liver risks have been well documented, as have aching muscle pain and sexual dysfunction problems including reports of impotence whilst the drug is being ingested. Recent research in Switzerland also indicates that statin drugs can suppress your immune system... very undesirable!

More recently, the Wall Street Health Journal on the 1st Feb 2002 raised other ADDITIONAL side effect concerns which have been reported by Doctors and patients. These are:

• Memory loss
• Personality changes
• Irritability

The National Institute of Health has now initiated an independent study to examine the side effects of statin drugs. Unfortunately it will be 2004 before their studies are complete which means the debilitating side effects will continue in the meantime with millions of patients.

Most people when confronted with these facts take the attitude that the side effect risks are worth it for the benefits that accrue from the use of these drugs... and besides there is no natural alternative!

BUT, there is a Natural Alternative!

Not only is the alternative natural and without side effects, it costs a lot less AND it is more effective!

Normally it is hard to find natural alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs in which the efficacy of the substance is backed up by peer reviewed multiple, double blind clinical trials which have been written up in medical journals. But, this is exactly what has happened with a natural ingredient extracted from the wax of sugar cane.

In hundreds of professional clinical trials and studies this ingredient has consistently outperformed the statin drugs in lowering overall cholesterol. Even better it has been proven to be more effective than the statins in raising HDL... the good cholesterol. And best of all there are NO side effects other than it appears to help overweight people lose weight.

This substance is not the only one that can help naturally lower high cholesterol levels. There is another herb which has been used in India for the last 2,000 years which has been proven in recent clinical trials to outperform the statin drugs, with NO side effects. This substance has another welcome benefit...it helps by lowering triglycerides as well as assisting obese people to normalize their weight. Also, interestingly it has been shown to outperform tetracycline in clearing up acne.

These are the two key substances in reducing cholesterol naturally. There are others with anecdotal evidence of efficacy, plus others which when combined with the above can improve overall efficacy.

A new Professional natural cholesterol formula from XTEND-LIFE

We have been working for months on this new product, the brief of which was to develop the most effective NATURAL cholesterol lowering dietary supplement in the world. It had to outperform the statin drugs...with no side effects, cost a lot less and be superior to any other dietary supplement in the market and give excellent value for money.

I am pleased to report that this development has been successful. The final product is called 'XTEND-LIFE Natural CHOLESTEROL Formula' which is a professional 'cocktail' of natural substances which according to the latest scientific data will be just what people who have high cholesterol need to safely normalize their levels. The cost of a months supply is only $32.95, or $26.77 if you join the loyalty program.

To read more about this truly remarkable product, and to access links to the clinical trials, studies and references please click here.

Until the next issue,

In good health

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Subscribers and customers are invited to submit questions for inclusion within this newsletter. Space does not permit the publication of all Q & A's, but we promise to answer all questions directly. Your questions are considered confidential and only your first name and last initial with State or Country will be published. To ask a question please contact us.

Jenny W of Seattle, WZ writes:

I read your last issue about insulin with considerable interest. I have been trying to lose weight for the last 10 years... unsuccessfully I might add. I eat a very low fat diet but I just can't seem to make any progress. I don't eat much and I'm hungry all the time. I have a few snacks during the day. I must admit also that I have the odd candy. Do you think that this could be part of the reason why I'm not making any progress?

Warren Matthews answers:

I would think that it is very likely that your candies combined with your low fat diet could have much to do with your 'stalemate'. The problem with this sort of diet is that you can never be satisfied and as such you will always be hungry. Try to replace your snacks with some good nuts... macadamia, almond and brazil. It's amazing how filling and satisfying a small handful of these can be. Have them with a cup of green or peppermint tea or some other herbal tea that you like.

Some people will tell you not to eat nuts because they are high in fat. Whereas that is true, the fat in nuts is not harmful but rather very beneficial if eaten in moderation. If you eliminate too many foods which naturally contain fat you will never be satisfied and you will never get rid of your cravings which means in turn you will continue to eat foods high in sugar and you will never break out of your 'stalemate'.

If you eat cereals for breakfast go to your local health food shop and find a natural sugar free muesli which you like. Get some flax seed granules and mix them in it and use fresh grape fruit juice instead of milk. Don't use commercial orange juice. Have the occasional hard boiled egg as a snack for a change.