Tag Archives: statins

Probiotic for your Heart?

fixitplan newsL. Reuteri – A probiotic that targets cardiovascular disease

As promised in the Progress Report I posted a few weeks ago, I want to tell you about something new we’ve learned.   It all started during Bill’s checkup in April last year when Dr. Crandall encouraged us to look into a probiotic for heart health.  Well.. you don’t have to ask me twice!  I researched it as soon as I got home, and Bill started taking it that very week.  It’s called Lactobacillus Reuteri 30242, or more commonly known as L. Reuteri.  It’s a specific strain of Lactobacillus–a friendly bacteria that lives in our bodies and is found in some fermented foods like yogurt. These friendly bacteria are also called probiotics.

fixitplan L. Reuteri for heart health
By Reyesangel3 (Own work) CC BY-SA 3.0

The American Heart Association reported this probiotic lowers bad (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol in people with high cholesterol.  In the study, a dosage of 100 mg taken twice daily was used, and after only 9 weeks total cholesterol dropped an average of 9.1% and LDL dropped 11.6% as compared to the study participants taking the placebo.

And so did Bill’s!  He began taking L. Reuteri in April in a dose of 2.5 Billion CFU (colony forming units) twice daily with food.  At the end of September his new lipid profile showed his total cholesterol had dropped 6.9% Continue reading Probiotic for your Heart?

Progress Report Spring 2014

DRUMROLL PLEASE!

Progress Report Progress Report Fix It PlanBill is all the way back!

Bill is Back thanks to Fix It Plan

I have some fantastic news to share about Bill’s latest progress report!  It works!  He’s off the meds!  He’s no longer required to take any prescription medication.   His blood pressure is stable, lipid profile excellent, and he’s maintaining his weight loss.  This was our target, a major goal in this journey–reversing his heart disease.  It symbolizes a younger, healthier Bill. Continue reading Progress Report Spring 2014

Progress Report

Progress Report Progress Report Fix It Planand Dr. Crandall’s new book!

Dr. Chauncey Crandall, author of Fix It and The Simple Heart Cure, congratulates Bill on his progress to reverse his heart disease.       I’ll never forget the look on Dr. Crandall’s face as he joined us in the exam room and spotted Bill!  His expression broke into an irrepressible, ear to ear grin.  He kept saying how great he looked, patting Bill’s shoulders and back and nodding approval all the while.  “This is really good, what have you been doing?” he wanted to know.  And Bill said “Dr. Crandall, I’ve been doing exactly what you told me to do!” This had turned into a pretty good start to our review of Bill’s latest lab work.  His weight was down 20 more pounds (total 42), he’d “graduated” from cardiac rehab and was working out almost daily. Continue reading Progress Report

Do you know anyone taking a statin drug?

Statins and Coenzyme Q10

Chances are, if you’re reading this you’re either taking a statin to lower your cholesterol, or you know someone who is.  Besides lowering cholesterol levels, statins are purported to have significant anti-inflammatory and plaque-stabilizing effects, so if you’ve had a heart event, such as a stent or an attack, your doctor has likely prescribed a statin, even if your cholesterol levels are under control.

What many don’t realize (and too often your doctor doesn’t tell you) is that statin drugs also reduce your body’s natural function of producing Coenzyme Q10, because the pathway in the body that naturally produces cholesterol is also responsible for the production of Coenzyme Q10.

Statins-coq10

Continue reading Do you know anyone taking a statin drug?