Here is a video from the University of Calgary showing that mercury causes brain neuron degeneration as seen in Alzheimer’s disease.

Aspirin use lowers the risk of a cardiovascular event—heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death—by 11% and increases the risk of a major bleed by 43% according to a new meta analysis in JAMA that analyzed 13 aspirin trials randomizing 164, 225 participants.

The one-fifth of people consuming the most protein from meat were 61% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease over an average follow-up of 9.4 years compared to the one-fifth of people consuming the least according to a new study from researchers at Loma Linda University.

This was after adjusting for lifestyle factors.

“Associations between the ‘Meat’ and ‘Nuts & Seeds’ protein factors and cardiovascular outcomes were strong and could not be ascribed to other associated nutrients considered to be important for cardiovascular health,” the study concluded.

“Our results suggest that healthy choices can be advocated based on protein sources, specifically preferring diets low in meat intake and with a higher intake of plant proteins from nuts and seeds.”

The one-fifth of people consuming the most protein from nuts & seems were 40% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease over an average follow-up of 9.4 years compared to the one-fifth of people consuming the least according to a new study from researchers at Loma Linda University.

This was after adjusting for lifestyle factors.

“Associations between the ‘Meat’ and ‘Nuts & Seeds’ protein factors and cardiovascular outcomes were strong and could not be ascribed to other associated nutrients considered to be important for cardiovascular health,” the study concluded.

“Our results suggest that healthy choices can be advocated based on protein sources, specifically preferring diets low in meat intake and with a higher intake of plant proteins from nuts and seeds.”

Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, author of The Great Cholesterol Con and the book Doctoring Data, wrote a terrific article summarizing his views on what causes cardiovascular disease, and what does not.

He explains why the LDL hypothesis of cardiovascular disease makes no sense.

He says, “The LDL hypothesis is nonsense, it is wrong, and it does not remotely fit with any other factors known to cause CVD [cardiovascular disease].”

He also explains why inflammation is not the cause of cardiovascular disease, and instead, it is simply part of the repair process (which is happening all the time).

Below are highlights from his article, but I encourage you to read the entire article, because it contains a lot more than just the highlights that I am including below.

Japanese who drank less than one cup of coffee per day were 9% less likely to die over the next 18.7 years compared to those who never drank coffee according to a recent study.

“We showed an inverse association between coffee intake and total mortality in both men and women,” the authors of the study concluded.

Japanese who drank 1-2 cups of coffee per day were 15% less likely to die over the next 18.7 years compared to those who never drank coffee according to a recent study.

“We showed an inverse association between coffee intake and total mortality in both men and women,” the authors of the study concluded.

Japanese who drank 3-4 cups of coffee per day were 24% less likely to die over the next 18.7 years compared to those who never drank coffee according to a recent study.

“We showed an inverse association between coffee intake and total mortality in both men and women,” the authors of the study concluded.

Japanese who drank more than 5 cups per day were 15% less likely to die over the next 18.7 years compared to those who never drank coffee according to a recent study.

“We showed an inverse association between coffee intake and total mortality in both men and women,” the authors of the study concluded.

Each increase in consumption of one (1) cup of coffee per day was associated with a 6% lower risk of death in non-smokers over some number of years according to an analysis of 31 studies including a total of 1,610,543 people.

“In conclusion, coffee consumption is associated with decreased risk of mortality from all-cause, [ cardiovascular disease ], and cancer,” the authors of the paper concluded.

People drinking up to four (4) cups of coffee per day were 14% less likely to die over some number of years according to an analysis of 31 studies including a total of 1,610,543 people.

“In conclusion, coffee consumption is associated with decreased risk of mortality from all-cause, [ cardiovascular disease ], and cancer,” the authors of the paper concluded.

People who eat four (4) servings of nuts per week have a 37% lower risk of coronary heart disease compared to people who seldom or never consume nuts according to analysis of data from four (4) large epidemiological studies.

Each serving of nuts per week (one ounce or 30 grams) reduced the risk of coronary heart disease death by 8.3%.

“Collectively, the epidemiological data indicates nuts may be one of the most cardio-protective whole foods commonly eaten,” the authors of the paper concluded.

“Simply eating more nuts could save many lives.”

The one-third of people consuming the most extra virgin olive oil (2 ounces per day or 57 grams per day) were 18% less likely to die (total mortality) during a 4.8 year follow-up compared to the one-third consuming the least (0.75 ounces or 21 grams per day) according to a study of 7,216 men and women at high cardiovascular risk, aged 55 to 80 years, from the PREDIMED study.

The one-third of people consuming the most extra virgin olive oil (2 ounces per day or 57 grams per day) were 35% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease (heart attack and stroke) during a 4.8 year follow-up compared to the one-third consuming the least (0.75 ounces or 21 grams per day) according to a study of 7,216 men and women at high cardiovascular risk, aged 55 to 80 years, from the PREDIMED study.

For every 2 teaspoon (10 gram) increase in extra virgin olive oil consumption per day was associated with a 7% lower risk of dying during a 4.8 year follow-up according to a study of 7,216 men and women at high cardiovascular risk, aged 55 to 80 years, from the PREDIMED study.

For every 2 teaspoon (10 gram) increase in extra virgin olive oil consumption per day was associated with a 10% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease (heart attack and stroke) during a 4.8 year follow-up according to a study of 7,216 men and women at high cardiovascular risk, aged 55 to 80 years, from the PREDIMED study.

5% more people given the PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab (Repatha) to lower cholesterol levels died from cardiovascular causes during an average follow-up of 2.2 years than those given a placebo according to the FOURIER trial.

251 people (out of 13,784) given evolocumab died compared to 240 people (out of 13,780) given a placebo.

So they want me to take a drug that you have to inject that costs $14,000 per year that increases my chance of dying?

No, thank you.

4% more people given the PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab (Repatha) to lower cholesterol levels died during an average follow-up of 2.2 years than those given a placebo according to the FOURIER trial.

444 people (out of 13,784) given evolocumab died compared to 426 people (out of 13,780) given a placebo.

So they want me to take a drug that you have to inject that costs $14,000 per year that increases my chance of dying?

No, thank you.

A 400 mg increase in daily potassium intake was associated with a 40% reduction in the risk of stroke-associated death during a 12 year follow-up according to a 1987 study which followed 859 men and women, aged 50 to 79 years, in Southern California.

In the one-third (1/3) of people consuming the least amount of potassium, stroke mortality was

• 2.6 times higher in men and
• 4.8 times higher in women

compared to the two-thirds (2/3) of people consuming the most potassium.

(Unfortunately, I do not know the potassium intake of these groups because I do not have a copy of the paper.)

Statins do not increase cancer survival as some studies have claimed.

When researchers eliminated biases from study designs, they found that there was no difference in cancer survival between statin users and non-users.

There was no difference in cancer survival between users and non-users (0% difference), but there was a 7% increased risk of dying overall in statin users versus non-users during the 3-year follow-up period, but this difference was not statistically significant.

Consumption of raw vegetables seems to reduce the risk of death over 10-18 years roughly twice as much as consumption of cooked vegetables when comparing quartiles according to a study the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition looking at Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Mortality (the EPIC cohort).

The one-fourth of people consuming the second most amount of raw vegetables, roughly 1-2 ounces of raw vegetables per day (23-50 grams, 2nd Quartile), were 8% less likely to die over the next 10-18 years compared to the one-fourth of people consuming the least amount of raw vegetables or 0-1 ounce per day (0-23 grams, 1st Quartile) according to this study.

By comparison, the one-fourth of people consuming the second most amount of cooked vegetables, roughly 1.8 to 3.2 ounces of cooked vegetables per day (50-91 grams, 2nd Quartile) were 4% less likely to die over the next 10-18 years compared to the one-fourth of people consuming the least amount of cooked vegetables or 0-1.8 ounces per day (0-50 grams, 1st Quartile).

The one-fourth of people consuming the third most amount of raw vegetables, roughly 1.8 to 3.5 ounces of raw vegetables per day (50-100 grams, 3rd Quartile), were 15% less likely to die over the next 10-18 years compared to the one-fourth of people consuming the least amount of raw vegetables or 0-1 ounce per day (0-23 grams, 1st Quartile) according to this study.

By comparison, the one-fourth of people consuming the third most amount of cooked vegetables, roughly 3.2 to 5.6 ounces of cooked vegetables per day (91-158 grams, 3rd Quartile), were 8% less likely to die over the next 10-18 years compared to the one-fourth of people consuming the least amount of cooked vegetables or 0-1.8 ounces per day (0-50 grams, 1st Quartile).

Consumption of raw vegetables seems to reduce the risk of death over 10-18 years roughly twice as much as consumption of cooked vegetables when comparing quartiles according to a study the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition looking at Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Mortality (the EPIC cohort).

Women who consumed two (2) or more servings of sugar-sweetened beverages per day were 43% more likely to develop diabetes during an average follow-up of 8.4 years compared to women who consumed less than one (1) serving per week according to the Women’s Health Initiative study.

Substituting one (1) serving of a 
sugar-sweetened beverages per day 
with water 
was associated with a 
10% reduction in the risk of diabetes.

People who consumed artificial sweeteners “always or almost always” were 33% more likely to develop diabetes after adjusting for body mass index compared to people who consumed artificial sweeteners “never or rare” according to the E3N-European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition Study.

(The risk was 83% greater before adjusting for body mass index indicating that part of the increased risk was due to a person’s adiposity.)

People consuming a greater amount of olive oil and fruit were 54% less likely to be depressed after adjustment for many possible confounders compared to people consuming less according to a study from researchers at the University of Florence, Italy.

The study looked at 388 men and women who were 90- to 99-years-old.

“More than half (56%) of people who attempt to come off antidepressants experience withdrawal effects” notes a new review paper by Dr. James Davies, from the University of Roehampton in London, England, and Prof. John Read, from the University of East London.

“Withdrawal incidence rates from 14 studies ranged from 27% to 86% with a weighted average of 56%.”

“Nearly half (46%) of people experiencing withdrawal effects describe them as severe.”

Withdrawal effects can last for weeks or months the paper notes.

One study calculated the average duration of withdrawal to be 79 weeks or 1.5 years!

“More than half (56%) of people who attempt to come off antidepressants experience withdrawal effects” notes a new review paper by Dr. James Davies, from the University of Roehampton in London, England, and Prof. John Read, from the University of East London.

“Withdrawal incidence rates from 14 studies ranged from 27% to 86% with a weighted average of 56%.”

“Nearly half (46%) of people experiencing withdrawal effects describe them as severe.”

Withdrawal effects can last for weeks or months the paper notes.

One study calculated the average duration of withdrawal to be 79 weeks or 1.5 years!

“Typical [antidepressant] withdrawal reactions include increased anxiety, flu-like symptoms, insomnia, nausea, imbalance, sensory disturbances, and hyperarousal,” notes a new review paper by Dr. James Davies, from the University of Roehampton in London, England, and Prof. John Read, from the University of East London.

“Dizziness, electric shock-like sensations, brain zaps, diarrhoea, headaches, muscle spasms and tremors, agitation, hallucinations, confusion, malaise, sweating and irritability are also reported.”

“Although the aforementioned symptoms are the most common physical symptoms, there is also evidence that [antidepressant] withdrawal can induce mania and hypomania, emotional blunting and an inability to cry, long-term or even permanent sexual dysfunction.”

“Typical [antidepressant] withdrawal reactions include increased anxiety, flu-like symptoms, insomnia, nausea, imbalance, sensory disturbances, and hyperarousal,” notes a new review paper by Dr. James Davies, from the University of Roehampton in London, England, and Prof. John Read, from the University of East London.

“Dizziness, electric shock-like sensations, brain zaps, diarrhoea, headaches, muscle spasms and tremors, agitation, hallucinations, confusion, malaise, sweating and irritability are also reported.”

“Although the aforementioned symptoms are the most common physical symptoms, there is also evidence that [antidepressant] withdrawal can induce mania and hypomania, emotional blunting and an inability to cry, long-term or even permanent sexual dysfunction.”

“I forgot to take my citalopram [Celexa] for two days and woke up one morning with severe dizziness. It was so extreme that I fell over when I tried to get out of bed and I threw up,” one antidepressant user was quoted as saying in a new review paper about antidepressant withdrawal by Dr. James Davies, from the University of Roehampton in London, England, and Prof. John Read, from the University of East London.

“The withdrawal effects if I forget to take my [antidepressant] pill are severe shakes, suicidal thoughts, a feeling of too much caffeine in my brain, electric shocks, hallucinations, insane mood swings. ….. kinda stuck on them now coz I’m too scared to come off it,” one antidepressant user was quoted as saying in a new review paper about antidepressant withdrawal by Dr. James Davies, from the University of Roehampton in London, England, and Prof. John Read, from the University of East London.

“While there is no doubt I am better on this medication, the adverse effects have been devastating – when I have tried to withdraw - with “head zaps”, agitation, insomnia and mood changes. This means that I do not have the option of managing the depression any other way because I have a problem coming off this medication,” one antidepressant user was quoted as saying in a new review paper about antidepressant withdrawal by Dr. James Davies, from the University of Roehampton in London, England, and Prof. John Read, from the University of East London.

“It took me 2 months of hell to come off the antidepressants. Was massively harder than I expected,” one antidepressant user was quoted as saying in a new review paper about antidepressant withdrawal by Dr. James Davies, from the University of Roehampton in London, England, and Prof. John Read, from the University of East London.

“It took me almost two years to get off Paroxetine and the side effects were horrendous. I even had to quit my job because I felt sick all the time. Even now that I am off of it, I still feel electric shocks in my brain,” one antidepressant user was quoted as saying in a new review paper about antidepressant withdrawal by Dr. James Davies, from the University of Roehampton in London, England, and Prof. John Read, from the University of East London.

For years we have been told that lower cholesterol levels are associated with a lower risk of death.

But it turns out that this is not true!

Research shows that the exact opposite is true!

When cholesterol levels fall, people are at a greater risk of death, not a lower risk of death!

This is noted a new review paper by independent researchers Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD, author of The Cholesterol Myths, Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, author of The Great Cholesterol Con, and other independent researchers.

In the review paper, they note:

“If high [total cholesterol] was the major cause of CVD [cardiovascular disease], people with high [total cholesterol] should have a higher risk of dying from CVD.

“The hypothesis that high [total cholesterol] causes CVD [cardiovascular disease] was introduced in the 1960s by the authors of the Framingham Heart Study.

“However, in their 30-year follow-up study published in 1987, the authors reported that ‘For each 1 mg/dl drop in [total cholesterol] per year, there was an eleven percent [11%] increase in coronary and total mortality’.

“Three years later the American Heart Association and the US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute published a joint summary [8] concluding “a one percent reduction in an individual’s [total cholesterol] results in an approximate two percent reduction in CHD [coronary heart disease] risk”.

“The authors fraudulently referred to the Framingham publication to support this widely quoted false conclusion.”

In other words, they’ve been lying to us for 30 years!