CoreFit » Cholesterol

‘Caution’ Warranted if Consuming Artificial Sweeteners

Shayna Robinson, MSPT, PhD — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 16:15:12 +0000

Artificial sweeteners may seem like a god send, but they cause havoc within your body if you’re not careful. In fact, the evidence is adding up that consumption of noncaloric, artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) is associated with an increased risk for a variety of chronic diseases including obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes.

In an article

Statins Linked to Muscle Pain, But Evidence Is Minimal

Shayna Robinson, MSPT, PhD — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 19:20:58 +0000

My favorite thing about living in America is the choices we get to make everyday. We can choose to get Starbucks or Dunkin. We can choose to ride our bike or take the car. We can choose what type of job we want to work at everyday. These choices also come with responsibility to educate yourself about potential side effects in making the choices we do everyday.

Here’s a great example: “STATINS LINKED TO MUSCLE PAIN, SPRAINS” (read the headline of Reuters Health this morning)

The BREAKDOWN:

I read the article which cites the Journal of American Medical Association–a hefty and well established journal. It represents diagnosis and studies done in the past as well as peer reviews and editorials of today’s medical research.

Today Reuter’s reports that JAMA claims in a recent study that statins are linked to MUSCLE PAIN and SPRAINS/STRAINS.

Unfortunately the evidence is shaky:

For all of us not on Statins (drugs used for high cholesterol levels), 85% reported problems with muscles or joints.

For those of us on Statins, 87% reported problems.

That pretty much sums up this study: nearly everyone has muscular and/or joint pain.

This girl is now Laughing out loud. Cheers.

BMI VS. LDL

Shayna Robinson, MSPT, PhD — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 23:21:10 +0000

The Cardiovascular Showdown

Swiss researchers found that BMI calculations are a better predictor for cardiovascular disease than cholesterol levels. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. In the past, many doctors have relied on blood work to view LDL and HDL levels. BMI calculations are based on simple division of the individual’s body mass by the square of his or her height.

Q: What is the significance of a BMI calculation being a better predictor for cardiovascular disease than actual cholesterol levels?

A: Beyond the obvious cut of cost in blood work and the increased sample size for future research, I think this also gives us another clue as to how obesity and fat levels are correlated with overall disease within the body. As BMI moves upward, can we use it as a better predictor for disease in general?