Earlier this year, and also in 2007, I looked into some of the new consumer products plied with canola and soy oil under the guise of "plant sterols". Most manufacturers report using genetically modified sources adding to the problems of these oils, generally produced using the toxic substances hexane or benzene.
Bayer now adds its aspirin - plant sterol blend, Heart Advantage, to the market place. Bayer wants you to ingest two of their low dose (81 mg) tablets containing 400 mg of plant sterols twice daily.
This product contains other ingredients such as anhydrous citric acid, carnauba wax, colloidal silicon dioxide, corn starch, croscarmellose sodium, FD&C yellow #5 (tartrazine) aluminum lake, hypromellose, lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, powdered cellulose, pregelatinized starch, sodium, triacetin, and zinc stearate, as well as milk.
Warnings include:
Reye's syndrome: Children and teenagers should not use this medicine for chicken pox or flu symptoms before a doctor is consulted about Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious illness reported to be associated with aspirin.
Allergy alert: Aspirin may cause a severe allergic reaction which may include:
hives, facial swelling, asthma (wheezing), shock
Alcohol warning: If you consume 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day, ask your doctor whether you should take aspirin or other pain relievers/fever reducers. Aspirin may cause stomach bleeding.
Do not use if you are allergic to aspirin or any other pain reliever/fever reducer
Ask a doctor before use if you have:
stomach problems (such as heartburn, upset stomach, or stomach pain) that last or come back, bleeding problems, ulcers, asthma
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are taking a prescription drug for:
anticoagulation (blood thinning), gout, diabetes, arthritis
Stop use and ask a doctor if an allergic reaction occurs, seek medical help right away, and if pain gets worse or lasts more than 10 days redness or swelling is present new symptoms occur, or you experience ringing in the ears or loss of hearing occurs.
If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use. It is especially important not to use aspirin during the last 3 months of pregnancy unless definitely directed to do so by a doctor because it may cause problems in the unborn child or complications during delivery.
Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
Long term use of aspirin may lead to serious problems with the clotting mechanism and cell wall membrane rupture, but this is not advertised.
Another product I have written about, Promise Super Shots, has now added potassium. Their new GMO plant sterol containing product has added 350 mg of potassium in their effort to entice you to purchase an expensive product that also increases the amount of trash you add to your garbage can.
Potassium is a very inexpensive supplement. You can purchase a bottle of 90-250 tablets/capsules of about 99 mg each for about $4-$5. Usually it is suggested to take one with each meal. Potassium also helps carry insulin into cells so it may be beneficial as a supplement for people with diabetes if there are no other contraindications.
In most cases, people who have been prescribed pharmaceuticals for high blood pressure are WARNED not to use potassium, even though some of these drugs lead to wasting of potassium.
Potassium is a double edged element. It helps your heart stay healthy but, at the same time, it can also cause serious heart problems if too much is used.
If you are seriously interested in reducing your blood pressure, the best option is to make a change in your diet, reduce weight, stop smoking, and drink moderately, as well as exercise daily.
Keeping plastic out of your diet also helps (soy-canola margarine and other releated products).
Refer to these articles for more information:
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Real or Frankenfoods and supplements? Your health, Your choice
Monday, July 14, 2008
Canola and Soy oil not worth the risk
Monday, June 09, 2008
Why to Avoid Genetically Modified Food
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Promise not to
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Vitamin hype and big business
And now for the health-promoting recipe I have used for almost 40 years to make "spread" -
Use cultured no-salt butter from Orgnaic Valley or, if this is not available in your area, use rBGH free unsalted butter.
Soften 1 stick of butter (1/4 pound) in a medium sized glass bowl.
Add 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil ( glass bottle packaged only, organic preferred)
With a hand blender, whip this combination until it is smooth.
Pour into a glass container with a cover keep in the refrigerator.
This will spread easily on bread or toast, but will 'melt' and be soupy if you leave it on your kitchen counter.
You'll get the vitamin A benefits of butter and the heart, brain (and body)health benefits of olive oil, without chemicals or GMO ingredients, and save money too! Olive oil is not a trans fat like canola (because of the processing of the seed into oil) and it contains Tocopherols (vitamin E), beta-carotene (vitamin A), phytosterols, pigments, terpenic acids, flavonoids (luteolin, quercetin, squalene), and phenolic compounds (oleuropein, tyrosol).
Vitamin E - There are 1.6 mg of vitamin E (a natural anti-oxidant) in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. That represents 10.6% of your recommended daily allowance.
Vitamin K - Found in green leafy vegetables. Vitamin K is associated with chlorophyll and the darker green, the richer in vitamin K. Vegetable and olive oils are also a good source of vitamin K.
Phenols - Extra virgin olive oil is rich in polyphenols which are known to be anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anticoagulant. Antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals and repair damage to cell membranes caused by exposure to things like cigarette smoke, pollution, alcohol and radiation.
Oleocanthal - I found this very interesting. Freshly pressed extra virgin olive oil causes a distinct bitter sort of sting in the throat. Oleocanthal is what causes that sensation. Researchers recognized the sensory affect as familiar and very similar to that of ibuprofen. As it turns out, oleocanthal is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and anti oxidant. Again, without getting too technical, it's like ibuprofen or aspirin and may work like small daily doses of aspirin if consumed daily. It's a non-selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX) that causes relief of inflammation and pain.Oleocanthal may be partly responsible for the lower incidence of heart disease in the Mediterranean population.
Squalene - A natural organic compound used in cosmetics as a moisturizer. It is taken from the liver of sharks, but also found in olive oil - a more environmentally friendly source. Squalene helps to regulate sebum. Sebum is produced by the sebacious glands in our skin and is secreted through our pores. It forms a coating on the skin that acts as a barrier, inhibits the growth of microrganisms and lubricates our skin and hair.
Chlorophyll - A photosynthetic pigment found in plants and algae. It is an anti-aging substance that promotes the healing of skin conditions and wounds.
Oleuropein - as found in olive, leaf and oil - lowers blood pressure.
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