LipiCare is a blood lipid optimizer that we developed specifically to help deal with the needs of millions of patients around the world (including myself!) who find themselves at increased cardiovascular risk arising from high "bad" cholesterol levels (including triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL) and low "good" cholesterol levels (such as HDL).
Containing a powerful combination incorporating proven anti-lipid nutraceutical components such as niacin (as nicotinic acid), resveratrol, green tea extract, policosanol, lecithin and omega-3, among other key ingredients, our initial studies have shown that LipiCare can be effectively used both as a complement to medical treatment with statins (such as Crestor, Lipitor or Zocor) and other anti-lipid pharmaceuticals (such as Lipanthyl) as well as on a stand-alone basis by those who choose to use LipiCare as part of a natural diet/exercise weight management program for blood lipid control.
Based on my clinical experience working with a growing number of patients, I believe that LipiCare is especially likely to benefit those who have:
- total cholesterol levels over 200 mg/dl, and/or
- poor total cholesterol/HDL ratios of 4.0 or higher, and especially
- HDL levels below 50 mg/dl for males (below 60 mg/dl for females)
Patients can expect, on average, to see a 15-20% increase in HDL within a month and increases of as much as 30-40% or more within about 3 months of starting LipiCare. Together with concomitant reductions in total cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride levels, patients typically see improvements in their total cholesterol/HDL ratio of 30-40% or more within 3 months. Some patients have substantially better results: one post-bypass patient with a past history of 3 by-pass operations and 12 stents, for example, reported a jump in his HDL level from just 28 mg/dl to 52 mg/dl in less than 3 months on LipiCare.
My own personal experience with LipiCare has been superlative. Combining this product with on-going statin treatment (simvastatin 40 mg daily in my case) and an integrated diet and weight loss program, I saw my total cholesterol level fall from 270 mg/dl to 120 mg/dl and my HDL level jump from 32 to 58 mg/dl within a period of about 6 months. In fact, the program proved so effective that I found myself having to reduce my simvastatin dose to 20 mg daily to ensure that my total cholesterol levels did not go too low. In the process, I saw a reversal of moderately severe diabetic retinopathy, metabolic fatty liver and microalbuminuria that I attribute largely to the benefit of LipiCare and VitaCare (another product we developed at Neuticare.com to address the challenge of metabolic syndrome).
I will blog on my personal fight against risk factors for heart disease and the results of our research with LipiCare, VitaCare and other products in our portfolio over the next several months.
In the mean time, I'll be happy to share my experiences and insights with anyone who is interested. Please feel free to get in touch with any questions or suggestions...
Dr. Gurinder Shahi
Co-Founder
Neuticare.com
gurinder.shahi@gmail.com
skype: dr.shahi
PS It is important to note that LipiCare contains Vitamin B3 or niacin (as nicotinic acid) which is well-known to cause the so-called "niacin flush". In fact, the literature suggests that some 30% of patients who try niacin give it up because they find the erythema and itch associate the niacin flush difficult to tolerate. Our testing has confirmed that the niacin flush is worst in the first few days of use, and that patients who are prepared to "bite the bullet" typically find that the associated erythema and itch are reduced considerably after the first 3-4 days of use, especially if they avoid scratching and therefore inadvertently creating a chronic rash. Using a prescribed combination of loratidine (a long-acting anti-histamine) and ketotifen (a mast cell stabilizer) given about 2 hours before taking LipiCare during the first week of use, we have found that 95% or more are able to work through the challenging first days of the niacin flush and to then continue taking LipiCare successfully for maximum benefit.
Our love affair with carbohydrates is hard to break: Time and again, we try to swear off pretzels, bread, and pasta —usually in an effort to lose weight —only to embrace them again after feeling deprived. Turns out, though, we might not need to cut back on all carbs, only certain ones.
That's according to a new study published in today's Archives of Internal Medicine, which found that women who ate the most "high-glycemic" carbohydrates—which cause quick spikes in blood sugar levels—had more than twice the risk of having heart disease as those who ate the least. (The study didn't find the same association in men.) What's interesting, though, is that it was the type of carbs, not the amount, that had the health impact. "High consumption of carbohydrate from high-glycemic foods, rather than overall quantity of carbohydrate consumed, appears to influence the risk of developing heart disease in women," says study leader Sabina Sieri.
[2 Sure-Fire Ways to Lower your Risk of Diabetes and Heart Disease]
"Bad" carbs score high on the "glycemic index," which assigns each food with a numerical value based on how quickly it raises a person's blood sugar levels. (To develop this index, researchers spent years assessing the potential of various carbohydrates to raise blood sugar.) High-glycemic carbs include white starches and candy, but also surprising foods like baked potatoes, watermelon, and brown rice. "Good" carbs, which include most fruits and vegetables, grainy breads, and pasta, cause a more gradual rise in blood sugar leading to a slower release in the hormone insulin, which moves glucose out of the bloodstream and into cells where it's used as fuel or stored as fat. Slowing this digestive process appears to limit wreckage to cells triggered by elevated blood sugar, possibly protecting against heart disease, diabetes, and other ills. The new study adds to previous research showing that following a low-glycemic diet enabled those with type 2 diabetes to have better control over their blood sugar and rely less on medications than those who ate high-glycemic carbohydrates like white bread and potatoes. Other research suggests that switching to low-glycemic carbs aids in weight loss efforts and might even stave off acne and age-related blindness.
[These "Good" Carbs Have Newfound Health Benefits]
"It's a good idea for people to choose foods with a lower glycemic index over higher ones," recommends Sieri. A sensible rule of thumb is to choose mainly carbs that have a glycemic-index value of 55 or less; those 56 to 69 are considered moderate, and those 70 and above are considered high. Here's a listing of popular foods, but remember that serving sizes still count. Eating super-sized portions of any carbohydrate can cause blood sugar levels to soar, and excess calories usually spells trouble for your waistline. The key is to substitute good carbs for the bad ones without eating more of them. Here are some ideas:
1. Switch to darker breads. The best choices are coarse breads sprinkled with seeds and whole grains like cracked or sprouted whole-wheat breads; rye, sourdough or whole-wheat pita bread. (Stick with a slice, not half a loaf.) Worst choices? Bagels, croissants, French bread, kaiser rolls, and, of course, white bread.
2. Choose high-bran or whole-grain cereals. This can be a little confusing, since some of the nutritious cereals, like Shredded Wheat, Cheerios, and Cream of Wheat have a higher-glycemic index than the more-processed Honey Smacks or Special K. The best cereal choices include compact, noodle-like, high-bran cereals like All-Bran and Fiber One and coarse whole-grain cereal like Kashi; other good breakfast choices include slow-cooked, steel-cut oatmeal, and cereal mixed with psyllium, a soluble fiber that slows digestion of carbs.
3. Elect pasta over rice. While pasta is packed with carbohydrates, a 2-ounce serving cooked al dente raises blood sugar levels less than a baked potato or a serving of brown rice. Other good side dishes include boiled barley, bulgur, kasha, beans, and sweet potatoes.
4. Swap your snacks. Instead of pretzels, have light microwave popcorn; instead of corn chips, have peanuts. Need a sugar fix? Have half a Snicker's bar or an oatmeal cookie instead of graham crackers. And, consider peanut butter on a whole-grain rye cracker (like Wasa crispbread) instead of a rice cake.
5. Embrace fruits and vegetables with just a few exceptions. With vegetables, it's okay to overdo the serving sizes, since most are low in calories and carbohydrates. Potatoes, though, are the one exception and score a 65 on the index chart. Fruits, sweet as they are, also score low on the index with a few exceptions like watermelon, pineapple, plums, cantaloupe, and raisins.
[Related article: How to Banish the Belly Fat for Good]