Sarah Brightman: Eden (Enigma Remix)
(Isn't she ethereal/timeless? Courtesy of Youtube.com)
Certain diet components affect our receptors in thesame way that drugs do, to regress and eradicate plaque. For approx 17-25% of the world population, Lp(a) affects plaque in malevolent, vicious way. It's not entirely understood why but this appears to be the case. Is Lp(a) somewhat protective for those who over express this lipoprotein (conversely as high quantities of FLUFFY low-density-lipoprotein and HIGH levels of LARGE high-density-lipoprotein are cardio-protective)?
Lp(a) is an equal opportunity plaque-builder: it affects both elite athletes as well as non-elite- and non-exercisers.
Yet ... there is a hypothesis that Lp(a) may in fact be PROTECTIVE. Hyper-protective, like a 'friendly' appearing pitbull.
Against infections (people with Lp(a) have reported anecodotally that they 'never get sick').
Against cancers. Frequently individuals who carry high Lp(a) are survivors of cancer -- it's been observed any cancer Thymus, Breast, Kidney, etc.
Someone recognized it as a form of 'hyperimmunity' on the TYP forum (I *heart* that phrase -- Rich, you ROCK, dude)...
Almonds are GREAT plaque-BUSTERS!
They've have been shown to lower glycemic index, insulin, small dense LDL as well as Lp(a).
Help yourself to a HEAPING handful of raw almonds... or 2 or even 3!
What arethe side effects almonds? The side effects are a feeling of satiety, fullness, happier-hearts, lower blood glucoses, lower inflammation, lower Lp(a), reduction of other plaque-building risk factors.
And maybe it can help you reach . . .
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Nus M, Ruperto M, Sánchez-Muniz FJ.[Nuts, cardio and cerebrovascular risks. A Spanish perspective] Arch Latinoam Nutr. 2004 Jun;54(2):137-48. Review.
Jenkins DJ et al. Dose response of almonds on coronary heart disease risk factors: blood lipids, oxidized low-density lipoproteins, lipoprotein(a), homocysteine, and pulmonary nitric oxide: arandomized, controlled, crossover trial.Circulation.2002 Sep 10;106(11):1327-32.
Josse AR, Kendall CW, Augustin LS, Ellis PR, Jenkins DJ. Almonds and postprandial glycemia--a dose-response study.Metabolism. 2007 Mar;56(3):400-4.
Jenkins DJ, Kendall CW, Josse AR, Salvatore S, Brighenti F, Augustin LS, Ellis PR, Vidgen E, RaoAV.Almonds decrease postprandial glycemia ,insulinemia, and oxidative damage in healthy individuals.J Nutr. 2006 Dec;136(12):2987-92.
8 comments:
Hey Dr. BG:
You have an incredibly cool blog going here -- great perspectives and studies . . . and music!
-Rich
Thanks Dude! Hope you enjoy some local references...
-g
AHHH some else that likes Sarah B ...eden and dive are my favs....roaming
Hi Roaming,
Yes, she's exquisitely talented and beautiful isn't she?
-G
Have you ever eaten a raw almond - straight from the tree in July? I assure you, no living person would desire even one handful. They are bitter as hell and upon eating one, I questioned whether or not this might kill me. IMO, almonds in the wild are very, very different from almonds in packages. For one, a fresh almond is a liquid, gelly substance that is nothing like the hard, white, crumbly commerical (read: irradiated) ones. Try an almond if you can find a tree!
Thanks -- I've never tried one but I do recall cracking almonds open (I'm from Sac where almonds are a big industry). Perhaps they were dried already like walnuts? I have tried eating raw acorns but I found them gross.
We are so far removed from our food sources aren't we?
Thanks for this blog. Fantastic source of information and ideas. A queston about almonds. My understanding is that almonds are mostly omega-6 fat. Wouldn't eating handfuls of almonds add too much omega-6? How much is too much? Should one up the omega-3 if one is eating almonds every day?
Murray
Murray,
Good point!
The LA (omega-6) varies dep on genotype (and probably handling, cold storage, etc).
"50.41-81.20% oleic acid and 6.21-37.13% linoleic acid" (Askin Journal of food composition and analysis 2007, 20(1):7-12)
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=18402464
Our bodies produce omega-6 (arachidonic acid). If all things internally and systemically are non-inflammed and 'cool', I personally don't think one has to worry too much about the omega-6 content. The diet should hopefully be rich in omega-3 both ALA and the animal sources EPA DHA. But as you suggested, if these are not sufficient and in balance with the internal and dietary intakes of omega-6, then more would certainly provide balancing benefits.
The traditional Crete diet is high in walnuts (higher in omega-6 than almonds) but also high in ALA from wild greens (purslane) and EPA DHA from pastured lamb, goat, chicken and eggs. The VERY high omega-3 from diet protected and the satuated fats from the milk, meat and dairy further provided protection. (btw, almonds are about 7% saturated -- palmitic and stearic).
Thanks for your comments!
-G
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