butter vs ghee

[Guest guest]

>

> Regarding Atherosclerosis and CHD, it is very clear that Ghee is

> not the culprit. Both these diseases are recent and have afflcited

> a large Indian population only recently. The factors behind these

> diseases inlcude but not limited to 1) Urbanization, 2)Ecomony,

> 3) MNC especially the fast foods, 4) Packaged ready to go foods,

> 5) life style 6) deteriorating family support.

>

> There have been several articles by "India Today" on these

> subjects and other pediatric illness that are rising in india that

> is attributed to all the above factors and not Ghee. Dr Weil can

> be excused for his remarks because he has to toe the line of the

> "American Heart Association" and also because he is ignorant about

> the mainstream Indian facts.

>

> Someone in this group suggested al alternative to Statins. My

> own research and based on scientific data publsihed recently,

> Guggulu is the best alternative thus far to Statins. Of course it

> has to be taken with the appropriate advice from an Ayurvedic

> Practitioner.

>

> Keshav.

 

 

absolutely keshav - thanks for voicing this

 

there may be some other issues too, specifically, those related to

nutrient deficiencies that occur not only as the result of eating

fast foods, but also due to a loss minerals in the diet from a

reliance upon NPK fertilizers - for e.g. magnesium has potent calcium-

channel blocking activities and naturally lowers BP

 

as far as single herb, Guggulu is an excellent choice for CVD

when looking at dyslipidemia and CVD, i take a few factors into

account, based on my rather integrative and eclectic approach,

combining clinical nutrition, ayurveda, chinese medicine and wester

herbal medicine (i.e. a "planetary" approach):

 

1. the constitution of the blood: in large part a manifestation of

digestive processes, and thus an assessment of digestion should be

carefully undertaken. Specifically, it is the job of the liver build,

replenish and filter the blood, and thus problems relating to the

constitution of blood (e.g. blood viscosity, dyslipidemia etc.)

demonstrates a need for upregulating liver function with the use of

cholagogues, e.g. Berberis (Barberry), Curcuma (Turmeric), Taraxacum

(Dandelion), Buplerum (Chai hu), Chelidonium (Greater Celandine). In

Chinese and Ayurvedic terms an increase in blood viscosity or

dyslipidemia relates to the accumulation of phlegm, and thus phlegm-

reducing (i.e. kaphahara) remedies such as Commiphora (Guggulu),

Zingiber (Shunthi), Capsicum (Cayenne), Rosmarinus (Rosemary),

Zanthoxylum (Prickly Ash) and Allium sativum (Garlic) can be used in

conjunction with cholagogue remedies.

 

2. the movement of blood: given the obstructive nature of

atherosclerosis the movement of blood is an extremely important

consideration, and the nature of the treatment can be implemented

based on the presenting signs and symptoms. Generally speaking, it is

always wise to include stimulants such as Zingiber (Ginger), Capsicum

(Cayenne) and Allium sativum (Garlic) in any therapy directed to

atherosclerosis to enhance the processing of blood via the liver, and

to dispel the archetypal accumulation of phlegm that underlies the

obstructive nature of the atheroma. In many cases however the

atherosclerotic patient will present with a substantial deficiency,

qi deficiency in Chinese terms, or an increase in vata in Ayuervedic

terms. Besides typical symptoms of cold hands and feet, there will be

chronic fatigue, poor digestion, and weak pulse. Treatment is

orientated to building up the vital essence and restoring the natural

heat of the body with nutritive, blood-moving herbs such as Angelica

sinensis, Astragalus, Commiphora (Guggulu), Salvia miltiorrhiza,

Withania (Ashwagandha), Panax (Ginseng), Atractylodes, purified

Aconitum.

 

3. blood vessel integrity: attention must also be directed to the

integrity of the vessel walls. In Chinese medicine the vessels are

said to be regulated by the Spleen, and thus in chronic Spleen qi

deficiency the vessels are weak and become susceptible to damage and

rupture. Once again, qi-restorative herbs such as those described

above are similarly appropriate. Attention should also be directed to

using botanicals that have a trophorestorative function on the

endothelium. Many of these botanicals are particularly rich in

polyphenols such as flavonoids and tannins (e.g. ellagitannins,

proanthocyanidins) including Ginkgo, Vaccinium (Bilberry), Terminalia

arjuna (Arjuna), Phyllanthus emblica (Amla), Curcuma (Turmeric),

Centella (Mandukaparni), Achillea (Yarrow)and Vitis vinifera (Grape)

seed.

 

Overall, my approach to CVD is thus:

 

1. Reduce the glycemic load of the diet. Adopt a low-carbohydrate

diet, and eliminate all refined carbohydrates including sugar, candy,

soda pop, cookies and deserts for a minimum period of two to three

months. After which time, whole-grain carbohydrates can be rotated

back into the diet.

 

2. Eliminate toxic foods from the diet. Including hydrogenated and

trans-fats (e.g. margarine, deep-fried foods), feed-lot meat and

farmed salmon, dairy.

 

3. Supplement for deficient nutrients.

-vitamin B complex, 100 mg daily

-folic acid, 1 g daily

-cobalamin, 1000 mcg daily

-vitamin C, 1-5 g bid-tid, to bowel tolerance

-vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol), 400-800 IU daily, increase dose

gradually

-EPA/DHA, 1000 mg each daily

-magnesium, 800 mg daily, in divided doses, with meals

-chromium, 200-300 mcg daily, in divided doses, with meals

-selenium, 100 mcg daily

-chelated multimineral, taken with the above minerals; or high

quality kelp (seaweed) supplement (5-15 g daily)

-CoQ10, 50 mg daily

-Flavonoids (mixed, e.g. quercitin, rutin, anthocyanidins), 3-5 g daily

 

4. Support liver, enhance detoxification: Berberis, Curcuma,

Taraxacum, Buplerum, Chelidonium etc.

 

5. Promote circulation and blood flow, reduce blood viscosity (i.e.

phlegm, kapha): Commiphora, Zingiber, Capsicum, Rosmarinus,

Zanthoxylum, Allium sativum, Piper longum etc.

 

6. Cardiovascular trophorestoration: Ginkgo, Vaccinium, Terminalia

arjuna, Phyllanthus emblica, Curcuma, Centella, Achillea etc.

 

7. Rebuild the vital essence (i.e. qi, ojas): e.g. Angelica sinensis,

Astragalus, Commiphora, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Withania, Panax,

Atractylodes etc.

 

8. Exercise: in particular, anaerobic exercise (muscle-building) is

more effective than aerobic exercise (jumping, running) to reduce

insulin resistance, e.g. calisthenics (e.g. pushups, lunges, chin ups

etc.), walking or bicycling uphill, hiking martial arts, weight-

lifting; note that any exercise regimen should be implemented gradually

 

 

With such a regimen, I have seen people not only reduce lipid levels

to normal, but the clinical risks for CVD such as truncal-abdominal

obesity vanish in a period of months

 

best... todd caldecott

 

 

Caldecott

todd (AT) toddcaldecott (DOT) com

www.toddcaldecott.com