Cinnamon: Good taste, good medicine

Cinnamon adds zest to many foods, but it can also add zest to your life - because of it's ability to lower your cholesterol. Only about a quarter teaspoon a day can make a dramatic difference. And you don't have to try to just swallow it - you can sprinkle it on your cereal or toast, or even stir some into your coffee or cocoa.

Of course you can also eat cinnamon rolls, but the added fats and sugars might not be such a good idea.

One study reported that cinnamate, an ingredient in cinnamon, lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels even better than the statin drug lovastatin.

In addition to cholesterol control, research shows that cinnamon may improve insulin sensitivity. In a study published in Diabetes Care, December 2003, scientists confirmed that cinnamon can improve blood-glucose and lipid levels.

Isn't it nice to know that such a tasty addition to your meals can also be a health benfit?

Do you take Lipitor? Beware

I really am on a mission to bring you natural cures - good news about taking care of your health while avoiding the dangers of pharmaceuticals.

But then, when I read something tucked into a small corner of the newspaper and think I haven't heard it anywhere else, maybe I have a duty to tell you about it.

Such is the case with Lipitor. Now to begin with, I believe Dr. Al Sears when he says we should leave our darned cholesterol levels alone. We need cholesterol. But I know a lot of people are convinced that they need to reduce the levels of "bad" cholesterol down.

So, many are prescribed Lipitor. One such person wrote to the "newspaper doctor" and told about taking Lipitor for a couple of months when he suddenly woke up one morning with amnesia. He didn't know what day it was, couldn't remember people's names, couldn't enter simple data on a spreadsheet because he had forgotten how.

Doctors did a myriad of tests over the next few weeks and diagnosed him with transient global amnesia - with no cause. When he asked if the Lipitor could be a cause, the doctor dismissed it with a casual "no way."

But he was suspicious, so quit taking Lipitor. He now takes prescription niacin and his cholesterol levels have dropped - but better yet, his memory is back, stronger than ever.

What did the newspaper doctor say about this? Amnesia is a not-uncommon side effect of statin-type cholesterol lowering drugs.

And yet, the man's doctor waved aside his concern with a curt "no way."

If you have a concern about a medication you're taking - and if your doctor waves you away when you express that concern - please do two things:

1. Do the research. The web is a goldmine of information.
2. Change doctors - find one who cares about helping you be healthy

Yours for abundant well-being,
Marte

Natural Cures for High Cholesterol

If cholesterol reducing drugs scare you as much as they do me, you'll be glad to hear that oatmeal and oat bran are both good at reducing cholesterol- because they're rich in soluble fiber.

You do need to eat quite a bit of it, so make oatmeal a routine, and add a bit of oat bran to give it a boost. You can also find a recipe on the Quaker Oat Bran box for making a delicious loaf of cholesterol-reducing bread.