Higher cholesterol levels in both men and women are linked to a longer life

This study was published in the Journal of Internal medicineVolume 254, Issue 4, pages 353–362, October 2003

Study title and authors:
Total cholesterol and mortality in the elderly

E. Casiglia, A. Mazza, V. Tikhonoff, R. Scarpa, L. Schiavon, A. C. Pessina

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padova, Italy

This study can be accessed at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2796.2003.01200.x/full

The objective of the study was to evaluate whether cholesterol levels are associated with death rates  and to verify whether or not this is true for both genders. The study lasted 12 years and included a total of 3,257 subjects aged 65–95 years.

The study found:
(a) Women with the highest cholesterol levels had a 34% lower death rate than women with the lowest cholesterol levels.
(b) Men with cholesterol levels over 4.66 mmol/L (180 mg/dL) and a Body Mass Index above 25 had a 28% lower death rate than men with cholesterol levels below 4.66 mmol/l (180 mg/dL) and a Body Mass Index above 25.
(c) Men with cholesterol levels over 4.66 mmol/L (180 mg/dL) and a Body Mass Index above 25 had a 38% lower death rate than men with cholesterol levels below 4.66 mmol/l (180 mg/dL) and a Body Mass Index below 25.

The results of the study indicate that higher cholesterol levels in both men and women are linked to a longer life.

Low vitamin D levels associated with higher rates of cardiovascular and cancer deaths

This study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2011 Dec;94(6):1471-8

 

Study title and authors:

Prospective association of vitamin D concentrations with mortality in postmenopausal women: results from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI).

Eaton CB, Young A, Allison MA, Robinson J, Martin LW, Kuller LH, Johnson KC, Curb JD, Van Horn L, McTiernan A, Liu S, Manson JE.

Center for Primary Care and Prevention, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Pawtucket, RI, USA. charles_eaton@mhri.org

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22030222

25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is the major circulating form of vitamin D and is currently considered the best indicator of vitamin D levels in the body.

This study aimed to determine whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D) levels were associated with cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality in 2,429 postmenopausal women.

The study found:
(a) Women with the lowest vitamin D levels had a 25% increased death rate compared to women with the highest vitamin D levels.
(b) Women with the lowest vitamin D levels had a 27% increased risk of cardiovascular disease deaths compared to women with the highest vitamin D levels.
(c) Women with the lowest vitamin D levels had a 39% increased risk of cancer deaths compared to women with the highest vitamin D levels.

The results of this study show that low levels of vitamin D are associated with increased rates of deaths from all-causes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Vitamin D is only found in foods from animal sources (University of Bristol). The richest sources include lard, eggs, liver, fish, marine oils, organ meats and butter.

Links to other studies:
Can lard and other fatty foods offer protection from peripheral arterial disease?
High vitamin D levels associated with a 40% reduction in colon cancer - Best sources of vitamin D = High fat foods & sunshine

Patients hospitalised with a stroke with low cholesterol have a 117% increased risk of death compared to patients with high cholesterol

This study was published in the Journals of Gerontology. Series A Biological Sciencies and Medical Sciencies 2004 Mar;59(3):293-7

Study title and authors:

Low cholesterol levels are associated with short-term mortality in older patients with ischemic stroke.

Zuliani G, Cherubini A, Atti AR, Blè A, Vavalle C, Di Todaro F, Benedetti C, Volpato S, Marinescu MG, Senin U, Fellin R.

2nd Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy. gzuliani@hotmail.com

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15031316 

The study evaluated the association between cholesterol levels and 30-day death rates in 490 older patients admitted to hospital with ischemic stroke.

The study found that those with the lowest cholesterol levels, under 4.1 mmol/l (158 mg/dL), had a 117% increased risk of death compared with those with the highest cholesterol, over 5.2 mmol/l (201 mg/dL).

Linls to other studies:
Low cholesterol levels lead to a 20.2% increase in death rates in those who have had a stroke
High cholesterol levels are associated with a 22% DECREASE in stroke incidence
A direct association between falling cholesterol levels and mortality in men and women aged between 31 and 65 years old

Trend of increased kidney cancer risk with statins

This study was published in Expert Opinion on Drug Safety 2012 Apr 16

Study title and authors:
Statin use and the risk of kidney cancer: a population-based case-control study.

Chiu HF, Kuo CC, Kuo HW, Lee IM, Lee CT, Yang CY.
Kaohsiung Medical University, Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22502740

The objective of the study was to investigate whether the use of statins was associated with kidney cancer risk. The study included 177 kidney cancer cases and 708 controls aged 50 or over.

The study found that those who were prescribed statins had an 8% increased risk of kidney cancer compared to those that did not take statins.

The author of the paper, Professor Hui-Fen Chiu, advises; "there is a trend of increased kidney cancer risk" and "it is prudent to continue monitoring cancer incidence among long-standing statin users".

Men taking gemfibrozil have a 117% increase in cardiac deaths

This study was published in the Annals of Medicine 1993 Feb;25(1):41-5

Study title and authors:

Efficacy of gemfibrozil in dyslipidaemic subjects with suspected heart disease. An ancillary study in the Helsinki Heart Study frame population.

Frick MH, Heinonen OP, Huttunen JK, Koskinen P, Mänttäri M, Manninen V.

First Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8435186

The study examined the effects of gemfibrozil (a cholesterol lowering drug) on death rates in male patients who had symptoms and signs of possible coronary heart disease. The study included 626 patients, average age 49, who were followed for five years.

The men were given either:
(i) 600 mg gemfibrozil twice daily.
(ii) Placebo.

The study found:
(a) The men taking gemfibrozil lowered their cholesterol levels by 8.5%.
(b) The men taking gemfibrozil had 61% more deaths than the men taking a placebo.
(c) The men taking gemfibrozil had 117% more cardiac deaths than the men taking a placebo.

The results of the study show that taking the cholesterol lowering drug gemfibrozil results in lower cholesterol levels and higher cardiac death rates and higher total death rates.  

Food Addiction

While listening to an Underground Wellness podcast this morning about Food Addiction, much of what they talked about really hit home. I mean, that’s really what I’ve been working on, isn’t it? Yes, there are forces beyond my control pushing me to indulge that addiction but blaming everything from the fact that fast food is everywhere, treats are constantly around at work or even that you can’t even sit down to watch TV without being bombarded by the food industry gets me nowhere. It has to start with me and with taking responsibility for myself.


I have made great strides and accomplished a great deal over the past year. Shedding 50 lbs. and maintaining that loss for over four months is a huge accomplishment. I am very proud of that. At the same time, I know I have more work to do. I have a pretty good handle on the most obvious outside pressures. I’m pretty strong in the face of junk food and wheat based products – those choices are clearly black and white to me. I know it’s just not worth it and that there are better options. Where I’m struggling is in the gray area – the things that are a problem for me, but are not seen as an issue to most. Those trigger foods include coffee (caffeine in general), heavy cream (in coffee), artificial sweeteners (xylitol and stevia), chocolate, and even nuts.

The problem is that all of the above have actually been recommended or justified by many of the respected voices in the low carb and/or Paleo community which I follow. I started up with coffee again to try Bulletproof Fasting – many people see metabolic advantages from this type of approach and I thought I’d try it. I did like it a lot and I’m not ruling it out completely. But, I know for me, dependence on caffeine is counterproductive to evening out my natural energy levels. It doesn’t matter how high quality the coffee. Even putting aside the caffeine issue, I find myself craving a stop at Starbucks for a decaf Americano with heavy cream. It probably has some caffeine, but no sugar. Still, I crave the creaminess… There is definitely something there. Even high fat dairy with very little casein or lactose has a pull on me. Many people can handle this just fine (it’s a “maybe” food in the Primal world); I am not one of them, sadly.

I’ve also let a good deal of stevia and xylitol in to my diet lately in things like Bulletproof Ice Cream and baked items from Maria Emmerich’s site. I think a lot of people can do just fine with these types of things but I’m starting to realize they are holding me back. Using them is keeping the search for the sweet taste alive and is starting to dominate my thoughts again. That has led to me eating more chocolate, pretty much on a daily basis. I was sticking to 85% for a while, but relented to 72% most recently because the former is really just too bitter. I’ve always noticed that I get a really mild background kind of headache after eating even a tiny square of chocolate. Once I eliminate all the other triggers, usually I’m OK with sticking to a small square. But I think I need to get to a place of a clean slate once more before allowing that in…

Nuts are a pretty ubiquitous low carb sanctioned snack and have always been my saving grace. I don’t think I need to give them up completely, but I have to face the fact that they are not an unlimited indulgence.

Rereading what I’ve written so far, I can already see the little back doors I am unconsciously leaving for myself. I’m not changing it, just to show the thought process. My brain is rebelling at the thought of giving up the last of my unproductive habits. I didn’t even mention my dependence on whey protein shakes for a sweet, creamy fix. Because I don’t want to give it up. I am holding on to it for dear life. I need to make peace with the decision to stop these things. I tried a couple times with The Whole 30 and 21 Day Sugar Detox attempts, but it hasn’t stuck. I think I never really let go of my attachments. There is always something out there to help me justify these indulgences and make me feel like they are still OK for me. But I know myself best and I need to face the cold hard facts.

The Whole 30 program is probably the best option for me. I need to go bare bones, at least for awhile [there’s that back door again], to get myself back on the track to losing unneeded fat and getting to the healthiest place I can be for me, both mentally and physically. I have always chafed against their strict mentality – something about the hard core nature of their program rubbed me the wrong way. But now I think I understand it better – when you think of this from a food addiction perspective, it all starts to make more sense. As someone who struggled with substance abuse, I think Mellissa of The Whole 9 (amazing post, by the way) brought that experience to bear on their approach to food. There is no half-way when you’re dealing with addictive behaviors. It’s no different when it’s cocaine or it’s sugar. It’s a problem and abstinence is really the only path to kicking it for good.

At the same time, I live in the realm of reality and know that life will continue to be full of temptations and it’s scary to use words like “never” when talking about some of your favorite foods. That brings up all kinds of defense mechanisms that I’d rather not have to battle. So… my plan is to embark on another Whole 30 – I know I can do this for that amount of time. 30 days of nixing all my trigger foods and concentrating on meat and veggies – satisfying meals without all the snacking. To help me on this path, I’m enlisting the help of Well Fed – it’s a cookbook that is almost 100% Whole 30 compliant and full of amazing recipes and cooking ideas that are super helpful. I love the idea of the weekly cook-up – I spent a few hours over the weekend prepping things like burger patties, ground beef, chicken salad, and veggies for quick use throughout the week. It’s been great having “fast food” on hand. It makes good choices a no-brainer. I’ve also been taking an antipasto snack pack each day for lunch – it’s a baggie with various lunch meats, hard boiled eggs, cut veggies/tomatoes, pickles, etc. All types of yummy food that can be eaten right out of the fridge. Another great steal from Well Fed. Another strategy is to eat more veggies. I think I’ve been skimping on them of late, and will benefit from their filling affect.

Part of this journey is letting go of the resistance. When I expect something to be hard, it is. When I expect that I can do something, I accomplish it with ease. That is the attitude and intention I need to bring to this stage of the game. My plan is to set myself up for success. Over the next week, I’m going to phase out the trigger foods above, and start the official Whole 30 on June 1st. That will allow me to use up all the trail mix I made for myself and get breakfast taken care of with the protein powder until my budget can accommodate buying more of the whole foods I’ll use to replace those crutches. We’re also going out of town for the weekend, so starting after that is probably a good idea. I will report back again on June 1st, to officially set my intention and get this going. I’m very much looking forward to it!

Live Young

Most Western doctors and researchers describe the ageing of the human body as being similar to the ageing of man-made machines. The damage can be periodically repaired leading to an extension of the machine's functional lifetime, just as is routinely done with cars.  But what if we could postpone the effects of ageing before any damage occurred? 


Aerobic exercise has been shown to prevent memory loss, heart disease, diabetes, depression and obesity. Weight training stops our muscles from shrinking as we get older. But what about our internal organs? Because we can't see them, we tend to only think of them when something goes wrong with them. But it's the internal organs that govern the body. They are the key to living young and having excellent health.


There is only one way of exercising the internal organs and that is through the practice of Qigong and Qigong self-massage.  Qigong is quite literally exercise for the internal organs. Not only does it protect the internal organs, it stimulates them and gets rid of energy blockages  which could lead to illness. The immediate effect is an increase in energy. The long term effect is a slowing down of the ageing process of the body together with prevention of injury and disease.

The Qigong forms I teach in my book and DVDs are the original Buddhist forms from the Shaolin Temple of Zen in China. These are Zen forms and they are practiced with this in mind. There is no need to understand any complicated Qi theory or to concentrate on one particular part of the body. The only instruction is to concentrate on the movement and the breath. That is all. The wisdom of the body knows what to do.  If the mind is too full up with ideas and theory then the wisdom of the body can never manifest.  


The Instant Health self-massage plays a crucial part in exercising the internal organs. It works on many different levels. The bamboo brush works on the surface level, helping to detoxify the body by cleaning out the lymphatic system, softening the skin, removing blockages,  acting as a natural battery charger for the body, and making the Qigong more effective through helping to open the meridian channels.

I have a new improved bamboo brush available from my website, if your brush has Shaolin Temple in black Chinese writing written on the handle then you have this new brush. This new brush is a  stronger design than the last brush and should last for many years. Most people are happy to keep using the bamboo brush. But to go to a deeper level in our Qigong, we need to use a metal brush.

The metal brush is nearly 2kg and if looked after properly will last a lifetime. It took me many years to find someone who could make  this specialised equipment to my specific specifications. The weight, length and number of metal rods needs to be correct so it can work effectively. But how does it work?

Before washing machines were invented, the way to wash our clothes was to beat them against a rock. Some people still clean rugs this way, they hang them on the line and beat the dust out of them. The metal brush works in a similar way. Not only does it detoxify the body, and work on the internal organs like the bamboo brush but the vibrations from the brush go into the very marrow of our bone; cleansing and detoxifying it.  Why is it important to cleanse the bone marrow?

As we get older, the production of  red blood cells start to slow down. This is a major factor in the ageing process. I have no evidence for this but I believe that use of the metal brush, reinvigorates the marrow of our bone so that the production of red blood cells continue at a similar speed as when we were younger.  

Most people who do intensive exercise, for example professional footballers, age quite rapidly and burn out when their in their thirties. Shaolin monks and disciples do as much exercise but do not age or burnout in the same way. This is because we practice Qigong and Qigong self-massage.

I know that many Western people have massage from other people when they need something fixing like an injury or they feel stress or tired. There's nothing wrong with this kind of massage but self-massage aims to prevent the body getting run down, the aim is to prevent disease before it happens.

Many people associate The Shaolin Temple with body conditioning for combat but the temple have a long tradition of self-massage. Here in the West, I know some people find self -massage strange.  All I  can say is that if you haven't tasted coca cola, I can write volumes about the taste but you will never understand until you have actually tasted it for yourself. Self-massage is a vital key to keep your body balanced, healthy and well. Try it and you will see.

Good health not only benefits ourselves but also our family and the rest of society.  It's easy to forget the importance of health when we are healthy. It's only when it's taken away from us do we realise that without we cannot have a rich and fulfilled life without it. So appreciate your health and invest in it by practicing Qigong and Qigong massage for a long and healthy life. 

Want to learn Qigong?  Click here. 
For more information on the massage brushes click here

Statins increase the risk of gallstone disease

This study was published in Expert Opinion on Drug Safety 2012 May;11(3):369-74

Study title and authors:
Statin use and the risk of gallstone disease: a population-based case-control study.

Chiu HF, Chen CC, Kuo HW, Lee IM, Wu TN, Yang CY.
Kaohsiung Medical University, Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22243480

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the use of statins and the risk of gallstone disease. The study included 1014 gallstone disease cases and 1014 controls aged 50 years or older.

The study found that those who were prescribed statins had a 14% increased risk of developing gallstone disease compared to those who did not take statins.

Statin users have a 14% increased risk of melanoma

This study was published in Cancer 2012 Mar 20

Study title and authors:
Prospective analysis of association between use of statins and melanoma risk in the Women's Health Initiative.

Jagtap D, Rosenberg CA, Martin LW, Pettinger M, Khandekar J, Lane D, Ockene I, Simon MS.
Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22434400

Melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer. This study examined the association between statin use and the risk of melanoma. The study consisted of 119,726 postmenopausal white women who were followed for 11.6 years.

The study found that statin users had a 14% increased risk of melanoma compared to nonusers.

A research scientist notes that statins are also associated with a rise in non-melanoma skin cancer and liver cancer. See the article here.

Response to the "everyone over 50 should be on a statin story"

I have been alerted by a few people to a story emanating from the UK that everyone over the age of fifty should be prescribed statin drugs to prevent "thousands of heart attacks and strokes".

The story is about an analysis of some statin trials that apparently showed that as cholesterol levels were lowered then heart disease and stroke levels were decreased. The thrust of the argument by one of the researchers, professor Colin Baigent, is that whatever your cholesterol level, reducing it further is beneficial.  

As anyone who reads this blog will realise, lower cholesterol levels are NOT beneficial to health.

However for arguments sake lets pretend that statin trials are not paid for by the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture the statins.

Lets pretend that many of the statin trials are not conducted by personnel that have financial ties with the companies that manufacture the statins.

Lets pretend that the trials are not designed in such a way as to seriously skew the results to show statins in a favourable light.

Lets pretend that the researchers don't just accentuate the very minor positive aspects of statin drugs in the summaries of the trials, whilst completely ignoring the vast deleterious side-effects they cause.

After all that "lets pretending", lets examine figures from the British Heart Foundation statistics database and the World Health Organisation Global Health Atlas 2005.

In both graphs data was extracted from 86 countries.

Figure 1 shows that life expectancy increases quite sharply as cholesterol levels increase, and even the data regarding cardiovascular diseases in figure 2 shows that as cholesterol levels increase, then death rates from cardiovascular diseases decrease.

Lets stop pretending.

The hard data shows the opposite of what the pharmaceutical industry backed advisers tell us.

I suggest that as well as listening to advice about data gathered from "drug company industry paid for, drug company industry personnel conducted, drug company industry designed and drug company industry biased results" trials, people should conduct their own research and come to their own conclusions.

Who would you listen to and trust?

Professor Colin Baigent heads a university department which received funding from Merck Sharpe & Dohme Ltd; who just happen to be the pharmaceutical company linked to the parent company (Merck & Co) in the USA who first brought Lovastatin to market.

Would you trust someone who trots out figures that are backed by the $29 billion statin industry, or someone who just shows unbiased data of actual life expectancies, actual cardiovascular death rates and actual cholesterol levels?

If you would like another opinion of Baigent's study go to Dr Briffa's site here.

Higher fat diets are better than lower fat diets in the treatment of diabetes

This study was published in Diabetes Care 1994 Mar;17(3):177-82

Study title and authors:

The high-monounsaturated fat diet as a practical alternative for NIDDM.

Campbell LV, Marmot PE, Dyer JA, Borkman M, Storlien LH.

Diabetes Centre, St. Vincent's Hospital, Camperdown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8174444

The objective of the study was to examine the effects in patients with type two diabetes of a home-prepared high-fat diet compared with a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet. Ten men were included in the trial in which they consumed each diet for two weeks.

The composition of the diets was:
(i) 52% carbohydrate, 24% protein, 24% fat (low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet).
(ii) 40% carbohydrate, 22% protein, 38% fat (high-fat diet).

The study found:
(a) The high-fat diet lowered unhealthy high triglycerides levels.
(b) The high-fat diet lowered unhealthy high blood glucose levels.

This study shows that a high fat diet is better than a low-fat, high carbohydrate diet in the treatment of diabetes.

Cardiovascular drugs increase the risk of suicide

This study was published in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2007 Jun;63(6):591-6

Study title and authors:

Cardiovascular drugs and the risk of suicide: a nested case-control study.

Callréus T, Agerskov Andersen U, Hallas J, Andersen M.

Institute of Public Health, Research Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsloews Vej 9A, 5000, Odense C, Denmark. tcallreus@health.sdu.dk

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17468865

This study investigated the possible association between the use of cardiovascular drugs and suicide. 743 cases of suicide were matched with 14,860 age- and sex-matched controls and their previous cardiovascular drug use was compared.

The study found:
(a) Taking angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE-inhibitors) increased the risk of suicide by 11%.
(b) Taking statins increased the risk of suicide by 21%.
(c) Taking angiotensin-receptor antagonists increased the risk of suicide by 252%.

This study reveals that cardiovascular drugs increase the risk of suicide.

Links to other studies:
ACE inhibitors and ARBs linked to serious birth defects
Antipsychotic drugs are a risk factor for pneumonia in frail older people

Statins and fibrates are associated with an increased risk of peripheral neuropathy

This study was published at the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2004 Dec;58(12):1047-51

Study title and authors:
Lipid lowering drugs prescription and the risk of peripheral neuropathy: an exploratory case-control study using automated databases.

Corrao G, Zambon A, Bertù L, Botteri E, Leoni O, Contiero P.
Dipartimento di Statistica, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Via Bicocca degli Arcimboldi 8, Edificio U7, 20126 Milan, Italy. giovanni.corrao@unimib.it

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15547071

Peripheral neuropathy describes damage to the peripheral nervous system, the vast communications network that transmits information from the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system) to every other part of the body.

Symptoms are related to the type of affected nerve and may be seen over a period of days, weeks, or years. Muscle weakness is the most common symptom of motor nerve damage. Other symptoms may include painful cramps and fasciculations (uncontrolled muscle twitching visible under the skin), muscle loss, bone degeneration, and changes in the skin, hair, and nails. These more general degenerative changes also can result from sensory or autonomic nerve fiber loss.

This study explored the association between prescription of cholesterol lowering drugs and the risk of peripheral neuropathy. 2,040 patients with peripheral neuropathy and 36,041 controls were included in the study.

The study found:
(a) Those that took statins had a 19% increased risk of peripheral neuropathy.
(b) Those that took fibrates had a 49% increased risk of peripheral neuropathy.
(c) Those that had higher doses of statins and fibrates had a higher risk of peripheral neuropathy.

This study shows that both statins and fibrates are associated with an increased risk of peripheral neuropathy.

Low cholesterol levels are associated with lung disease

This study was published in Circulation 2003 Mar 25;107(11):1514-9

Study title and authors:

Why are patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases? The potential role of systemic inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Sin DD, Man SF.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12654609

This study analysed the association of cholesterol levels with the severity of airflow obstruction in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary (lung) disease. The study included 6,629 people aged 50 or over.

Sin notes that air flow obstructions elevate the risk of ischemic heart diseases, strokes, and sudden cardiac deaths 2- to 3-fold.

The study found:
(a) People with no air flow obstruction had the highest cholesterol.
(b) People with the most severe air flow obstruction had the lowest cholesterol.

The results of the study show that low cholesterol is associated with a higher severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which leads to a  2- to 3-fold increased risk of ischemic heart disease, stroke, and sudden cardiac death.

Healthy World Cafe Open May 23

Join us for lunch on Wednesday, May 23, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., First Moravian Church, 41 N. Duke St., York.  Fresh, healthy, delicious food will be available using our "pay as you can" model.  Guests may eat-in or take-out.  Orders may be placed ahead by e-mailing your order to healthyworldcafe(at)gmail.com.

Chicken, Rice and Spring Greens Soup

Menu for May 23:
• Chicken, Rice and Spring Greens Soup
• Wild Mushroom Soup
• Mixed Green Salad with Strawberry Dressing
• Shredded Pork Wraps with Lemon Coleslaw
• Whipped Ricotta with Honey and Strawberries
• Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, and Pecan Cookies


Where friends meet and everybody eats!

Higher cholesterol levels associated with lower death rates

This study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine 1992 Jul;152(7):1490-500

Study title and authors:

Serum cholesterol level and mortality findings for men screened in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial Research Group.

Neaton JD, Blackburn H, Jacobs D, Kuller L, Lee DJ, Sherwin R, Shih J, Stamler J, Wentworth D.

Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55414.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1627030

The study investigated the relationship between cholesterol levels and death rates. The study included 350,977 men aged 35 to 57 who were followed for 12 years.

The study found those men who had cholesterol levels between 200-239 mg/dL (5.1-6.2 mmol/L) had a 12% lower death rate than those men with cholesterol levels below 160 mg/dL (4.1 mmol/L).

Links to other studies:
Declining cholesterol rates in people over 65 are associated with a 630% increase in death rates
Low cholesterol leads to 80% higher death rates from nonvascular causes
Low cholesterol and increased mortality in men and women

Transient global amnesia associated with statin intake

This paper was published in the British Medical Journal Case Reports 2009;2009. pii: bcr06.2008.0033

Study title and authors:

Transient global amnesia associated with statin intake.

Healy D, Morgan R, Chinnaswamy S.

Cardiff University, Psychological Medicine, Hergest Unit, Bangor, LL57 2PW, U K.

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21686951

Transient global amnesia is a syndrome where there is a temporary but almost total disruption of short-term memory with a range of problems accessing older memories.

This paper describes the case of a man who developed Transient global amnesia after taking statin drugs.

(i) A 57-year-old man was referred with end-stage renal failure. In 2001, he was started on dialysis for renal failure and was prescribed 40 mg simvastatin.
(ii) His worsening condition in 2004 led to unhappiness and his simvastatin was changed to 10 mg rosuvastatin in December 2004.
(iii) In February 2005, two confusion episodes were noted. In one, he had made 40 cups of tea but could later give no reason for this other than he must have been dreaming of having guests to the house. In the other, during home dialysis he had cut the lines into the dialysis machine with a pair of scissors. He vaguely remembered freeing himself from the lines and retiring to bed.
(iv) This latter incident and concerns that he might be drinking more water than advised led to a referral to the psychiatric liaison service in August 2005 because of possible self-harm. He denied thoughts of self-harm. But he described feeling that there were further episodes of behaviours for which he had no recall. Psychiatric assessment found no evidence of psychotic or delirious phenomena. He was not depressed.
(v) In September 2005, the patient’s wife reported that he was having episodes when he was uncertain where he was or what he was supposed to be doing. He complained of feeling disorganised at these times.
(vi) Physical investigations returned no evidence of triggers to these episodes.
(vii) In May 2006 he reported that he was completely unable to remember anything for a full day after his previous dialysis session.
(viii) Statin-induced global amnesia was diagnosed.
(ix) He discontinued his statin.
(x) His difficulties cleared on discontinuation of treatment and he remained symptom free thereafter.

The 57-year-old man mentioned above is only one case. To see more evidence of the relationship between statins and transient global amnesia visit the spacedoc website which is run by a retired family doctor Duane Graveline MD MPH.

In his career Dr Graveline was also a USAF Flight Surgeon and a NASA Astronaut.

Dr Graveline suffered from episodes of transient global amnesia after starting statin therapy. Read about his experience and the experiences of many others here.

Low cholesterol levels are associated with meningococcal sepsis

This study was published in Critical Care Medicine 2005 Jul;33(7):1610-5

Study title and authors:
Serum lipids and disease severity in children with severe meningococcal sepsis.

Vermont CL, den Brinker M, Kâkeci N, de Kleijn ED, de Rijke YB, Joosten KF, de Groot R, Hazelzet JA.
Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, Sophia, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16003070

Meningococcal sepsis is where bacteria has invaded the bloodstream. This results in fever, irritability, headaches and a stiff neck. Once the bacteria is in the blood, it begins to attack organs and cause internal bleeding and can be fatal within a matter of  hours.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of cholesterol levels in children with severe meningococcal sepsis. The study included 57 patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with meningococcal sepsis or septic shock.

The study found:
(a) Cholesterol levels on admission to the pediatric intensive care unit were very low in all patients.
(b) Cholesterol levels were significantly lower in nonsurvivors than in survivors.
(c) The lower the cholesterol levels - the more severe the illness.

The results of the study show that low cholesterol levels are associated with meningococcal sepsis and the lower the cholesterol are - the more severe the disease is.

Rising cholesterol levels predict survival, whilst falling cholesterol levels predicts death in people who have suffered severe injuries

This study was published in Critical Care 2003 Dec;7(6):R145-53

Study title and authors:

Following severe injury, hypocholesterolemia improves with convalescence but persists with organ failure or onset of infection.

Dunham CM, Fealk MH, Sever WE 3rd.

Assistant Director, Trauma/Critical Care Services, St, Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown, Ohio, USA. Michael_Dunham@hmis.org

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14624689

The objective of the study was to determine the association of cholesterol levels and severe traumatic injury. The study included 28 severely injured trauma patients.

The study found:
(a) The cholesterol levels in those who survived their severe injuries increased by 28%.
(b) The cholesterol levels of those who died of their severe injuries decreased by 33%.

The resulys of the study show that a rising cholesterol level predicts survival, and a falling cholesterol level predicts death in people who have suffered severe injuries.

Links to other studies:
A review of 150 studies finds an association between low cholesterol and death from injury
Lowering cholesterol levels lead to an increase in death from accidents, suicide, and violence

The adverse health effects of low cholesterol

This paper was published in Beijing Da Xue Xue Bao (Journal of Peking University) 2010 Oct 18;42(5):612-5

Study title and authors:
Primary and secondary hypocholesterolemia

Song JX, Ren JY, Chen H.
Department of Cardiology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20957025

In this review of the literature Song examines the influence of low cholesterol levels (hypocholesterolemia) on health.

He found:
(a) Low cholesterol levels are common in the population.
(b) Physicians pay little attention to the diseases, causes and consequences of low cholesterol in clinical practice.
(c) Low cholesterol levels can result in some adverse events, such as increased death rates, intracerebral hemorrhage, cancer, infection, adrenal failure, suicide and mental disorder.
(d) Despite the adverse health consequences of low cholesterol, physicians are increasingly prescribing cholesterol lowering treatments such as statin drugs.

With all the adverse health effects of low cholesterol Song concludes: "It's high time that physicians attached more importance to hypocholesterolemia."

Links to other studies:
Stroke patients with low cholesterol are more likely to die and have poor neurological outcomes
Low cholesterol levels lead to a 20.2% increase in death rates in those who have had a stroke
Low cholesterol and serious complications after an ischemic stroke

Low cholesterol is associated with higher death rates in hospital patients

This study was published in the Annals of Clinical Biochemistry 1999 Sep;36 ( Pt 5):613-6

Study title and authors:

Hypocholesterolaemia in a hospital population.

Crook MA, Velauthar U, Moran L, Griffiths W.

Department of Chemical Pathology, Lewisham Hospital, London, UK.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10505211

The study examined the effects of low cholesterol in patients admitted to a hospital. 57 patients, average age 53, with various conditions and diseases were identified with cholesterol levels less than 3.0 mmol/L (116 mg/dL).

The study found:
(a) 18% of the patients with cholesterol levels less than 3.0 mmol/L (116 mg/dL) died during their hospitalization.
(b) 39% of the patients with cholesterol levels less than 2.0 mmol/L (77 mg/dL) died during their hospitalization.
(c) 71% of the patients with cholesterol levels less than 1.5 mmol/L (58 mg/dL) died during their hospitalization.

The findings of this study show low cholesterol is associated with higher death rates in hospital patients.

Links to other studies:
20 year study shows those with the lowest cholesterol levels have a 35% increase in death rates compared to those with the highest cholesterol
Older people with the highest cholesterol live the longest
30% higher death rate for men with falling cholesterol levels

Low cholesterol levels associated with fatigue and depression

This study was published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research 2002 Feb;52(2):61-3

Study title and authors:

Cholesterol and mood states at 3 days after delivery.

Nasta MT, Grussu P, Quatraro RM, Cerutti R, Grella PV.

Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11832250

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between cholesterol and mood states in women immediately following childbirth. The study included 72 women who had their mood analysed and cholesterol levels measured three days after giving birth.

The study found that women with lower cholesterol levels immediately following childbirth had major feelings of fatigue and a depressed mood.

Aspirin use is associated with a significantly increased risk of pancreatic cancer

This study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2004 Jan 7;96(1):22-8

Study title and authors:

A prospective study of aspirin use and the risk of pancreatic cancer in women.

Schernhammer ES, Kang JH, Chan AT, Michaud DS, Skinner HG, Giovannucci E, Colditz GA, Fuchs CS.

Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. eva.schernhammer@channing.harvard.edu

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14709735

The study examined the relationship between aspirin use and the development of pancreatic cancer. The study included 88,378 women over a 18 year period.

The study found:
(a) Women who took 2 or more standard aspirin tablets per week had a 20% increased risk of pancreatic cancer compared to women who took fewer than 2 aspirins per week.
(b) Compared to women that have never had aspirin;
(i) women who had 1-3 tablets a week had an 11% increase in pancreatic cancer
(ii) women who had 4-6 tablets a week had an 29% increase in pancreatic cancer
(iii) women who had 7-13 tablets a week had an 41% increase in pancreatic cancer
(iv) women who had over 14 tablets a week had an 86% increase in pancreatic cancer
(c) Women who reported more than 20 years of regular aspirin use had a 58% increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

The study shows that regular aspirin use is associated with a significantly increased risk of pancreatic cancer among women.

Links to other studies:
Does aspirin increase the risk of heart disease and stroke?
Ibuprofen increases the risk of breast cancer by 51%
Statins increase the risk of colon adenomas by 54%

Low cholesterol levels are associated with poor memory

This study was published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology 2008 Aug;28(8):1556-62

Study title and authors:

Low HDL cholesterol is a risk factor for deficit and decline in memory in midlife: the Whitehall II study.

Singh-Manoux A, Gimeno D, Kivimaki M, Brunner E, Marmot MG.

INSERM U687-IFR69, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Bât 15/16, 16 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier, 94807 Villejuif Cedex, France. Archana.Singh-Manoux@inserm.fr

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18591462

The study investigated the association of cholesterol levels with memory. 3,673 male and female participants, average age 61, were subjected to a short-term verbal memory test.

The study found:
(a) Poor memory was found in 53% more subjects with the lowest levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, below 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L), compared to those with the highest levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, above 60 mg/dL (1.5 mmol/L).
(b) Poor memory was found in 10% more subjects with the lowest levels of cholesterol, below 200 mg/dL (5.1 mmol/L), compared to those with the highest levels of cholesterol 240 mg/dL (6.2 mmol/L).

The results of the study indicate that low cholesterol levels are associated with poor memory.

Links to other studies:
High cholesterol levels boost memory function
High cholesterol levels are associated with higher intelligence

High cholesterol levels lead to a longer life in very old people

This study was published in the Journal of Aging and Health 1996 May;8(2):220-37

Study title and authors:
Survival in the oldest old: death risk factors in old and very old subjects.

Dontas AS, Toupadaki N, Tzonou A, Kasviki-Charvati P.
Center of Studies of Age-Related Changes in Man.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10160559

This study investigated which factors predict survival in the ninth decade of life. The study included 210 subjects aged 68 to 79 and 287 subjects aged over 80.

Hematocrit is a measurement of how much space in the blood is occupied by red blood cells

The study found:
(a) In those aged 68 to 79, high  hematocrit levels predicted survival.
(b) In those aged 80 or over, high hematocrit levels predicted survival.
(c) In those aged 80 or over, high cholesterol levels, 8.0 mmol/l (309 mg/dL) or over, as compared with low cholesterol levels, 5.9 mmol/l (228 mg/dL) or under, predicted survival.

The data from the study shows that high high hematocrit levels and high cholesterol levels lead to a longer life in very old people.

Foods high in iron and protein such as liver, egg yolk and beef raise hematocrit levels.

Analysis of 519,643 people reveals low cholesterol increases the risk of dying from pancreatic cancer by 27%

This study was published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention 2006 Dec;15(12):2435-40

 

Study title and authors:

The effect of modifiable risk factors on pancreatic cancer mortality in populations of the Asia-Pacific region.

Ansary-Moghaddam A, Huxley R, Barzi F, Lawes C, Ohkubo T, Fang X, Jee SH, Woodward M; Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration.

The George Institute, University of Sydney, Australia.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17164367

This analysis of 30 studies assessed the connection between cholesterol levels and death rates from pancreatic cancer. The study included 519,643 men and women with 3,558,733 person-years of follow-up.

This analysis of  519,643 people revealed that those with the lowest cholesterol, below 4.8 mmol/L (185 mg/dL) had a 27% increased risk of dying from pancreatic cancer compared to those with the highest cholesterol, over 5.8 mmol/L (224 mg/dL).

Links to other studies:
Red meat and eggs decrease the risk of pancreatic cancer
High margarine consumption is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer
High consumption of soft drinks lead to a 93% increased risk of pancreatic cancer

Low cholesterol levels linked with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

This study was published in Metabolism 2006 Jul;55(7):980-8

Study title and authors:
Altered lipid, apolipoprotein, and lipoprotein profiles in inflammatory bowel disease: consequences on the cholesterol efflux capacity of serum using Fu5AH cell system.

Ripollés Piquer B, Nazih H, Bourreille A, Segain JP, Huvelin JM, Galmiche JP, Bard JM.
Laboratoire de Biochimie Générale et Appliquée, UFR de Pharmacie, Université de Nantes, 44035 Nantes, France.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16784973

This study examined the association of cholesterol levels with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The study included 21 patients with inflammatory bowel diseases and 28 healthy subjects.

The study found that the patients with inflammatory bowel diseases had significantly lower levels of cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol than the healthy subjects.

Low cholesterol is significantly associated with schizophrenia

This study was published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 2003 Sep;108(3):208-14

Study title and authors:

Serum leptin and cholesterol levels in schizophrenic patients with and without suicide attempts.

Atmaca M, Kuloglu M, Tezcan E, Ustundag B.

Departments of Psychiatry and Clinical Biochemistry, Firat University, School of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey. matmaca_p@yahoo.com

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12890276

The study examined the association of cholesterol levels in schizophrenic patients with and without suicide attempts. The study included 16 medication-free schizophrenic patients with and without suicide attempts and in 16 healthy controls.

The study found:
(a) The schizophrenic patients had lower cholesterol levels compared with the controls.
(b) The schizophrenic patients who had attempted suicide had significantly lower cholesterol levels compared with the schizophrenic patients who had not.
(c) Cholesterol levels were lower in violent suicide attempters when compared with non-violent suicide attempters.

The results of the study show that low cholesterol is significantly associated with schizophrenia, especially in suicide attempters and even more so in violent suicide attempters.

High cholesterol levels are linked to a longer life

This paper was published in Circulation 1992 Sep;86(3):1046-60

Study title and authors:

Report of the Conference on Low Blood Cholesterol: Mortality Associations.

Jacobs D, Blackburn H, Higgins M, Reed D, Iso H, McMillan G, Neaton J, Nelson J, Potter J, Rifkind B, et al.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1355411

This paper featured an analysis of 18 studies that compared cholesterol levels with death rates. The  studies lasted between 9 and 30 years and included 172,760 men and 124,814 women.

The analysis found:
(a) Women with the highest cholesterol levels (over 240 mg/dL or 6.2 mmol/L) had 13% lower death rates than women with the lowest cholesterol (below 160 mg/dL or 4.1 mmol/L).
(b) Men with the highest cholesterol levels (over 240 mg/dL or 6.2 mmol/L) had 3% lower death rates than men with the lowest cholesterol (below 160 mg/dL or 4.1 mmol/L).

The results of this analysis of 18 studies shows that higher cholesterol levels are linked to a longer life.

People with low cholesterol are more prone to coughs, colds, runny noses and sore throats

This study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine 1992 Mar-Apr;8(2):100-3

Study title and authors:

Effect of minor illness on serum cholesterol level.

Hyman DJ, Barrett DC, Fortmann SP.

Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304-1885.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1599716

This study investigated the association of cholesterol levels with a minor illness. The study included 6,880 people who had their cholesterol levels measured. Additionally a further 162 people were followed for six years. Minor illnesses include coughs, colds, runny noses and sore throats.

In the main study
(a) Those who had a minor illness on the day their cholesterol was measured had 2.7% lower cholesterol levels compared to healthy subjects.
(b) Those who had a minor illness on the day their high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was measured had 2.1% lower HDL cholesterol levels compared to healthy subjects.

In the six year study those with a minor illness had 2.2% lower cholesterol levels compared to healthy subjects.

The results of the study indicate that people with low cholesterol are more prone to minor illnesses such as coughs, colds, runny noses and sore throats.

Mint Chocolate Madness (with Low Carb/Grain Free Minty Milan-Inspired Cookie Recipe!)

In homage to my favorite flavor combination, I’ve come up with two really stellar recipes in the past week. Both are riffs off of others’ basic ideas, so I’ll definitely give credit where credit is due.

The first one is for mint chocolate chip ice cream. This is my all-time favorite flavor. I haven’t found any sort of substitute for this that even came close to hitting the mark. Until now. I started out with the Bulletproof Executive’s Get Some Ice Cream (and yes, it does mean what you think it means). I subbed out the vanilla, adding much less of the peppermint extract (1/2 tsp). Then, I chopped up a Lindt 85% chocolate bar and mixed it in at the very end. Wow. It was perfect. This recipe looks a lot like a science experiment and the ingredients sound down right strange. But, take it from me. It comes together is the best way. The texture and creaminess is spot on in a way that I’ve never approached using coconut milk or anything else for that matter. It rivals any of the homemade concoctions I’ve made with heavy cream (and might actually be BETTER). The discovery of xylitol as a sweetener made a huge difference. There is no aftertaste. Apart from my first foray into using it when I overdid it, I have had no ill effects from it. It’s totally not “Paleo”, but the recipe in general isn’t in a strict sense. However, it meets my requirements of grain and (mostly) sugar free in a way that I feel good about. Works for me!

The second invention was my own version of a Mint Milano cookie. Those were my absolute downfall in times past. I could house an entire box in an evening. I googled all sorts of combinations to see if anyone had had this idea before me – everything from “low carb mint Milano” to the blasphemous and ridiculous “Paleo Mint Milano”, which would have been an abomination :) Nothing usable surfaced, except that I saw that the manufacturer had made a “low carb” version of it at some point, although their idea of it was a bit frightening. --- Shiver --- So… I thought about it and decided to try just making a sugar cookie type thing in the familiar oblong Milano shape and then put melted minty chocolate in between. Could it work? The answer? Yes, yes it can. And it’s amazing. I even got a measured thumbs up from the Cute Man, who is notoriously skeptical of my creations. So here’s what went down in my craving busting quest:

Minty Milan-Inspired Cookies
Adapted from The Prudent Wife’s Vanilla Coconut Flour Cookies

3/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
6 eggs, preferably free range and organic
1 cup almond milk (use milk of choice)
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract (I forgot to add this and they tasted great)
1 dropper of vanilla liquid stevia
1/3 cup xylitol (you could use a dropper or two more stevia instead)
1/2 cup melted butter or coconut oil
1 bar 85% Lindt Chocolate
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients well, set aside. In a blender, whip the 6 eggs thoroughly. Add milk, stevia, and xylitol. Pulse several times to thoroughly mix. Add butter/oil, then pulse several times to blend. Add dry ingredients and pulse gently to mix.

Once everything is incorporated, fashion spoonfuls of the batter into oblong Milano shapes on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Let cool while you prepare the chocolate filling.

Break or chop the chocolate bar into small pieces and melt either in the microwave or on the stovetop. Mix in the peppermint and vanilla extracts. Spread spoonfuls of the chocolate mixture on the flat sides of half the cooled cookies. Make sandwiches by applying the other cookies to the chocolate smeared ones. You want just enough chocolate so that a bit starts to ooze out, but not so much that you have a total mess on your hands. Mine cooled and the filling became pretty solid at room temperature, but you could put them in the freezer for a few minutes to have them set faster.

How To Be Your Own Light

On my daily run, I pass a church which has a notice on the wall : Everything We Do Is A Prayer. Even though this is a Christian church, for me this is a very Zen statement and it reminds me to come back to myself. We tend to put our life into boxes; this is my meditation practice, this is my work, this is my workout... but really it is all the same. It is all an expression of Zen.

It can be hard to keep this awareness. And sometimes people believe that if only they could have a great master who would show them the way, or if only they could go and train in a temple, then they could find true peace and everything would be alright. But this is a fantasy which has nothing to do with Zen. A temple is an organization like any other and it has its own problems. You only have to read the Hui Neng Sutra to understand this. The Buddha said: Don't rely on others. Be your own lamp.

As a young boy at the temple, I soon understood that whatever teaching or philosophy I followed could only work if I put in the work. The teacher gives us the seed and shows us what our potential is but it's only us that can nurture it on a daily basis. We have to find the temple within us and learn how to be our own lamp.

When I teach, I give a minimal amount of instruction - just as my masters gave to me - because I want you to taste the real experience. I don't want to put ideas into your head because then your ego would interfere and get in the way. The ego can be very demanding. It  wants to have an experience in Qigong, it wants to have a beautiful body, it wants to be powerful or win a fight. But this isn't a true or lasting experience therefore it can't lead to true happiness.

The great Japanese swordsman Yagyi Tajima said:

Turn yourself into a doll made of wood; it has no ego, it thinks nothing. Let the body work itself with the discipline it has undergone. This is the way to win.

If we could get out of our own way then we would find that our bodies are naturally wise, we would find that we already have the mind of the Buddha or the Universe and ironically we would then have more chance of gaining the things our ego demands. If we turn everything we do into a prayer then this is one of the ways we can light our own lamp and be a lamp to others.

Shifu Yan Lei teaches a graded path of Shaolin Qigong & Kung Fu. For more information please visit his website: shifuyanlei.com