The Story of Cholesterol: Inflammation is the villain that got away

Let us, for the sake of illustration, imagine a crime scene. At this crime scene is a victim who is alive but unconscious and thus unable to speak. The paramedics are working tirelessly to tend to the fallen soul as a crowd of witnesses and on -lookers gather. When the police finally arrive they begin arresting the paramedics, witnesses and the on-lookers just for being at the scene. In the meantime the true culprit goes unnoticed and is allowed to continue to victimize others. If you are anything like me a sense of injustice swept over you as you pondered this scenario as it should but this is how we treat cholesterol. Cholesterol is often (but not always...we'll get to that) the unwitting witness or even the paramedic that gets blamed for doing something it had no part in while the true villain, inflammation, gets away Scot-free to continue its reign of terror. By the way, in the illustration the silent victim is our cardiovascular system.

Inflammation our friend, Inflammation our foe

Let's be fair about inflammation before we go much further. Inflammation is a natural and necessary bodily function. It serves as a marker so the immune system can know where the bad guys are. Without inflammation pathogens in the body could wonder freely and do massive damage. While acute inflammation is a natural and necessary process chronic inflammation is a killer. What causes chronic inflammation? A whole host of things actually like highly processed foods, simple carbs, too much protein (especially from animal sources), environmental toxins, medications, alcohol, etc., etc. Chronic inflammation is extremely damaging to the cardiovascular system and cholesterol has shouldered most of the blame for the last 40-50 years. And why not? If you were responsible for generating $31 billion a year in sales you would be the fall guy forever! In addition, chronic inflammation is a silent, painless killer much like hypertension and no amount of cholesterol lowering drugs can save you from it (this point will be further illustrated when the true nature of statin drugs are discussed).

Oxidative Stress and Free Radicals

Free radical is probably a term you are now familiar with but just in case you're not a brief description follows. When it comes to free radicals it helps to think of them as a pack of teenage boys at the mall roaming around just waiting to hit on receptive looking female that approaches. The whole while they are generally annoying not only the girls but anyone in the vicinity who may be watching. This pack of boys begin to upset the whole mall experience with anyone they come into contact with. That is a nuts and bolts metaphor for free radicals. They create massive amounts of inflammation and just mess up everything.

In the end chronic inflammation is of much more concern than cholesterol ever was generally. There is one scenario where cholesterol can be a bad actor but that occasion is almost exclusively dependent on free radicals and oxidative stress (imagine that). We will continue to move forward through the true story of cholesterol and cover statin drugs in particular and what they do us!

Thoughtfulhealth Product Review: SiselLean Protein/Weight Management Shake

All natural. 74 calories per scoop. Powerful nutrition. $50 bucks for a one month supply. Score!

When it comes to protein shakes it is certain that not all are created equal. In fact most protein/weight management shakes are filled with incredibly toxic and inflammation causing ingredients. It has been my observation that most people consuming these protein products are in one way or another health conscious. Whether you endeavor to lose weight or pack on extra muscle ultimately your health is affected.

Personally I fill that whatever your intentions for consuming protein shakes it should not cause you harm. If you are currently consuming a protein shake let's take a look at a few of the readily available ingredients you would find in most "off-the-shelf" products.

• Whey protein: Derived from dairy sources that are usually laced with hormones, pesticides and antibiotics. To add insult there are only two to three companies out there that actually removes the lactose for our lactose intolerant friends. Ouch!
• Isolates (soy, whey, etc): Proudly displayed on the packaging but the truth is they most companies use cheap fillers that have chemical toxins associated with them increasing inflammation and acidity in the body.
• Artificial sweeteners (sucralose, splenda, aspartame,acesulfame potassiun etc.): Drives up insulin levels in the body increasing sensitivity which leads to fat storage, slows liver function which can lead to weight gain over the long run, causes inflammation in the body increasing water and sodium retention that can lead to hypertension.
• Maltodextrin: Generally used as a sweetener there is a 95% chance that it is genetically modified and is more than likely one of 4 to 5 sugars on the label!Not all maltodextrin is used as a sweetner, however. Some products use it as a source of fiber. Knowing how the company sources their maltodextrin is important.
• GMO's: More and more evidence is mounting that products containing GMO's cause serious adverse health events. Most manufacturers will use GMO ingredients because they are cheap but while the cost to you in the near term is less the long term cost could be downright devastating!

Why I like SiselLean

I have consumed SisleLean for almost two years now and I am thoroughly convinced that it has helped me maintain a body weight and level of health and vitality I did not previously have. With proper eating habits, moderate exercise and supplementing 1 or 2 meals per day I have not had any trouble losing over 30 lbs and keeping it off. The shake is delicious without being chalky and I can feel the energy provided by the vitamins and minerals. I will discuss a few of the key ingredients to give you an idea of why I have experienced my results.

Three Quality Proteins

Whey Protein: SiselLean contains whey protein but in the right way. The protein is sourced from all natural milk (no hormones or antibiotics). Also, all the lactose is removed for those of us who are lactose intolerant. It is cold processed so the protein is not denatured making it readily available for assimilation by the body without creating inflammation. Pea and chia proteins are also used because they are easily assimilated by the body combining with the whey to ensure extensive bioavailabilty for a wide range of people.

Vitamins and Minerals

Another aspect of this shake I like very much is the vitamins and minerals it packs. Most protein shakes on the market use cheap synthetic vitamins and minerals that are usually not absorbed by the body. In fact, they usually go unrecognized which triggers an immune response. Now you have increased your level of inflammation and given the immune system extra duty! Not so with SiselLean. All of the ingredients including the vitamins and minerals are all natural (no synthetics here). In addition, the amount of protein per scoop is within normal protein consumption range for the average person. What these two things mean is you will not be causing inflammation in the body with this product. Inflammation is a key factor in weight gain and almost all chronic illnesses. In addition, there is no soy and no GMO ingredient whatsover. With over 60 vitamins and minerals to include B vitamin complex I am left energized and ready to tackle the day.  

There is so much more to this shake but I don't want to ramble on. Check out this link for more information and if you decide to order this awesome shake please know that it is not necessary to autoship your purchase. You can order as you please when you please if you opt to do so.

All natural. 74 calories per scoop. Powerful nutrition. $50 bucks for a one month supply. Score!

For additional helpful tips regarding protein follow the link provided: http://thoughtfulhealth.blogspot.com/2010/11/protein-fallacy-and-how-best-to-utilize.html

The Story of Cholesterol: The Good and Bad About "Clinical Studies"

We all have heard at one time or another some announcer on television or radio say "clinical studies have shown..." and what follows is thought or assumed to be credible information. Rightfully so when it is considered that all clinical studies follow the scientific method, right? For the most part yes but there is more to the story and studies involving cholesterol aren't always what they seem to be.

The Bad

Scientist pride themselves on the scientific method and why not. Surely if you want to propose that a thing or an outcome is "true" you have to observe it over and over again and let the data tell you what is real and what is not. The problem, from time to time, is that scientist are human and are subject to the frailties associated with being such. Pride, arrogance, and greed, especially greed, has steered many doctors and scientist astray while conducting clinical studies. We, the non-clinical study conducting types, have our part to play as well by allowing people with profit driven agendas to run these drug studies without demanding a neutral third party either run a concurrent study or run the entire study outright. After all its only our health at stake. At this point I would like to be clear about one thing: I do not mind people making a profit. I just don't like it when it is at the expense of others as opposed to the benefit of others (and this is where I digress).

Cholesterol studies have long been plagued by biased research. One of the largest and most damaging of these studies was the Framingham Heart Study (FHS). The FHS began in 1948 in Framingham, Massachusetts involving 5,000 residents of the town. Follow up was conducted with the residents for 16 years. In the end it was claimed that a direct link between cholesterol and heart disease had been firmly established. This study has been heavily cited in order to defend the "cholesterol-causes-heart disease" hypothesis and helped form a $30 billion per year cholesterol drug industry. There are several key points to consider with this study that some would find alarming and the main ones are these:

• During the study it was found that cardiovascular disease struck people with both high and low cholesterol (some levels as low as 150 mg/dl)
• Thirty years after the study it was found that people with higher cholesterol levels lived just as long or longer, on average, as those with low cholesterol

According to this study cholesterol levels seemed to imply adverse cardiovascular health only for white men who had a heart attack before the age of 48. There was very little, if any, information garnered by this study that had any broad cholesterol "doom and gloom" appeal for the general population. In fact, the study director, Dr. William Castelli acknowledged in an article written in 1992 in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine that those people who participated in the study who consumed the most saturated fat, calories and cholesterol tended to have lower blood serum cholesterol levels, were the most active and weighed the least all while not experiencing any statistically significant increase in poor cardiovascular health outcomes.

The Good

One of the longest and most comprehensive studies ever undertaken was called the Nurses' Health Study conducted by Harvard University. The goal was to determine the risk factors for cancer and heart disease. Researchers conducted an extensive analysis of over 84,000 women and made a startling discovery. They determined that there were five essential contributing factors regarding cancer and heart disease in 82 percent of the women and they are as follows:

• Smoking
• Sedentary lifestyle (little to no daily exercise)
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Poor weight maintenance
• Diet that did not consist of whole foods, whole grains (fiber intake) and was high in sugar.

Did you notice cholesterol didn't make the list? You can believe the drug companies did not want to hear any part of this because this study definitely had the potential to interfere with profits! In the end, however,  it is a lot easier for patients and lucrative for the drug pushers to take a pill than it is to lead a healthy lifestyle so the study fell mostly on deaf ears and those who did hear and believe were ridiculed or ostracized by "scientist" backed by big money from pharmaceutical companies. 

In the next installment we will discuss the true villain when it comes to heart disease: inflammation!

If you would like to read about more studies and the cholesterol myth (in case you just can't wait for the next article) I recommend reading "The Great Cholesterol Myth" written by Dr. Jonny Bowden and Dr. Stephen Sinatra.

The Story of Cholesterol: The Beginning

One of my chief goals is to help others achieve radiant health by exposing erroneous, and often times intentionally misleading, information. There are many areas of our lives where these errors adversely impact our health and one of them is cholesterol. I must admit that prior to becoming a certified holistic health practitioner (holistic health coach) I would see the commercials for cholesterol lowering medications and agree wholeheartedly with its use. After all, one of the main ways to prevent heart disease and heart attacks was to ensure cholesterol levels were kept in check by lowering the amount in the bloodstream, right? I was convinced of this "fact" and all it took was a series of 30 second commercials to convince me and millions of others. Now the alarms are being sounded as more and more evidence would suggest that cholesterol is not what we think it is.

The Story of Cholesterol: The Beginning is the first article in what will be a continuing series on the cholesterol story and how it affects each and everyone of us. Whether you are taking a cholesterol lowering medication now or you pay insurance premiums to help cover the cost of those who do we are all paying a hefty price only to decrease what we hope to increase: our health.

The history of cholesterol as the boogie man!

Like most pharmaceutical success stories ours starts in the lab with a guy in a white coat who promises to save your life if you buy what they are selling. Enter Ansel Keys, Ph.D. He was one of the first to begin making the extraordinary and revolutionary claim that cholesterol was at the heart of cardiovascular disease (also known as the lipid hypothesis) and lowering it would reduce heart attacks and other adverse cardiovascular events. And so the myth was born and from that point in the 1950's until this very day many millions continue to believe this unsubstantiated myth (more on this in another article). The commercials haven't stopped and the myth is continuously perpetuated because statins and other cholesterol lowering drugs are a $31 billion a year industry all by itself!

What is cholesterol?

Have you ever wondered what cholesterol is and why we have it. I know personally I never stopped to consider it. The truth about cholesterol and what it does for our bodies is astounding. Here are a few things about cholesterol that you may not know:

• The brain is approximately 60% cholesterol (one of the listed side effects of statin drugs is reduced cognitive function!)
• Cholesterol is so important that it is manufactured in almost every cell in the body
• Cholesterol is an important structural molecule that is the basis of how many other molecules get built
• Cholesterol is the body's natural inflammation fighter
• Cholesterol helps to synthesize Vitamin D
• Without cholesterol we would be unable to produce bile affecting our ability to digest dietary fats
• Without cholesterol sex hormones like testosterone, estrogen and progesterone cannot be made (one of the listed side effects of statin drugs is reduced testicular and ovary size!)
• If we were able to remove all the cholesterol from our bodies we would die very quickly

As you can see cholesterol plays an important part in our health and well being. So the question becomes: How and why has cholesterol been so vilified and who profits from our media/doctor induced manic hatred for such an essential element in our lives? There is more to come shortly. Stay tuned!

Slow and Steady Wins the Weight Race!

Generally I do not write articles about myself. Generally. However, I do have a story to tell that I hope will be of inspiration to someone and that is why I’m making an exception. I don’t merely right articles or have an interest in health arbitrarily. There are many reasons for why I write, like a sincere desire to help others, with my own personal struggles not being the least of them. Weight gain, inflammation and severe sinus issues plagued me. If nothing else it proves that I am not immune to the pitfalls of life and more specifically a western diet and lifestyle. If you find yourself in a struggle don’t despair but take comfort in the fact that with knowledge, time and effort most any issue can be mastered and overcome.

How I gained the weight

I can sit on my butt with the best of them. Oh how easy it is to plop down on the couch and watch another mind numbing episode of (fill in the blank here). This is an insidious trap because inactivity feeds off of and breeds more inactivity. The more I sat the heavier I got and the more I didn't want to become active.

I was already about 20 lbs. heavier than normal when I returned to my hometown and then it happened. A combination of home cooking, fast food and the weekly stop at the “soul food” restaurant packed on an additional 20+ lbs. I gradually gained 42 lbs over a 16 year period of time. Sounds familiar? In addition, unbeknownst to me, I was suffering from severe allergic reactions to the inflammatory foods I was consuming. The result was a sinus issue so extreme that I was popping Sudafed twice a day. I blamed the usual suspects like dust, pollen and pet dander even though these never bothered me growing up and I didn’t have a pet to be exposed to pet dander so I don’t know why I considered that one. Grasping at straws I suppose. Add frequent nosebleeds and headaches to the mix and I was miserable and resigned to taking over-the-counter medications.

Stress is often a common denominator when it comes to weight gain among most people and I was no exception. My work in law enforcement was demanding and working many hours off duty left me fatigued which always compounds stress related issues. When you throw in the demands of family and everyday life chronic stress was a constant companion. An annoying, relentless, and pound producing companion! In short, the more cortisol, the more hunger increases and we know what happens next.

How I lost the weight

Although I don’t remember the exact date it happened I do remember the day I woke up startled, expecting to see someone in the room because I could hear them snoring. As I looked around frantically I slowly began to realize I was the only one in the room and it was me I heard snoring. I actually woke myself up and it was then I knew something had to change. At that time I realized I was approximately 40 lbs overweight and slowly falling apart at 32 years of age. Something had to go and I decided it was the weight instead of me. Intuitively I knew I was eating horribly. I confess an extreme weakness for Krystal burgers, soul food and Oreo cookies. Don’t even think about asking me to share! The amount inflammation in my body must have been astounding. Unfortunately, at that time in my life I had just began my journey to better health and sharing with others health related information and was not knowledgeable enough to really help myself. I did know enough to stop the fast food and slow down on the cookies but my food consumption evolution had only just begun. Thankfully I continued, little by little, and discovered the way I should go. Slow and steady does win the race. And when it comes to weight loss slow and steady is wonderful because it provides the stability you need to keep the weight off for good.

As I neared the end of my weight-loss journey I encountered an eating plan geared towards diabetics and those with pre-diabetes. After a few tweaks I reformulated the plan and began to use it and experienced great success. Most of us know how difficult it is to lose those last 5-10 lbs. and I wasn’t excluded. With the anti-inflammation food plan I eliminated or limited significantly sugar, dairy and non-healthy fats intake. Combined with moderate exercise my metabolism skyrocketed and I exceeded my weight goal by two pounds. Before anyone gets the wrong impression please realize that my consistent habits over a three to four year period lead me to my goal. There is no magic formula, no silver bullet. You must be consistent over the long term for sustained success.

Having spent many years in the military I knew exactly what I needed to do to get the weight off from an exercise point of view. Admittedly I hate running. I find it torturous, beneficial, but torturous nonetheless. As you can imagine the weight didn’t come off easily because I found it difficult to commit enough to running but I did it anyway. I have two points to make here. The first is that sometimes you have to do things that you really don’t want to do to achieve your goals. Just make sure they lead to positive results. The second point I want to make is that one should definitely look for activities that excite and connect with you. For me I have found cycling to be a great workout and it has done wonders. Search for what gets you moving and do it. Track your progress, keep raising goals and hold yourself accountable (or find a buddy to help hold you accountable).

I definitely  believe in supplementation. Any supplement that is truly natural and provides non-toxic nourishment for the body I’m all for. Be diligent about what you buy and understand that it is nourishment the body needs not gimmicks. If you’re supplements are chemically based and filled with synthetic materials and synthetic vitamins beware. These things tend to create inflammation and encourages weight gain over the long term.

My primary goal for sharing my story is to let people know that with forethought, perseverance, and consistent change you can begin to lay the groundwork for long term and sustained weight loss. Establishing a sound eating plan and consistent activity will lay a proper foundation in case other issues need to be addressed (e.g. poor thyroid function, adrenal fatigue, the need for cleansing, chronic stress, etc.). I cannot stress enough how important it is to avoid gimmicky diet plans and supplements that could cover up or even exacerbate the issues given as an example above. Gimmicks can mask the true nature of why you are gaining weight or are unable to lose it. If you are interested I will be more than happy to provide my phase one and phase two eating plan food charts. Just email me at thoughtfulhealth@gmail.com and I will forward them to you. Go in good health!

The Invaders Within

It is estimated that 85% of adults living in North America carry at least one type of parasite. These parasites are most likely to live in the intestinal tract where they are nurtured by typical industrialized eating habits that are void of actual nutrition. In other words our collective diets are not only ill suited to sustain our health but also helps to provide an environment of near perfect nourishment for parasites. In the end, if you will pardon the pun, we become malnourished and sick from poor nutrient uptake and an inability to eliminate waste efficiently.

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Eating habits and parasites

The average diet these days consist of simple, highly processed carbohydrates. These processed foods pose many threats to our health but for the sake of this article we will focus on how it affects the intestines generally and parasites specifically. Processed foods are seldom broken down completely for the body to absorb. The undigested remnants tend to "stick" to the intestinal walls. When this happens our ability to absorb nutrients and eliminate waste efficiently decreases dramatically and our health with it. Continuing in the vein of bad news the intestines under these conditions become the perfect breeding ground for parasites. These parasitic beings burrow into stagnant fecal matter and set up shop robbing the body of what little nutrition that enters into the intestines. If the parasites proliferate in large enough numbers they could actually burrow through the intestinal walls and create a condition known as "leaky gut" syndrome. As we grow older without changing our eating habits we get caught in a vicious cycle that we are vaguely aware of and the parasites proliferate as we deteriorate. That old cliche "You are what you eat" still rings true.

Effects of parasites on our health

Aside from what has already been mentioned parasites can cause a host of other detrimental health issues such as:

• They irritate the tissues and linings of the body creating inflammation
• Parasites produce toxic waste that can be absorbed by the body.
• Cell destruction by the parasites occur at a high rate. Under these conditions the body cannot reproduce the cells lost fast enough which causes an imbalance.
• The immune system is weakened due to a continuous response which "burns" it out leaving a person prone to infections.
• They cause obstructions in the bowels making efficient waste elimination near impossible.

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Signs of parasites in humans

How do you know if you may be experiencing a parasite issue? Well, there are a few signs you may want to be aware of to assist in identifying this potential problem.

• Constantly bloated abdomen
• Depression/moodiness
• Inability to lose weight
• Chronic constipation or diarrhea
• Cravings for sweets
• Anemia
• Chronic fatigue
• Persistent acne
• PMS
• Insomnia
• Bad breath
• Bad body odor 
• Constant abdominal discomfort
• Anal itching
• Water retention

What can be done

• Colon cleanse: A great place to start is a colon cleanse especially if that cleanse includes anti-parasitic herbs. The cleanse should be an internal herb and fiber based product as opposed to relying on colonics. Colonics often fail to cleanse the nooks and crevices of the intestinal wall and can extend into the colon only so far. This leaves the mid to upper portions of the colon uncleansed. Colonic hydrotherapy may have some benefit but for a full thorough effect begin from within!
• Limit or eliminate highly processed foods: As mentioned earlier these foods gum up the system slowing digestion and creates a perfect breeding ground for parasites. In addition these foods tend to be void of nutrition setting a person up for malnourishment and weight gain.
• Consume clean food and water: Sloppy food handling practices beginning at the farm and ending at whatever table you happen to be sitting at and contaminated water are most often the source of parasites even in industrialized areas of the world. Knowing the sources of your food and water and deciding to avoid foods that can be potentially contaminated can make a significant difference in your health and well being.

Parasites need not be a part of your life. With a little awareness and the willingness to eat healthier and cleanse parasites can become a thing of the past instead of that thing in your intestines.

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Liquid Death: Diabetes and (Diet) Soda Consumption

Be assured that the title of this article is not too fine a point. It is also not intended to shock you in a 'reality TV' sort of way either but the reality is shocking. If you are diabetic, pre-diabetic or even if you are not this information is imperative to either reverse, mitigate, or prevent diabetes.

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Blood sugar levels

Most diabetics know to stay away from sugar laden consumables like soda but many pre-diabetics fail to heed the warning. One of the most dangerous aspects of diabetes is the fact that you cannot feel it creeping into your life. Soda increases insulin sensitivity because it contains anywhere between 10-15 teaspoons of sugar per 12 oz. The average American consumes approximately 21 oz. of soda daily. That much sugar entering the bloodstream in a relatively short period of time spikes insulin production and the real trouble begins. Soon the insulin begins knocking on cellular doors trying to usher in sugars that the cells most likely do not need and the cells reject the insulin. After years of seeing insulin show up with something it doesn't want the cells begin to automatically reject the insulin (thus insulin sensitivity). A combination of poor eating habits, little to no exercise and a lack of mineralization only serves to exacerbate the problem.

Chronic Inflammation

What happens to all that insulin and sugar that's rejected by the body? Well, it cannot be allowed to remain in the blood stream or it would begin to do major damage. Enter inflammation. Inflammation is the body's way of identifying trouble areas in the body and trigger the immune system. Once the immune system is activated triglycerides are released which captures the rogue insulin and stores it away in adipose tissue (aka fat). One of the most negative aspects of chronic inflammation is it fatigues the immune system and distracts it from other extremely important duties. Chronic inflammation can also lead to significant weight gain which is another hallmark of diabetes.

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Caffeine and Cortisol

Most sodas unless otherwise stated contain caffeine. Caffeine in small amounts (100-200 mg over the course of a day) is not harmful and could actually be of benefit to the body. Any more than 200 mg of caffeine and cortisol levels begin to rise significantly. This isn't much of a problem for those who exercise moderately on a regular basis but if you are sedentary or only exercise sporadically this may become an issue. 200 mg of caffeine can raise cortisol levels by 30% within an hour. Cortisol causes the liver and muscles to release stored glycogen and if it does not get used it gets stored as fat. This increases inflammation, weight gain and can ultimately lead to hormone imbalances. In this highly caffeinated world we live in it is easier than ever to over consume it.

The Diet Soda Deception

Here is an important fact I like to share with people especially those who are pre-diabetic. Diet soda is one of the worst things you can do to yourself. Notwithstanding a myriad of other reasons to not drink the stuff diet soda causes significant spikes in insulin. How? The body is hard wired to respond immediately to any influx of sugar. After all the glucose formed from carbohydrates is the body's chief source of fuel. When that super sweet tasting diet drink touches your tongue the body prepares for what it thinks is an inevitable surge in blood sugar levels by producing insulin preemptively. Considering that the artificial sweeteners most often used is up to 300% sweeter than table sugar the body produces a great bit of insulin. At this point the body is awashed with the hormone and it has nothing to do at all. Unfortunately, the blood cells will still see the insulin and think to themselves "There it goes again...that's why we reject it". The more the cells are chronically exposed to insulin the more it rejects it. Adding insult to injury the insulin must be dealt with as previously mentioned by activating the immune system. In addition these same diet drinks often contain caffeine and large amounts release cortisol and we know what happens next (see above)!

What now?

If you're diabetic or pre-diabetic stop or greatly curtail all soda consumption. These simple carbohydrate laden products are extremely detrimental to your health and can make reversing or managing diabetes near impossible. Remember: Wise choices lead to wise outcomes. Go in good health!

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