I just watched another functional webinar presentation. It pretty much just reiterated what I already knew but it was presented in a way that gave me something to think about.
Let’s start and let me know what you think in the comments section.
Cholesterol is produced in our body and has many many healthy benefits.
Cholesterol is NOT that the root cause or trigger of heart and vascular disease.
Lowering your cholesterol with statin medications such as Lipitor and Crestor, or if you know them by their generic names, it is something…statin, barely budges your absolute risk of heart disease.
Here is the kicker from the presentation. Statins were first discovered from MOLD.
Statin medications are derivatives of MOLD TOXINS, otherwise known as MYCOTOXINS.
It is thought that at least 20% of people are highly sensitive to mycotoxins. I think it is probably more but each person is unique in how they react to mycotoxins.
If you are sensitive to mold in any way, perhaps you should think about whether you want to put into your body a pharmacologic mycotoxin that does lower your cholesterol, but with a minimal if any effect on heart disease or all cause mortality.
I’d suggest you research this more yourself if it is of interest.
The presenter was Dr. Jack Wolfson, D.O.
Do a search of his writings and presentations. It might be eye opening.
I think it’s time we stop being scared of cholesterol and perhaps try and learn all the benefits of cholesterol. Maybe we should try and make cholesterols many positive effects great again!
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Dr. Horvitz, thank you for this information. I never knew that about statin drugs. Perhaps that is the reason the statin drugs effect the brain as well. I believe that the statin drugs my mother was taking contributed to her having dementia. Doctors won't tell you this, but they will keep prescribing those meds.
And Statins are not the ONLY medications (or foods) with Mycotoxin content. Citric Acid (also often listed as a "Citrate", which is a constant "inert" ingredient in medications, and virtually every processed food on the market, is made by a process that uses a GMO Aspergillus NIger mold. You might know it by it's more common name of BLACK MOLD).
Citric acid is also used to kill mycotoxins though. And it's not about whether citric acid is present so much as whether a product's company has stringent purity testing standards. You can have products derived from mold without it being a product that actually contains mycotoxins.
We've also really got to get away from the whole 'black mold' moniker, other molds can appear black without being stachy or aspergillus and without necessarily producing mycotoxins. Could be another color altogether and be mycotoxin-producing. So if there's mold it should be tested regardless of color. Especially since mold in the home usually indicates water damage, and water damage invites more toxins than just mold.
1. Citric acid as a food additive is not natural citric acid; it is manufactured through fermentation using Aspergillus niger. Three problems here:
A. GMO. Anything GMO is done to make the production process more profitable, NOT to improve the safety of the product.
B. Fermentation processes almost always cause Manufactured free Glutamates, a known neurotoxin.
C Aspergillus niger is a potent allergen. (Yes, THE Aspergillus niger we all know as toxic Black Mold.)
2. Food additive manufactured citric acid may be causing allergic inflammatory cascades.
3. Manufactured citric acid may be contributing to the inflammation seen in asthma, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, autistic spectrum disorder, and fibromyalgia.
4. The safety of manufactured citric acid has never been studied since it was granted GRAS status. AND the studies before it was granted GRAS Status were most certainly done by manufacturers with a financial stake in the outcomes.
5. 99% of current world production is made using Aspergillus niger.
6. Predominantly manufactured in China and sever al other countries. I'm sure they are being held to "stringent purity testing standards".
Stachybotrys is actually the mold that is referred to as "black mold". Aspergillus is a mold that is also black. I'm not sure we know the same things here. Also, not "our FDA", not so sure the peasant class can claim ownership over something it has no control over lol
Upon further reflection, I think we're both right. But I think you're more right than I am in terms of what people commonly think of as "Black Mold" from homes with excess moisture or water damage. Both of these forms are often called "Black Mold". Both forms are toxic and pathogenic to humans. Both forms can be found in mold damaged homes. But Aspergillus Niger is more commonly associated with the "black mold" found on fruit, and is used extensively in the manufacturing of food chemicals. Thanks for making me think some more!
Dr. Horvitz, thank you for this information. I never knew that about statin drugs. Perhaps that is the reason the statin drugs effect the brain as well. I believe that the statin drugs my mother was taking contributed to her having dementia. Doctors won't tell you this, but they will keep prescribing those meds.
And Statins are not the ONLY medications (or foods) with Mycotoxin content. Citric Acid (also often listed as a "Citrate", which is a constant "inert" ingredient in medications, and virtually every processed food on the market, is made by a process that uses a GMO Aspergillus NIger mold. You might know it by it's more common name of BLACK MOLD).
Citric acid is also used to kill mycotoxins though. And it's not about whether citric acid is present so much as whether a product's company has stringent purity testing standards. You can have products derived from mold without it being a product that actually contains mycotoxins.
We've also really got to get away from the whole 'black mold' moniker, other molds can appear black without being stachy or aspergillus and without necessarily producing mycotoxins. Could be another color altogether and be mycotoxin-producing. So if there's mold it should be tested regardless of color. Especially since mold in the home usually indicates water damage, and water damage invites more toxins than just mold.
While there may be uses for Citric Acid, it certainly is not in food or medicine. Here's some Food for Thought on the issue:
Here's a good synopsis of Citric Acid history and toxicity along with some case studies:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750018300362?via%3Dihub
Here's the Highlights:
1. Citric acid as a food additive is not natural citric acid; it is manufactured through fermentation using Aspergillus niger. Three problems here:
A. GMO. Anything GMO is done to make the production process more profitable, NOT to improve the safety of the product.
B. Fermentation processes almost always cause Manufactured free Glutamates, a known neurotoxin.
C Aspergillus niger is a potent allergen. (Yes, THE Aspergillus niger we all know as toxic Black Mold.)
2. Food additive manufactured citric acid may be causing allergic inflammatory cascades.
3. Manufactured citric acid may be contributing to the inflammation seen in asthma, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, autistic spectrum disorder, and fibromyalgia.
4. The safety of manufactured citric acid has never been studied since it was granted GRAS status. AND the studies before it was granted GRAS Status were most certainly done by manufacturers with a financial stake in the outcomes.
5. 99% of current world production is made using Aspergillus niger.
6. Predominantly manufactured in China and sever al other countries. I'm sure they are being held to "stringent purity testing standards".
Our FDA at work.
Stachybotrys is actually the mold that is referred to as "black mold". Aspergillus is a mold that is also black. I'm not sure we know the same things here. Also, not "our FDA", not so sure the peasant class can claim ownership over something it has no control over lol
Upon further reflection, I think we're both right. But I think you're more right than I am in terms of what people commonly think of as "Black Mold" from homes with excess moisture or water damage. Both of these forms are often called "Black Mold". Both forms are toxic and pathogenic to humans. Both forms can be found in mold damaged homes. But Aspergillus Niger is more commonly associated with the "black mold" found on fruit, and is used extensively in the manufacturing of food chemicals. Thanks for making me think some more!