Blog Archives

Why a “total cholesterol” score is meaningless

My hubby Greg has just come back from the pathology lab, holding his test results in hand, and with a big smile on his face. If anyone took a closer look at that piece of paper, they would be very worried about his present state of mind. Why? His total cholesterol score was 8 – shock, horror! Are we worried? Absolutely not, and this post will explain why.  For too long we have been taught that cholesterol is bad. That it will clog our arteries, and put us at risk of a heart attack.  Prescriptions for statins are being written, left, right and centre. The pharmaceutical companies are happy. The poor patients – not so much. There can be some very serious side effects to taking statins.  It is important that people understand that high cholesterol does not necessarily mean that you are at risk, and in need of a drug to lower it.

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What Banting is really about

Banting or LCHF has always been controversial, but never more so than right now. In June, Prof Noakes will face the Health Professions Council of South Africa for “unprofessional conduct”. From what I understand it is all about a tweet he wrote, where he essentially advised a mom to wean her baby onto real food instead of refined and sugary baby cereals. I really don’t know the full details, but surely this was not bad or dangerous advice? Meat, veggies and healthy fats are highly nutritious foods. How can anyone think that high carb cereal is a better option?  It isn’t even real food – it is processed. What did mothers living a few hundred years ago give their babies? I guarantee you it wasn’t baby cereal. This is just common sense stuff.  I believe Prof. Noakes is looking forward to the hearing, and sees it as an opportunity to educate those that have been mis-informed for so long. I have no doubt he will be well-armed with scientific evidence in support of the LCHF diet. Read the rest of this entry

Answers to some Banting questions

I love it when people ask questions and engage in dialogue to find out more about the Banting lifestyle. It means they have open minds. Minds willing to learn.  This is the mark of an intelligent person. Science is not static but is constantly evolving.  If the Food Pyramid guidelines (emphasising grains and carbs) actually worked, wouldn’t we all be thinner and healthier than we are today?  Instead we are fatter – much fatter, and suffering from serious diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s and heart disease. So this post if for those intelligent people willing to explore new paradigms.

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5 big fat lies we are fed

Unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation out there that continues to cause confusion for people with regards to what they should or shouldn’t be eating, e.g. butter or margarine ? I understand when people say to me, “Oh well opinions about these things change everyday, I can’t keep up!”

I understand that  sentiment, but if we look at progress and research more positively we can begin to understand that new information becomes available every day thanks to the scientists involved in finding out the truth about things.

Camels-smoke-a-fresh-cigarette-doctorIf you are old enough  – think back to the days when doctors used to appear in print ads stating that smoking was good for you. Well, we know better now and have changed our behaviours accordingly.

We just need to approach new information with an open mind. Check the source(s) and do some of your own research until you are satisfied to accept or reject it . But please don’t throw it out from the get go just because it is new or different to what you have previously been told. Click here to read what the 5 lies are