The Pop Quiz Big Pharma HOPES You FAIL

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted September 5, 2022

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

I’ve got a little pop quiz for you today. But don’t worry, it’s only one question.

Now, if you’re anything like me, you HATE to fail. The trouble is the deck is stacked against you this time. So I don’t want you to be too hard on yourself if you get the answer wrong.

You see, Big Pharma has been training us for YEARS (doctors included) to get this one wrong.

I’m going to give you the name of two diseases. But one is a REAL threat, and the other one isn’t.

• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol

I’ll give you a hint. One HARMS your brain, and the other HELPS it.

Can you guess which one is the dangerous disease and which isn’t?

Time’s up! The real troublemaker is high blood pressure.

A study published in the journal Hypertension pooled the health data from 7,000 people, comparing their blood pressure to the health of their brains.

After some serious number crunching, one thing was very obvious. High blood pressure sent the risk of brain problems climbing.

The researchers found that middle-aged and senior folks whose top (systolic) and bottom (diastolic) blood pressure numbers were considered “high” had an accelerated decline in thinking skills as they age.

In other words, our memory is at risk when we battle high blood pressure for years.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the connection, either. Earlier research demonstrated that controlling high blood pressure can keep dementia risk low.

And in that study, the scientists found that it didn’t matter whether the people brought their blood pressure down using drugs or lifestyle changes. Either way, they had improved brain function later in life.

But high cholesterol, on the other hand? Well, that’s a whole different story… despite the push by drug companies to get every Tom, Dick, and Harry on statins.

See, despite what we’ve been led to believe, what research ACTUALLY shows is that elevated cholesterol, especially in older folks, can be great for your brain health.

This could be because your brain is packed with the stuff. While your brain is only four percent of your weight, it contains 25 percent of all the cholesterol in your body.

But the lies don’t stop there. For example, I bet you’ve been told to avoid certain foods because they’re high in cholesterol. Eggs, for example, became public enemy number one at some point.

The truth is eating foods high in cholesterol has almost no effect on your cholesterol levels. In fact, most of the cholesterol in your body is produced by your body…  NOT your diet.

By all means, to keep your brain healthy, make sure you keep your blood pressure low. But don’t worry about eating that bacon and egg breakfast. And don’t buy into Big Pharma’s statin lies.

Instead, consider supporting your heart and brain health with these nutrients:

• Fish oil: Omega-3-rich fish oil reduces inflammation and softens up arteries to help them stay flexible. I typically suggest taking between 1,000 and 3,000 milligrams a day.
• CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10): This vital enzyme is found in every cell in your body and is used for energy production. Your heart, one of the most energy-hungry organs in your body, requires CoQ10 to function at peak power. Plus, CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that can help lower inflammation, reduce blood clot risks, and head off arrhythmias or skipped heartbeats.
• Vitamin C: Vitamin C can help lower blood pressure naturally. Plus, C supports the neurotransmitters in your brain, making it vital for good cognitive health. But humans are one of the few mammals that can’t produce their own vitamin C. So if you don’t supplement, you likely don’t get enough of this vital vitamin.
• Antioxidants: Antioxidants can help prevent the formation of artery plaques, reduce body-wide inflammation, and protect brain cells from oxidative stress. Plant phytonutrients such as carotenoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids offer excellent antioxidant protection. Examples include green tea extract or EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), red wine extract (resveratrol), pycnogenol, olive leaf extract, and curcumin.

P.S. Want to do even MORE to support your heart and brain health? This one easy move could drive down blood pressure and build up gray matter in your brain at the same time! Click here for all the details.

Source:

“Hypertension, Prehypertension, and Hypertension Control – Association With Decline in Cognitive Performance in the ELSA-Brasil Cohort,” Hypertension. 2021;77:672–681, https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.16080

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND