Thanks for the additional information on Neu5GC. I’m 67 and I ate a ton of roast beef and hamburger from childhood until around 5 years ago.
As far as cheese, I have Parmigiano Reggiano and Gruyère in the fridge. Dr Guidry says the same as you mentioned about bacteria breaking down Neu5GC. So are those two cheeses ok ?
The Gruyère is aged 12 months and the Parmigiano Reggiano is aged 24 months if it matters.
Cheeses can still have medium to high levels of Neu5GC - depending on the fermentation process and the probiotics used. So, to tell you the truth, I don’t know how much these two are going to have. I am 62 and a little over a year ago I found I had to stop eating anything with A1 casein in it, and cheese could be quite bad for me. I noticed it most with BPH and having to get up at night to pee. Unfortunately, Americans brought the genetically mutated Holsteins from Europe with them, and so A1 casein is in most American dairy. It is in most European dairy too. So, for me, those cheeses would probably drive me crazy. I am very limited now to the least inflammatory dairy. I use goat cheese a lot like I would cream cheese. I have some Peccarino in the fridge which Costco imports. It is sheep cheese, so has no A1 casein and is probably the lowest among the cheeses in Neu5GC. I enjoy it on my morning eggs. I can get local A2 cow cheese, but it is probably going to have more Neu5GC than the Peccarino, although it is slightly cheaper.
To try to answer your question directly, I personally probably would not buy your cheeses - mostly because they probably have A1 casein, but also now because I try to minimize my exposure to Neu5GC… so here I am eating goat cheese, which is probably somewhat high. I just limit myself to having it once every 2 weeks or so, but it is the only thing available to me that I can tolerate and which is spreadable like cream cheese. My strong suggestion is to next time go for the Peccarino or other sheep cheese for any kind of daily cheese habit.
My personal feeling is that it is much more important for cardiovascular disease to include some soluble fiber with all my meals. That is because the gut biome turns it into short chain fatty acids. The more of these made, the more will get into the arteries. Science has shown that the endothelial cells of the arteries “relax” when burning these fats, BP drops and their junctions are less strained - which seems to relate to less chance of oxLDL particles getting under them and starting the disease plaque process. Having said that, though, you also don’t want there to be inflammation going on in the arteries, so should want to keep down any caused by the presence of Neu5GC. The science here is just not caught up, and is sorely lacking, so I have to go on what little science there is, and the other available evidence. For instance the Acciarolis of Italy(residents of the tiny village of Acciaroli) are perhaps the longest lived population in the world. They are a fishing village. The men regularly eat whole anchovies. They also eat their own raised rabbits and chickens, and little other meat. It is hard to argue with a populatiion with a centenarian population of up to 15% - that is far higher than the rest of the world - perhaps currently the highest in the world. So, I eat wild salmon, wild fish, sardines, wild shrimp, crab and weekly lamb roasted in EVOO. Usually, my only red meat for the week is the roasted lamb. Unfortunately, I don’t have a great source for chicken, but I eat two chicken thighs at a meal typically. I feel like I probably was developing CVD 5 years ago, but if so, I’ve apparently reversed it, and none has been found in my recent thoracic aorta and carotid artery sonograms - so I figure I must be doing something right LOL. I am glad you are taking an interest in it, because you may ultimately save your life by changing your diet. Health is obviously not just about producing ketones. However, I will note here that ketones are one of the least oxidizing fuels you can burn, so I am all in favor of keeping my oxidation levels down. The trick is you want your mitochondria to be oxygenated, but you don’t want the rest of your body to be oxidized in the process… So, I have not only changed what I eat, but also the way I cook. I started cooking primarily with saturated and monounsaturated fats probably 20 years ago, because they are not easily oxidized in the cooking process like seed oils are. No fried foods. I roast at no higher than 300F, etc. You are on the right path Hugh. I feel you are to be commended on your willingness to learn and change accordingly. It may just be life saving.
Can’t find natto locally. I do take 4000 FU nattokinase twice per day though. Also take K2 mk7.
Ah, Nattokinase and K2-mk7 -that’s the right stuff at the heart of Natto. Make sure you take vitamin D with the K2.
In the US, natto is challenging to find locally. I used to order it online from a local state and have it delivered. Now, I make it.
I highly doubt that one type of red meat (and pork is also a red meat) is better or worse based on something like whatever you’re talking about. If it was, we’d see all these carnivores keeling over, as most of them eat beef. I guess I’ll learn when I get my next CAC scan in January, as I eat mainly beef, and near zero grass fed and finished beef. With steaks averaging near $20/pound now for non-grass finished, I’m relegated to eating cheaper beef.
My opinion that eating low carb or keto >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> than something in beef, TMAO, or whatever the “evil” de jour is.
Found this on the sciencedirect site
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090123225003534
Woo, that one’s a bit above my pay grade. I couldn’t find any obvious flaws in the study, (doesn’t mean there aren’t any, I got a bit drowned in the biochemistry) other than my usual question about animal research. If the symptom is not caused by the same mechanism which causes it naturally, can we really assume that the intervention which changes it in the experiment is relevant? If I come to you with a headache and you say ‘well, my study shows that decreasing coffee consumption can help a lot’, but it turns out I’ve been hitting my head on the door jamb every morning, cutting out the morning java isn’t going to help me.
Here’s a suggestion (if you haven’t already done it, most people haven’t). Go to www.grok.com. Register and set up a free account. Then don’t ask him anything right away, tell him about yourself for a while (if you don’t do that, he’ll assume you’re a complete “normie” and won’t tell you anything except “talk to a health professional”). Let him know about your participation in a keto forum. Only then tell him about your issue and he will give you incredible info…possibly the best info you will ever get.
A lot of things seem to be falling back on l-citrulline (powder), nattokinase supplement, trans k2 (200 - 300 mcg) , even sulforaphane (broccoli sprouts)
Good luck!
Yep. There are studies supporting that ketones and SCFAs are the best fuel or least problematic fuel for the endothelial cells in the arteries to burn. Ketones are just a less oxidative fuel for the mitochondria leading to less antioxidant demand and better overall results. Sugar and insulin are problematic in the arteries, which is why the latter rises to lower the former when it rises.
Took a major step to reduce stress. My job was high stress and also hostile work environment, not only to me but to all other employees because of two co-workers.
Yesterday was my last day thank goodness. Won’t go into details but it’s an easy job to replace. I could live off my social security but I like to keep a part-time job just to get me out of the house, especially in the winter.
Everyone there but me smoked. They’re not supposed to smoke in the building but they all do anyway. Secondhand smoke is one of the things I’m supposed to avoid as well. My manager wasn’t happy but she understood why I had to resign.
I’m already seeing the reduction in my resting heart rate lol
.
Good for you getting out of a toxic working environment! Don’t feel too bad for your manager. If she was allowing indoor smoking, she was definitely a contributor to the toxic environment.
Yeah, my manager is not mad at me I don’t think. I stopped by there today to get something I forgot to take with me and when I was leaving she said Merry Christmas lol.
She’s one of them that chain smokes in the store.
Anyhow I got a lot done today. Ran several errands and took care of business that needed to be taken care of this week. Feeling relaxed. And soon as I got home and started the back of the truck into the driveway it started running real rough like it was ready to die. I then put it in park and revved the motor up for a few seconds and it smoothed out. I thought it could be bad gas or hopefully not the fuel pump. Gotta get under the bed and take the bolts off, then get someone to help, preferably three others, to lift the bed up and slide it back enough to access the fuel pump on top of the fuel tank.
Anyhow I poured a can of seafoam in the tank and went to the gas station to get some gas for my other vehicle. Acted up again as I pulled in the gas station but I revved it up again and it seems ok for now.
My other vehicle wouldn’t start even with a jump box. Tried three times and it would start but would die a few seconds later.
Oh well, my day was just great but as John Prime sang in a song
"
Have you ever noticed
When you’re feeling really good
There’s always a pigeon
That’ll come **** on your hood ?"
I’m sure you don’t need me to preach to the choir, but I’m just going to chime in to point out that here is another example of why Medicine 2.0 has been wrong for 50 ____ years. They claim it is LDL being too high that causes heart disease, but then in the real world they say smokers die more from heart disease… What gives? I thought you’ve been telling us for 50 years that it is your LDL level? Yet, you can have low LDL, and if you’re a smoker, get raging CVD, or if you are diabetic get raging CVD… Why? Well, because smoking oxidizes the LDL. The high sugar of diabetics glycates the LDL because it is covered with the apoB protein, and the glycated LDL becomes oxidized at least 6 times faster… yet, oxLDL is NOT the problem and we need to lower the LDL levels of the entire nation? Is anyone else really annoyed by this?
Dude, I feel for you… Been right on that hood with you., got **** right in the eye LOL. Last time life was going pretty good and I got a tumor diagnosis… had brain surgery… which incidentally kinda led to where I am at now… which turned my health around… so in the end I feel I am better off for it. Brave of you to take that step, I’m sure it will work out for you in the end.
Thanks for the support and great to hear that tumor is behind you now !
I’m taking this hard thing pretty good but man, cancer is my worst fear. As far as it turning your life around for the better I hear that. I kind of feel that covid saved my life. Sounds weird but catching covid and dodging the bullet motivated me to try to get healthy. The day I called it I had four comorbidities and it seems people with comorbidities were the ones that was killing.
On the LDL thing, I’m still reading up on it. I’m not scared of it or saturated fat but for now I’m going to focus on foods that won’t raise it and hopefully lower it.
The Jeep battery must have been frozen. I brought it in the house overnight and yesterday put it back in and jumped it and it ran just fine. Let it run for about a half hour, got my multimeter and tested the alternator. It’s fine.
Turn the Jeep off and tested the battery and it read 12.8 volts. Recharged my jump box and ran a couple of errands in the Jeep and no problem.
I’m getting ready to go to the gym to hit the treadmill and I’ll read the battery before I start it. If it’s not at least 12.3 volts I’ll just replace it. I didn’t buy the battery but the guy bought the Jeep from put it in there and it’s well beyond the warranty.
I haven’t read through the whole thread. So, this stuff is probably already in the mix. Apologies on any repetition, or on any things you have already expressed knowledge about.
We all want an aorta that is elastic. Stiff walled blood vessels are more prone to rupture. Elastic means it dilates when needed, and springs back.
Going a bit lateral in the research, I think it is worth looking at the internal lining layers of the arteries, and how those layers help maintain health and functionality of the arteries.
Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, though droll, is an excellent, knowledgable doctor, I think, to look up for information on the glycocalyx and the functions and health of the layers of blood vessel walls.
It’s always good to hear what Prof. Ben Bikman has to say as well (included video).
We don’t want to overload or injure the aortic wall. Dilatation indicates the blood pressure at that area was prolonged and too high, so the aorta adapted by expanding. Theoretically it should expand and relax with each pulse. Inflammation causes stiffness in the vascular walls and, over time, will limit the return to resting size.
By the read of it, you may have over-trained and over worked in a difficult, stressful work environment. Training will need to be adapted, I think, for a year or two, to allow healing. It’s good you left the toxic work environment. That’s the first thing to give your aorta, time, and no more intentional over-exertion, I reckon.
Healing things requires giving the body what it needs. Physiology, biomechanisms, and biochemistry will collaborate to heal things, if the injury causing problem is reduced or removed, and the building blocks for healing are provided in good nutrition and mindful modified behaviour.
I think Dr. Jason Fung has also written and observed good clinical results on a general vascular health approach in his work. That might be worth a look, and searching specifically about vascular health.
Maybe look into the use of nitric oxide as a treatment supplement if you are in the USA. It doesn’t get through customs in Australia in my experience. White powdered stuff in capsules, and tablets are treated with suspicion. Along with that nitric oxide option take a closer look at your dental health, and the work of functional dentists in improving your own nitric oxide production by promoting a healthy mouth biome.
There are a couple of leads here. I reckon get your aorta checked more frequently than once per year. If I had that condition, I’d be getting it staged bi-monthly. But that’s me. I’d be using it for staying on track and tracking incremental improvements.
Here is Prof Bikman with a bookmark on shear stress discussion in arteries which does relate to changes in blood vessel shape.
If you want to increase nitric oxide production, you can also look into supplementing with L-arginine. It is a precursor for the synthesis of nitric oxide.
Yes, I take l-citrulline which is supposed to boost nitric oxide.
I think my protein powder has l-arginine.
Thanks for taking time to offer that information.
I like Ben Bikman and will definitely watch that video !