Newsletter Fall 2005

Heart Attacks, Side-Effects, or a Healthy Diet

by Dr. Greger

One of the laws of ecology is that you cannot do just one thing (because everything is connected to everything else). Yet, when physicians put people on statin drugs to cripple the enzyme that produces cholesterol within your liver, they hope there won't be any other effects. Unfortunately within the ecology of the body that too often is not the case. About one in six people on these cholesterol-lowering drugs experience other untoward effects, and there is growing concern about the very rare (but very serious) life-threatening adverse reactions to this class of drugs. We've known about the potential for rare cases of these drugs causing muscle breakdown, but recently there's been increasing concern about rare cases of these drugs causing nerve breakdown-a so-called drug-induced polyneuropathy. It seems that statins may also co-cripple the synthesis of a key energy-producing enzyme in nerve cells. Thankfully, one doesn't have to choose between the risk of getting a heart attack and the risk of suffering side-effects from life-long drug therapy. That's because David Jenkins has done it again.

Currently one of the world's most respected nutrition researchers (it was his team that invented the glycemic index), Dr. Jenkins has just published yet another study proving that a completely plant-based (vegan) diet alone can lower cholesterol levels as much as the combination of a low-fat vegetarian diet AND a statin drug. Although, as drugs go, statins seem remarkably safe, users do risk (albeit extremely rarely) being written up as case reports with unpleasant names like "Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis from Atorvastatin." That one, published in the Journal of the AMA, described a horror story of a woman whose skin erupted in blisters and then started necrosing off. Patches of her skin started disintegrating and sloughing off after only four days on the statin drug. After two weeks on a morphine drip, thankfully, she pulled through. Contrast that with the side effects of a healthy plant-based diet. What's the worse that can happen? Maybe less reading time on the toilet because you're not constipated anymore?

As the revered Moses Maimonides wrote in the 12th century: "No illness which can be treated by diet should be treated by any other means."

This article is reprinted from Dr. Gregor's newletter. http://www.DrGreger.org/newsletters.html

Your Favorite Drug Co. Shares Their Secrets

Over the last decade, the doctor-patient relationship roles have changed dramatically in the U.S. Traditionally, a patient would visit a doctor with an ailment, the doctor would diagnose the ailment, and the best known remedy would be prescribed. But now, pharmaceutical companies have discovered how to bypass this system by convincing patients to demand specific brand name drugs that they've seen advertised over and over again on TV and in magazines and newspapers. Recent studies show drug companies now spend a record $3 billion on direct advertising to consumers. A 60-second commercial slot on TV can tell a viewer what's wrong with them and what drug will fix them. And it works...the advertising, that is. Recently released marketing statistics show that each year, prescriptions for the 50 most heavily advertised drugs rise six times faster than prescriptions for all other drugs. Unfortunately, the side effects of these same prescription drugs kill over 100,000 Americans every year.

This article is reprinted from the organic consumers org: http://www.organicconsumers.org/Politics/drugcon091605.cfm

Warm Mineral Springs

Located in North Port, Warm Mineral Springs is believed to be the "Original Fountain of Youth" sought by the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon. Believers of the healing powers of the springs' 87-degree water say that the highly mineralized waters help ease back pain, gastro-intestinal illnesses, various skin diseases, sinusitis and many other ailments. Over 65,000 people every year travel from around the world to soak in its soothing waters.

For those of us in the Tampa Bay area, it takes under 2 hours to travel to North Port. This makes it an easy day-trip. These are the directions from the Tampa Bay area: take I-75 south to Exit 191 (River Rd.). Go west on River Rd. to US 41. Turn left on US 41 to Ortiz Blvd. Then left on Ortiz Blvd. and take to the end. The Springs is open daily (weather permitting) from 9am - 5pm. General Admission is $16.00.

Warm Mineral Springs is located at: 12200 San Servando Ave., North Port, FL 34287.

More information can be found at http://www.warmmineralsprings.com/

TBV Mentioned in Local Paper

TBV's last dinner (the raw one up in Lutz) received a mention in the Tampa Tribune publication "In The Loop". On the very first page of this free local interest publication for the Week of Oct 5-11, 2005, the has a big color picture of Rose holding up numerous strands of the raw "pasta" served at the dinner. A number of times, just in passing it is mentioned that this particular dinner that Rose is catering is for us!

Recipes:

Vegan Corn Bread

Ingredients:

• 2 medium onions
• 1 green pepper
• 1 red pepper
• 3 cups corn flour
• ? cup potato flour (optional, adds moistness)
• 1 tsp. thyme
• 1 Tbsp. baking powder
• 1 cup date sugar or other sugar
• 3¼ cups water

Sauté onions and peppers in olive oil in a cast iron pan. (This pan will also be used to bake the bread.) Make a batter with the remaining ingredients. Mix about ? of the sauteed peppers and onions into the batter, leaving the rest to cover the bottom of the pan. Pour the batter on top, and bake at 375oF for 30 minutes.

Cashew French Toast

Ingredients:

• 1 cup vanilla soy milk or rice milk
• 1 cup cashews
• 3 Tbsp. sunflower seeds or sesame seeds (optional)
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

Blend all of the ingredients. Soak bread in the batter until moist. Fry in a non-stick pan. For an added touch of fun sprinkle cinnamon on top as you fry them!

Quick Baked Beans

Ingredients:

• 2 15-oz cans pinto beans with liquid drained
• 1 tsp. dry mustard
• 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 1½ Tbsp. molasses
• 2 Tbsp. ketchup
• 2 Tbsp. vinegar or lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp. onion flakes
• ? fresh onion, diced
• 1 tsp. olive oil

Sauté fresh onion and olive oil in a pot. Add remaining ingredients and simmer on medium heat until liquid has boiled down to desired thickness.

Upcoming Events /Reminders

Our November dinner will be on Tuesday, Nov. 15th at 7:00PM at Acropolis, a Greek restaurant located in Clearwater at 13575 58th St. The cost is $12.50 for members ($14.50 for non-members).

The speaker will be TBV member Ken Greene, who will talk about his personal experience with weight loss through the eating of raw foods.

Sign-up for our events is required. If you sign up, but then cannot make it, please call us to cancel.

Recipes Wanted:

Have a favorite recipe you think your fellow TBV members would enjoy giving a try? E-mail newsletter editor Denise Pfalzer at d_pfalzer@yahoo.com, and we will share it with others in a future newsletter.

Volunteers Wanted:

Want to be more involved with Tampa Bay Vegetarians? The organization goes on only with the support of volunteers. Please, just let us know!!!

About Tampa Bay Vegetarians

Our social group meets monthly, 4th Tuesday, at 7:00 PM at vegetarian or vegetarian-friendly restaurants. Click here for more information.