Brexit chaos reaches fever pitch

The UK has today witnessed unprecedented scenes from Parliament as British Prime Minister, Theresa May, was harangued over her Brexit deal, the inability to bring all sides to agreement and her flagrant disregard of the democratic process. Despite emergency meetings yesterday, EU officials have refused to consider changes to the Brexit deal on the table. Claude Juncker told MEPs yesterday, "The deal we achieved is the best possible. It's the only deal possible. There is no room whatsoever for renegotiation." Mrs May faced a no-confidence vote this evening and succeeded, against all odds, to survive a Tory backbench rebellion. With no likelihood of the EU binning the controversial backstop arrangement over the Irish border,  Brexit uncertainty abounds. Assuming no further progress in EU negotiations, Parliament will be forced to accept the deal or exit with no deal, the very two options so many were trying to avoid.

The big statin push

Debate over the efficacy (or otherwise) of statins continues to rage as the statin propaganda machine ramps up with two new publications hitting the headlines. The first, a study backed by Big Pharma funding, looked at prescription data to estimate patient adherence to taking statins. The researchers concluded patients who took high-dose statins as prescribed were less likely to experience a cardiovascular event. However, the study was not able to take account of other factors such as changes to diet, increased exercise or effects of other medications. The second, a scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) sets out to dismiss patient concerns around side-effects commonly associated with statin use. The AHA suggests the majority of reports of side-effects relate to the ‘nocebo effect’ (an expectation of side-effects) after patients read package inserts. The statement urges doctors not to stop statin therapy, but instead try a lower dose to see if a patient’s symptoms improve. On the flip side, doctors could be encouraging patients to take control of their health by opting for natural, drug-free alternatives to statin therapy alongside diet and lifestyle modification.

Australian obesity report misses the mark

A Select Committee reportseeks to address the obesity epidemic in Australia. Despite acknowledgement of the role of poor diet as a key driver in the obesity epidemic, the report steers clear of options designed to restore metabolic flexibility, instead opting for recommendations to introduce a tax on sugary drinks, health star ratings for food and a ban on junk food ads on TV before 9pm. Paltry changes designed to appear like active top down solutions, but that create little change in the corporate status quo for big business. Once again, a case of profit before citizens’ health. Effective resolution of the metabolic dysregulation epidemic will require governments and health authorities to effect substantial changes along the lines laid out in ANH-Intl’s blueprint for health system sustainabilityjust released today.

A magic pill for the obesity ill

Have Australian scientists found the holy grail of obesity research? Researchers seeking to develop anti-obesity drugs purport to have identified a way to allow people to eat as much as they want without gaining weight. After the removal of the RCAN1 gene, mice fed a variety of different diets did not gain weight in feeding experiments lasting from eight weeks to six months. Nature’s systems are exquisitely and finely balanced having evolved over millennia. Blocking one system could result in totally unexpected and unwanted effects. Fortunately, there is a drug-free way for people to maintain a healthy weight and protect themselves against the development of chronic disease using natural, nutrient dense foods.

CDC data shows strong MMR & autism relationship

After four long years, Children’s Health Defense Board Member, Dr Brian Hooker‘s reanalysis of the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) MMR-autism data from the original DeStefano et al 2004 Pediatrics paper has been republished in the Winter 2018 Edition of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons. Following allegations of a cover-up of unwanted results by a CDC whistleblower (documented in the movie VAXXED), Dr Brian Hooker reanalysed the 2004 CDC study that explored the link(s) between the MMR vaccine and cases of autism. His analysis of the complete data set identified an increased rate of autism diagnoses in African-American males following MMR vaccination before 36 months of age. The revised paper that included the reanalysed data was subsequently retracted in 2014. Reiterating his concerns over the original CDC study, Dr Hooker concluded, “The first data set used by DeStefano et.al represents a huge lost opportunity to understand any role between the timing of the first MMR vaccine and autism. The re-analysis presented here elucidates effects that should at least merit further investigation. Specifically, increased risks of earlier vaccination are observed for African-American males and among cases of autism without MR. Both phenomena deserve additional study that could yield important clues regarding the current enormous increase in autism.” Given the exponential rise in rates of autism, particularly in boys, and the CDC’s increasing range of individuals who should avoid MMR vaccine, health authorities would be wise to heed these warnings and take action sooner rather than later to identify possible triggers of a condition that brings a huge burden on families and society. As we reported previously, rates of autism in the US are still growing at alarming rates.