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Senator John McCain–what in the HECK were you thinking?? Huh??

Now let me start this post by saying that Senator John McCain and Senator Byron Dorgan’s anti-supplement bill…yes, a dim-wit ANTI-supplement bill…was squashed for now because he backed down thanks to plenty of public protest.

And thank God, because it would have especially affected thyroid patients who have suffered thanks to Synthroid or other T4-only meds, and are working diligently to regain their health with their freedom in choice of important supplements, besides natural desiccated thyroid and T3.  Think selenium, iron, B-vitamins, Vit.  D, iodine, Grape Seed Extract, Isocort, St. Johns Wort, and a slew of other supplements we freely and wisely take to undo the damage done to us by our TSH-and-T4-worshipping medical establishment.

In case you didn’t know, McCain sponsored a bill called the The Dietary Supplement Safety Act (DSSA). It would have nullified the protection of supplements from the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). Those protected supplements are either those found in food without any chemical alteration, or those sold prior to 1994…i.e. it would somewhat stop the FDA from either banning those kind of supplements or reclassifying them as “drugs”.  And with the FDA being in a financial bed with Big Pharma, you betcha we would have seen those bans and reclassifications.

And what else might have happened? We would have lost our lower cost, safer, and more effective alternative to side-effect drugs. I have helped my husband lower his high cholesterol, high LDL and high triglycerides WITHOUT the nasty statins and WITH supplements.

I like how Dr. John C. Lowe put it in his latest newsletter:

We appear to have won this time around. But a price we must pay for continuing freedom in our health care choices is to keep our noses in the air. Before long, the stench of Big Pharma’s greed will waft down upon us again in the form of some legislator’s bill. When it does, we must pay another price to keep our freedom: that is to organize once again and deliver a resounding “No!” to Congress.

Want to read more about this?? Just google “mccain’s supplement bill” and get an eye-full.   And I hope to see you respond to this post with a list of IMPORTANT and LIFE CHANGING SUPPLEMENTS and how they are helping you.

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Are you from Europe and would like to see your own NTH group?? I’ve just started NTH EUROPE and if you live in Europe, you are invited to join.  Note that new groups can be slow to build, so put yourself on Daily Digest or Individual Emails and watch its growth.  We will be looking for level-headed moderators and your donation of good European information in the Files and Links.

I just proved an incredibly important way to measure your blood pressure!

bloodpressure

Last week, I had found my blood pressure quite high for me! Upper 140’s and some 150’s for my Systolic, and upper 90’s and lower 100’s for my Diastolic.   Stage One hypertension!  I was pretty sure my 4 grains may suddenly be a tad too high since entering meno.  My temps and heartrate implied that, too.

I got off Armour for two days to use up some excess, got back on one, then on 2 grains multi-dosed.  My plan is to make my way back up to 3 1/2 grains by a week or slightly more…and see.

In the meantime, I have been using some blood pressure lowering supplements (high dose potassium, grape seed extract, Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar in juice, more CoQ10 than normal, plus my regular supplements).  I was more faithful to my treadmill walking (thanks to an April that still thinks it’s winter), and meditating. The latter two definitely helped lower both the Systolic and Diastolic, even if not low enough for my ideal.

For the last five days, my BP readings have still been too high. All those days, I had been seated on our couch. I put a pillow in my lap, laying my arm on that pillow, which meant my arm was slightly downward.  Sometimes my wrist would hang off the pillow.

Today, I decided I wanted to test something I have read. Namely, it’s actually quite important how you place your arm. The recommended way is placing your arm perpendicular to your body and at the height of your heart or a tad higher, all while comfortable resting on something.  Elbow can be flexed, but your arm must still be perpendicular to your body and about heart height or slightly higher.

Below are four of my most recent afternoon BP readings with pulse: two with the Left arm, then two with the Right arm.

L:  139/106   98  (arm hanging down and resting on seated leg)
L:  122/88 89  (arm up, perpendicular to my body, supported by pillows)
R:  141/87     92  (arm hanging down and resting on pillow)
R:  123/85 89 (arm up, perpendicular to my body, supported by pillows)

What you should note is that the first L reading, and the first R reading, were with the arm relaxed on a pillow but lower than my heart.  The second of each is with the arm on two pillows, putting it perpendicular to my heart,  with elbow flexed, and all of arm completely supported.

I was shocked! Putting my arms in what research is saying is the CORRECT position gave me much better readings. I am VERY pleased with the 122 and 123.  Much better. And though the 88 and 83 Diastolics are not to my liking yet, and tell me I need more work, the difference between the arm positions was stunning….as is the difference in what I’ve been getting for five days.

More info: it was brought to my attention that taking a second BP reading is usually always lower anyway. Ah, I thought, that’s correct! So to test this information based on research, I went back last night before bedtime. First took my BP with my arm in the upper correct position. Then the second time, took it with my arm down.

138/89 (up perpendicular to body; level with heart) pulse 80
146/100 (arm down) pulse 82

The second did NOT go down. It went UP! Interesting.

*Want to be informed of the STTM blog postings?? Curious what’s on my mind? Just use the Notifications to the left at the bottom of the links.

**Are you in the US and want to help make sure we don’t end up like the UK, having our Armour taken away?? In the post below, I have given you SEVEN STEPS that I hope you will follow through on!  YOU can make a difference.