Protect Your Heart—Donate Blood!
Dr. Gerard Guillory, MD
4/26/16
We have known for decades that donating blood can offer protection against heart disease. A 1998 study of almost 3000 middle-aged men in Finland reported that blood donors had an 88% reduced risk of heart attack when compared with non-donors. Since that landmark study, recent research has revealed even more cardiovascular benefits of donating blood. Blood donors, for example, have been found to have lower total cholesterol and lower LDL-cholesterol than non-donors. In addition, a randomized, controlled trial found that patients who have metabolic syndrome (sometimes called pre-diabetes) can lower their blood pressure, improve blood sugar control, and reduce markers of cardiovascular risk by donating blood.
Testimonials
Sensitivity to monosodium glutamate and aspartame (abdominal pains, bloating)
For 15 years, Neil Wiese regularly experienced abdominal pains and bloating that lasted all day, nearly every day.
"I went through many, many doctors," Wiese says. "I even went as far as the Mayo Clinic. Nobody could figure out what it was." In 2004, he attended a seminar by Dr. Guillory and, afterward, went to visit the doctor. After conducting tests and ruling out a number of potential causes, Dr. Guillory focused on the possibility that Wiese's digestive problems were related to monosodium glutamate (MSG), a widely used food additive.
Dr. Guillory recommended that Wiese avoid foods containing MSG. In addition, he recommended that Wiese steer clear of the artificial sweetener aspartame as well as high fructose corn syrup, also used as a sweetener. "I went on the diet and watched everything I ate," Wiese says. "I also kept a diary. And in the course of a month or so, I was better. I have slowly continued getting better for the last couple of years. My life has changed dramatically. It's a miracle for me."