USMB Coffee Shop IV

[Foxfyre]

Happy Wednesday! I haven't had enough coffee yet. It is Wednesday, right? Ah, yep. Whew. I did say I need more coffee.

I actually oozed into my day without coffee at all.

It was time to go get a blood sample taken which means fasting. Wasn't sure if that applied to coffee or if they were gonna read vitals but if they did the latter I didn't want the BP artificially high again.

I'll get the results of the blood work next week, which will include reading how the red yeast rice (instead of statins) are working.

Now it's too late in the day for coffee.

I've been on and off 4 different Statins in the last 15 years. They work for a while then i start getting pain in my calves. I just quit the last one on the 14th of this month. Let me know about this red yeast rice........

Red yeast rice, as the Chinese have developed and use it, had a significant cholesterol lowering statin-like substance in it naturally. The red yeast rice that you can legally buy off the shelves at the health food store or wherever though can have only trace amounts of those cholesterol lowering substances out of fear that those taking both statins AND red yeast rice would suffer muscle and/or kidney damage. So the FDA made selling the natural cholesterol lowering product illegal. So you need to find a kind of 'black market' source for the really effective stuff if that's why you are using the product.

 

[Foxfyre]

By the way, I delivered Uncle Ed home from the hospital a little while ago. The surgery was apparently successful, he's feeling good, and good to go.

 

[Statistikhengst]

By the way, I delivered Uncle Ed home from the hospital a little while ago. The surgery was apparently successful, he's feeling good, and good to go.

Good to know. You have been quite busy with a lot to do.

 

[Nosmo King]

I gotta buy some new tennis shoes this week. East coasters call them 'sneakers', but here in the Ohio Valley, tennis shoes is the preferred term. Next weekend is the big pig roast (if you're in the area, call me and I'll get you in!) During the actual roasting of the pig, there is no need to pay attention to footwear. But, after we take the beast from the spit, we must carve it up for consumption. And that's where the right shoes are critical.

We roast a pig, average weight around 110 pounds, for eight or nine hours. It all depends on what the meat thermometer says after we test the hams, shoulders and ribs. Then the spit comes off the mechanical device attached to the Maytag wringer washer motor. The pig stays tied to the spit for another 45 minutes to an hour to rest and finish cooking from the inside. Then we take the spit from the pig and begin carving.

We line a sturdy table with butcher's paper and lay the pig atop it. Armed with carving knives, we dissect the whole animal, reserving the tenderloins for ourselves. I usually carve up the hams while my brother works the shoulders. And here's where shoes come into the picture.

There is about a gallon of free flowing fat and grease that quickly finds the tops of your shoes while carving. An old pair of lawn mowing shoes serves best, avoiding stains on new tennis shoes.

Back in 1989 we threw a pig roast for a friend's Master's degree celebration. We held it at the Shrine Club on the first weekend of May. The following weekend the Shriners held their annual Fishing Derby. There is a small lake, or a large pond, on the property. The Shiners would stock that lake with $8,000 worth of game fish. Small and large mouth bass, trout and walleye would be introduced to the lake two weeks prior to the Derby.

We showed up at the Shrine Club at 7:00 am and started the fire. Then we went into the clubhouse and fixed a big breakfast. Along about 8:00, we put the pig, already strapped to the spit, on to start cooking. And that's when a Grandfather brought his five or six year old grandson to ply the waters prematurely. One of the Shriners gently reminded Grandpa that the lake was closed to fishing until the next weekend and the big Fishing Derby.

Grandpa noticed us and our fire not far from the lake and came over to see what was going on. His grandson was in tow and was immediately entranced by the sight of a real pig spinning on a spit. We chatted for a while about the roasting process and our friend's accomplishments. All the while that little boy stood transfixed by the roasting beast before him.

Now, after 45 minutes or so, the pig begins to heat up. The skin sweats fat, making it glisten. The fluids trapped in the sinuses and brain pan begin to expand ejecting what looks like strawberry jam from the snout. This particular pig was felled by a .22 to the back of the skull, and that wound began to ooze blood. The little boy never looked away, but seemed to study the scene. I could tell that his mind was being tattooed with the image of a pig on a spit.

That was 26 years ago. The little boy has grown into a man by now. But I think he still remembers the day his grandfather took him fishing and he saw a pig on a spit. I wonder if he eats pork today?

 

[Foxfyre]

One option to take care of the algae is to get a batch of large algae eaters, and let them loose into the pool. That should do it. Then the only issue is what to do with the algae eaters when it's time to go into the pool ...

Pleco! I had one that was about 16 inches long but my Oscar battered it to death.

they will grow as large as the tank you have them in.

Well.....within reason. Even whales only get so big in the world's largest fish tank

 

[Pogo]

I actually oozed into my day without coffee at all.

It was time to go get a blood sample taken which means fasting. Wasn't sure if that applied to coffee or if they were gonna read vitals but if they did the latter I didn't want the BP artificially high again.

I'll get the results of the blood work next week, which will include reading how the red yeast rice (instead of statins) are working.

Now it's too late in the day for coffee.

I've been on and off 4 different Statins in the last 15 years. They work for a while then i start getting pain in my calves. I just quit the last one on the 14th of this month. Let me know about this red yeast rice........

Red yeast rice, as the Chinese have developed and use it, had a significant cholesterol lowering statin-like substance in it naturally. The red yeast rice that you can legally buy off the shelves at the health food store or wherever though can have only trace amounts of those cholesterol lowering substances out of fear that those taking both statins AND red yeast rice would suffer muscle and/or kidney damage. So the FDA made selling the natural cholesterol lowering product illegal. So you need to find a kind of 'black market' source for the really effective stuff if that's why you are using the product.

I don't know about that. How much is "effective"?

The ones I've been buying are 300 mg with another 150 mg of Gugulipids, but I did see several other potencies on the shelf. Then again the doctor, who was the one who suggested RYR in the first place (once I declined the statins) never gave me a figure to shoot for, so I took the advice of the health food store proprietor.

 

[Spoonman]

A little note on red rice yeast. yes, it is effective in lowering cholesterol. the main reason, the active ingredients in it are the same as in most statins. people experience the typical side effects of statins at about the same rate too. but different drugs effect people in differnet ways because of the other components in them and how they react to whats in the medication you are takeing, or other medications you are taking, or how your body can process them.

so its worth trying alternatives if the medications you are on are giving you trouble. or even rotating them. 6 months on this one, a year on that, maybe back to the original for another 6 months.

 

[Derideo_Te]

Good morning everybody. I'm up, showered, shampooed, face on, walking shoes on, ready to go when they call and tell us Uncle Ed has been released from the hospital. I'm still a bit miffed they didn't tell us sooner that he wouldn't be released yesterday so we sat around all days twiddling thumbs unable to plan anything, start anything, go anywhere for fear the phone would ring. So how long will the wait be today? We'll find out I guess.

Mertex, the second batch of bacon presented was edible, but that is too overdone--no doubt so brittle it is crumbly. I want my bacon in between--lightly golden all over but just to the barely crisp stage with no soft spots.

And I'm with BBD on the hotdog--given a choice between a hamburger and a hotdog, I will go for the hotdog every single time. And a dash of ketchup on them is okay though I usually don't plan that for my hotdogs. But!!! The one Jughead presented is underdone. A proper hotdog has to be cooked thoroughly so that the outer skin is really charred and beginning to split--almost burnt. Then a dash of a good mustard, sweet onions, maybe some relish, maybe a bit of kraut--yum. Good eating.

So it is yet another hump day. My goodness they come around really often don't they. Hope everybody is having a good one. I hope Uncle Ed is released pretty soon so I can start my week.

More coffee. . . .

Glad Uncle Ed had a positive outcome and is good to go again,

The secret to getting bacon exactly the way Foxy (and I) like is to do it over a low heat. I only turn it once and then I put it on a plate with a paper towel to absorb the excess fat.

Perfect crispy, but not crumbly, bacon.

Hotdogs I can take or leave but a burger with caramelized onions is hard to beat in my opinion.

 

[Statistikhengst]

Good morning everybody. I'm up, showered, shampooed, face on, walking shoes on, ready to go when they call and tell us Uncle Ed has been released from the hospital. I'm still a bit miffed they didn't tell us sooner that he wouldn't be released yesterday so we sat around all days twiddling thumbs unable to plan anything, start anything, go anywhere for fear the phone would ring. So how long will the wait be today? We'll find out I guess.

Mertex, the second batch of bacon presented was edible, but that is too overdone--no doubt so brittle it is crumbly. I want my bacon in between--lightly golden all over but just to the barely crisp stage with no soft spots.

And I'm with BBD on the hotdog--given a choice between a hamburger and a hotdog, I will go for the hotdog every single time. And a dash of ketchup on them is okay though I usually don't plan that for my hotdogs. But!!! The one Jughead presented is underdone. A proper hotdog has to be cooked thoroughly so that the outer skin is really charred and beginning to split--almost burnt. Then a dash of a good mustard, sweet onions, maybe some relish, maybe a bit of kraut--yum. Good eating.

So it is yet another hump day. My goodness they come around really often don't they. Hope everybody is having a good one. I hope Uncle Ed is released pretty soon so I can start my week.

More coffee. . . .

Glad Uncle Ed had a positive outcome and is good to go again,

The secret to getting bacon exactly the way Foxy (and I) like is to do it over a low heat. I only turn it once and then I put it on a plate with a paper towel to absorb the excess fat.

Perfect crispy, but not crumbly, bacon.

Hotdogs I can take or leave but a burger with caramelized onions is hard to beat in my opinion.

Drool....

 

[Ringel05]

A little note on red rice yeast. yes, it is effective in lowering cholesterol. the main reason, the active ingredients in it are the same as in most statins. people experience the typical side effects of statins at about the same rate too. but different drugs effect people in differnet ways because of the other components in them and how they react to whats in the medication you are takeing, or other medications you are taking, or how your body can process them.

so its worth trying alternatives if the medications you are on are giving you trouble. or even rotating them. 6 months on this one, a year on that, maybe back to the original for another 6 months.

I take fish oil, 1400 mg with 900 mg omega-3s, co Q-10 and red yeast rice for cholesterol and heart health. Didn't know RYR is a statin till I talked to my Dr, no apparent side effects here, my labs are back to normal.

 

[Pogo]

A little note on red rice yeast. yes, it is effective in lowering cholesterol. the main reason, the active ingredients in it are the same as in most statins. people experience the typical side effects of statins at about the same rate too. but different drugs effect people in differnet ways because of the other components in them and how they react to whats in the medication you are takeing, or other medications you are taking, or how your body can process them.

so its worth trying alternatives if the medications you are on are giving you trouble. or even rotating them. 6 months on this one, a year on that, maybe back to the original for another 6 months.

I take fish oil, 1400 mg with 900 mg omega-3s, co Q-10 and red yeast rice for cholesterol and heart health. Didn't know RYR is a statin till I talked to my Dr, no apparent side effects here, my labs are back to normal.

Curious -- if you didn't know RYR did that, why were you taking it?

 

[saveliberty]

Maybe to get rid of the fishy taste?

 

[Ringel05]

A little note on red rice yeast. yes, it is effective in lowering cholesterol. the main reason, the active ingredients in it are the same as in most statins. people experience the typical side effects of statins at about the same rate too. but different drugs effect people in differnet ways because of the other components in them and how they react to whats in the medication you are takeing, or other medications you are taking, or how your body can process them.

so its worth trying alternatives if the medications you are on are giving you trouble. or even rotating them. 6 months on this one, a year on that, maybe back to the original for another 6 months.

I take fish oil, 1400 mg with 900 mg omega-3s, co Q-10 and red yeast rice for cholesterol and heart health. Didn't know RYR is a statin till I talked to my Dr, no apparent side effects here, my labs are back to normal.

Curious -- if you didn't know RYR did that, why were you taking it?

I like living dangerously.........














I knew RYR reduced cholesterol, didn't know it was the natural statin.

 

[Ringel05]

Maybe to get rid of the fishy taste?

No fish aftertaste that I know of.... I take it before going to bed.......

 

[kaz]

Maybe to get rid of the fishy taste?

I thought that was your favorite part! And you are asking for tuna...

 

[Gracie]

Well...hubby just showed me a ready made chicken coop on craigslist and said we should get chickens again. Um. We had them twice before and I'm the one that had to take care of them so....I said if he wants chickens again..I want only 3, and HE has to clean their house out. I will feed them and collect the eggs but I am done stressing over them to make sure they have clean nests and there are no holes where raccoons or other critters can't get in.

He is musing over it.

 

[Sherry]

 

[SFC Ollie]

A little note on red rice yeast. yes, it is effective in lowering cholesterol. the main reason, the active ingredients in it are the same as in most statins. people experience the typical side effects of statins at about the same rate too. but different drugs effect people in differnet ways because of the other components in them and how they react to whats in the medication you are takeing, or other medications you are taking, or how your body can process them.

so its worth trying alternatives if the medications you are on are giving you trouble. or even rotating them. 6 months on this one, a year on that, maybe back to the original for another 6 months.

I take fish oil, 1400 mg with 900 mg omega-3s, co Q-10 and red yeast rice for cholesterol and heart health. Didn't know RYR is a statin till I talked to my Dr, no apparent side effects here, my labs are back to normal.

I take 4 gm of Lovaza every day. Heard about Q-10 always wondered if it was worth it, Docs have never mentioned it.

 

[Pogo]

A little note on red rice yeast. yes, it is effective in lowering cholesterol. the main reason, the active ingredients in it are the same as in most statins. people experience the typical side effects of statins at about the same rate too. but different drugs effect people in differnet ways because of the other components in them and how they react to whats in the medication you are takeing, or other medications you are taking, or how your body can process them.

so its worth trying alternatives if the medications you are on are giving you trouble. or even rotating them. 6 months on this one, a year on that, maybe back to the original for another 6 months.

I take fish oil, 1400 mg with 900 mg omega-3s, co Q-10 and red yeast rice for cholesterol and heart health. Didn't know RYR is a statin till I talked to my Dr, no apparent side effects here, my labs are back to normal.

I take 4 gm of Lovaza every day. Heard about Q-10 always wondered if it was worth it, Docs have never mentioned it.

It's my understanding that any statin, prescription-racket or RYR, eats up Co Q10, so I've been taking the latter with the former. Can't remember for sure if my doctor was one who mentioned that. I think she was, but I heard it from multiple sources.

I think I read it alleviates that muscle soreness side effect. I haven't had any side effects but I read that.

 

[Ringel05]

I take fish oil, 1400 mg with 900 mg omega-3s, co Q-10 and red yeast rice for cholesterol and heart health. Didn't know RYR is a statin till I talked to my Dr, no apparent side effects here, my labs are back to normal.

I take 4 gm of Lovaza every day. Heard about Q-10 always wondered if it was worth it, Docs have never mentioned it.

It's my understanding that any statin, prescription-racket or RYR, eats up Co Q10, so I've been taking the latter with the former. Can't remember for sure if my doctor was one who mentioned that. I think she was, but I heard it from multiple sources.

I think I read it alleviates that muscle soreness side effect. I haven't had any side effects but I read that.

There is no scientific large studies confirming the effects of Co Q-10 on statin side effects and not recommended as a general aid to alleviating statins side effects.

There, now that that is out of the way, Co Q-10 is a natural substance our bodies produce and with the supplements being a dietary supplement is not subjected to the same scientific scrutiny medicines are so of course the AMA is bound to it's stance which may be why Ollies' Doc doesn't promote it or may not even know about it.
That doesn't mean it doesn't work or that it's harmful. Ollie talk to your Doc and see what he/she has to say, mine loves the fact that I'm taking it.