Teach Soap

I've definitely changed my mind on adding this to the diet.
Taking 1 teaspoon a day in meals refatted my skin, which was very nice.
Unfortunately I began developing cardiac symptoms after two weeks!
So I stopped using it and doubled the amount of omega-3 (fish oil) I take.
The symptoms went away again.
I deduce from this that it clogs up my arteries. Seriously I do not recommend it.

Wow! Thank you for the info and very glad you are okay!

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

If you were experiencing cardiac symptoms you really should contact your physician and have it looked into. Some arrhythmias and other conditions are triggered by specific circumstances or items, and in the absence of that trigger, they dissipate or abate for a time. That does not mean that one is "cured". My Mother had difficulties (which she didn't share for a long time) for almost 2 years. They started out only happening once in a great while, then progressed to slightly more frequently, but never daily or even weekly. Finally I heard her mention it and insisted on a physician visit. Long story short, she was undergoing a test and died. She was resuscitated, a pacemaker implanted, and is has been fine since. Had she not been at the hospital she may not have made it. (she was only 65 at the time)
High cholesterol is the cause of arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis, which can cause strokes/emboli. Strokes are called the SILENT killer because you have no warning "feelings". You do not feel your arteries clogging as it occurs. It takes years before the accumulation of plaque causes an issue that one feels unless some breaks off and causes a stroke or a pulmonary embolis.

Okay, class dismissed. Sorry, but the daughter that almost lost her Mother, and the Nurse in me had to say something. I hope you will listen and go and get checked!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

I'll probably need some medical intervention in the near future, I already had a bypass 10 years ago. I'm sure the coconut oil worsened my problems, though.

With your history you definitely need a check up! Unless you are allergic to coconut there is nothing I can think of that would cause a cardiac reaction to the oil. When you do visit your physician, make sure that you have a list of ALL the things you are taking, including the supplements and any herbal teas that you drink. Many herbs and supplements can cause cardiac and other reactions, plus, since these substances are not regulated, they can vary in strength, so there is not consistency.
There can also be drug interactions. It is important for the doctor to know all that you are taking, even though some physicians are not familiar with herbs and supplements, many of them have added this study to their continuing education, due to the popularity of them and their impact on health issues. There are herbs that raise blood pressure, drop blood pressure, increase blood flow, restrict blood flow, sedate and on and on. It is important to check supplement usage against medications and health issues. People can basically poison themselves with too much of a good thing, or by their combination of herbs or the herbal, medication combination.
A visit to the doctor just to be sure is an easy precaution to take and one that could save your life. Please go and get checked!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

I have some family members who have very strange diets. At least what are strange to me because I eat "normal" food. On a recent visit I noticed a jar of coconut oil from Trader Joes on the counter. Two people said they consume coconut oil daily. I told them if that was the case I could get them a much better price from my soap ingredient supplier. They quickly became defensive and said they had to have food grade coconut oil. The stuff they were eating looks just like the coconut oil I get from Brambleberry. Since it ships in a food grade bag I assume it is food grade. Right??

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Genny

Not necessarily, the bag is rated as food grade, but unless the oil is identified as food grade then it is not. I believe columbus foods offers both food grade and cosmetic grade in the majority of their oils.

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

I did see my surgeon and he agrees with my opinion about the coconut oil. I intend to get a cardiac NMR but I have to wait until they repair the machine, because the only other hospital that has one costs too much. I could use the public health system but then they'd have me down at the nuclear medicine centre on the PET scanner and after that probably on the x-ray catheterisation machine; I have been that route before, I prefer to pay for the NMR scan instead which will give a clear 3-D picture. Then I can go direct to catheterisation if necessary, which it may well be, but I prefer to avoid the high dose of x-rays if I can. All this happened to a friend of mine too; unfortunately he had moved to Houston and the VA did not catch his symptoms in time and he had a heart attack. . . had to have an emergency bypass, it cost $300,000 and he is now bankrupt as a result. Fortunately for me we have a pretty effective public healthcare system so the diagnosis and bypass was free, plus they paid me 40% of my salary while I was in recovery.

I hope that you don't have to have more than the testing, but it is good that you'd be covered financially if you did need a cath or any other intervention. Either way, I am glad that you got checked. It is always better to be safe than sorry!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Thanks for your support. I am not quite sure if I could face going through heart bypass again. I have been trying to invent a method of making shortcrust pastry using olive oil for years! (Without success so far. It 'sort of' works but it wouldn't win any prizes.)

Ah, you need a little old Sicilian Grandma to let you into the family recipe box. My x-MIL is going to shoot lightening bolts at me for even suggesting such a thing!
You hang in there and keep experimenting. And when you get close and need a taste tester, I volunteer!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Yoicks! Hope everything settles down Barq!

Hope your test goes well, Barq! *crosses fingers*

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

Well, I look at things this way: I consider myself lucky to live in an age where such amazing medical interventions have become routine. My father was found dead in his car at the age of 65 with his nitroglycerine tablets in his hand. At the time of course, the heart bypass was just a hypothetical concept. My American friend unfortunately did not get diagnosed in time and since his heart attack has gone downhill to the point he has trouble getting up two flights of stairs. He lives 2 hours away from the VA hospital where as a veteran he can get free treatment; and as a result of the outstanding bill of 300 grand for the emergency bypass in a local hospital, of course he can't get treatment, so . . .
Frankly I have a lot more confidence in the public health system here in Mexico than the one in the UK, these days. But then, I live in one of the advanced cities; I don't know what it's like in the more rural areas. I'm also grateful for the good dentists here - the ones in the UK are hopeless and incredibly expensive. I just got back from my dentist, I'm having two crowns done, good value for the equivalent of $800 I think.