July 31, 2008

**URGENT WARNING:
Please forward this message to anyone you know who has children**

Dear Friend],

There have been a handful of things during my 30-plus year medical career that have made me furious. I mean, storm-around-the-room, call-my-congressman, protest-on-the-steps-of-the-Capitol angry.

And the newest recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics just about tops them all. In a report released a couple of weeks ago, the AAP actually had the gall to recommend that children as young as 8 years old be put on cholesterol-lowering statin drugs if there’s a history—even a hint—of high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease in their family.

Folks, this is beyond absurd. Not a single study has shown that statin drugs have ANY benefit for most adults with these risk factors…let alone children! These drugs haven’t even been tested on kids. There is NO evidence of safety or cardioprotective benefit. None.

What is there evidence of? Muscle pain, weakness and damage. Memory loss. Immune suppression. Liver and kidney damage. Even rumblings of increased cancer risk.

Make no mistake—these drugs are toxic. If we begin prescribing them to our children, we will be sparking a crisis that will rot the foundation of our children’s health, with tremors and aftershocks that will last for generations to come.

It’s true that our kids’ health has been going downhill. Today, more kids are overweight than ever before, and pediatric autopsies now show the beginnings of cardiovascular disease in the arteries of children. These trends should absolutely terrify us. But medication is not the answer.

Kids need exercise. They need plenty of sleep and whole, nutritious foods: healthy fats, lean protein, and fresh, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables.

But you know what else they need? Cholesterol. Their bodies use cholesterol to create hormones and build cell membranes. It’s critical for proper nerve function in the brain and throughout the body, particularly during the formative years. In fact, breast milk is one of the single richest sources of dietary cholesterol.

Using medication to artificially restrict children’s natural supply of cholesterol ought to be considered malpractice. It will, very literally, starve their bodies of the materials they need to continue developing.

The AAP is already getting pummeled by natural doctors, nutritionists and health experts for this ludicrous recommendation. I don’t know whether they’ll rescind it. With the substantial weight of the drug companies behind them, I doubt it.

So here’s what you can do: If you have a child over the age of 8, or know anyone who does, please forward this message to them. Do not let your kids fall victim to this misguided “advice.” I am not exaggerating when I say that it could very well be deadly for millions of our children.

Second, if you’re concerned about your child’s cardiovascular health or are getting pressure from their physician to start cholesterol medication, try a fish oil supplement that’s designed for kids. Fish oil has been proven time and again to be one of the best ways to ensure cardiovascular health (along with brain health, skin health, and numerous other benefits). I formulated a supplement called DHA for Kids, and Carlson Laboratories also makes a good one called Kids Very Finest Fish Oil, available in health food stores.

Finally, if you or anyone you know is struggling with children’s health issues, please take a complimentary copy of the Essential Guide to Children’s Nutrition that I’ve just released. It’ll give you the basics about what to feed your kids and the best supplements for them. It also exposes another pediatric pharmaceutical landmine that’s about to explode. Please don’t be caught unaware.

The report is free; the information is critical. Just click here and you can access it immediately. Anyone you forward this message to is welcome to a free copy, as well—let’s get the word out!

Sincerely,

Julian Whitaker, MD

P.S. Again, please forward this message to anyone who needs this information—we must keep our kids safe, healthy, and alive…we must keep our kids OFF statin drugs! Click here to access this free report.

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