tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post2659763615456260201..comments2024-02-25T02:24:14.972-08:00Comments on Whole Health Source: Can a Statin Neutralize the Cardiovascular Risk of Unhealthy Dietary Choices?Stephan Guyenethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218114625524777250noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-31122810071932987922015-03-25T23:26:59.917-07:002015-03-25T23:26:59.917-07:00I had an Acute Miocardial Infarction on the 12th.....I had an Acute Miocardial Infarction on the 12th... The following day I had my routine blood tests done (since I've been lowering my numbers for a year by a dramatically changed diet and exercise; no wheat, no soy if I can help it, very little refined carbs--limited to maximally 6 teaspoons of sugar per day in 2 cups of coffee, no rice, no white potatos, no corn--an extremely occasional corn tortilla, no industrial vegetable oils), which revealed (due to AST and LDH) that I had just had a heart attack. The following day (the 14th) I was recommended to an interventionist cardiologist who varified that I had indeed had the AMI and suggested an angiogram and an angioplasty... It turns out that the heart attack was more minor than he had thought (it was in the smallest of the coronary arteries, that he claim was too late to fix; it had died at least 36 hours earlier) but that the two other coronary arteries were greatly blocked and he recommended installing one medicated stent and another normal stent... That said, I've been in a battle with the cardiologist because I refuse to take the Lipitor... and have spent the past week investigating alternatives. My diet is very high in ground flaxseed for a few months now. I also cook with much fresh turmeric... consume much vitamin C, I don't have any problems with green leafy vegetables or with broccoli or with nuts and seeds, although I don't have a colon or a rectum (J-Pouch). Removing the wheat removed ALL of my digestive problems I suffered since my J-Pouch surgery in 2001. I consider myself extremely well informed, very healthy but for the heart attack after spending a week at the beach just north of Puerto Vallarta (and two weeks of eating almost exclusively fish). The doubt that my wife and I have is about the sudden rise from sea level to Guadalajara at 1,500 meters and also over a month of greatly increased consumption of vegetables very high in Vitamin K (something that I can't produce by beneficial bacteria in my non-existent colon and that I couldn't obtain for years because of the horrible inflamation I didn't know I had until I removed the wheat; I couldn't eat almost any fiber), Kale, Spinach, Bok Choy causing sudden coagulation, hence the AMI. And suddenly I found myself placing myself where I didn't want to find myself EVER in the mouth of the lion, the Cardiologist... All side affects can be created in my mind, since I read the list of possible side affects of the Beta Blocker, the Statin, the Aspirin and EFFIENT... And, if I don't take those medications, I can find myself suddenly dead at home... So, I'm looking for research and information alternative to what the meanstream cardiologists push... well aware of the statistics that 24% of those who just experienced their first AMI will die within the following year. Granted, they may not maintain my diet and be as informed as am I. But, also, it is incredibly difficult to explain why I had the heart attack when I had it, and not just over a year earlier when I my my diet was heavy on refined carbs, my glucose level was on the rise (119; and all of the new symptoms), when I weighed 32 pounds more, when my BP was as high as 170/110 with a resting heart rate near 100 causing edema in my lower extremities, when my triglycerides were at 330 and when my HDL was at 38... No thanks to ANY doctor or medication or dietician or nutritionist did I lower all of that in 5 months... So, here we are with the super unexpected heart attack, scurrying to find the best information and for untangling the political/scientific-medical confusion dominating the internet and the doctors offices and certainly horribly hindering the patient because it wastes a lot of time, energy and money... And, the reality is that my wife and I and everyone else must worry about when the "big one" is going to hit... or, if it was a very strange fluke and my diet and health truly are wonderful and I should have faith in sticking with my guns and being patient...Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03786988308129044558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-50366567294238661982010-08-19T14:55:11.370-07:002010-08-19T14:55:11.370-07:00Elizabeth, which of my two points are you disputin...Elizabeth, which of my two points are you disputing? If it’s the first, just Google “mcdonald's fries trans fat” and choose your favorite news source. You’ll get lots of hits -- the elimination of trans fats from their fries was widely reported on.<br /><br />The natural trans-fat content of meat and dairy has also been widely noted, leading to some interesting controversy:<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/07/dining/07tran.htmlCouveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00926561539205771774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-37676098463586643102010-08-19T14:33:21.118-07:002010-08-19T14:33:21.118-07:00Jack
Thanks for the ref Jack.
Re paper of trans...Jack <br /><br />Thanks for the ref Jack.<br /><br />Re paper of trans v polyunsaturated fats.<br /><br />The trans fats will probably not include much olive or canola. If they include soy much of the Omega 3s may well have been hydrogenated out. We do not know what the oxidative status of these hydrogenated fats, or if they still contain any other nutrients. We already know artificial trans fats are bad news.<br /><br />The unhydrogentated oils are likely overall to contain more Omega 3, be lower in oxidised products, higher in plant based antioxidants, and contain at least a hint of other nutrients.<br /><br />The wider population by the sound of it has high trans fat consumption.<br /><br />So as I see it form a quick skim is all this is telling us is that large amounts of trans fats are worse in inflammation terms than large amounts of vegetable fats with a better Omega 3 : 6 profile.<br /><br />From the refs they may be equating diets high in polyunsaturates with Omega 6 when the paper refers to Omega 3s eg 32 - So it looks like there is some 3 : 6 confusion as well,which one sees quite a lot.Robert Andrew Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05181027811602620374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-11203530843821679752010-08-19T13:41:14.373-07:002010-08-19T13:41:14.373-07:00@couves: ummmm...no.@couves: ummmm...no.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16463640191085971277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-63905321600783054712010-08-18T21:40:35.340-07:002010-08-18T21:40:35.340-07:00Jack C: McDonalds fries have been trans-fat free ...Jack C: McDonalds fries have been trans-fat free for some time now... and are a heck of a lot tastier than your fries with an ounce of corn oil drizzled on top ;)<br /><br />The hamburgers and milkshakes, on the other hand, certainly DO contain significant amounts of trans fats, as do all meat and dairy products.Couveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00926561539205771774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-87306204657904365852010-08-18T21:23:15.986-07:002010-08-18T21:23:15.986-07:00Hi Jack,
I think butter, margarine and seed oils ...Hi Jack,<br /><br />I think butter, margarine and seed oils could have played a major role in heart disease based on how they changed over the course of the 20th century.<br /><br />Butter consumption was basically the same (high), with minor fluctuations, until the early 1940s, when it dropped off a cliff. The CHD epidemic peaked in the 50s. <br /><br />Margarine was eaten somewhat even before the 20th century, but keep in mind it was mostly made from non-hydrogenated animal fats back then. Hydrogenated margarines hit the shelves around 1911, just in time for the beginning of the CHD epidemic in the 1920s. No one has ever systematically tracked trans fat consumption in the US, but if we did, we would see that the introduction of trans fat corresponds roughly to the CHD epidemic minus 10 years of lag time.<br /><br />PUFA seed oils also increased dramatically around the turn of the century, and have continued to increase through the turn of the 21st. They are also in the correct time window to have contributed to the CHD epidemic. Going from 2% to 5% dietary n-6 does not have the same biological effects as going from 5% to 8%. So you wouldn't necessarily expect CHD incidence to track linearly with the increase in PUFA. <br /><br />I'm not saying these are the only factors, but the changes over time certainly make them suspects.Stephan Guyenethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09218114625524777250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-1992338432118726382010-08-18T19:45:33.369-07:002010-08-18T19:45:33.369-07:00Stephan, with regard to the study in Iran on infla...Stephan, with regard to the study in Iran on inflammation related to hydrogenated and non hydrogenated vegetable oil, I agree there is not enough information given to prove anything. If LDL density pattern had been determined, or even the ratio TG/HDL which is a fair proxy for particle size (see pubmed 14578319), perhaps some conclusions could have been drawn.<br /><br />The food intake of the two groups did not appear that different to me.<br /><br />It seems be widely accepted that the beneficial effects of statins are the result of reduced inflammation as indicated by improved LDL density pattern, higher HDL and lower TG (ie lower markers of metabolic syndrome.) Given your comments that the markers of inflation in the Iran study may not indicate inflammation, what is an accurate measure of inflammation in your opinion?<br /><br />I started down this road looking at trans fats after reading your post of Dec 27, 08, on "Butter, Margarine and Heart Disease. It seems to me that butter and margarine had little to do with the increase in heart disease that began around 1920 since margarine consumption did not get going until after 1940 and butter consumption peaked in 1934. Vegetable shortening, which got going good in 1911 with introduction of Crisco, was and is the dominant source of trans fats. Vitamin K2 is not an issue as increased cheese consumption has offset the decrease in butter consumption. <br /><br />The annual per person consumption of partially hydrogenated oils peaked about 1990 at About 31 Lbs which is about 25% of total fat consumption. Consumption of non hydrogenated vegetable oils is still increasing and now exceeds hydrogenated vegetable fats. <br /><br />Anyway, increased consumption of non hydrogenated oils perhaps at least dilutes the trans fats a bit. And I still think the science behind my idea of drizzling corn oil on fries is just as strong as the science behind the idea of putting statins on the food.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-34141096496974128322010-08-18T14:01:15.811-07:002010-08-18T14:01:15.811-07:00Hi Timothy,
The n is too small? The African/Amer...Hi Timothy,<br /><br />The n is too small? The African/American/Asian autopsy study I liked to reported data from some 6,000 autopsies. It was one of the largest autopsy studies ever done. They showed that in age-matched groups, signs of silent or fatal heart attacks were almost totally absent in two regions of Africa, and atherosclerosis was lower. They even had American pathologists independently analyze a subset of the hearts. I think that study was extremely convincing, and it's consistent with a number of other studies, many of which were also large age-matched autopsy studies. <br /><br />Hi Jack,<br /><br />That finding is interesting, but I think it's important to remember that inflammatory markers in serum are not necessarily a good measure of inflammation in specific tissues. Another thing is that we don't know why serum inflammatory markers were down. Does it represent an unnatural suppression of immune function, as we see in cancer models fed high PUFA diets? Or does it represent an optimization of immune function, which would be good? On principle, I doubt it's the latter simply due to the fact that we didn't evolve eating these oils.<br /><br />Also, it's an epidemiological study. Who was eating the most vegetable oil? Were they wealthier, more educated, was their diet otherwise better? If you look at the paper, it's clear that veg oil eaters had a different overall dietary pattern. For example, they ate more vegetables and less hydrogenated fat. What variables that were not measured or adjusted for could have contributed to the observed association?Stephan Guyenethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09218114625524777250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-6902679435754616342010-08-18T13:42:51.213-07:002010-08-18T13:42:51.213-07:00Jack C
"milkshake should have no trans fats&...Jack C<br /><br />"milkshake should have no trans fats"<br /><br />You can't assume that. Milkshakes often aren't real milkshakes anymore (my definition of a milkshake is quality ice cream, milk, perhaps some flavored syrup), blended together in a carafe with a wand tipped by a small blade. <br /><br />Many, if not most "milkshakes" don't even milk and some contain NO dairy ingredients at all. They typically are chock-full of transfats and other highly questionable ingredients. The liquid shake mix comes in large cartons that are poured into top of the freezing machine, frozen, and extruded, similar to "soft serve" (also not quality ice cream). Yuck.<br /><br />Tip-offs the ingredients should be checked if it is called a "shake" instead of "milkshake" and/or is dispensed/extruded from a machine.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17033443643442246531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-8988495173651827352010-08-18T11:09:15.556-07:002010-08-18T11:09:15.556-07:00Stephen,
I think you give those guys too much cr...Stephen, <br /><br />I think you give those guys too much credit when you suggest that perhaps they were being facetious. I think they are dead serious.<br /><br />I had a brilliant idea last night while laying awake at four a.m. after getting up to pee. Equally as brilliant as the idea of providing statins to sprinkle on your burger.<br /><br />A recent study in Iran compared the effects of partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening and non hydrogenated vegetable oils on markers of inflammation. (Crp, IL-6 etc). (see link below)<br /><br />http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18842776<br /><br />Iran is a good place to do that kind of study because they eat twice as much vegetable shortening and vegetable oil compared to the U.S., about 12 grams per 100 calories of food intake.<br /><br />The various markers of inflammation of those in the highest quintile of trans fat intake were 20 to 70% higher than the markers of those in the lowest quintile. Conversely, those in the highest quintile of non-hydrogenated vegetable oil intake had lower markers of inflammation than those in the lowest quintile of oil intake. The negative correlation of the non-hydrogenated oil to inflammation per unit intake was about half the magnitude of the positive correlation found in the trans fat oils.<br /><br />Their conclusion was that, (1)The inflammation caused by trans fats is most impressive and (2)contrary to conventional wisdom, non hydrogenated vegetable oil does not increase inflammation but reduces it.<br /><br />The data is convincing.<br /><br />Getting back to the fast food, we all know that the primary cause of coronary artery disease is inflammation, and the primary cause of inflammation is trans fats. The burger and milkshake should have no trans fats. The fries are the big problem. Maybe a little trans fats in the bun.<br /><br />It appears that consumption of two parts non-hydrogenated oil will balance out the inflammation caused by one part hydrogenated shortening. The solution is to drizzle about an ounce of non-hydrogenated vegetable oil on an extra large order of fries (which may contain about 14 grams trans fat).<br /><br />Sure there may be some side effects like increased obesity and increased risk of diabetes, but then statins have some downsides too. Lower levels of cholesterol have been found to be associated with reduced cognitive function and increased risk of osteoporosis, Parkinson's disease and breast cancer. But both the statins and vegy oil toppings should reduce inflammation and thereby reduce risk of atherosclerosis. <br /><br />I'm serious.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-72841395806202814072010-08-18T10:48:48.187-07:002010-08-18T10:48:48.187-07:00Federal agricultural subsidies are making us sick....Federal agricultural subsidies are making us sick. You’re right Stephan, it really is that simple - and this is probably one of the least controversial things you‘ve blogged about. <br /><br />Agriculture policy is one area where government intervention in the free market has actually hurt our standard of living dramatically. But I’m afraid it won’t end as long as we keep electing politicians who think it’s their job to hand out goodies to special interest groups rather than to promote the general welfare.Couveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00926561539205771774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-7980905556098934232010-08-17T19:08:32.613-07:002010-08-17T19:08:32.613-07:00Regarding the studies showing essentially zero hea...Regarding the studies showing essentially zero heart disease in populations with pre-industrial/ pre-agrarian dietary patterns. It really doesn't seem like they are sufficient to prove the case. N is too small, and the way the studies are constructed allows multiple biases.<br /><br />They are interesting and suggestive, but hardly conclusive.<br /><br />On the other hand, the impression I've gotten from trying to track down research is you are right saturated fat isn't very dangerous, and dairy fat in particular is likely safe/ beneficial. (OTOH I still avoid fatty red meat, something in red meat causes problems)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04677779596922652873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-17782823369684399592010-08-17T11:52:00.459-07:002010-08-17T11:52:00.459-07:00So important to research products before we apply ...So important to research products before we apply and ingest. There's a huge correlation between the advance of new products and the medical problems we are facing. Thanks for the post.dfsdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17988957168627570052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-29231901043083955752010-08-17T11:43:21.827-07:002010-08-17T11:43:21.827-07:00Paleo
It's the intended consequence that both...Paleo<br /><br />It's the intended consequence that bothers me. I already see children indoctrinated into the culture of chemical ingestion. The objective of the chemical industry to induce people to require the routine use of chemicals to protect and enhance their bodies and to accept the routine, and largely unknown, exposure to chemicals to enhance the quality of their consumption and to drive the short-term cost of that consumption to rock bottom. The industry has largely achieved their objective, but there are still many billions of dollars to wring out of us consumers before we are discarded.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01927204246878038150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-50671794892866299862010-08-17T11:17:03.471-07:002010-08-17T11:17:03.471-07:00@Paul
Interesting, and it might actually be recomm...@Paul<br />Interesting, and it might actually be recommended with no evidence from RCTs in children, as the argument is that such trials would not be ethical anyways.<br /><br />But when you think about it, a bit of statin powder would probably do less damage than the highly recommended breakfast cereals. Also the cost would probably be less than the subsidy to farmers. The key question: What if the parents decide to opt out? Would they lose custody?<br /><br />Ironically, the side effect of this may be increased public interest in the cholesterol theory, closer scientific scrutiny, litigation and completely unintended consequences.PaleoDoc MD, PhDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02971857170596291616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-77389944547422362262010-08-17T09:50:22.205-07:002010-08-17T09:50:22.205-07:00Here’s something I just received from alsearsmd.co...Here’s something I just received from alsearsmd.com about the use of statins.<br /><br />“Now the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is pushing this poison to a new group.<br />I’m talking about children. Some as young as 8 years old!<br />AAP guidelines have just recommended cholesterol screenings for high-risk children ages two and up. And statin therapy for kids as young as eight with LDLs over 190mg/dl.1<br />Now, some are calling for even more aggressive screening measures to find kids “in need” of these drugs. All to ensure that pharmaceutical companies will keep making billions for years to come.<br />Consider this: AAP’s Pediatrics published a new study a couple weeks ago. Researchers screened all fifth graders in West Virginia public schools, including 5,798 who wouldn't have met cholesterol screening guidelines. They found 268 children with cholesterol high enough to be treated with drugs.2<br />It frightens me to even think about the implications…<br />Entire generations getting hooked on drugs with dangerous side effects. Ones that include:<br /> Muscle pain<br /> Liver damage<br /> Nausea<br /> Lowered mental performance<br /> Chronic fatigue<br /> Cardiomyopathy (deterioration of your heart’s function)<br /> Depletion of CoQ10 in the heart (which can cause congestive heart failure)<br />What’s more, this could open up the floodgates for pharmaceutical companies to promote their use in kids. Come to think of it, that’s already happening. I just read that Pfizer introduced a sweet and tasty “gummy-like” version of Lipitor. I’m sure it’ll boost sales before their patent runs out next year.<br />The lesson here is, “Just say NO to statins!” You can’t trust them – or the folks telling you to take them.<br />If a child came to my office with high cholesterol, I would tell him to exercise in short bursts of high intensity for at least 12 minutes a day, cut carbs, and eat foods that are rich in omega-3s, like salmon, flax seeds, and walnuts.<br />For most children, this would solve the problem within six weeks. Why? Because children’s bodies heal themselves quickly.”Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01927204246878038150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-11696386392495984312010-08-16T17:39:15.890-07:002010-08-16T17:39:15.890-07:00Dare I mention Soylent Green? I watched it not lon...Dare I mention Soylent Green? I watched it not long ago, via Netflix dvd rental.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17033443643442246531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-77502512272262002912010-08-16T14:43:36.694-07:002010-08-16T14:43:36.694-07:00@PaleoDoc: It's called "Brave New World&q...@PaleoDoc: It's called "Brave New World" published in 1932. <br /><br />I doubt we'll be able to make it work in practice, however. We'll simply be replaced by people who eat real food.Tucker Goodrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09455436946187786398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-36917543685362637222010-08-16T03:11:35.180-07:002010-08-16T03:11:35.180-07:00This is the way things are and there is more to co...This is the way things are and there is more to come. I predict that in a few decades most humans will be infertile and all reproduction will be done in vitro. Most of infertility is diet-related (diabetes and PCOS, anti-androgens, pasticides, omega-6 leading to preterm birth). The solution will be more IVF and not less sugar and more fat.<br /><br />Things might change only if the industry comes up with a cheap method of growing animal tissue in factories. It will have to be genetically modified to guarantee patent protection.<br /><br />Steak tartare anyone?PaleoDoc MD, PhDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02971857170596291616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-55629429599677876062010-08-15T23:01:34.392-07:002010-08-15T23:01:34.392-07:00This puts me in mind of an article I just read on ...This puts me in mind of an article I just read on gluten intolerance. Researchers were actively working on a therapy that would allow those with Celiac disease to be able to eat wheat.Michael Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04768809529849718860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-45764555904596790462010-08-15T15:52:04.989-07:002010-08-15T15:52:04.989-07:00Hi Futrzak,
I agree, it's bizarre that we'...Hi Futrzak,<br /><br />I agree, it's bizarre that we've decided as a culture in the US that muscle tissue is the only suitable part of an animal to eat. <br /><br />Hi Chris,<br /><br />Haha, if you come up with an experimental research pill, send me some please!Stephan Guyenethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09218114625524777250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-82946852457384774762010-08-15T15:50:33.639-07:002010-08-15T15:50:33.639-07:00Hi Todd,
I love that movie.
Hi Andy,
I agree th...Hi Todd,<br /><br />I love that movie.<br /><br />Hi Andy,<br /><br />I agree that you have to be very careful about what assumptions you're making when you statistically adjust for factors in observational studies. Yes, I do think it's possible to adjust out the relevant variable.<br /><br />Hi Rachelle,<br /><br />See this post for the graph you want http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2009/10/butter-vs-margarine-showdown.html.Stephan Guyenethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09218114625524777250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-24772493434692129772010-08-15T12:04:16.190-07:002010-08-15T12:04:16.190-07:00Great post, Stephan. Someone in my department gav...Great post, Stephan. Someone in my department gave a seminar last year on a pill that was meant to mimic the effects of exercise in stimulating AMPK. I suggested they just develop an experimental research pill so that we could could just take that and develop all these other pills much faster without having to do all the research.<br /><br />ChrisChris Masterjohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09922003080748568167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-43288831503501723292010-08-15T00:53:28.530-07:002010-08-15T00:53:28.530-07:00i agree that fast food can be increasing risk of c...i agree that fast food can be increasing risk of cardiovascular disease, but we can reduce the risk by regular sport 3-4 day per week. thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-68996990541895790502010-08-14T18:42:52.736-07:002010-08-14T18:42:52.736-07:00I was thinking about USA Agricultural subsidies an...I was thinking about USA Agricultural subsidies and how one could change them! I think it is highly unlikely. I believe farm subsidies need to be changed by Congress. The first thing members of Congress worry about is being relected. In order to be relected they need to keep their constituents happy. The members of Congress from the farm belt will fight to keep these subsidies so the constituents remain happy and relect them. I am probably being a little negative but it is hard not to be.Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08592469376569838842noreply@blogger.com