Optimal care for elderly cats

While we don't have children, we are the proud parents of two cats. Both were adopted from their owners for a different reason with well over ten years between each adoption.
Our oldest cat has reached the respectable age of 18 years, which makes her a truly old cat, which comes with many health problems of its own. By now we are more like the grand children who are taking care of their very old (great-)grand parent.
It subsequently blows your mind to see how senior cats are put on an even lower protein diet than they already receive. While felines are full-on carnivores, most will received a mixed diet with an unhealthy amount of carbohydrates. If you're lucky the grains are replaced by legumes, which however does not considerably lower the amount of carbs. Never mind on the precious few choices for cats with urinary or kidney problems.

We thought to put together some tips for owners of (future) senior cats, so you know in advance where to pay attention to.

If you have a feline in the family who’s getting up in years, the good news is that many cats today are living into their late teens and early 20s. With the proper care, a cat in good health at 8 can easily live another 10 or 12 years, or even longer. Now is the perfect time to begin taking steps to ensure not only that your cat stays happy and healthy throughout her golden years, but that she also enjoys an excellent quality of life.

The true danger of COVID-19 vaccines : why we should avoid leaky vaccines

Two weeks ago I wrote in my blog on how I did not want a vaccine out of madness because governments won't allow the use of HCQ or ivermectin, both of which are both safe and cheap treatments against COVID-19.
However, I said to not see anything wrong in the vaccine itself. By now I've changed my mind. No, I don't actually deem mRNA vaccines to be unsafe, nor am I too worried about the very rare side-effects of clotting.

What truly spooked me is the fact these are 'leaky' vaccines, which allows viruses to still infect people despite being vaccinated. They just won't get sick, but can become hosts of viruses that may still infect unvaccinated people. Who , in the end no longer will have any other choice but to get vaccinated when a virus has mutated into a too dangerous variant.

At least this is the theory from dr Geert Vanden Bossche, a prominent virologist who spoke out against massive vaccination.

Why is the fact those vaccines are leaky so scary? Let me explain with an article on Marek's disease in chickens.

Set point and holiday weight gain

Heart disease: what are the differences between men and women?

Past week there was attention for new documentary called "De slag om het vrouwenhart", made by Hella de Jong, in which she relates about her quest for heart health. She suspected health problems, but wasn't sure why. After having been told her problems were psychosomatic, caused by her parents' traumatic WWII experiences, she wasn't satisfied and kept pushing for more research. Finally she got a massive heart attack while perfoming a stress test in the hospital.

This interview sent me on an immediate flashback to 1985, when my mom felt ill enough to visit the hopital after what was probably a minor heart attack. Her complaints weren't taken very seriously, yet they admitted her to hospital, though without being tied to a heart monitor. It was here she died that same day in the presence of my brother. When listening to Hella's story it seems there hasn't changed much in 35 years.

For a very long time, women were not taken into consideration when research was conducted on heart diseasae. Nor were they taken seriously when they went to their doctors with health complaints. Yet, among women, heart disease has also become the leading cause of death.

Determining heart disease risk in women

Women and men share many heart disease risk factors, but recent studies are showing what previous male-focused studies have not shown: Women also have their own unique heart disease risk factors.

Traditional risk factors common to both women and men:

• obesity
• smoking
• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• family history
• metabolic syndrome – the co-existence of high blood pressure, obesity, and high glucose and triglyceride levels
• high levels of C-reactive protein – a sign of inflammatory disease that can occur along with other cardiovascular risk factors

Some risk factors that relate specifically to women or that can affect women disproportionately include:

• relatively high testosterone levels prior to menopause
• increasing hypertension during menopause
• autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis – more common in women than in men
• stress and depression are more common among women
• low risk factor awareness: lack of recognition of many of the above conditions as risk factors for heart disease is a risk factor in itself

What is co-enzyme Q10 and why is it important for our health?

Co-enzyme Q10, mostly shortened to Q10 is present in almost every single cell of our body. The other name for Q10 is ubiquinone, which is derived from the Latin word ubiquitous ('everywhere').

Co-enzyme Q10 is important for cellular processes in which it helps to produce energy for growth and maintenance. Co-Q10 also works as an antioxidant that protects you from the same energy-making process it’s also involved in.

While your body is capable of producting co-enzyme Q10 from food, the ability to do so, declines with age. This is why Q10 is called a conditionally essential nutrient, meaning it is required to be supplemented as we grow old.