February 25, 2014

Fried Meat May Raise Risk of Diabetes

Toxic chemicals found at high concentrations in fried and grilled meats may raise the risk of diabetes and dementia, researchers say. US scientists found that rodents raised on a Western-style diet rich in compounds called glycotoxins showed early signs of diabetes, along with brain changes and symptoms that are seen in Alzheimer’s disease. The findings matched what the researchers saw in a small number of older people, where those with higher levels of glycotoxins in their circulation had memory and other cognitive problems, and signs of insulin resistance, which precedes diabetes. The results are tentative, but if confirmed by other […]
February 18, 2014

Higher Vitamin C Levels Linked To Lower Risk of Stroke

A presentation at the American Academy of Neurology’s 66th Annual Meeting, held in Philadelphia from April 26 to May 3, 2014, revealed a protective effect for high plasma levels of vitamin C against the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Hemorrhagic stroke is characterized by bleeding in the brain and, although less common than ischemic stroke, is associated with a greater risk of mortality. “Scurvy is caused by vitamin C deficiency, specifically a plasma vitamin C concentration of less than 11 micromoles per liter, and may have hemorrhagic manifestations,” write authors Stéphane Vannier, MD, of Pontchaillou University Hospital in Rennes, France and colleagues. […]
February 18, 2014

Could You Have Metabolic Syndrome?

Some of the most common health issues my patients face today are weight control, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Did you know that the three of them are related? Yes, they are. They belong to a group of metabolic disorders called “metabolic syndrome” and can put you at risk for developing heart and other diseases!
February 18, 2014

The 8 Forms of Vitamin E and How They Preserve Your Memory

I’ve mentioned to you a few times how your heart and brain health are connected and that what’s good health practices for one benefits the other.  That’s why, as a cardiologist, I also look for new research that benefits the brain as well as the heart. Recently, I came across some new research about Vitamin E that I’d like to pass on to you as it is especially helpful in protecting your memory.  And the positive side effect is that it also benefits your heart! Is Your Memory Getting The Full Benefit of Vitamin E? You may not know this, but […]
February 11, 2014

Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation

  In Cooked, author and activist Michael Pollan explores the previously uncharted territory of his own kitchen. Here, he discovers the enduring power of the four classical elements—fire, water, air, and earth—to transform the stuff of nature into delicious things to eat and drink.  Each section of Cooked tracks Pollan’s effort to master a single classic recipe using one of the four elements. Apprenticing himself to a succession of culinary masters, Pollan learns how to grill with fire, cook with liquid, bake bread, and ferment everything from cheese to beer. Cooking—of whatever kind, everyday or extreme—situates us in the world […]
February 4, 2014

Protect Yourself from Unhealthy Chemicals

In his devastating expose, The Hundred-Year Lie: How to Protect Yourself from the Chemicals That Are Destroying Your Health, investigative journalist Randall Fitzgerald warns how thousands of man-made chemicals in our food, water medicine, and environment are making humans the most polluted species on the planet.  The Hundred-Year Lie began in 1906, when the U.S. Congress enacted the Pure Food and Drug Act, a law that gave Americans the illusion of food and drug safety. Germs were identified as Public Enemy Number One, and synthetic chemicals in food and medicine were hailed as the cure for this germ threat. “Better […]
February 4, 2014

Caffeine a Mixed Bag Health-Wise

There’s increasing evidence that caffeine can be good for you. A mild stimulant that works on the central nervous system, caffeine is something most of us use to “get going in the morning,” said Marcie Prachyl, a dietitian at Hendrick Medical Center. The popular substance — an estimated 90 percent of Americans consume it daily — has been linked to benefits such as potentially minimizing cognitive decline associated with aging, including the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, Prachyl said. “It makes them more alert and improves their quality of life if they continue to drink it,” she said of older consumers […]
February 4, 2014

Cinnamon Improves Liver Enzymes

The February 2014 issue of the journal Nutrition Research described the outcome of a trial conducted by Iranian researchers which revealed a benefit for cinnamon in men and women with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease includes steatosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and can result in death if left untreated. The trial included fifty men and women between the ages of 20 and 65 years with NAFLD. Participants were randomized to receive two 750 milligram capsules of cinnamon or a placebo daily for twelve weeks. Blood samples collected before and after the treatment period were analyzed for […]
January 21, 2014

Block Center Takes Integrative Approach to Cancer

Block Center Takes Integrative Approach to Cancer The Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment and Optimal Health  has been helping their patients find wellness for over 30 years. Based in Skokie, Illinois, the Block Center uses a many-pronged approach to healing. One of the cornerstones of their treatment approach is their Nutrition Program. Each patient gets a customized Nutrition Guide based on his/her specific health status and personal goals. Patients are also encouraged to adopt a regimen of taking vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements. They are given techniques for body conditioning and stress relief. They are given psychosocial support. And, […]
January 14, 2014

Flawed Research Used to Attack Multivitamin Supplements

Two flawed studies, a rehashed review, and an editorial published in the December 17th issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine have attempted to discredit the value of multivitamin supplements. Both of the studies were plagued by grievous methodological flaws. In one of the studies, subjects were given low-quality, low-potency multivitamin supplements. Treatment adherence rates and drop-out rates were horrendous in the studies. Nevertheless, mainstream sources are using these reprehensible studies to undermine dietary supplements. The first study examined the cognitive effects of low-potency multivitamin supplementation in aging male participants.  Not surprisingly, the conclusions in the present analysis question the value of multivitamin benefits for cognition. In the other study, […]
January 14, 2014

Hair Thinning? Your Nutrition Could Be To Blame

Hair loss and thinning can occur as you get older, but it’s not really your age causing it – it’s more often the common nutritional deficiencies that can occur as you get older.  And they can be remedied.  Let me tell you how…
January 8, 2014

Ring In the New Year for Diet Trends!

Americans spend more than $40 billion on weight loss per year, according to the PBS special report, “Diet Wars.” From low-carb to low-fat and beyond, we’ve become a culture obsessed with the diet. If it promises thin thighs, a taut tummy and an overall slimmer you, someone, somewhere, has probably tried it sometime in history. From the Cookie Diet to The Atkins Diet to South Beach, we are constantly re-inventing what and how we eat. A new survey of more than 500 registered dietitians revealed what consumers are and are not likely to be eating and what diet trends are […]