APRIL 2, 2019 SUPER FOODS FOR INFLAMMATION
Your immune system triggers some physical reactions which are caused by inflammation in response to a physical injury or an infection. Inflammation is at the root of most disease including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease.
Foods high in sugar and saturated fat are linked to inflammation - so STOP these foods
The following foods are some examples of foods to be CONSUMED
One food, bell peppers especially the bright-red ones are low in starch and high in antioxidants. Sweet bell peppers which are similar to spicy peppers contain the chemical compound called capsaicin that helps you reduce inflammation
The high fat found in mackerel and sardines helps fight disease which are related to inflammation like Alzheimer’s and heart disease. This fish is also a great source of vitamins D and B12
Spinach is a great source of vitamin E which protects your body from inflammation-causing molecules that are called cytokines
Stop your inflammation by eating these foods and many more
Until tomorrow…
APRIL 1, 2019 MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms have extraordinary health benefits. I feel these are superfoods and should be implemented into a dietary regimen with the highest regard. Mushrooms are the most health promoting food on this planet. More than 50 % of edible mushrooms are considered functional food meaning they have a positive or beneficial effect on our health
There are many peer view studies and research articles proving that mushrooms can prevent and treat some serious health conditions as cancer, autoimmune disease and memory issues.
Mushrooms improve a person’s overall health. Research has identified more than 200 health conditions that benefit from mushroom consumption.
I recommend reading books my Paul Stammetts, as Mycelium Running as well as Kuo - “ 100 Edible Mushrooms. “
Until tomorrow…
MARCH 30-31, 2019 HONEY
The health benefits of raw, unprocessed honey are well known, but in Australia, scientists made a startling discovery – that one particular, obscure type of honey is capable of killing just about everything scientists throw at it, including some of the worst bacteria known to man.
The findings were published in the European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and Frontiers in Microbiology , and could hold special significance at a time when many of the world’s top antibiotics are failing, especially against resistant “superbugs.”
The honey in question is known as Manuka Honey, which is produced in New Zealand and also goes by the name of jelly bush honey. It originates from the Manuka bush ( Lepospermum scoparium )
There are many research articles that site the benefits of honey for wound healing. There are light colored, medium colored and dark colored honey, Manuka is a dark colored honey like Buckwheat ( from New York and Minnesota)
Honey has been used medicinally for cough/colds, hangovers and ulcers. Some use honey to make Mead . Mead is essentially honey and water with added yeast, yeast nutrition, tannin and citric acid
Until tomorrow…
MARCH 29, 2019 FIBER AND MORE FIBER
There are many guidelines printed discussing the increasing consumption of vegetables, fruit and whole grains. There are few regarding sources of dietary fiber and starch. Everyone talks about the carbohydrate intake. This was told to me for years when working closely with the late Robert Atkins MD .One should realize that the different carbohydrates as sugar , starches and fibers perform different roles in the body. It is not that simplistic to the total amount of carbohydrates. Much needs to be considered.
So more studies need to be done. Also the clinical outcomes were studied using systematic reviews and meta analysis of all prospective studies up to April 2017
A lot of information was obtained. In a nutshell ( no pun intended) those eating more dietary fiber and whole grains protects against noncommunicable diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke , type II diabetes and cancer, specifically colon cancer. A simple increase in whole grains changed outcomes. For every 15 gram of increase in whole grains there was a 2%to 19% decrease in incidence of coronary heart disease, type II diabetes and colorectal cancer
Until tomorrow…
MARCH 28, 2019 ALCOHOL
Is there a benefit to alcohol consumption or is there a health risk? The Global Burden of Disease Study examined this question from data from 1990 to 2016. The results were published and there were some revealing numbers. Among ages 15- 49, alcohol was the number one cause of disability adjusted life years and the leading cause of death, accounting for 10% of deaths at this age group. I found this surprising. What is more shocking is that among all age groups, 2.8 million deaths worldwide were linked to alcohol use.
Where you live does make a difference. In 2016 more than 2 billion people consumed alcohol and 63 % were male. Iran and Palestine have the lowest death rates from alcohol whereas Russia and Central Africa Republic have the highest death rates.
Other diseases associated with alcohol use were cardiovascular, specific cancers and TB.
I do believe it is the practitioners duty or rather responsibility to stop promoting drinking for health benefits. I do NOT think abstinence from alcohol is unrealistic. I think more physicians need to discuss alcohol with their patients. I also feel physicians should have more knowledge about 12 step support groups as Alcoholic Anonymous (AA), Al a Non, and ACOA ( Adult Children of Alcoholics )
Until tomorrow…
MARCH 27, 2019 VITAMIN D
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is either consumed through dietary resources or synthesized when the skin is exposed to sunlight ( UV light) The benefits of vitamin D are well documented. I think Vitamin D is the vitamin of the decade of 2000-2010 and beyond Some even consider it a pandemic. Because a patient is not getting it from dietary nor sunlight ( as they wear sunscreen protection) you will need to supplement your Vitamin D
I supplement vitamin D for my patients by recommending Vitamin D liquid. Since vitamin D can be measured in the blood, patients should always let their practitioner know the exact dosage he/she is taking. You can always get Vitamin D from a food source like mushrooms. I would suggest dairy but so many are sensitive to dairy
It is also important to be educated on the label claims for vitamins, as well as possible toxicities.
Until tomorrow…