APRIL 16, 2019 STATINS

In the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology a paper was written concerning the use of statin therapy. Statin therapy are the class of drugs that decrease cholesterol by blocking the enzyme HMG co reductase. By blocking this enzyme you also block all compounds that are derived from the parent cholesterol molecule. One of these compounds that also is affected by statin use is testosterone.

A prospective population was studied ( 9,535 patients) free from diabetes at baseline. The study concluded that individuals using statins may be at a higher risk for hyperglycemia, insulin resistance and eventually type II diabetes.

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 15, 2019 INSOMNIA

Do you have trouble sleeping? There are many causes of insomnia . There are also many treatments available. Some of these treatments do NOT involve conventional medications

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can have long term consequences on health, memory, and quality of life. There are many herbal treatments available. The “ class’ of herbs used are called nervines.

A recent small study was done in Tran using Lemon Balm ( Melissa ) and Persian Lavender. I would like to see more of these herbal studies done with a larger group of patients. This small study was published in the HebralGram by the American Botanical Council

The authors conclude that the combination of lemon balm and Persian lavender had few adverse effects and may be an effective treatment for insomnia.

I utilize CBD oil for some of my patients. In addition a tea blend, Calmy containing California Poppy, Skullcap and other herbs. This tea blend is available at Botanical Bounty in NYC.

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 12-14, 2019 POISON OAK, IVY AND SUMAC

As summer is near there will be many individuals being exposed to poison ivy, oak and sumac. None of these species are actually poisonous. Poison ivy is not from an ivy plant, nor is poison oak from oak, and poison sumac has nothing to do with the sumac trees. The irritating substance is an oil called urushiol which is also not poisonous . It is just that so many individuals are allergic to the oil. The oil creates an immune reaction . The immune reaction gets worse with each exposure. 50 % of people will break out in a rash when they brush p against the plant, while 25 % have no reaction to it at all.

There are many remedies both homeopathic and herbal that can be used.

I recently read that if you are highly sensitive to the poison ivy, oak and sumac you might also be allergic to the cashew tree, mango tree and the lacquer tree.

Until tomorrow…

Copy of APRIL 11, 2019 MORE GREEN TEA

I have learned through years of reading and tasting that tea is so beneficial to our bodies. It was the first beverage drank in China in 2700 BCE ( after water of course) We do not consume a lot of tea in this country. The tea that should be consumed is Green tea ( Camilla sinensis) Green tea does contain caffeine which some eta drinkers try to avoid. The lowest amount of caffeine is found in yellow and white tea ( 30-55 mg) followed by green tea ( 55-60 mg )

The active compound in green tea are the polyphenols known as catechins. The most abundant polyphenol is EGCG ( epigallocatechin gallate ) which may inhibit the action of the reactive e oxygen species . This prevents oxidative damage

Green tea consumption has bene associated with lower risks of cardiovascular heart disease such as stroke and myocardial infarction and elevated LDL ( bad cholesterol) It has also green used in treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative disease as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s You need to consume upwards of 10 cups of green tea per day. You could find a green tea supplement with a high percentage of the polyphenols.

Until tomorrow

APRIL 11, 2019 MORE GREEN TEA

I have learned through years of reading and tasting that tea is so beneficial to our bodies. It was the first beverage drank in China in 2700 BCE ( after water of course) We do not consume a lot of tea in this country. The tea that should be consumed is Green tea ( Camilla sinensis) Green tea does contain caffeine which some eta drinkers try to avoid. The lowest amount of caffeine is found in yellow and white tea ( 30-55 mg) followed by green tea ( 55-60 mg )

The active compound in green tea are the polyphenols known as catechins. The most abundant polyphenol is EGCG ( epigallocatechin gallate ) which may inhibit the action of the reactive e oxygen species . This prevents oxidative damage

Green tea consumption has bene associated with lower risks of cardiovascular heart disease such as stroke and myocardial infarction and elevated LDL ( bad cholesterol) It has also green used in treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative disease as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s You need to consume upwards of 10 cups of green tea per day. You could find a green tea supplement with a high percentage of the polyphenols.

Until tomorrow

APRIL 10, 2019 POTASSIUM

Potassium is a needed mineral for our body. There are many food sources for potassium . When it comes to potassium, bananas may seem like the go-to food to get your fill of this mineral—one medium banana has around 420 mg, that’s 12 percent of your daily value. Potassium can help you ward off muscle cramps. It’s also important for keeping your heart healthy and your blood pressure in a healthy range. That’s because potassium helps counteract the blood pressure-raising effect of sodium

There are other sources for potassium other than a banana. One bean, the lima bean contains 485 mg per 1/2 cup . They’re high in iron and fiber too, and low in sugar and fat. I find them tasty, but not everyone finds them tasty.

Prunes have lots of potassium but they are also packed with sugar. A medium potato also contains a lot of potassium but high in sugar. I advocate this fruit , Avocado at least twice a week. Remember avocado is a fruit not a veggie. Avocados should give you a good dose of potassium, along with vitamins A, C, and E. They’re also full of healthy monounsaturated fats that might help lower cholesterol levels

The one fruit that has a lot of potassium is the watermelon. Watermelon contains a lot of sugar

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 9 , 2019 CHRONIC DISEASE

Most of the chronic conditions we have today are an array of complex and very different diseases called Autoimmune Diseases. There are 80- 100 different autoimmune diseases with about half of these having blood tests for a doctor to identify. The incidence of autoimmune disease has increased over the last 25 years with a heavy burden to the health care system. As a physician who practices functional medicine as well as naturopathic medicine, I take entirely a different approach. I focus on the cause of the disease. All disease begins in the gut - the gateway to all disease. I will address the gut health in every patient .

I repair and restore the gut by using herbal teas, glutamine, and probiotics. I believe everyone should have a food sensitivity blood test, IgG RAST. I utilize an anti inflammatory dietary lifestyle. Most patients have a gluten and dairy sensitivity. The goal of treatment is to decrease any environmental toxins. There are ways in certain states to get these toxins tested.

There is a lot of research articles on the use of low dose naltrexone ( LDN) for autoimmune disease as well as for cancers and Lyme Disease. I usually start at 1.0 mg and titrate up to 4.5 mg if tolerated. It is usually tolerated without a problem. The only side effect I see at 3.0 mg and higher is the patient experiences some dreams.

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 8, 2019 SUPERFOODS FOR THE HEART

Heart disease can be prevented by the right dietary, exercise and supplement regimen. People who eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and fish minimize their risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke by 35%. Most countries that do not ingest processed food have no heart disease. That says a lot right there.

There are many health fruits and vegetables. Get your medicine form your food. One fruit that I love to eat and recommend is oranges. Oranges contain a soluble fiber pectin that acts like a giant sponge which sops up cholesterol in food and blocks its absorption. Also, the potassium in oranges helps counterbalance salt and maintains blood pressure under control

A vegetable that I( consider essential to everyone’s diet is dark leafy greens. I enjoy a quinoa and kale salad at least twice a week Kale is rich in antioxidants, fiber, potassium, omega-3 fatty acids, and Vitamin E. This dark leafy green protects you against early atherosclerosis

These are just two superfoods to protect against atherosclerosis. Be sure to get your omega 3 (EPA/DHA) from your sardines, mackerel and other fish.

Until tomorrow…