NOVEMBER 21, 2023 PAW PAW / SOURSOP

A native of the warm and tropical regions of the Americas, soursop is a fruit that goes by many names. Its scientific name is Annona muricata, but it also goes by guanabana, paw-paw, sirsak, and graviola. I have tasted Soursop in Jamaica and in other islands of the Carribean.

Soursop is high in vitamin C, an antioxidant known to boost immune health. The vitamin strengthens your immune system, improving its ability to defend against pathogens. It also promotes the destruction of free radicals, which can help to protect your skin and cells from environmental oxidative damage. One whole soursop fruit contains 215% of your recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. 

Soursop (the fruit and the leaves) contains many other antioxidants, including phytosterols, tannins, and flavonoids. Antioxidants play a role in your overall health and may help to protect against a variety of health conditions including certain cancers In our office we have patients asking for a chemosensitivity/herbal/supplements sensitivity test These tests are available in Europe. One test is RGCC from Greece. RGCC tests a a patient with cancer bloods against a multitude of herbs and supplements . Paw Paw is one of the supplements RGCC tests as well as other herbs and supplements

Soursop also aids in digestion due to its fiber content as well as fighting inflammation

I encourage you to try some Paw Paw

Until tomorrow…

NOVEMBER 20, 2023 SUPER FOODS

In recent years we have heard the term ‘ Superfoods’ I often think of blueberries as a superfoods. There are many tropical superfoods that also come to mind One is Alma and the is Soursop also known as Paw Paw. Whether from Asia or the dense rainforests there are tropical superfoods in this world These have delicious flavors and chock full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

One fruit from Central America is Dragon Fruit known as Pitahaya It is rich in Vitamin C like Alma. It has many medical benefits

as boosting the immune system It reduces the risk of diabetes and cancer. The black seeds consumed within the fruit are a good source of fat and protein It has been shown to fight aging skin and helps with hair loss There are even studies revealing benefits for Cardiovascular Disease.

There are many other fruits with simliar medical benefits as Goji Berries, Acai Berries, Alma , Soursop and many more

Until tomorrow…

NOVEMBER 16, 2023 HEART DAMAGING FOODS

With a plethora of dietary advice flooding the internet and health magazines, it’s easy to get confused about what to eat and what not to eat. I try to educate by writing blogs since March 2010. Yet, nothing could be more crucial than understanding the impact of certain foods on heart health, given that heart disease continues to be a leading cause of death worldwide.

The truth is some foods can seriously damage your heart health, elevating the risk of hypertension, stroke, and coronary artery disease. Heart Disease prevention is the key. It can be reversed .

One of these damaging foods is Processed Meats I remember getting bologna and salami sandwiches for lunch . I do not eat such foods today. Why ? It’s simple. Processed meats, like sausages, hot dogs, and canned meats, are convenient but come with a steep price for your heart health. They’re high in sodium and preservatives, both of which can significantly contribute to high blood pressure, a precursor to heart disease. The heavy dose of saturated fats in these meats can also lead to increased levels of bad cholesterol I rather eat fish and plant based protein These are excellent substitute choices.

One can hardly resist the allure of fried foods like French fries, fried chicken, or onion rings. I love french fries- today I get sweet potato fries. I eat these very infrequently due to trans fats.

However, the trans fats used in the frying process are extremely detrimental to heart health. Trans fats raise bad cholesterol levels while lowering good cholesterol, thus creating a perfect storm for heart-related issues.

Simple carbohydrates and sugary drinks are an absolute No- No These lead to obesity and diabetes These are the twin epidemics These two lead to Cardiovascular Disease.

There are so many choices for all of these damaging heart foods. There are nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruit and lean protein sources. Get healthy today

Until tomorrow…

NOVEMBER 15, 2023 DO YOU HAVE A HOBBY ?

There is one regret you never have to worry about. This is the choice of a simple hobby to boost your self esteem. This should be a fun creative hobby. These hobbies not only boost self esteem but fill the time you wasted on those addictions. The addictions I call energy thieves. Your energy thief could be sugar, television, your iphone or the family drama.

I have many hobbies. Most of my hobbies are creative - card making, knitting, needlepoint and collecting autographs . Others have included coin collecting. One of the best hobbies I have is beekeeping The question is what do I do for our hobby from November to April? The girls are hibernating and keeping warm for the spring and summer ahead. So what do we do? I read old and new bee books. I am also the President of the American Apitherapy Society ( www.apitherapy.org ) My affiliation with the AAS has been fulfilling and rewarding. We had a conference this year in New Jersey. We are planning the next conference for October 4,5 and 6 2024. It will be held in Chicago. We educate ourselves more and spread the word everywhere.

I even get to fit in a bee needle point now and then.

So are you ready to start beekeeping as your hobby? You have some basic reading to do.

Here are just a few:

1. ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture

2. The Beekeeper's Handbook

3. The Backyard Beekeeper

4. Natural Beekeeping

5. Better Bee Keeping

One book I thoroughly enjoyed is The Beekeeper's Lament. It tells the story of beekeeper John Miller and how one man and his half a billion bees feed America.

If you are thinking of becoming a beekeeper, take a course- http://www.honeybeelives.org or the beekeeping course at the NY Botanical Gardens (http://www.nybg.org) Or better yet contact Andrew Cote, friend /colleague He is the author of ‘Honey and Venom’ and the President of the NYC Beekeepers Association

Your local Beekeeping Society is your best resource for the area you might live in.

BEE THE CHANGE

Until tomorrow…

NOVEMBER 14, 2023 REFLUX

Gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD). The reason it is so prevalent is the bad dietary habits of Americans, as well as the over-the-counter antacids that are available. Many people seem to think they can eat whatever they want if they take an antacid.
Studies have shown that many OTC medications can be the cause of memory loss.

GERD could be reduced or eliminated if you change your dietary lifestyle. The most important factor is the consumption of simple carbohydrates. You need to eliminate sugar. I am talking about simple carbohydrates as bread, cookies, pasta, etc that convert to sugar quicker than table sugar. This is the glycemic index. In order to alleviate GERD try to eat low glycemic foods.

I want to help my patients support, maintain and restore their digestive systems. I do this with three changes to the diet: 1. elimination of the above mentioned foods, 2. the addition of amino acid L - glutamine, and 3. the addition of probioitc. These should be in powder form as it is better for the gut to absorb. Of course, there are many herbs i use. Some of these are slippery elm, licorice as DGL, marshmallow and meadowsweet.

One epidemiological study showed that aspirin overuse and psychosocial stress contributed to GERD. There is also a statistical correlation between halitosis (bad breath - probably originating from gum disease), pickle consumption and headaches with GERD. Smoking is a well known contributing factor to GERD. Some even say coffee causes GERD. This may be so, but what happens if you want black coffee. Studies show prevent Alzheimer's. It is a double edged sword.

Until tomorrow..

NOVEMBER 13, 2023 MCT

There is a lot of talk about MCT oil Here’s the scoop

Unlike traditional fats, MCTs, or Medium-Chain Triglycerides, are swiftly metabolized in the liver, yielding energy almost instantly. This unique property, coupled with other health-enhancing attributes, makes MCT oil a subject worth delving into MCT oil plays a vital role here, as it’s rapidly converted into ketones upon ingestion. These ketones, in turn, serve as a direct and efficient energy source for the brain.

The potential of MCT oil doesn’t stop at mere cognitive enhancement. Recent research suggests that the oil may have protective benefits against neurodegenerative diseases. The elevation of ketone levels in the blood, a result of MCT consumption, is believed to have therapeutic effects on the brain, especially for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease

MCT can promote weight loss. There are studies to document this. The MCT oil also supports a healthy gut More importantly to me as a cardiologist is the benefits to the heart. Several research studies have highlighted the potential of MCT oil in reducing other cardiovascular risk factors, such as inflammation and oxidative stress.

Consult your health care professional about the use of MCT oil

Until tomorrow…

NOVEMBER 9, 2023 RESVERATROL

One of the most important anti-aging nutrients is resveratrol. It is found in red wine, the skin of unripe young red grapes, grape seeds and even in peanuts. It is also found in two herbs, one, is Polygonum cuspidatum and the other is Senna quinquangulata. These are Chinese and South American, respectively. Polygonum cuspidatum, is also known as Japanese knot weed The flowers are valued by some beekeepers as an important source of nectar for honeybees, at a time of year when little else is flowering. Japanese knot weed yields a mono floral honey, usually called bamboo honey by northeastern U.S. beekeepers, like a mild-flavored version of buckwheat honey . See everything comes back to the bees.
The young stems of knot weed are edible as a spring vegetable, with a flavor similar to mild rhubarb.If you a history of kidney stones I would caution you since this plant contains oxalates. Oxalates can be a cause of your kidney stones. This plant can also aggravate rheumatism, arthritis, gout, or hyperacidity.
Is your resveratrol from grapes or knotweed. Check the label. Both Japanese knot weed and giant knot weed are important concentrated sources of resveratrol, replacing grape byproducts. Many large supplement sources of resveratrol now use Japanese knot weed and use its scientific name in the supplement labels. The other source, is Senna quinquangulata. Senna is a genus of flowering plants containing at least 260 species, although only about 50 species are commercially important. Most species are native to tropical regions of the world, but a few grow in temperate regions. Herbalists most often prescribe senna leaf tea as a laxative. S. quinquagulata is the another source of resveratrol. The various research studies on resveratrol are impressive. It is a powerful anti oxidant, anti inflammatory and some have used it against some cancers. Resveratrol even has an anti platelet effect. I have seen other doctors use resveratrol for cholesterol lowering effects. I use plant sterols, guggulipids, policosinol, green tea and red rice yeast for their cholesterol lowering effects. New studies indicate that resveratrol reduces the risk of colorectal cancer . Other studies state resveratrol can slow the progression of Alzheimer's Disease. More studies need to be completed. What is the correct dose for resveratrol ? Who knows. I suggest doses greater than 250 mg. I use resveratrol in many cancer patients

Stop aging. Follow the anti aging tips and take one resveratrol per day.

Until tomorrow…

NOVEMBER 8, 2023 SWEETENERS

There are many natural sweeteners on the market today. Which natural sweetener do you use? We are NOT talking about the pink packet ( Sweet n Low),  blue packet ( Equal) and even the yellow packet ( Splenda).

You ave seen on the back of labels of some products, sugar alcohols. These are plenty in the protein bars. Some of these are maltitol, xylitol and erythriol. The side effects of these sugar alcohols are digestive in nature mainly diarrhea, bloating and flatulence. This is mainly due to the slow and incomplete absorption in the small intestines. The small intestines is the 'shag rug' of absorbtion.

Today more of my patients are using stevia. There are studies supporting the use of Stevia. The studies have revealed that Stevia may low blood sugar and triglyceride levels. There is even studies stating that stevia can act as free radical scavenger antoxidants.

I do recommend one natural sweeteners. It is high quality raw honey. As a backyard beekeeper I am passionate about bees and their honey. Raw honey furnishes the body with a number of critical vitamins as B2, B6, iron and manganese. The multitude of studies on honey reveal that honey is a natural weapon against free radicals. It is also a natural antibiotic. Support beekeepers and honey bee associations.  Do not forget Blackstrap molasses as this a more concentrated amount of vitamins, minerals and the trace minerals. I utilize black strap for those patients that are iron deficient..

I cannot end without mentioning agave syrup. It contains 97% of fructose. This is the very type of sugar when isolated from its fruit based origins has been implicated in the rapid rising rates of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases..  So agave in my opinion might not be the best natural sweetener.

My choice is honey…