Archive for September, 2010
Medical Surprises
September 30, 2010 Written by JPIn my youth, one of my hobbies was investigating psychic claims. On occasion I would come across individuals who were convinced that they could predict the future. Mind you, they weren’t trying to sell any books or profit from this supposed gift. They simply believed that, on occasion, they were privy to glimpses of what was to come. My simple piece of advise to them was as follows: E-mail me a specific prediction that could be definitively verified. That way, we could both determine whether the prediction was accurate. The same basic principle holds true with respect to scientifically assessing medical claims. Anecdotes, personal experiences and observations are clearly of value. However, they tend to be subjective in nature. Applying a controlled model, such as a clinical trial, to test an anecdote allows for a more objective method by which to evaluate claims.
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Tags: Allergies, Appetite, Gluten
Posted in Exercise, Food and Drink | 2 Comments & Updates
Coffee Estrogen Link
September 29, 2010 Written by JPA friend of the site recently posed an interesting question. She wondered whether drinking coffee adversely affects sex hormone levels in women. In particular she inquired about supposed estrogenic elements in coffee which may lead to an excess of estrogen or “estrogen dominance” in women. Ultimately, her concern was that regular coffee consumption could confer similar side effects as hormone replacement therapy.
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Tags: Coffee, Estrogen, Phytoestrogens
Posted in Food and Drink, Nutrition, Women's Health | 7 Comments & Updates
Savory Sweet Nori Chips Recipe
September 28, 2010 Written by JPBy now, most health conscious consumers understand that eating potato chips regularly does not contribute to long term wellness. This truism even extends to cleverly marketed brands that feature alluring package claims such as, “All Natural!”; “Baked, Not Fried!”; “Featuring Organic Potatoes!” and “Now With Sea Salt!”. The intrinsic problems with potato chips still remain even if the finest ingredients are used. First and foremost, potatoes are high-glycemic vegetables which can cause harmful fluctuations in blood sugar. The baking and/or frying process is also part of the problem. It generates a carcinogenic chemical compound known as acrylamide. But the desire for something crunchy and salty to snack on runs deep in people throughout the world. What to do? Perhaps it’s time to think outside of the box and consider something entirely different, but equally delicious: seaweed. That’s right – seaweed.
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Tags: B Vitamins, Breast Cancer, Detoxification
Posted in Nutrition, Recipes, Women's Health | 4 Comments & Updates
Delicious Vegetables
September 27, 2010 Written by JPWhen I’m not writing content for this site, I’m frequently consulting with individual clients. One of the first things I tell them is that it’s imperative that they’re 100% honest with me. I need to know the unvarnished truth about how they really eat, exercise, manage stress and sleep. If they binge, I need to know. If they starve themselves, that too. Do they abuse caffeine or drugs to compensate for a lack of rest? Is exercise a daily activity or a monthly exception? It’s all pertinent information that I need to factor in when putting together a comprehensive wellness program. One of the most common admissions I hear is, “I don’t like healthy vegetables” or some variation on that theme. My Healthy Monday tip of the week is to transform healthy vegetables into something that you’ll actually crave.
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Tags: Broccoli, Cancer, Ulcers
Posted in Food and Drink, Nutrition, Recipes | 12 Comments & Updates
Patient’s Bill of Rights
September 24, 2010 Written by JPIf you’ve been following the news lately you probably know that the new Patient’s Bill of Rights has just gone into effect. There’s been plenty of analysis, controversy and debate about just what this means for our country and the future of health care. But what hasn’t been made clear enough is exactly how the enacted changes will affect the everyday health care decisions that insured consumers will make.
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Tags: Cancer, Heart Health, Stroke
Posted in Children's Health, Mental Health, Women's Health | 4 Comments & Updates
Bad Breath, Blueberries and Cancer
September 23, 2010 Written by JPIt’s no secret that health status plays a major role in the overall quality of one’s life. But it doesn’t necessarily require a serious medical condition to significantly impact day-to-day life. Something as benign as chronic halitosis (bad breath) can cause stress during the most basic activities such as interacting with colleagues, family and friends. Likewise, working hard to prevent a disease like type 2 diabetes can also feel like a burden. However, both of these hurdles pale in comparison to the stress experienced by those living with a life-threatening illness such as cancer.
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Tags: Blueberries, Cancer, Xylitol
Posted in Dental Health, Diabetes | 2 Comments & Updates
GMO Salmon Debate
September 22, 2010 Written by JPThis past week several readers inquired about my opinion on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s pending approval of a genetically modified salmon known as AquAdvantage. I’ve decided to share my perspective in the context of a column so that you might all understand my position on this controversial topic. My hope is that it helps you to decide whether GMO salmon is right for you and your families.
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Tags: Allergies, Fish, Liver
Posted in General Health, Nutrition | 22 Comments & Updates
Buttermilk Honey Custard Recipe
September 21, 2010 Written by JPCustards are an excellent way of combining the decadence of dessert with the nutrition of a healthy snack, provided that you select your ingredients wisely. Whenever reformulating a recipe, the key is to keep nutrient density in the forefront. Naturally, taste is always a factor as well. But this too can be handily addressed by upping the flavor in a dish. As long you evoke the experience of an old classic in a creative manner, you’ll likely satisfy those you’re serving – yourself included.
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Tags: Cranberries, Probiotics
Posted in Nutrition, Recipes | No Comments;
Natural Medicine for All Ages
September 20, 2010 Written by JPNatural medicine is applicable to all stages of life, from the day we’re born to the end of our days. By this, I’m not just referring to traditional healing practices that you’d expect to use in adults and children alike, such as good nutrition, herbal remedies and massage. The recent integration of science into the fields of holistic medicine and psychology has spawned a new way of incorporating non-pharmacological and non-surgical options into the repertoire of all physicians who choose to embrace it. My Healthy Monday tip of the week is to consider hypnosis for recurrent headache pain, “nondrug lifestyle measures” for nocturia (frequent nighttime urination) and soy supplements for menopausal symptoms.
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Tags: Hypnosis, Prostate, Sleep
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Men's Health, Women's Health | 5 Comments & Updates
Chronic Health Conditions and Solutions
September 17, 2010 Written by JPNatural medicine tends to excel in managing chronic health conditions. On the other hand, acute circumstances such as a broken bone, a ruptured appendix or a heart attack are clearly better suited to conventional care. But there’s a third category of treatment which falls between the two seemingly distinct philosophies. There are certain therapeutic practices that are natural but not the exclusive domain of alternative and complementary practitioners. For instance, it’s not unusual for all types of physicians to recommend limited sugar consumption and regular aerobic exercise. The difference that I find is in how such recommendations are made. Are they mentioned in passing or suggested as a first-line intervention to improve and/or protect against serious health conditions?
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Tags: Diet and Weight Loss, Fructose, Sleep
Posted in Bone and Joint Health, Exercise, Mental Health | 3 Comments & Updates
Antibiotics, Menopause and Corn Sugar
September 16, 2010 Written by JPOne of the dynamics in modern medicine that I hope will change in the near future is how patients and physicians interact. I’d love for most doctor’s appointments to begin with a question such as this: Doctor: “Do you have any information that you’d like to share with me before I begin my examination?” Patient: “I’ve done some research about my condition and I’ve printed out some specific details I’d like to discuss with you.” In order for this type of exchange to be successful a few common sense steps are necessary. The first is that physicians embrace the concept of patients being partners in their own health care decisions. But patients will need to do their part as well. It’s not fair or practical to deluge time-pressed doctors with piles of paper work. Instead, it’s best to be as concise as possible and reserve added details if they’re requested.
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Tags: Fructose, Menopause, Nutrition
Posted in Children's Health, Diet and Weight Loss, Women's Health | 3 Comments & Updates
New Vitamin D News
September 15, 2010 Written by JPThere are many different writing styles. Some health reporters seek out a specific niche and stick to it. Others mine a more diverse topic base from which to select material. I tend to fall between the two camps. While researching, I allow the material that I come across in my daily life to dictate what I cover. At times this gives me the luxury of presenting a broad cross-section of information. But occasionally, what I discover prompts me to revisit select topics on a regular basis. Such is the case with research involving Vitamin D. Currently, there is a tremendous amount of scientific attention being paid to this humble “sunshine” nutrient. Some of the more dramatic data makes the evening news. Much of it does not. The latter category is the subject of my column today.
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Tags: Breast Cancer, Diet and Weight Loss, Gums
Posted in Dental Health, Diabetes, Nutritional Supplements | 11 Comments & Updates
Branzino en Papillote Recipe
September 14, 2010 Written by JPCooking can be an adventure. I recently undertook a recipe that involved using an ingredient and cooking technique that were completely new to me. In doing so, there was a certain degree of excitement and trepidation involved, but it’s precisely that kind of risk and uncertainty that can produce a richly rewarding (and delicious) experience. Today’s recipe now ranks among my favorite seafood meals of all time. What’s best of all is that I know exactly how it was made and the quality of the healthful components contained therein.
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Tags: Eggs, Fish, Garlic, Olive Oil
Posted in Nutrition, Recipes, Women's Health | 4 Comments & Updates