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…

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 SLEEP AND HEART DISEASE

I feel we underestimate the importance of sleep in our lives. When I was a college and medical student I didn’t value the importance of sleep. As a medical resident and fellow at the hospital I knew I had to get sleep in order to be on call at all times

In the last 6 years I have re evaluated my sleep and its importance. I have a routine every night n preparation for sleep Since I get up every morning at 5 am whether working or not, I need to get quality sleep. I get into bed by 8:15 pm I read for about 30 minutes every night. I take some sleep aid whether MyoCalm, CBD or a homeopathic remedy. I wear a black mask. And I turn ‘Babbling Brook” or “ Ocean Waves”

It was fund that in a 2022 study that having more self reported sleep problems was associated with a 54 % increase in heart disease. When a sleep monitoring device was added to the study , it was found that sleep problems were associated wutg a 141 % higher risk of heart dsease. This is frightening

We know now that sleep apnea is associated with coronary artery disease and arrthymias. For this reason I always discuss sleep with my patients and discyss if he/she snores.

Data suggests that heart disease is correlated with sleep problems which includes poor quality sleep. I feel it is important to discuss sleep with your health care practitioner

Until tomorrow…

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 SLEEP AND DEMENTIA

If you sleep 6 hours or less per night in midlife there is a 30 % more likely to develop dementia. If this is less than 5 hours, you can double your risk for dementia. This is frightening. You need to sleep.

1. You need to develop a sleep routine 2. You need to get in bed early 3. Yiu need to use different techniques to sleep as Calm App, Sound Apps

The adverse impact of sleep deprivation is not hidden. There are numerous published studies that show an increase in a wide variety of disease

Some of these diseases are 1, Alzheimer’s , 2 . Parkinson’s Disease 3. Stroke 4. Frequency of epileptic seizures. ; 5 behavioral changes in those on Autism Spectrum and those with neuropathic pain

It has been estimated that nearly 50 % of older adults have some sort of sleep problem. I know I did. I addressed it professionally. There is not one complete solution. There are many modalities I have used to combat my sleep problem. If you have a sleep issue—- try to solve it using different modalities

Until tomorrow…

NOVEMBER 2, 2023 OLIVE OIL

Did you have your olive oil today? I was probably bathed in olive oil as a child. The vegetable oils that predominantly monounsatured lead to a less cardiovascular risk than polyunsaturated. It was long ago that physicians did recommend those polyunsaturated oils to protect your heart. But as it turns out- That was WRONG. Margarine took the place of butter at that time. That was a big mistake. From research we know better today.

Do they still sell margarine ? I hope not.

The following oils do not pose a threat to the cardiovascular system
1. OLIVE
2. CANOLA
3. PEANUT
4. AVOCADO
There are differences in all four, and the one I prefer and highly recommend above all is OLIVE OIL. I would consider consuming the oil for your blood type. For me , Blood Type O , the best oil is olive oil
By replacing saturated fat in the diet wit olive oil will reduce your LDL ( bad cholesterol). Who can argue with an oil that has been around for thousands of years.

Virgin Olive Oil is extracted with gentle pressure rather than with heat or solvents.

No matter what you decide , Olive Oil has the best correlation with health. The populations that use olive oil solely and mainly as their cooking fat oil have lower reductions in degenerative disease, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

If you replace butter ( and for those unfortunate that still use margarine) with olive oil you are making the first step to a healthier lifestyle.

So imagine this: combine olive oil in your diet daily with omega 3 fatty acids from good quality fish--and you will have longevity

Until tomorrow…

NOVEMBER 1, 2023 GERMANIUM

Yes, a germanium is a plant but it also is Element 32 on the periodic  table. I often have to reminded of that fact. It is naturally found in allium species ( garlic species, onion species) and in Siberian Ginseng ( Eleuthrococcus)

It has been shown in studies that this element activates the immune system, produces natural interferon and if this is a word, oxygenerates all cells.  It chelates and removes toxic substances from the blood. It is very useful element. It can be used orally, sublingually and intravenously. The oral germanium in the United States is very weak., I have not found a good germanium US product, with the exception of a possible two products. Most of the oral germanium products are from Europe where this element has been widely studied and researched.

In Europe, this element has been given to treat cancer, the aging process and arthritis. I do know that the US product called " Ge-132' has been widely studied. It usually comes in doses of 200mg. Ge- 132 is called Germanium Sesquixide. THIS IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH GERMANIUM DIOXIDE which has been implicated in kidney failure.

I have seen sublingual Germanium which I prefer as it is easily absorbed in this form. Any oral product given to a patient should be carefully chosen as most individuals are malabsorbing. This malabsorbtion in the United States is due to the poor diet, processed foods, gluten products and other bad dietary/exercise habits.

The late Dr Atkins used to use germanium starting at 200mg and increasing to about 800-1000mg/day. It was discussed in one of least famous books called the 'Vita-nutrient Solution."

Until tomorrow...

OCTOBER 31, 2023 ADAPTOGENS

Today, a tonic for an herbalist is an adaptogen. There is no one better than herbalist, David Winston who knows about adaptogens. He even wrote a book about Adaptogens.

The Chinese and Tibetans have used adaptogens for centuries. So have the North American Native Indians, The more common ones are Panax ginseng, Ashwaganda, Siberian Ginseng and Rhodiola.
I have many of these herbs when constituting a formula for a patient. I also use adaptogenic herbs in tablet and capsule form. I also use adaptogens as herbal tea infusions.

I have been intrigued by the Alma fruit as a possible adaptogen and Morinda root. I only came across Morinda root when I started to have low back pain, and I went to Chinatown. I was given the formula,
 Ba Ji Tian. Knowing more about Chinese Medicine now than in the past, this root is used for deficient kidney Yang patients.

This root is used for lack of libido, low back pain, male and female infertility problems and urinary frequency. I have much use for this herb in my daily patient population of men and women. I have now used it for asthma patients.

As a tea ( which I love making teas) 1-2 tsp of dried root in 10 oz of water, steep 45 min and take 4oz of the tea three times a day. When you are ingesting any  home-made herbal teas, you do not worry about the taste. You can always add a little wild flower honey ( 1/8 to 1/4 tsp) to the cup

Until tomorrow...

OCTOBER 30, 2023 HEART HEALTH

As a cardiologist I always talk about heart health. Heart disease remains a leading cause of death worldwide, and what you eat can significantly impact your heart health. To protect your heart you need to make some definite lifestyle changes. The first one is a change in Dietary Lifestyle. The second a change in exercise lifestyle

There are many dietary lifestyles out there You have to adhere to one of them. The Mediterranean diet is often hailed as a heart-healthy superstar. Originating from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, this diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and, most importantly, olive oil. Olive oil is a significant component, packed with monounsaturated fats that help lower bad cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. The diet also emphasizes the consumption of nuts, which are another excellent source of healthy fats. I feel this is a HEART HEALTHY DIET. You must know you need to avoid with any lifestyle dietary change the simple ‘ white ‘ carbohydrates.

Another dietary change is following The DASH Diet The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is a well-researched and highly recommended eating plan for lowering high blood pressure, a significant risk factor for heart disease. One of the key features of the DASH diet is its focus on reducing sodium intake. Lowering sodium can have an immediate and lasting effect on blood pressure levels

I feel you cannot just do one dietary change I believe incorporating the best of all these dietary recommendations. If you now add 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise three times a week, you are beginning to get Heart Healthy. The 30 minutes 3 x /week decreases the risk of cardiovascular mortality by 38 %

So get up from the couch and start exercising.

Until tomorrow…

OCTOBER 26, 2023 AVOCADOS

Although I limited my intake of avocados ( as avocados are inflammatory for an individual with Type O blood type) - they are many health benefits to eating them

Is it a superfood ? Avocados are packed with nutrients and boasting an impressive list of health benefits, it’s no wonder that avocados are one of the most popular superfoods around.

They are a good source for monounsaturated fats which will help lower cholesterol and protect against heart disease Avocados contain minerals, plus a good source of fiber, potassium and magnesium

They are rich in omega 3 fatty acids which helps with a variety of conditions include heart, skin and neurological diseases They also contain probiotic nutrients which help with gut health. These nutrients break down food, absorb nutrients and fight harmful microbes

Avocados contain lutein and zeaxanthin which help fight against age related macular degeneration

Although i decreased my consuming 6 avocados a week due to the inflammatory affect on my hands, I still manage to get 1-2 in per week.

Please try an avocado today

Until tomorrow…