Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat, Nutrition
Eggs Decrease Risk of Macular Degeneration
"Don't you worry about cholesterol in eggs?" a friend recently asked me. I had ordered ham-and-eggs for breakfast which I often enjoy. But my friend was sure that eggs were a nutritional relic of the past, only good for a display at the Smithsonian Institution. I told him he was suffering from "cholesterolphobia", should upgrade his thinking about eggs, and that if he would order the same breakfast it would decrease his risk of heart disease and macular degeneration. I've written for years that we should trust farmers, hens and cows and cast a suspicious eye at manufactured processed foods. I have not changed my mind after many years of research. Blaming farmers and hens for the epidemic of heart disease is...Read More
Nutrition
Chickens Decrease Risk of Macular Degeneration
"Don't you worry about cholesterol in eggs?" a friend recently asked me. I had ordered ham-and-eggs for breakfast which I often enjoy. But my friend was sure that eggs were a nutritional relic of the past, only good for a display at the Smithsonian Institution. I told him he was suffering from "cholesterolphobia" and should upgrade his thinking about eggs. And that if he would order the same breakfast this would decrease his risk of heart disease and macular degeneration. I've stressed for years that we should trust the farmers, hens and cows and caste a suspicious eye at manufactured processed foods. I have not changed my mind after researching this matter for many years. Blaming the farmers and hens for the...Read More
Nutrition
How To Get A Big Gut
"How did it ever happen?" You wonder when you look in the mirror. Your stomach used to be flat. Your pants weren't tight. The conclusion is obvious. You've developed a large gut, like millions of other North Americans. And if you're unaware of how this happened, a report in Nutrition Action Health Letter provides the answer. It lists several sure-fire ways to develop a gut. One - Surround Yourself With Food Always have goodies in the house that are loaded with calories. Cookies that sit in a jar on the kitchen counter containing 150 calories per cookie. It's so easy to put your hand in the cookie jar and so why not enjoy four of them? Now you've already used up 600...Read More
Gastroenterology, Nutrition
Detox Diet – It’s Like Sticking A Potato In The Car’s Exhaust Pipe!
"Do you think my daughter and me should agree to a "detox diet?" a reader asked me. She added that several friends had already undergone detoxification and had never felt better. So does it make sense to purify our body? After all, who doesn't want to feel healthier. Proponents of this therapy have a rationale that's appeals to medical consumers who are apprehensive about our polluted world. They contend were'e constantly accumulating toxins in the body from air, chemicals in the water, processed foods, perfumes, artificial drinks and a host of other things. And, that in today's society, it's virtually impossible not to have a polluted large bowel. And that if you think you're an exception, think again. Web sites provide detox...Read More
Nutrition
Milk Helps to Prevent Stroke
Dr. David Young, a Professor of Physiology at the University of Mississippi once remarked, "potassium is like sex and money, you can't get too much." Now a study conducted in Hawaii shows that potassium helps to circumvent the risk of stroke, one of the leading causes of death in this country. Dr. Deborah Green is a researcher associated with the Queen's Medical Centre in Honolulu, Hawaii. To determine the benefits of potassium she and her colleagues followed 5,888 men and women ages 65 and over for eight years. Their conclusion? Patients with low levels of potassium were twice as likely to suffer "ischemic stroke", the type of stroke in which a blood clot cuts off the supply of oxygen to the brain. But...Read More
Alcohol, Cardiovascular, Nutrition, Vitamins
The Red Wine Pill
How do the French differ from North Americans? They're noted for enjoying fat-rich, calorie-packed baked goodies which are not heart healthy. Yet they're less likely to die from cardiovascular disease than North Americans. It's called "The French Paradox", believed to be linked to resveratrol, a substance found in red wine. Now, a study shows that a red wine pill provides more health benefits than drinking hundreds of glasses of the sweet nectar of the gods. Dr. David Sinclair, a researcher at The Harvard Medical School, has developed a concentrated form of resveratrol. He's tested the effects on mice and believes it will help to offset the effect of high fat diets, decrease the chance of diabetes and slow down aging in...Read More
Nutrition
Dangers and Benefits of The Cup of ‘Joe”
What's so important about the year 1657? It was the year that coffee was first imported into London, England from the Middle East. This glowing ad stated "A very wholesome and physical drink that helpeth indigestion, quickeneth the spirits, maketh the heart lightsom, is good against eye sores, coughs, head-ach, gout and the King's evil". 351 years later we don't have to worry about the King's evil. But the evil gyrations of the stock market may cause many to reach for several extra cups of coffee. So how much harm or good is there in our cup of "o'Joe"? Recently Tufts University in Boston reported the findings of a panel of experts who discussed this matter at an Experimental Biology meeting held...Read More
Nutrition
Suffering From The “Pissy Mood Syndrome”?
Do you feel like kicking the cat? Or telling the boss to go to hell? Or feel that it's getting harder and harder to get your act together? If so, the solution may not be to reach for Prozac. Some authorities claim the answer may be on your dinner plate. So how does food affect our moods? Dr. Khursheed Jeejeebhoy, Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto, reports in The Medical Post, that certain foods are often associated with a feeling of happiness and an optimistic mood. Jeejeebhoy cites studies from the department of psychology at the University of Wales. Students were given a variety of breakfast combinations. Researchers discovered that a breakfast low in calories, carbohydrates and fat, but high in fiber,...Read More
Nutrition
Postpone A Wormy End and Gorillas Should Have The Right To Vote
William Shakespeare wrote "A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king". He could have added, "or fish with the worm that eventually gets us all." This is not a pleasant thought to pass to along to readers at the start of the day. But since the life of worms and other insects can be extended it may be possible for humans to postpone that final wormy day. Studies show that restricting calories in worms, insects, mice and rats does prolong their lives. This usually means eating about 25 percent less than what they would normally consume to maintain normal weight. It's been labeled "under-nutrition without malnutrition". So far it's the only intervention tried by scientists that has...Read More
Nutrition
Should You Buy Organic Food?
"Do you ever buy organic food?" I asked my wife. She quickly answered, "No". Then I asked, "Why do some people buy it?" She replied what most people say, "Because it's free of pesticides". But is this true? And with increasing food prices is it prudent to spend hard-earned dollars on organic farm products? A report in the "Nutrition Action Health Letter" provides much more insight about organic foods. It states a Neilsen study showed 34 percent of Canadians purchased organic foods to avoid pesticides and artificial fertilizers. Others believed that these products were more nutritious than conventional foods. The problem is there is little data on the risks associated with eating fruits and vegetables that contain pesticide residues. For instance, this...Read More
Nutrition
Are Rare Steaks Good For Your Heart ?
"One of these days you're going to push your luck too far", my wife often says to me. She's not complaining that I'm spending too much money on horse races. Or betting the farm on a gold mine in Zimbabwe. Rather, for years I've told waiters I want my steak rare. Is this risky or can it fight heart failure? Friends often say to me, "We don't eat meat in our family anymore". But does this make sense? After all, humans have been enjoying meat since the caveman discovered it could keep him alive. And there are still sound reasons for not giving it up. Today, iron is the nutrient most often lacking in North American diets. Young children, teenagers, pregnant women,...Read More
Nutrition
Yellow Pickerel Will Cure My Depression
What would I order for my final meal on this planet? It would be a freshly caught Yellow Pickerel cooked over a roaring camp fire. Years ago I spent one magnificent summer doing fish research in northern Ontario. Since then no fancy white-tabled restaurant has provided me with a better fish meal. Besides, the fish were free of contamination in those long-ago days. So what should we know about the health benefits of eating fish today? We're often told we should eat fish as they're a great source of protein. But we're also warned of potential dangers. For instance, mercury accumulates in the lean tissue of some fish and it can cross the placental barrier so large doses can cause fetal...Read More
Infection, Nutrition
Picky Eaters: The Terror Of Being Invited To Dinner
What's the worst fear for some people? It's not standing before a crowd and giving a major speech. Nor is it the apprehension of being crushed in a crowded elevator or flying. It's the terror of being invited to dinner at a friend's home. A report in the Washington Post outlines the overwhelming fears of picky eaters. Billy Shore is founder and chief executive of the anti-hunger charity Share Our Strength in Washington. So surely he has no hang-ups about food. But that's not the case. Shore hates the "taste and texture" of all vegetables except spinach and corn on the cob. So how picky can you get? The next time you're at a dinner party do a little detective work and...Read More
Nutrition
Anyone Want To Own a Ranch? – Anorexia Nervosa
"But how did you pay for the $250,000 treatment" I asked one of my patients? To my surprise she replied, "I applied and received a grant from the Canadian government". This huge sum of money shocked me. What amazed me more as a taxpayer was the money's destination, Arizona. I decided to find out what treatment is worth $250,000 in the U.S. And who says our government is so stingy with medical care! My patient's teenage daughter was suffering from Anorexia Nervosa and various treatments, including those at the Hospital For Sick Children (HSC) in Toronto, had failed to cure this psychological disease. Now, doctors at HSC had referred her to The Remuda Ranch in Arizona, a live-in facility where she...Read More
Nutrition
How To Be A Smart Drinker
"Aren't you being a bit inconsistent? You're always advising others to cut down on sugar. Then before dinner you have a rum and coke? Don't you realize that rum is made from sugar?" I feel like I've been caught with my hand in the cookie jar when my wife scolds me for bring so righteous. And since she's also my editor I try to tread lightly when it comes to offering advice. I wouldn't dare question where she places a comma. But how illogical am I? Today we're often told what to eat, but what to drink doesn't get top billing. Dr. Barry M. Popkin, a nutritional epidemiologist at the University of North Carolina, reports in Nutrition Action that in the...Read More
Cancer, Gynecology, Infection, Nutrition, Women's Health
Garadsil – A Vaccine To Prevent Cervical Cancer
Some patients you never forget. Years ago, a young talented pianist after years of dedicated study, was scheduled to give her first piano recital in Toronto. For months she noticed vaginal discharge and did nothing. Finally, due to abnormal bleeding she consulted me. Pelvic examination revealed an extensive cancer of the cervix. She died a few months later and never gave her recital. Now, a vaccine "Gardasil" will prevent these needless deaths. Worldwide cervical cancer strikes half a million women each year and 250,000 die from this disease. What causes these cancers was unknown for many years. Now, we know that the majority are due to infection with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The Human Papillomavirus is an extremely common virus and there...Read More
Cancer, Nutrition
How To Fight Cancer With Food
Imagine that every day of the year four fully loaded Boeing 747s crashed, killing everyone. This is the number of people who die every year from cancer. Two Montreal reseachers, Drs Richard Beliveau and Denis Gingras, say in their book "Foods That Fight Cancer" that 30 percent of these deaths are caused by poor dietary habits. But that if you're cancer smart with food you can have a safer flight through life. Most people believe that cancer is an acute disease that kills within weeks or months. The doctors claim this is a misconception. Rather, cancer must be considered a chronic disease that normally poses no dangers. For instance, people who die from other causes are often found at autopsy to have...Read More
Nutrition, Obesity
It Will Take A Famine
"How can the obesity problem be solved in our country", a U.S. interviewer recently asked me. He expected me to discuss all the usual diets to fight this epidemic. And I hadn't had too many Martini's nor was I joking when I replied, "It would really take a famine". Is this just my dreary opinion or are others simply using different words to say the same thing? A report from the Institute of Medicine in the U.S. says nine million children older than six years of age are obese. Another U.S. report shows that children whose mothers are obese are 15 X more likely to be obese by six years of age. And we know from experience that obese children usually...Read More
Nutrition
Thank God For Prince Edward Island Potatoes
Hell will freeze over before I stop eating Prince Edward Island potatoes. I admit I love, love potatoes. Any kind, any way! But this isn't just an irrational addiction on my part. Rather the lowly and much maligned potato has great nutritional value. Some of my patients say they avoid them like the plague. It's all because of the past hulabaloo about the so-called virtues of a "low-carb" diet. Since potatoes were imported to Europe from Central and South America several hundred years ago they've provided safe and cheap nutrition for millions of people. But what a difference a few centuries make. Self-promoting hucksters, whose primary interest is to sell books, have tried to fool people about "low-carb" and potatoes. It's interesting...Read More
Gastroenterology, Nutrition
Magnesium Keeps The Undertaker Away
A healthy 18 year old basketball player and health-conscious jogger recently left this world all of a sudden. Why? The initial diagnosis; death from coronary artery disease due to high blood cholesterol. But death eventually proved to be due to magnesium deficiency. Magnesium has never been a super star nutrient like calcium. But it's crucial in keeping the undertaker away and in fighting several common chronic diseases. So are you getting enough of this mineral? Magnesium is nature's natural antispasmodic and it's amazing this fact hasn't triggered more attention from the medical community. In 1979 Dr. J.R. Chipperfield reported in the British Journal Lancet that patients who suffered from angina often had low levels of blood magnesium and that this nutrient...Read More
Medicine, Nutrition
How Much Water, Potassium and Salt Do We Need?
W.C. Fields the comedian joked, "No use for water, waters for flowing under bridges". Like Fields I've never enjoyed water unless it's with an occasional scotch. But for years authorities have said we must drink eight glasses of water daily to stay healthy. So who is right? And how much sodium and potassium do we need each day? The National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine recently convened a meeting of distinguished scientists. They concluded it's a myth that we need eight glasses of water a day. Rather, all fluids must be included in calculating water intake. Fields, noted for his large, red nose would be ecstatic to hear this news. Another of his one-liners, "A woman drove me to drink and...Read More
Nutrition
An Uncensored Hot Dog: What Does It Look Like?
"How much do our kids know about sex?" is a question parents often ponder. But how many ask, "What do our children know about food?" A study conducted by the British Heart Foundation shows it's appallingly little. And the Foundation is using a shocking approach to change this situation. The Heart Foundation Study revealed that 40 per cent of eight-to-14 year olds did not know that French fries were made from potatoes! One in 10 believed they were made from oil, eggs, flour or apples. And 33 per cent were unaware that cheese was made from milk. I recall a survey carried out in New York City that children thought milk came from the corner store! To correct these misconceptions The Heart...Read More
Cardiovascular, Nutrition
President’s Choice Is Helping To Fight Hypertension – Dangers of Salt
Interested in a simple way to live longer? No, not medication to lower blood cholesterol. But a much easier prescription. Just decrease the amount of salt you consume every day. Incredibly most people are unaware of the huge amount of salt they're ingesting and it's killing them. Now President's Choice is helping to educate consumers on ways to prevent a lethal blowout from excess salt. How are they doing it and why are there no TV ads about the dangers of salt? Stephen Havas, is Professor of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at the University of Maryland. He claims in the Nutrition Action Health Letter that the number of deaths from excess salt is equivalent to a commuter jet crashing every day...Read More
Cardiovascular, Nutrition
Should You Be Hooked On Fish?
Where would I go for one final meal? There's no doubt it would be the Union Oyster House in Boston. Since I spent many years studying surgery in the home of the Boston bean I've always loved fish. And we've all been told that eating fish is good for you. But is it? Lately we've been warned that now there's mercury in fish. So is it a case that you're damned if you eat fish and damned if you don't? Moreover, millions of pounds of fish are now "farmed". So how do they compare with those swimming freely in lakes and oceans? Dr. Frank Hu, of the department of nutrition at The Harvard School of Public Health, recently reported on the...Read More
Lifestyle, Nutrition
Soda Pop – Do You Know What Your Child Is Drinking?
What current lifestyle problem bothers me the most today? It's seeing obese children guzzling cans of liquid candy. Parents must be totally unaware of the can's contents. But if they know the health consequences, and do nothing about it, they should see psychiatrists. Harvard researchers have linked soft drinks to childhood obesity. Today there are over 18 million obese children in North America, a disaster waiting to happen. Children and adults are consuming soda pop in increasing amounts. In 1947 100 cans of soda pop were consumed per person per year. By 1997 it had escalated to 580 cans. Sugar itself is not the problem. It's the amount of sugar consumed by children. If parents noticed a child adding 10 teaspoonfuls of sugar...Read More
