A Doctor's Point of View

Let’s Talk:
It was time to get my hair cut and so I visited with my "Hair Stylist" of over a quarter century. I know that in the "good old days" the barber and the bartender were the two sources for psychotherapy. Both had heard all the stories and had learned and given advice. Well, 25 years is a long time and you get to know a lot about people in that time span. Nino knows about my blog site, the book and the rest of my life and he is an artist when it comes to making a few hairs look like a full head of hair. But this is about Nino’s interest in eating healthy. He meets people from all walks of life. And so he walked directly to me with the latest information he had obtained on the subject matter I have been addressing.
The best part of this is that people are coming out of the woodwork and helping me in this quest for answers to this country’s most serious problems: health care and the improper dietary habits of the American culture. Now here is the result: I have a copy of a speech delivered to doctors by a doctor, on the subject regarding why we have a major problem in "medicine." How candid can a doctor get? He addresses the root cause of many problems--medicine--that is inappropriate treatment. Treating the symptoms without addressing the underlying cause is not adequate, if we are to become healers.
I am indebted to my readers for the help they give me in responding to my efforts to change the eating habits of Americans. In the beginning, it was just an attempt to live longer, and the good doctor addresses that. Now it is about understanding why these things work.
Dr. Rosedale believes that "Insulin and Its Metabolic Effects" are at the root of all the diseases we encounter and, "What we are finding is that we can use insulin to regulate lifespan too." He detailed accounts of two patients whose major problem was not the numbers in the lipid profile, but the medicine that they were given. One of his patients was near death and so appreciative of Dr. Rosedale’s efforts that he organized "Heart Support of America" to educate people about alternatives to by-pass surgery that have nothing to do with medicine or surgery. That organization, as the gentleman told him, had a mailing list of over a million people. The gentleman had experienced such a miserable experience from his first by-pass surgery that he said he would rather die than go through the second one.
There was another case in which the triglyceride level of a 42-year-old man was 2200, and the cholesterol level was 950 and this was a man on the maximum doses of all his medications. He was not fat, but fairly thin. Doctor Rosedale said that these people (who put him on all these medications) have no place in medicine. This man was taken off all his medications at the very first visit. They have no place in medication. In six weeks his lipid levels, both his triglycerides and his cholesterol, were hovering around 220. After six more weeks, they were both under 200, without the medications. My own experience was similar: With no medications and using my nutrition-based-regimen of eating healthy, I dropped triglycerides from 1374 to 76 and cholesterol from 274 to 133. The change in eating whole foods, while reducing medications, proved to have these results (documented in my book through blood work).
The good doctor then goes on to detail his own stepfather’s problem with severe claudication, (severe angina of the leg while walking). The man went to a neurologist who thought it might be neurological pain or back pain. He went to a vascular surgeon who thought it was vascular disease. They wanted to do by-pass surgery because the man was going on vacation to Europe and wanted to be able to walk around.
Ten years prior he’d had angioplasty for heart disease. At the time, I’d told him to change his diet, but of course he didn’t. This time, however, he listened. The doctor told him to do exactly as he was told and he could avoid the by-pass surgery and would be walking just fine in two weeks. Modulating this one aspect of his disease–I have never seen it fail–works very quickly to open up the artery.
The most important feature of the treatment is opening up the arteries through healthy eating. Lecithin is the "drano" of the arteries and is found in good "Old Fashioned Oat Meal." If you can’t stand oatmeal, there is the granular form of lecithin available at all health stores. One tablespoon in your soup or juice every morning will do the trick. Lecithin is also one of four major ingredients in "Ike’s Fountain of Youth Formula." This is the result of a formula given to a man who doctors had given up on and a German nurse said, "What do you have to lose? Try this." He is 90-years-old and continues to play competitive tennis with our Senior Tennis League. He doesn’t have an ounce of fat on him and is witty and smart. There is nothing wrong with his memory because he hasn’t filled his brain with plaque.
More and more doctors are realizing that we cannot remove healthy eating from the equation. You are what you eat and most Americans are eating "junk food." The Fat Food Chains are booming and most homes only require a "Take In Window" as their primary source for food. Medicine is not the answer to the problem -- it is often the cause of the problem.
There is much more on the subject. However, this will have to do for this article. The other subjects we will address have to do with "treating symptoms and not the problem," "Centenarians all have relatively low sugar for their age, and all have low triglycerides," "Caloric Restriction Research," "Aging is a Disease."
The best thing you can do if you want to live longer is to eat healthy and avoid the problems of sticky blood associated with sugar, fat, fried foods, and non-fiber carbohydrates.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about how to "Make Eating A Lifestyle Change."

Happy Valentine's Day

Dark Chocolate
When I first walked into the life of my wife and her two girls, I learned quickly how important chocolate is. I always kept a stash of chocolate for those times when things began to get little weird. It worked. At the time, it was a famous brand of Kit Kat that did the trick. A frown quickly changed into a smile and an affectionate response. And so it has always been a goal of mine—to find a healthy, nutritious chocolate. Early research revealed that dark chocolate was good for the heart – not just figuratively, but literally. However, there are many kinds of chocolate. We were surprised to learn that some manufacturers even added ground brick to their mixture in the early days of its development. That’s no lie or exaggeration. Finding a reliable source of "dark chocolate" was not going to be easy. I thought of calling all the major companies and asking for their input, but that seemed too tedious a task. Luck would have it that, as I browsed through recent resources, I found what I was looking for, only days before "Valentine’s Day."
Dark chocolate has always been great for your cardiovascular health: one of the latest studies found that eating 3.5 ounces a day lowered blood pressure in people with hypertension. And leave it to the Italian researchers, who found that women who eat chocolate regularly have higher levels of sexual desire than women who don’t indulge. The Italian researchers could have been slightly biased, but as an added benefit, feeling sexy is certainly a big plus. The research specifically referred to women. I guess men will just have to consider one of the newest medications.
Imagine, taste-testers, testing 45 samples of chocolate from around the world, judging on taste, richness, "mouth feel," and flavor combos. Nice work, if you can get it. An avid reader, who cuts out articles, puts markers in books, and places the material where it is handy to my lap top computer–is the love of my life, and the one who is the catalyst for my writing this article. It never ceases to amaze me how easy life is when you go with the flow. Prevention magazine was at my fingertips.
So aren’t you lucky? Giving credit where it is due, Prevention’s February 2006 copy gave me almost everything I needed to do this special on chocolate. Comparing the sugar content was primary to me. Naturally the sugar content will determine the sweetness and the number of calories and so the least amount of sugar will result in a slight bitterness. With diabetes reaching epidemic levels, sugar content is more important now than ever. The purer chocolate will contain a higher percentage of cocoa, originally pronounced "ka-cow" We’ll break down a few of the more interesting types of chocolate so as to keep in line with the goal "healthy eating."
Veré Chocolate Bar contains 75% cocoa beans from Equador. A one ounce serving contains 70 calories and 1 gram of protein, 20 grams of carbohydrates and 5 grams of fat with 3.5 mg of saturated fat; 0 mg cholesterol and 2 grams of fiber; 0 grams of sodium and only 2 grams of sugar per 1 oz. serving size. My problem has been to find this precious "dark chocolate" and so here it is: www.veregoods.com
Hershey is one of the most important figures in the commercial growth of the chocolate industry. Cost was a major factor and chocolate was a very pricy commodity to bring to middle-class Americans. Hershey made mass produced 5-cent Hershey bars which would change in size based on the price of the cocoa beans, at the time of production. As all of you know, Hershey had to eventually give in to the inflationary pressures on the price of the cocoa bean, bringing the price up gradually, rather than changing the size of the bar.
The best Hershey dark chocolate we found was Hershey’s Extra Dark Pure Dark Chocolate with cranberries, blackberries and almonds (all healthy ingredients.) The bar contains 60% cocoa with bits of antioxidant rich berries and nuts. Those testing the chocolate said "I love a little crunch with my chocolate." That’s probably one of the reasons that Kit Kat was so popular with me. The serving size of the Hershey dark chocolate: 1.3 ounces; 200 calories; 3 grams of protein; 20 grams carbs; 12 g fat, 7 g sat.fat<5 mg cholesterol; 4 g fiber; 0 mg sodium and 14 g sugar. The chocolate bar is priced at $3 per bar in grocery stores nationwide. $3/bar.
Endangered Species Chocolate Company Dark Chocolate with Deep Forest Mint 79% cocoa and 10% of the profits are donated to protecting endangered animals. One of the testers said, "This one turned me into a dark chocolate lover." The staffers liked the balance of mint and cocoa and the charitable-tie-in. A serving size is 1.5 ounces; 250 calories; 2 g protein; 23 g carb; 16 g fat; 10 g sat. fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 3 g. fiber, 50 mg sodium, 17 g sugar. The $2.75 per bar is available at natural food stores; www.chocolatebar.com This one is too rich for my blood – literally.
Dagoba Raspberry Chocolate Bar is $2.89/per bar with 59% cocoa blended with dried raspberries and bits of rose hips; 100% organic; supports fair trade. A choco-maniac commented, "Loved the tart, sweet bits of raspberry blended into a decadent dark chocolate." Serving size: 1 oz.; 157 cal, 1 g pro.; 17 g carb, 9 g fat, 6 g sat. fat., 0 mg chol, 3 g fiber, 0 mg sodium, 12 g sugar. Www.dagobachocolates.com
Newman’s Own Organics Sweet Dark Expresso Chocolate is only $1/bar at grocery and natural food stores; www.newmansownorganics.com The cocoa content was not available and the bar is 99.9% organic; 100% of Paul Newman’s after-tax royalties go to education and charitable causes. "So creamy and smooth. Tastes like a mocha coffee in a bar form," raved a fan. Serving size: 1.2oz; 169 cal, 2 g pro, 17g carb. 12 g fat, 7 g sat fat, 0 mg chol, 2 g fiber, 2 mg sodium, 14 g sugar.
Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker 70% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Bar is $4.25/bar; www.scharffenberger.com (U.S. only) Staffers tested a variety of bars from this brand, but the bittersweet was just right for its smooth, melt-in-your-mouth, flavor. Serving size: 1.5 oz. 250 cal, 3 g pro, 20 g carb, 18 g fat, 11 g sat fat, 0 mg chol, <1 g fiber, 0 mg sodium, 13 g sugar.
For more information try the web sites listed above or go to www.prevention.com
Julie and I were given two 1-pound boxes of Stover’s chocolate as a promotion, and they are well hidden. I am a choco-holic and have to avoid any contact with this addictive sweet. I could really pig-out on the stuff and it’s not really good for me. On Halloween, Julie picks the candy I don’t like, for the trick or treaters, so that I am protected from doing any major damage with too much sugar.
Well, we did find the healthy-eating "DARK CHOCOLATE" and you have the information you need to please that special someone in your life.
I think I’ll consider flowers instead—just to be on the safe side.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you, and the "love of your life."

Colon Cleansing & Fasting

COLON CLEANSING:
Retained debris in the colon leads to absorption of toxins, resulting in systemic intoxication (poisoning). Symptoms of this condition can include mental confusion, depression, irritability, fatigue, gastrointestinal irregularities, and even allergic reactions such as hives, sneezing and coughing. Many nutritionists and researchers believe that this toxicity can eventually lead to more serious disorders. Colon cleansing can rid the colon of debris, and help prevent and treat a variety of health problems.
The best means of removing toxins and wastes from the body is a "fast." Remember we mentioned that most religions resort to a fast at least once a year and some more often. Well, there may be a connection that represents a connection between cleansing the "soul" and cleansing the colon. Fasting is the first step in any colon cleansing program. In addition to following a fast, use a wheat grass, fresh lemon juice, garlic or coffee enema. If bowel problems or related symptoms are chronic, repeat this program once monthly.
Recommendations:
Eat only raw foods for two weeks, and then maintain a diet of 50 percent raw foods, including plenty of raw vegetables and non-citrus fruits such as apples, bananas, berries, grapes and pears.
Drink at least eight ounces of water each day, even if you are not thirsty. Insufficient liquid intake promotes hard stools, which can stay in the colon for weeks or months, causing symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and depression, and resulting in a toxic bloodstream.
Avoid saturated fats, sugar, and highly processed foods. Avoid oils and fried foods until the colon returns to normal and the stools are normal (usually longer and smaller in diameter). Use olive oil, canola oil, or essential fatty acids sparingly during this cleansing period. Dairy products should be avoided because they create excess mucus in the colon. This diet helps to maintain a clean colon.
If you have a blood sugar problem, avoid sweet fruits.
Upon rising and at bedtime, drink the juice of a fresh lemon squeezed into a cup of warm water to cleanse the bloodstream and detoxify and neutralize the system.
Each morning take a brisk walk and drink fresh carrot and apple juice, "green drinks," or fresh pineapple and papaya juice.
Make a colon cleansing drink by mixing 1 tablespoon of bentonite with 1 teaspoon of psyllium seed, ½ cup of aloe vera juice, and ½ cup of stream-distilled water. Drink this mixture once daily until the colon is clean and not foul smelling.
Use a fiber supplement such as psyllium seed on a daily basis. Mix the supplement with water or juice, and drink it immediately, as the mixture thickens quickly. Avoid fiber supplements in capsule and pill form.
Some interesting related information:
Aloe-vera and peppermint help to restore the acid/alkaline balance of the colon and promote healing.
Barberry, butternut bark, flaxseed, red raspberry, rhubarb and senna can be used to flush the colon and release waste. Caution: Do not use barberry during pregnancy.
Burdock root, milk thistle, and red clover cleanse the blood and support the liver.
Fennel restores the acid/alkaline balance of the colon, promotes healing, flushes the colon, and releases waste.
Garlic eliminates certain parasites.
Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) - Aids the body in expelling excess fluid and mucus. Soothes and heals skin, mucous membranes, and other tissues, externally and internally. Good for bladder infection, digestive upsets, fluid retention, headache, intestinal disorders, kidney problems, sinusitis, and sore throat. Helps to restore the acid/alkaline balance of the colon, promotes healing, and loosens and flushes mucus from the intestines.
The above is information provided by America’s #1 Guide to Natural Health, Prescription for NUTRITIONAL HEALING (Third Edition) by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC and James F. Balch, M.D.
I personally have not used the above method of colon cleansing. However, I belief in the idea of "fasting" drinking a full glass of clear water, upon rising, and drinking water with fresh squeezed lemons as an accompaniment to lunch and dinner meals. Garlic, fiber, tea with fresh lemon, are a few of the recommendations I find especially helpful. Apples, oatmeal, carrots, and vegetable soups are amongst my favorites in helping the digestive system work at its optimum. Grazing, instead of large meals, maintains a high metabolism and a smaller stomach. Don’t pile on more food when you are already full. If you feel bloated, allow fluids to work their way down the digestive tract, before adding more food.
Beware of buffet dinners and try to eat a balanced meal without second helpings. Eat slowly, and chew your food thoroughly. I like the old fashioned version of a full course dinner, in this order: soup, salad, vegetable, entree’ and followed by fruit and tea. I always include fresh water with fresh-squeezed lemon.