Cholesterol in the Diet Appears Not to be the Bad Guy

The government’s Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has recommended that dietary avoidance of cholesterol is no longer needed for most patients.  We still want to avoid saturated fat and trans fats.  But foods such as eggs, which contain high levels of cholesterol, are no longer considered a problem.  Finally, a nutritional guideline that makes sense.

Reported in the Toledo Blade, Feb. 11, 2015, page 1.

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has a Much Better Name

The Institute of Medicine proposed a new name for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:  “Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease”.  It is cumbersome but it better describes a problem that can devastate the victims.  Usually the illness is triggered by a virus, allergy, or environmental toxins.  It is marked by a profound depletion of energy following minimal physical or mental activity.  Drug therapy give little relief, but integrative treatment of a yeast imbalance, allergy desensitization, and thyroid and adrenal support can be very helpful.

Google the Institute of Medicine report on CFS, April, 2015.

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Medication Costs Skyrocket

An analysis by Express Scripts in March, 2015 showed that many patients in the U.S. spend $50,000 per year or more for medications.  One of the key factors is specialty meds.  For example, the new Hepatitis C drug, Sovaldi, which is very effective, costs $1000 a pill and must be taken daily for 3 months.  Even if you have insurance that pays for drugs, the portion of the bill that you are responsible for can be extremely expensive.  Half of elderly patients take 10 prescriptions or more. I have noticed that many doctors who give CME lectures are required to disclose that they hold stock in Big Pharma.  It really pays to lead a healthy lifestyle to stay well, and to take nutritional supplements instead of drugs whenever you can.

Reported in the Toledo Blade, May 18, 2015.

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Diabetes is Substantially Over-treated in Older Adults

A ten-year study by Dr. Kasia Lipska of Yale showed the alarming result that we are over-treating diabetic patients 65 years of age and older.  Oral and injectable hypoglycemic agents cause 25% of emergency hospitalizations for adverse drug events in this age group.  Tight control of the blood sugar with drugs can lead to low blood sugar, increased mortality, falls and accidents, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and poor health-related quality of life.  It makes sense to utilize lifestyle improvements and natural remedies that do not run the risk of hypoglycemia instead of multiple drugs, which are both expensive and dangerous.
 

See the Jan. 12, 2015 on-line issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Low-fat diets are a Nutritional Myth

Dietary guidelines commonly given to patients for weight loss and cholesterol control are not effective, according to a review article in American Family Physician.  Diets higher in fat produce and sustain as much or more weight loss than lower fat or calorie-restricted diets—this is supported by an A-level evidence rating.  The problem foods are simple carbohydrates, ultra-processed foods, junk foods, and preserved meats, which should be avoided, especially if you have pre-diabetes, diabetes, obesity, or the metabolic syndrome.

See the American Family Physician, May 1, 2015 issue, p. 635-636.

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Be Very Careful with Calcium Supplementation

 

A Cochrane review of calcium supplementation, which is a routine recommendation by most physicians, especially for women, shows that it may do more harm than good.  The number needed to treat to prevent one fracture was 302 and the number needed to treat to cause one major cardiovascular event was 178.  However, the obvious problem with treatment was not discussed.  Everywhere in the body, calcium interacts with magnesium.  If you take calcium supplements, you should always balance them with at least half as much magnesium.  It is dangerous not to do so.

 

See the American Family Physician, May 1, 2015 issue, p. 634-635.

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Breakthrough Therapies for Autism and ADHD

 2015 is a very good year for children and adults with autism and attention deficit disorder.  Dr. Stephen Kaufman from Denver has discovered a brain technique reflex that instantly quiets the brain and lets it focus.  This can be learned by the caregiver or even administered by the patient himself.  Dr. Kaufman will be teaching the technique at a workshop in Denver June 6-7.  I will attend.  Dr. Ty Vincent from Alaska developed a variation of the Low-dose Allergy treatment (LDI) that also might produce excellent improvements for these problems.  A few drops of this allergy treatment is given by mouth once every two months.  Both of these treatments are available at COHA in Bluffton or Toledo.

Google Drs. Kaufman or Vincent for more info or contact COHA at 800-788-4627.

Celebration of HealthAssociation website