My guests are Certified Clinical Nutritionist and author Radhia Gleis, PhD, and Certified Traditional Naturopath and author Peter McCarthy, BS, MA, ND. They are hosts of The Wellness Connection radio program in Austin on KJCE 1370 AM—the same station that carries our show! Ours is on Saturday at 8 AM and theirs airs Sunday 11-noon. (I’m privileged to be their guest this weekend. So, if you are in the Austin area, please tune in and then make it a habit.) We could talk about any aspect of health with these two experts, but for sure we will discuss Peter’s book, Adrenaline Nation and with Radhia we will talk about autoimmune conditions and weight. Call the live show with questions at 1-800-281-8255. Click here to find podcasts, show archives and how to listen nationwide.

Putting plane crashes in perspective
The last week or so was a very tough one in aviation with something like 464 souls lost to plane crashes. In addition to weather-related accidents, there was also the tragic shooting down of a full flight by an errant missile in the Ukraine (an embattled area of Russia). We all grieve for the lost and their families. (What an incredibly cruel trick of fate that the airline shot down was one of Malaysia Airlines because they are still reeling from a plane lost in the ocean several months ago.) Even so, air travel is still by far the safest mode and 2013 was the safest on record.

What is riskier? Here is a link to a shocking article, Death by Medicine (DBM), composed by some brilliant doctors and natural medicine experts. It reveals the annual US death toll due to medical errors of one kind or another. It tallies deaths each year from factors such as unnecessary surgeries, hospital-acquired infections, medical errors and malnutrition. You’d hope that the situation would have gotten better in the years since the article was written but, sadly not so. Every current journal article I see that looks at the various components listed in the DBM charts shows, if anything, a worsening trend. Any modest improvements in procedure seem to be offset by the fact more people are on more drugs and in hospitals getting ever more procedures. The author’s most conservative total is an astounding 780,000+ per year. For a current perspective that is the number of fatalities that would be experienced if 7 fully-loaded 757 planes went down each day. While medical authorities surely are working to reduce deaths from medical care, we offer this newsletter and the radio show in hopes of helping more of you avoid the need for all but preventive medical care.

Russia takes shots at junk food
I’ll steer way clear of the international debate about what Russia is doing for/to their neighboring countries and their role in the Ukraine crash. However, I must note that out of concern for their own citizens’ welfare, it is suing the fast food chain McDonald’s. Moscow demands that McDonald’s stop selling foods that are high in fats and carbohydrates.  Hmm…what does that leave since the only other category of macro nutrient is protein. Do they want the chain to just sell naked meat patties? It isn’t clear what the authorities would say about a salad which is virtually all carbohydrate.

The Russian version of the FDA has a generally good idea in addressing obesity at its cause and I certainly think there is much McDonald’s can do to make their menu more healthful. However, the agency is focused on limiting calories which usually results in a blind cutting of fat ingredients rather than improving the quality of the fat.

I have the same concern for Americans as I do for the Russian citizens. Too often governments are lumbering, dogmatic and sidetracked by conflicts of interest. They can take positions that later turn out to be, well, ridiculous. One instance that comes to mind is the FDA’s food pyramid that was based mainly on starchy products and that with a broad brush demonized all fats. We now see the result of that well-intentioned but myopic recommendation—an epidemic of obesity and diabetes caused by blood sugar spikes and increased cravings. We can hope that the Russians make their own mistakes interpreting the science rather than copying the U.S.’s.

Raw Food Class THIS WEEK August 2nd-3rd, 2014
I just received word that the Kotsanis Institute will be a host location for a weekend Raw Food intensive workshop with Live Food & Lifestyle Instructor, Suzy Edmonson, LOT, RMT, C-AK. Suzy says: “Research shows that this diet/lifestyle has the potential to reverse diabetes and heart disease, reduce inflammation, nurture the body during & following cancer treatment, promote an ideal weight, revitalize energy, activate anti-aging genes, & promote longevity!” Activities: the benefits of raw and how to start, as well as practice at planning, shopping and preparation. You can even enjoy these modalities: gentle qi gong exercise, guided imagery, centering prayer, aromatherapy, and therapeutic touch. Participate in one day or both or even a 3-week challenge. Details and pricing on this website.

Last Week Follow-up
LISTEN to that show in the archives. Gus Kotsanis, MD was in the studio with two special guests: Emily Mason, his new Physician’s Assistant, and her husband, Dilon K. Mason, a Molecular Biologist and now a cancer patient at the Kotsanis Institute. Dilon was first diagnosed with lymphoma at age 15 and went into remission after doing unconventional therapies. But, due at least in part to root canals, he relapsed in his thirties. His journey through various types of therapies both stateside and in Mexico is interesting, but this is also love story of how two people from inside the conventional medical community (they have both worked at Mayo Clinic) handle a life-threatening illness.

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MY BOOKS:

Fat-Free Folly. Challenges dangerous mainstream thinking about fats. Supported with generous amounts of current science and grounded in a common sense historical framework. Learn how to build health and lose weight while enjoying more delicious food.

Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet, Prilosec & Other Acid Blockers. Subtitle: What to Use to Relieve Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and Gastric Ailments. Besides explaining the dangers of these medications and helping fix the real cause (which is seldom too much acid) this book is also helpful for solving other digestive problems.

Aloe Vera – Modern Science Sheds Light on an Ancient Herbal Remedy. Research shows that Aloe has benefit beyond skin and digestion–also for immune function, detoxification, nutrient absorption, blood antioxidant levels, blood sugar regulation and more. Learn how to pick the most potent brands.

The information contained in this newsletter has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The contents are for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.

Copyright 2014 Martie Whittekin, CCN