Portion sizes and other label silliness

We’ve all seen warnings in instruction manuals and on labels that we think are at the least unnecessary and often just wacky. Here are some examples.

From Pictures sent around the internet:

• The photo shown above. [Really? Curious now how they do laundry in China.]
• On a pizza box— “Open box before eating pizza.” [Well, on the other hand, there is fiber in the box.]

From “Dave Barry is NOT Making This Up” book:

• Instructions for the Sunbeam Dental Water Jet included this warning, “Don’t use while sleeping.” [Wouldn’t you like to see that?]

From a Forbes article:

• Nytol sleep aid caplets—”may cause drowsiness” [Well, duh!]
• On chainsaws—“Do not hold the wrong end” [Company lawyers figure that some idiot will do that, sue them and a jury that is afraid of the equipment will award the idiot $millions.]
• Rowenta’s irons— “Do not iron clothes on body.” [Shockingly, the company has had real complaints…I guess even idiots deserve protection, but they don’t seem the type to read the warning.]
• On an egg carton—”this product may contain eggs”. [Seems stupid, but probably the company had to do that because of FDA requirement related to allergies, but OMG. An example of the nonsense that can come from overly broad regulations.]
• MDW Outdoor Group’s fox/bobcat urine powder— “Not for human consumption.” [Really? What a disappointment!]
• Bialetti Casa Italiana’s nonstick pans—“Keep pet birds out of the kitchen when using this product.” [Hah! This one is no laughing matter—it should be taken seriously! Teflon fumes are not good for us but can be lethal for birds.”]
• Midol pills for menstrual cramps—“Ask a doctor before use if you have difficulty urinating due to an enlarged prostate.” [Good grief! Hmm…Wait a minute. These days with gender fluidity issues, maybe there is confusion about how anatomy works.]

From the box of Trader Joes Hold the Cone mini ice cream treats:

• “Serving size = 3 cones” [The whole point of buying these vanilla ice cream chocolate dipped cones is to have a satisfying but tiny 87 calorie dessert, not 260 calories from eating 3 of them. This label silliness is the surely the FDA at work again. Standard serving sizes have been established for each category of food to make it easier to compare. On the good side, the rule keeps manufacturers from misleading consumers by claiming low calories by using unrealistically small serving sizes. However, in this case, increasing the serving size just to match an average does not make sense. BTW, I like that the interior of the sugar cones are coated with chocolate so that they don’t leak. Note: TJ’s seasonal cone flavors are fun but they go out of stock fast.]

Food Combining

Last week, I wrote a blog article about cooked veggies versus raw. I probably should have mentioned that just because most vegetables are easier to digest cooked, that doesn’t mean you should worry about eating the raw carrot sticks on an appetizer platter (surely that’s better than heading for a brownie at the dessert end of the table). A reader rightfully commented that fruit should be eaten raw. (Bell peppers are technically fruit, but don’t worry that you will die a premature death if you eat a baked stuffed pepper.)

There are also “rules” many folks follow about which foods are best combined. The idea is that it takes specific enzymes, pH level and time to digest each type of food and they aren’t all compatible. I’ve certainly found that food which sits in the stomach too long can ferment, causing gas and contribute to acid reflux. For me that is most evident with acid reflux when I eat something very starchy or sweet along with an entree that is high in protein and fat.

The roots of the food combining guidelines were in India over 100 years ago and would have certainly been based not in science but on observation. Of course, observation is often a very valid approach and science often gets things wrong. We should remember that our body’s basic physiology and biochemistry have not changed in millennia. Our ancient ancestors certainly did not have buffets and the casserole had not yet been invented. There was not even much ability to store a variety of food. So, it is likely that they ate each type of food as soon as they acquired it. For example, if they killed a mastodon, they would eat it (or dry it) before it spoiled rather than wait for other members of their tribe to find some tubers to go with it. The following are the most common basic rules (quoted from an article to which I link below):

• “Eat fruit only on an empty stomach, especially melons.
• Avoid combining starches and proteins.
• Avoid combining starches with acidic foods.
• Avoid combining different types of protein.
• Consume dairy products only on an empty stomach, especially milk.”

I’m guessing many of you have experienced something like a melon not sitting well with bacon and eggs. But most of you got to the second item and probably said, “wait, what about sandwiches?” Well exactly! It would take a lot of discipline to follow most of the rules.

This Healthline article does a good job of comparing the theories and practices to the modern science of digestion. I must admit I feel my best when I eat just protein and cooked vegetables. However, I think the bottom line is what works for YOU. If you have some digestive issues, it will cost nothing or hurt you to try some of the basic ideas. (At least try skipping sweet dessert after a heavy meal and see if that helps.)

Most of the online recipe sites will be useless for food combining, but I did find this one with that factor in mind and another site. Maybe start out slowly with one meal. Amazon will be happy to sell you a detailed food combining chart. On the other hand, you can make yourself crazy being too exacting and exclusive with the rules—e.g. creating stress and making it hard to get along in society. For example, just try telling your relatives at Thanksgiving that they shouldn’t eat the stuffing, sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce at the same meal as the turkey!  

Vegetables—raw or cooked?

Whether it is because you made a New Year’s Resolution to eat healthier food; or you want to lose weight by trading some of your starchy carbs for vegetables; or you know your friendly bacteria are waiting for their dinner; or you’ve just had a nagging voice in your head (memory of Mom’s advice?) that you should eat more vegetables…this can be a good time to get serious about those veggies. You’ve probably heard that eating raw is best. (Raw food disciples can become quite belligerent.) But that may not be always the case. In addition to some reasons covered in the article below, raw vegetables take more “digestive fire” (energy & enzymes) to digest and therefore juicing or cooking vegetables for many folks may be more healing. I decided that instead of reinventing the wheel, I’d just provide the following excellent ARTICLE by Andrew Shepherd, DC. He sent me a link and gave me permission to use it. [as usual this style notes is mine.]

“In order to achieve optimal health, vegetables should be a key component of our diets. Federal guidelines recommend that adults have at least 2 to 3 cups of vegetables per day as part of a healthy eating pattern. This has been found to reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure, while boosting the health of blood vessels and the immune system. Furthermore, vegetables contain antioxidants which may reduce DNA damage, thus reducing the risk of cancer. The more fresh produce we incorporate into our meals every day, the better!

That being said, what is the best way to prepare these nutritious dietary treasures? Believe it or not, eating vegetables raw doesn’t offer the most benefits in all cases. In fact, studies have shown that the process of cooking breaks down the tough outer layers and the cellular structure of many vegetables, making it easier for our body to absorb their nutrients. So, boil, roast [e.g. tossed in oil and then roasted in a convection oven], steam, saute or microwave? The answer is not entirely simple; it can vary depending on the type of vegetable.

Generally speaking, cooking vegetables with as little water as possible for the shortest amount of time is the best method. That’s why boiling is not usually the best option. When you boil vegetables in a large pot of water, the water-soluble vitamins [and some minerals] leach into the cooking liquid and are lost. One exception to this rule, however, is carrots. Studies show that boiling or steaming carrots increase beta-carotene levels.

Steaming or microwaving vegetables is a solid choice for preparing produce. Using a small amount of water helps the vegetables retain their beneficial qualities.

Quickly sauteing your veggies in a pan with a bit of olive oil (akin to stir-frying) is another good option for cooking. Just be sure to cook them al dente…the softer the vegetables are when cooked is generally a sign of how much nutritional value has been lost.

Comparing nutrients in raw and cooked vegetables is complicated and there will be trade-offs. The best approach is to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables and eat them in a variety of ways. This ensures that you get a mix of nutrients delivered by various methods of preparation. Whatever technique you choose, just be sure to eat more vegetables for better health!”

[Another easy and delicious choice is any of the dried organic vegetable powders from Brightcore.]

When you need professional help

We often hear the claim that the US medical system is the best in the world. Really? For darn sure, if I’m ever in a serious accident, I hope it is here because our doctors are second to none at putting us back together. They are also skilled at helping us hang on a little longer when a disease is in crisis. However, when it comes to the promotion of health, the prevention of disease and the treatment of the causes of chronic disease, the US has a downright embarrassing record. In 2020, the United States ranked 54th in average life expectancy and is ranked shockingly low in health span, infant mortality, diabetes, heart disease, and disability. For all the continuing pressure we get to take cholesterol and blood pressure drugs, among the top 17 wealthiest countries, we have the second highest death rate from cardiovascular disease!

A huge portion of our national economic output (nearly 20%)  is now spent on what we euphemistically call “health care” but it is in fact “disease care”. Whatever you call it, the US spends 40% more per person on this care than any other nation on the planet. Those costs are not only a direct burden on families, they also add indirectly to the price of everything we buy. Yet, in spite of all that money, our citizens are still over weight and sick.

We may not be able to make an impact on national trends, but we can assure that our personal healthcare choices make sense. I believe that a logical place to start is to change our core beliefs because they in turn guide our actions. On a very basic level, we’ve been trained to think that we are healthy as long as we don’t have a diagnosis. Not so. A diagnosis is when the doctor can apply a Latin name to a pattern of symptoms or errant lab tests. However, well before that, we can be out of balance (e.g. deficient in a nutrient) and headed toward a disease. It is much better to reverse that negative trend early on rather than wait until we’ve justified an insurance billing code. Read about clues to imbalances. We’ve also been led to believed that a symptom is something we should ask the doctor to get rid of fast preferably with a highly-advertised (and probably expensive) drug.  A more useful view is that a symptom is like the check engine light on your car dashboard (see meme below). It is trying to tell you something. Read about that. Sometimes, for example, like in the case of a fever, a symptom can actually be a tool the body uses in its natural attempt to heal us.

Although the bulk of staying healthy depends on our personal responsibility, everyone can benefit from professional help to work toward a goal of staying in balance and healthy. Hmm, since mainstream medicine is not reimbursed to do that and is not really trained to help with those things anyway, what to do? This page in the Library offers some ideas. This Doctor Resources page provides help finding a health professional more attuned to normalizing function and disease prevention. The health of our mouth is an often overlooked but critical factor, so here is a page with dental information and resources.

Good luck as you hopefully build health from the ground up with nature’s basics. (Read more in the library Basics of Health section about improving your diet, exercising and other lifestyle factors that will help.)

BIG improvements for 2023 from small changes

It is that time of year when most of us plan to do better in the months ahead. However, too many “turn-over-a-new-leaf” health resolutions fail. That is often because optimistic folks bite off too much at once thereby setting themselves up to fail. On the other hand, we could tackle just one of the items on this GOAL LIST and work on that one for a week or a month until it becomes a habit. (That goal list has 15 goals and many helpful links). We can then add another one while we keep up with the first.  

Each person’s situation is different and so there are many options. You could select the step that you think might make the biggest improvement in your health and energy and tackle that one first. Or you could go for one that sounds easiest and build momentum based on that confidence building success. Studies at Stanford University offered tips for forming good habits. They also found that making an emotional connection to the desired habit helps. Here is an article with ideas on developing healthy habits and avoiding common mistakes.

Having the goals written out also helps. Perhaps print the list out and assign a proposed month for each item (note, I’ve given more than 12 choices). Post the plan where you will see it daily and remember that “a trip of a 1,000 miles starts with a single step”.

Clearly, if we keep doing what we’ve been doing, we will keep getting what we’ve been getting (and sometimes other unwanted health trouble we didn’t see coming.) Unfortunately, no one else can make diet and lifestyle improvements for you. Good luck and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Couldn’t hurt!

Most of the government recommendations (and mandates) that promised to prevent the spread of covid-19 did not do that and had a downside. For example, the shutdowns caused economic disaster for many, and we now know that school closings caused great emotional and educational harm to kids. As we have learned on Healthy by Nature show (from top experts who cite the government’s own data and scientific studies) the covid vaccines caused a shocking number of deaths and long term damage. There is now worldwide pressure to pull them off the market. Even masks were not harmless. Aside from the developmental delays children experienced because they couldn’t interpret communications normally, masks reduce the amount of oxygen the wearer breathes and the immune system needs oxygen. And, as it turns out, a Danish study of mask wearing failed to show statistically significant benefit.

Except for the possibility of dry hands, hand washing seems to have no ill effects. (Parents should be careful to keep alcohol-based hand sanitizers out of reach of little ones because they are poisonous if consumed…read more.) The respiratory viruses like covid and the flu are spread mainly through aerosol droplets carried through the air. So, the hysteria about sanitizing everything in sight was excessive. That said, someone who is infected and carrying virus on their hands could leave a trail of contamination on doorknobs, handrails and elevator buttons. If you were to touch them soon while the virus was still active, and then put your fingers on food, or your face or worst of all, pick your nose, it is at least theoretically possible to become ill.

I recall from cruises that Bill and I have taken, the cruise line bugged us incessantly about handwashing because that helps control the spread of gastrointestinal illnesses such as the Norovirus. We gladly wash our hands on a ship at any opportunity because vomiting and diarrhea kind of takes the fun out of traveling.

So, I say that if it might help and can’t hurt, why not keep our hands clean?  Anyway, just seems relatively civilized. Below is a list of when to wash up that I copied from the CDC page on handwashing. Some of them probably go without saying. [Italic text in square brackets is my addition not CDC.]

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before and after eating food [before seems more important.]
• Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea [no kidding!]
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet [I used to think, “Hey, I aim carefully, so is that really necessary?” But now I know the issue is not ME, it is the bozos who came before me and touched stuff.]
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet. [sounds about right]
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After handling pet food or pet treats
• After touching garbage [or maybe just don’t touch garbage?]

Beets me!

No, that isn’t a misspelling, as you probably guessed because of the photo, that is just me trying to be cute. We’ve all heard many times (maybe hundreds of times?) that we should eat more vegetables. Oh goody, French fries are vegetables, right? Well, yes, technically according to the government . However, you won’t be surprised that they are not all that healthful. it isn’t just about the fact that they are fried. Most folks have been trained to say to themselves, “oh no, FAT”. (The problem for me is the type of fat usually used. I. e. PRO-inflammatory omega-6 rich vegetable oils are oversupplied in the US diet. Also, the fried fat is made more damaging by the high heat.) What if the fries were baked in an air fryer? Better, but potatoes are still starchy, and we want to take it easy with starchy carbs because they tend to elevate our blood sugar and encourage body fat. A more important factor is the spud’s lack of color. The most healthful vegetables contain antioxidants and are brightly colored by plant nutrients such as carotenes, flavonoids and polyphenols.  Potatoes do contain some vitamin C (assuming that it was not destroyed in cooking), some potassium and a few other nutrients, but not the colorful ones.

Once digested, the nutrient-rich vegetable antioxidants go directly to protecting our cells. Those colorful polyphenols play a big indirect role in health. They feed our good bacteria which digest them into wonderfully beneficial compounds (postbiotics) that have important health effects in every organ and system in the body, including the immune system and the brain.

What vegetable is more colorful than beets? (They have been used throughout history to dye yarns and fabric…and not always on purpose.E.g. if one lands on your white table cloth.)  In case you are not a fan of the flavor of beets, please hang in here because I have a practical and delicious solution for you. To appreciate the direct and indirect value of beets, just look at this abbreviated list of health effects that science has discovered:

• Beets encourage the body to make nitric oxide (NO). I did a quick search in the pubmed.gov science database for “nitric oxide” and got back 189,594 results. Let’s not go through all of those! A few notable benefits of NO are to relax blood vessels and thereby gently and naturally lower blood pressure. NO is also known to help with erectile dysfunction, to lessen muscle soreness, to improve exercise performance and perhaps even to better manage Type II Diabetes.
• Support liver health and detoxification.
• Reduce inflammation (a major aging factor and disease risk).
• Improve lung function.
• Beets may be a secret weapon against memory loss. Researchers found that giving older adults a daily dose of beet juice helped increase blood flow to the area of the brain that is associated with dementia.
• Beets are rich in the B vitamin, folate, which plays a key role in:
  • controlling damage to blood vessels
  • red blood cell formation
  • healthy cell growth & function
  • producing immune cells in bone marrow
  • producing DNA and RNA
  • transforming carbohydrates into energy

The easy and tasty way I get my daily dose of beets. If vegetables all tasted like pizza or chocolate chip cookies, no arm-twisting would be required. While it is true that not everyone would order beets in a restaurant, few people object to the flavor of apple juice. I am so grateful that I discovered BrightBeets+®. It is an easy-to-use blend of organic Beet Powder, Aronia Berry and Black Currant (more colors!). The synergy of those ingredients is not only yummy (better than apple juice), but also an antioxidant / polyphenol powerhouse! Why is it important to use organic beets? Obviously, beets are roots and roots are known to store and concentrate whatever chemicals and toxins were used on the plants. We want beets to help us detoxify that crap, so it doesn’t make sense to take in more by supplementing conventional beets. I greatly appreciate Brightcore Nutrition’s past support of the Healthy by Nature show, their highest-quality products and the special deals they always offered our listeners. (Save in quantity. Don’t worry about buying too much because I bet that you will be taking the product forever and in any case, they offer a 60-day satisfaction guarantee.) For the best savings, 888-958-5331 and just say that you read about the product on Martie’s website.

Of course, green vegetables also have a well-earned health reputation and most of us don’t eat enough of them either. I am happy to have Brightcore’s gluten free organic Sweet Wheat as an easy and delicious way to get more greens. I can make a quick feel-good “meal” by mixing a scoop of BrightBeets+ with a scoop of Sweet Wheat in a glass of water. It is actually a tasty treat.

Copyright Martie Whittekin, CCN 2022-2024

Giving Gifts of Health

Since our health is (or at least should be) our most prized possession, it is something to keep in mind at gift giving times. The fast easy route is a gift card. The theory is that the recipient can pick whatever item they want. However, I always feel guilty with those. Seems kind of like giving them money…like I didn’t really want to spend much time thinking about what you’d like. To me, a good gift is something the person has wanted (or didn’t know they would like) but might not feel justified in buying for themselves. That said, I’ll admit I’m never mad at anyone who gives me a Chico’s gift certificate because that is an indulgence. And a dear friend has given me gift cards to Natural Grocers which is both generous and health focused. At the end I have a funny idea, but first some gifts to build health that you might not have thought of and why I think they might be good. Yes, I know. I’m sorry I didn’t think to do this earlier…maybe this is just early for 2023?

Easy and typical but maybe not ideal: It is easy to think about how go along with someone’s vices…a box of candy, a bottle of liquor, etc. With office wear so informal these days, ties aren’t as popular.  TV commercials make us think that perfume is a must. However, fragrances bother a lot of people and are not even allowed in some offices. (And let’s be real, the recipient will not be transported to the magical places shown in the commercials nor will they suddenly look like the gorgeous models.)

Ancestry test. I gave husband Bill a genetic test and accidentally bought one for myself. It is not only interesting to find out your heritage (I had no idea I was 11% Norwegian) but it also can give you an idea what genetic health tendencies the person could be working to offset with diet, lifestyle and supplements.

Remedies.

• Infrared waves as in a far infrared sauna are good for the whole body. But, a person can also focus on a target area with a handy lamp. Aim the soothing rays at that sore neck, shoulder, knee, back or even monthly cramps. Support better vision or a healthier complexion. Speed healing or relieve sinus congestion. The list goes on. Save $ with the discount code HBNlamp. Link here. If you have questions or would prefer to place your order with Phil, call 626.200.8454
• Your recipient can feel refreshed. And remove airborne bacteria, viruses, odors, dust, pollen and other allergens from their air. ionbox devices are conveniently small. Even take one to the office and traveling. Much larger units are not as effective as ionbox. Ozone-free. No filters to change. ionbox.net. During the holiday season 2023, listeners can save $10 with the coupon code, HBN.
• Everyone gets sore sooner or later..sleep wrong, hit your back swing wrong,monthly cramps.A microwavable heat wrap is very comforting. I have one like this one that I just love.

SPECIAL INTEREST

If you know what your gift recipient likes to do, that should spark some ideas. Here is one: if he or she likes to garden, consider one of Howard Garrett’s (The Dirt Doctor) wonderful books on organic approaches for yard, garden and home.

FOOD-RELATED

• A very high-quality chef’s knife. Almost everyone needs to eat more vegetables. One thing that makes them a lot easier to prepare is a very sharp well designed and balanced chef’s knife. This is not an item to go cheap on because the better ones work better and last longer. This one is like my favorite*.
• Along those lines, cutting boards* that can go in the dishwasher are handy (I have some like this). I also like the idea of color coding boards* so, e.g. you know which one is for meat. Read this link about cutting board safety.
• For someone you know that needs more vegetables but is not inclined to spend more time in the kitchen, consider a delicious and easy supplement. I’m giving personal trainer Sweet Wheat and Bright Beets+ for Christmas because she is so health conscious. You could make a nice basket. For a special listener discounts call 888-958-5331 and mention Healthy by Nature.
  
• Instant Pot* makes it easy to prepare a meals, and thereby avoid fast food. (Be sure to check at Bed, Bath and Beyond for a sale and their 20% discount.) If the person already has one, perhaps a Instant Pot cookbook* for variety. (You could even put together a basket of ingredients for a recipe from the book.)
• Fruit – A box of Pears or even the Fruit of the Month Club from Harry and David is very nice.

BETTER SLEEP

• A sound machine is very soothing and covers up nighttime creaks, snoring and noises that might keep a person awake. They come in a wide price range. I read that pink noise is more restful than white noise and so we got this one* because it had that option along with many others such as ocean, rain, etc. but it is in the higher end of the price range.

BE ACTIVE AND MINGLE – being active and socializing are good for health. This list is just a starting point. Obviously, it will better if you know the recipients interests.

• Concert tickets
• Ballroom dancing lessons
• Pottery painting experience
• Novel folding exercise mat. Saw this on Shark Tank.
• Bill suggested I add “fitness club membership”. I say, if you want a punch in the nose, giving a scale would be cheaper.
• Something for travel such as covering the cost of TSA security precheck ($78).

JUST FOR FUN

• FYI, the gifts of the Magi gold, frankincense and myrrh were and still are all used in natural health.
• One year I got a big kick out of a holiday novelty. It was a plastic reindeer that “pooped” jellybeans. Here is a classier moose version in wood. Maybe you could fill it with vitamin C tablets.

* For clarity and reader convenience, I often link to good examples of what I’m talking about. I want you to know that HBN is an Amazon affiliate, meaning that when listeners buy anything using one of these links, Amazon pays HBN a small commission. (I mean small and that is if I’m even doing it right with their frequent changes. Every few months we might get maybe $15 or so but it all helps. I don’t take a salary, so it goes to support the show not to me.)

Peter McCullough, MD answers 6 questions

When Dr. McCullough was on the HBN show last week, we did not get to all the questions I wanted to ask. Here are six he kindly answered after the taping. I have even more questions, but the good doctor has agreed to return Dec. 21^st. You may email your questions to [email protected].

1. What is your opinion about the approved anti-covid drug Paxlovid?  

A, Paxlovid, despite impressive clinical trial results, has fallen flat in clinical practice.  A large real world Israeli study showed inconsistent results across age groups and in May 2022 the CDC slapped a medical advisory warning for Paxlovid rebound which makes the COVID-19 illness longer for patients and extends the misery.   There are dozens of serious drug interactions so many elderly patients on several baseline medications cannot take it.

M.W. opinion = Dr. McCullough’s home treatment guidance is likely a better and safer approach that I would use.

2. Is getting a covid booster shot after recovering from covid asking for trouble with blood clots?

A. Yes, boosters should not be taken once someone has recovered from COVID-19.  There is no clinical benefit, and the serious risks of heart damage and blood clots remain unchanged.  In the CDC V-safe data, 7-8% of patients who take COVID-19 vaccines require emergency care or hospitalization for severe reactions.

3. Is one reason the covid vaccines have limited effectiveness that they do their work in the blood vessels and not where the virus is replicating unaffected in the mucous membranes of the nose and throat? Is that why nasal lavage with dilute iodine or other antimicrobials along with gargling with something antimicrobial like Listerine is good prevention after possible exposure. How about the product, BETADINE Cold Defense Nasal Spray 20ml New Improved Formula?. (It claims to eliminate 99% viruses)

A. Yes, many forms of iodine, hydrogen peroxide, colloidal sliver, or xylitol nasal sprays are effective.  The main point is to use some form of viricidal spray and not to rely on pills to penetrate into the sinuses.

4. Did I understand you to say that the SECOND covid injection is much more reactogenic with fever, pain, myalgia, etc.? And as part of that response, there can be a major surge in blood pressure.

A. Yes, the second shot is about 80 times worse than the first shot.

5. As a prominent cardiologist, please explain how vaccines are linked to cardiovascular trouble.

A. as a cardiologist, I am very concerned with thousands of young Americans suffering heart damage with the vaccines and sadly some develop fatal arrhythmias and have cardiac arrests during sleep or during sports.  One fatal case is too many since the vaccines do not prevent the infection, stop transmission, or reduce the risk of hospitalization or death.

6. Long Covid–What symptoms do you see? Is there any way to prevent it? Any treatment?

A. Most cases of long-COVID slowly resolve over time.  There appears to be no quick fix with prescription medications.

M.W. Note: During her 11/30 interview, Pamela Smith, MD said that a lot of cases of “long covid” (whether acquired from having had the disease or from vaccines) are re-activations of a previous viral disease such as Epstein Barr (it causes Mononucleosis, the “kissing disease” and most people get that at some point). Searching for treatments for those and building immune function may help.