Healthy by Nature radio show this week: Finally! I get to interview Dr. Kate Rheaume-Bleue. (As you can imagine, I’ll call her “Dr. Kate”.) She is a naturopath who has written a wonderful book on the importance of Vitamin K2. Here is who really must listen: pregnant women and diabetics…those confused about supplementing with calcium…those worried about osteoporosis or hardening of the arteries…anyone wanting to avoid dental decay, cancer, wrinkles or obesity. Okay, that is probably everyone. Call the live show with questions at 1-800-281-8255. Click here to find podcasts, show archives and how to listen nationwide.
 
Surgeries
This is a continuation of last week’s Part 1 on spending decisions that boost or diminish our well-being.

Robot Hysterectomies – Because of advertising hype, a great many women are demanding robot hysterectomies. The procedure may be on the cutting edge (pardon the pun) but apparently they are not better than the more manual minimally invasive kind and they cost a lot more. LINK. The best choice might be for the woman to get to the root of the problem and avoid instant menopause by hysterectomy altogether. For example, it could be caused by estrogen dominance and that might be remedied by adding progesterone. (But, please, only the real thing that is identical to what the body makes, not the synthetic imitation so often prescribed.)

Knee Surgery– Arthroscopic surgery is quite common for torn meniscus (a cartilage structure)in the knee, but physical therapy may be just as good, safer and less expensive. LINK.
 
What we put in our mouths
McDonald’s Egg White Delight – The omnipresent food chain will soon sell an egg-white-only version of their popular Egg McMuffin. It will be 260 calories rather than the previous 300 because it will contain less fat. Unfortunately, it will also be missing all the wonderful fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, beneficial fats, carotenoids and other nutrients in egg yolks. (Please remember that an egg has all the components needed to grow a complete chicken!) But don’t blame McD’s. They are just responding to the fact that so many people order egg white omelets (or worse yet Egg Beaters omelets) apparently still believing that old myth that eating foods that contain cholesterol will raise their own blood cholesterol. Or, they have not yet learned that fat in the diet is not the main thing making us fat.

Diet Products – Americans spend $38 billion a year on stuff like meal replacements and diet candy–but we are still fat. What would happen if we just went back to eating like Grandma did? Hey, at least soft drink sales have been going down since 2005.

Actually, I probably write most weeks one way or another about voting with our dollars on purchases that either reduce wellness (e.g. spending $4.60 on a Grande [medium] Starbucks Caramel Frappucino with its 16 teaspoons of sugar and 410 calories) or that builds wellness (for example, spending that same $4.60 at Natural Grocers on some organic carrots, spinach and walnuts).
Happy Easter and Passover
 
Last Week
LINK to Archive. This was our annual LIVE REMOTE broadcast from Natural HealthFest. Andy Hopkins and I talked with several exhibitors—each with a pearl of health wisdom for all our listeners. (Local Oven, Healthy Perceptions, Medical Massage of Dallas, NuSkin, Lily of the Desert, Natural Grocers, Relax Far Infrared Saunas. Fun, Fun. (Please mark your calendar now for next year’s event, March 29, 2014.)

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My first book : Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet, Prilosec & Other Acid Blockers. Subtitle: What to Use to Relieve Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and Gastric Ailments.

My latest book: Aloe Vera-Modern Science Sheds Light on an Ancient Herbal Remedy

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 2013 Martie Whittekin, CCN