Healthy by Nature radio show this week
This week we have wall to wall good information. Harvard-educated physician, Melissa E. Clarke, MD will discuss points from her book, Excuse Me, Doctor! I’ve Got What? 9 Steps to Take after Being Diagnosed with a Serious Condition. It helps consumers make educated decisions regarding conventional and alternative healthcare practitioners, hospitals, insurance, financial options, and self-care strategies under the new Affordable Care Act. We’ll talk about New Year’s Resolutions with Certified Nutritionist and Certified Master Herbalist, Tim Mount. Check out his blog. Finally, Matthew Budoff, MD, Professor of Medicine at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute will tell us about a study (discussed below) that shows a better way to assess heart disease risk. Click here to find podcasts, show archives and how to listen nationwide.

Less is More – Part 2
Fewer cataracts with multivitamins? A study of 5,700 male doctors concluded that those taking a multivitamin had a 7% reduction in the risk of cataracts. And this was in spite of the fact that they were taking what I think is a wholly inadequate (and possibly toxic) multi-vitamin product, Centrum. I find it amusing that this is a different aspect of the very same study that had the media declaring multivitamins useless. LINK.

Fewer pills for the elderly? New guidelines issued this month by the Journal of the American Medical Association recommend that patients age 60 and over NOT be put on high blood pressure drugs unless their blood pressure is at least 150/90. By using diet and lifestyle adjustments instead, the folks would be spared not only the known side effects of the drugs, but also surprise problems from interactions with their other medications. LINK. Natural remedies for high blood pressure such as fish oil and magnesium offer added protection for many other health issues. Celery Seed Extract is another good choice. LINK.

Fewer deaths from aspirin? It is trendy to take a daily aspirin in hopes of preventing heart attacks and cancer. However, according to a review of studies, the risks of that plan may outweigh benefits for most healthy adults. Neither the article nor the abstract seemed to address dosage. Aspirin may be anti-inflammatory and reduce platelet stickiness (“thin the blood”) but, its use carries the risk of GI bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke. Natural supplements such as fish oil, vitamin E and curcumin are also anti-inflammatory and reduce platelet stickiness. Plus, they offer fringe benefits instead of side effects.

Fewer statin drugs with better testing? An important new study shows that calcium in the arteries is a much better indicator of cardiovascular risk than cholesterol levels or other supposed risk factors. LINK. The results call into question the practice of dispensing statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) based on the old guidelines or on the new ones discussed in our recent newsletter. (One of the study authors, Dr. Budoff, is on our radio show this week.)

Fewer statins, more apples? A British study determined that as many lives would be saved in the UK by prescribing an apple a day as there would be by giving a statin drug to every person over 50 years of age who wasn’t already taking one. LINK.

To Scan or Not to Scan – Part 2
As discussed last week in Part 1, it doesn’t seem clear whether we should increase or decrease the number of CT chest scans looking for lung cancer. On the NBC Nightly News, Dr. Nancy Snyderman was quite enthusiastic about low energy CT scans for the purpose. She bragged that it was no more radiation than received with a mammogram. Hmm. We know that mammograms contribute to the development of breast cancer. That low energy type of radiation is more likely to damage DNA. Lung tissue is delicate and don’t the rays need to go through the breast to reach the lung? (MRI’s are safer and much more accurate. I wish MRI’s or thermograms were used instead of mammograms.) Speaking of lung cancer, an animal study shows promise for an extract of the herb Kava for prevention of lung cancer. LINK.

What’s coming up?
Save on tickets to the March 29, 2014 Natural HealthFest by purchasing them now. Click here.

Last Week Follow-up
LINK to that show in the archives. Dr. Ross Pelton, a PhD pharmacist and Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN), and I talked about his book, The Pill Problem, which he made available FREE. We also talked about health news and took calls on sinus infections, effects from taking antibiotics for 6 months and types of vitamin K. This show should be of special interest to women taking birth control pills and those worried about colon cancer, .

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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 2014 Martie Whittekin, CCN