Healthy by Nature radio show this week
Nutritionist, author, blogger and terrific radio host, Bill Sardi, will entertain and inform us about medical trends and more importantly about natural substances that can avoid many of the ravages of aging. Fasten your seat belts. He is also the formulator of amazing Longevinex. Call the live show with questions at 1-800-281-8255. Click here to find podcasts, show archives and how to listen nationwide.

The happy trends continue
This may be the end of this newsletter series, but hopefully it is NOT the end of encouraging trends coming down the pike.

Fewer cases of colon cancer with better bacteria? As we discussed on Jan 4th with Dr. Ross Pelton, apparently folks with colon cancer have more unfriendly intestinal bugs than healthy people do. LINK. Long term protection is only one of dozens of reason to keep your good guy balance high. Another immediate benefit is to improve immune function during the colds and flu season. In addition to feeding the good guys fibrous vegetables (rather than starch and sugar which feed harmful yeast), Dr. Pelton and I suggested improving the gut environment with Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics.

Fewer dollars spent on heartburn? A recent Consumer Reports promotional piece waxed enthusiastic that the heartburn drug, Prilosec, is $24/month in contrast to prescription Nexium which costs $248/month. Yes, that is a savings, but Prilosec is not cheap once you add in the cost of treating the osteoporosis, dementia, pneumonia (a common deadly complication of the flu) and the many other serious diseases that may be caused by long term use of these acid-blockers. Do you know what is actually much more thrifty? Read my book on the subject, determine the cause of your digestive problem (very unlikely to be excess acid) and fix that for good. (Yet another role for Dr. Ohhira’s.)

Fewer bogus studies that hawk drugs in med journals?  A shocking editorial in the January 14th British Medical Journal suggests that medical journals stop publishing studies conducted by pharmaceutical companies for the same reasons they stopped giving credence to studies funded by tobacco companies. The editorial authors had the courage to say out loud that pharmaceutical meds are the third leading cause of death. They list some of the many ways that study design can be manipulated to show puffed up benefits and hide even lethal side effects. We also know that drug companies typically shelve many unfavorable studies and only send in for publication the ones that will sell their products. This amazingly frank editorial focuses needed attention on a big problem, but, since drug advertising often fills half of the pages of a journal and supports the salaries, it is perhaps a long shot that change will happen.

Oops…
In last week’s newsletter when I was talking about a study showing benefit of multivitamins for prevention of cataracts. I took a shot at a popular mass market vitamin but, should have shown more compassion for those who have been convinced by relentless marketing that they have purchased a good product. This exchange with a reader may help clear that up.

Q. What multivitamin do you recommend? I’ve been on Centrum for years and my blood work has been fine. Sarah

A. Blood work will stay in range until advanced disease pushes them into the caution area. So, a “normal” blood test does not mean that a person is in optimum health. I do think Centrum is better than taking no vitamin and it is easy to see why it is so popular with all the advertising it gets. I recommend virtually any multi that you find in your natural food store as an improvement. As an example, here are three from our sponsors:

Doctor’s Best (this is a very cutting edge product available in most stores like Natural   Grocers and at HealthWorksMart.com).

Rainbow Light (Good for seniors because it has no iron. Also available at Natural Grocers as well as HealthWorksMart.com and their outlet store in Plano.)

HealthWorks Multi (has a very modest amount of iron and is easy to swallow.)

 What’s coming up?
Natural HealthFest Saturday, March 29 at Plano Centre
Last Week Follow-up
LINK to that show in the archives. Harvard-educated physician, Melissa E. Clarke, MD discussed 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 talked about New Year’s Resolutions with Certified Nutritionist and Certified Master Herbalist, Tim Mount. We covered the importance of water intake and filtered water in particular. Check out his blog. Finally, Matthew Budoff, MD, Professor of Medicine at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute told us about a study that shows calcium in the arteries is a better predictor of heart disease risk than cholesterol and other factors.

Please help spread the good word-forward this newsletter to friends and family.
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