Leo Galland, M.D.2013-05-25T01:16:57-04:00Leo Galland, M.D.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/index.php?author=leo-galland-mdCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Leo Galland, M.D.Good old fashioned elbow grease.How Dogs Can Give You Lyme Diseasetag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.32879482013-05-21T17:43:14-04:002013-05-21T17:43:40-04:00Leo Galland, M.D.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/
After all, Lyme spreads from deer ticks, and there are no deer in Central Park. But deer ticks are also carried by rodents, such as mice and birds that are spreading Lyme into new areas. What about all those squirrels?
Yet there is a bigger animal that can carry numerous deer ticks, right into the city, into apartments and houses. That's right, I am talking about man's best friends: dogs. Now, I am a big dog lover, and our family has always had a dog. But dogs carry ticks, including deer ticks that carry Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) and other tick-borne diseases.
Speaking of dogs and ticks, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains the American dog tick is a common transmitter of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The CDC states:
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a tickborne disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii. This organism is a cause of potentially fatal human illness in North and South America, and is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected tick species.
Dog ticks are found "in abundance" in all five boroughs of New York City.
Yet this could be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to deer tick presence in New York City. The report cited above explains that information on tick populations in NYC "is limited" and based on just a few studies by Fordham University and the The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
In scientific literature it has been noted that many cases of Lyme disease go undiagnosed. When you look at the reported numbers, keep in mind the actual figures could be much higher.
It is time we rethink the supposed geographic barriers to Lyme disease. People often tell me that "there is no Lyme disease in my town" when they come from Northwestern Connecticut, or Vermont, or even Long Island. This type of "not in my backyard" thinking is not going to help in the challenging fight to prevent, test for, treat and cure Lyme disease.
Not on the East Coast or California? Research proves that Lyme disease is spreading to the Midwest and into Canada. Lyme disease has been reported in more than 70 countries and is one of the most common tick-borne diseases in China.
So let me illustrate how Lyme can occur in the city.
Michael, an avid softball player, developed muscle aches, fatigue, fever and chills last May. When he went to the doctor, he told Michael that he had the flu and sent him home, but he continued to get worse. Michael hadn't left New York City in a year, and the doctor who saw him never suspected Lyme disease.
His symptoms continued, so he came to my office. When I suggested that he could have urban Lyme disease -- a typical Lyme infection acquired in cities rather than the suburbs or countryside, he was initially surprised.
Then he recalled that he had seen a deer tick in his apartment on the Upper East Side a week before his symptoms started. He didn't notice a tick bite, but that is a common experience among people who get Lyme.
A blood test confirmed the presence of antibodies to the Lyme bacteria, Borrelia burgodrferi, and revealed a pattern of recent infection. A few weeks taking the antibiotic, doxycycline, cleared his symptoms, and a year later he's totally fine.
So, how did Michael catch Lyme disease in Manhattan?
Well, every weekend he'd play ball on the grass in Central Park. Think about the grass in city parks. Dogs walk on it. Many of these same dogs spend weekends with their owners in the Hamptons, upstate, or in Connecticut, all hotbeds for Lyme disease, where they can easily pick up deer ticks and bring them back to their city homes.
Although the ticks that spread Lyme disease, Ixodes scapularis, are popularly known as deer ticks, they also live comfortably on small rodents and birds, so they can easily hitch rides to urban parks.
Get to Know about Lyme Disease
Deer ticks are so tiny that you may not see them biting you. While the classic rash caused by a deer tick bite looks like a target ("bull's eye" rash), many people see no rash.
Lyme disease symptoms can occur within days or weeks after infection. Timely treatment improves the cure rate, but chronic infection can persist and lead to a wide variety of serious symptoms in any part of your body such as joints, muscles, nervous system, and heart.
People with unexplained fatigue, fever or muscle pain, or acute change in emotional or cognitive function, or with a diagnosis of autoimmune or degenerative neurological disease, should be evaluated for Lyme.
So where could you get Lyme disease? Anywhere a dog goes, and these days our dogs travel -- a lot. Our favorite pets travel around the country with us, and could bring along an uninvited guest: the deer tick.
Now I'd like to hear from you: Do you have unexplained symptoms? Have your been tested for Lyme disease or other tick-borne diseases? How do you think you may have gotten Lyme?
Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
Best Health,
Leo Galland, M.D.
Important: Share the health with your friends and family by forwarding this article to them, and sharing and liking on Facebook.
Leo Galland, M.D. is a board-certified internist, author and internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine. Dr. Galland is the founder of Pill Advised, a web application for learning about medications, supplements and food. Sign up for FREE to discover how your medications and vitamins interact. Watch his videos on YouTube and join the Pill Advised Facebook page.
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2008 Oct;79(4):535-40. "Identifying the reservoir hosts of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi in California: the role of the western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus)." Salkeld DJ, Leonhard S, Girard YA, Hahn N, Mun J, Padgett KA, Lane RS. Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, and Office of Laboratory Animal Care, University of California, Berkeley, California
J Wildl Dis. 2010 Jan;46(1):291-6. "Coinfection of western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus) and other sciurid rodents with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in California." Nieto NC, Leonhard S, Foley JE, Lane RS. Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California
Folia Parasitol (Praha). 1997;44(2):155-60. "Role of grey squirrels and pheasants in the transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the Lyme disease spirochaete, in the U.K." Craine NG, Nuttall PA, Marriott AC, Randolph SE. Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, UK.
N Engl J Med. 1988 Dec 1;319(22):1441-6. "Seronegative Lyme disease. Dissociation of specific T- and B-lymphocyte responses to Borrelia burgdorferi." Dattwyler RJ, Volkman DJ, Luft BJ, Halperin JJ, Thomas J, Golightly MG.
Am J Clin Pathol. 1996 May;105(5):647-54. "Polymerase chain reaction detection of Lyme disease: correlation with clinical manifestations and serologic responses." Mouritsen CL, Wittwer CT, Litwin CM, Yang L, Weis JJ, Martins TB, Jaskowski TD, Hill HR.
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. "DOHMH Advisory #10: Tick-borne Disease Advisory." June 16, 2011
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2011 Oct;11(10):1351-8. Epub 2011 Jun 20. "Ixodes scapularis and Borrelia burgdorferi among diverse habitats within a natural area in east-central Illinois." Rydzewski J, Mateus-Pinilla N, Warner RE, Hamer S, Weng HY. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1816 S. Oak Street, Urbana, IL 61820, Researchers from the University of Illinois department of pathobiology and Michigan State University also contributed to this study.
Leighton, P. A., Koffi, J. K., Pelcat, Y., Lindsay, L. R. and Ogden, N. H. (2012), "Predicting the speed of tick invasion: an empirical model of range expansion for the Lyme disease vector Ixodes scapularis in Canada" Journal of Applied Ecology, 49: 457-464. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2012.02112.x published by the British Ecological Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, C.P. 5000, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 7C6, Canada
N Engl J Med. 2013 Jan 17;368(3):291-3. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1215469. "Human Borrelia miyamotoi infection in the United States." Krause PJ, Narasimhan S, Wormser GP, Rollend L, Fikrig E, Lepore T, Barbour A, Fish D.
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute (i) medical advice or counseling, (ii) the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, (iii) or the creation of a physician-patient relationship. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.
For more by Leo Galland, M.D., click here.]]>Changing the Culture of Medicinetag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.20524002012-11-02T11:00:00-04:002013-01-02T05:12:01-05:00Leo Galland, M.D.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/impassioned personal case for changing the culture of medicine by admitting errors of judgment.
I think that the most important step in making that change is recognizing the relationship between physician and patient for what it really is: a partnership.
Doctors don't cure diseases.
At our best we help patients heal. In extreme cases, our interventions are necessary for healing to occur. No matter how strong the medication or how advanced the surgical technique, no matter how expertly they're applied, their success depends upon the ability of the patient's body and mind to heal itself.
This is not the way doctors are taught. When I applied for a residency at Bellevue Hospital many years ago, the chief of medicine assured me that Bellevue was a great place to train. "When you've worked on city hospital patients with multiple diseases and multi-organ failure," he explained, "then the University Hospital patients, who only have one thing wrong with them, are a piece of cake."
I've analyzed the social implications of this statement in my book, Power Healing. The bottom line: This is the vision of the biomedical mechanic.
My experience at Bellevue taught me a lot about medical complexity, but it also taught me that my professor had used the wrong preposition: "work on" instead of work with." The distinction makes a huge difference.
Working with patients requires a special set of skills and behaviors that must be taught and encouraged if the culture of medicine is to change. Not only do these skills increase humanism, their application has consistently been shown to result in better health outcomes.
1. Listening. Patients are typically given about 20 seconds to express their concerns before being cut off and redirected by the doctor. Yet patients who are allowed to present all their concerns in their own words cooperate more fully with medical treatment and show a greater improvement in health status, losing less time from work and experiencing less limitation of function.
2. Acknowledging. Every patient has his own ideas and feelings about his illness and his own goals. In most medical consultations, the patient and the doctor are not in full agreement about the nature of the principal problem. Unfortunately, physicians are loathe to recognize the patient's perspective, even when it is presented to them.
3. Explaining. People have intense need for explanations about the causes of their diseases. Doctors are usually content to name the disease and treat it. Patients want to know how they came to be sick, so that they can attach some meaning to the illness. They want to know what to expect from the illness and what they can do to relieve symptoms or speed recovery. The amount of information given by physicians correlates with the degree of satisfaction patients express concerning the treatment they have received. Yet studies show that doctors consistently underestimate the amount of information patients want and grossly overestimate the amount of information they actually give.
4. Encouraging self-care. Advice about self-care practices enhances a patient's confidence in his or her ability to recover. Eliciting the patient's active participation in developing a therapeutic plan improves satisfaction, cooperation and level of activity for patients with a wide range of chronic diseases.
5. Asking for feedback. This may well be the hardest part, but also the most enlightening. Sports educators have discovered that novice athletes progress fastest when they are given positive feedback ("this is what you did right"), whereas experienced athletes learn best when given negative feedback ("this is what you did wrong").
In medicine, we do it the opposite way. Students and interns are constantly reminded of what they don't know, but senior physicians are allowed to focus on their successes. Our practices consist of the patients who keep returning to see us. We lose the opportunity to learn from those who don't come back. When I left academic medicine and went into medical practice in a small town, I started calling patients I hadn't seen in a while to find out how they were doing. Their responses taught me as much as I'd learned in 12 years of training and teaching. To really change the culture of medicine, feedback from patients should become part of continuing medical education.
Please share your experience with the health-care system.
How do you feel about your medical care?
What obstacles have you faced in communicating your illness?
Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
Best Health,
Leo Galland, M.D.
Important: Share the Health with your friends and family by forwarding this article to them, and sharing on Facebook.
Leo Galland, MD is a board-certified internist, author and internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine. Dr. Galland is the founder of Pill Advised, a web application for learning about medications, supplements and food. Sign up for FREE to discover how your medications and vitamins interact. Watch his videos on YouTube and join the Pill Advised Facebook page.
References and Further Reading
Beckman DB, Frankel RM "The effect of physician behavior on the collection of data." Annals of Internal Medicine. 1984; volume 101: pp 692-696.
Marvel MK, Epstein RM, Flowers K, Beckman HB. "Soliciting the patient's agenda: have we improved?" JAMA. 1999 Jan 20;281(3):283-7.
Roter DL, Hall JA. "Physician interviewing styles and medical information obtained from patients." Journal of General Internal Medicine. 1987;vol 2: pp 325-329.
Fredidin RB, Goldin L, Cecil RR. Patient-physician concordance in problem identification in the primary care setting. Annals of Internal Medicine. 1980. vol 93: pp 490-493.
Sanchez-Menegay C, Stalder M. Do physicians take into account patients' perspect¬ives? Journal of General Internal Medicine. 1994; volume 9: pp 404-406. No, at least in Switzer¬land.
Korsch BM, Gozzi EK, Francis V. Gaps in doctor-patient communication. I: Doctor-patient interaction and patient satisfac-tion. Pediatrics. 1968; vol 42: pp 855-871.
Williams GH, Wood PHN. Common-sense beliefs about illness: a mediating role for the doctor. Lancet. 1986; 328: 1435-1437.
Hall JA, Roter DL, Katz NR. Meta-analysis of correlates of provider behavior in medical encounters. Medical Care. 1990; vol 28: pp 657-675.
Brody DS. Physician recognition of behavioral, psychological, and social aspects of medical care. Archives of Internal Medicine. 1980. volume 140: pp 1286-1289.
Lorig KR, Mazonson PD, Holman HR. Evidence suggesting that health education for self-management in patients with chronic arthritis has sustained health benefits while reducing health care costs. Arthritis and Rheumatism. 1993;vol 36:pp 439-446.
Waitzkin H. Doctor-patient communication: clinical implica¬tions of social scientific research. Journal of the American Medical Association. 1984; vol 252: pp 2441-2446.
Greenfield S, Kaplan S, Ware JE. Expanding patient involvement in care: effects on patient outcomes. Annals of Internal Medicine. 1985; vol 102: pp 520-528.
Kaplan SH, Greenfield S, Ware JE. Assessing the effects of physician-patient interactions on the outcomes of chronic disease. Medical Care. 1989; vol 27: S110-S127.
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute (i) medical advice or counseling, (ii) the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, (iii) or the creation of a physician--patient relationship. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.]]>Are Chemicals Making You Sick? The Hidden Health Problem of Chemical Sensitivitytag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.17139062012-08-01T17:46:32-04:002012-10-01T05:12:03-04:00Leo Galland, M.D.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/
Over the past 30 years I've routinely asked patients about intolerance to chemicals, foods and drugs and found a normal bell-shaped curve of distribution: Most people in my medical practice have some degree of chemical intolerance, a small percentage are sensitive to just about anything that's synthetic and a small percentage report no sensitivity at all.
Where a person sits on that curve may change, depending upon numerous factors, which include infection, toxic exposures, nutritional depletion, and life stress.
I contributed my findings on chemical sensitivity to one of the earliest textbooks dealing with the topic, which was edited by Mark Cullen of Yale University in 1987.
At the time I found that patients with multiple chemical sensitivities appeared to have difficulty digesting protein, a problem that can contribute to impairment of detoxification and disturbances of immune function.[1] I still find that digestive disturbances play an important role in chemical intolerance, both as a cause and as a symptom.
I've suspected that my observations would apply to the general population, even though the patients I see are not typical of patients in a primary care practice; they're referred to me because they have chronic problems that have been resistant to conventional diagnosis or treatment.
Now, a new study from the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, confirms that chemical intolerance is common among primary care patients and is rarely diagnosed.[2]
The researchers gave the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI) to 400 adult patients in two primary care practices in San Antonio and found that 20.3 percent met the criteria for chemical intolerance. For three-quarters of them, there was no medical notation of any kind of hypersensitivity. Most of these patients were middle-aged working-class women.
The chemically intolerant patients were more likely to have poorer functional status, to limit social activities and to use more medical services when compared with non-chemically intolerant patients.
The researchers explain:
Patients who are chemically intolerant use health care services at increased rates (making an average of 23.3 visits to a medical professional per year). In addition, chemical intolerance is associated with poor quality of life and functional impairments leading to loss of employment and socioeconomic hardships.
Symptoms of chemical tolerance may involve multiple body systems and can affecting thinking, moods, joints, muscles, the gastrointestinal tract, the heart and blood vessels, skin, and urinary system.
Patients with chemical intolerance often have concurrent diagnoses, which may include heart problems, bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, hypothyroidism, autoimmune diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, migraine, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
The Texas researchers found that chemically intolerant patients tended to also be intolerant of medication, specific foods and alcohol and to have more severe symptoms than patients without chemical intolerance.
An interesting finding was that compared to a healthy population from the same community, chemically intolerant patients scored lower for "masking factors." factors that might otherwise obscure awareness of an association between chemical exposures and symptoms. "In other words," the researchers state, "chemically intolerant patients may be more aware of their difficulties in tolerating everyday environmental exposures than are members of the healthy population."
This is important because most triggers for chemical intolerance, like solvents, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds, are inherently toxic, and according to the Texas researchers, have been "clearly linked with the development of chemical intolerance and associated neuropsychiatric symptoms, via a process referred to as toxicant-induced loss of tolerance."
In this sense, chemically intolerant people are like the "canary in the coal mine" and they carry a message for all of us.
British miners in the early 20th century would take a caged canary with them into the mines because the canary was more sensitive to toxic gas than the miners. If the canary passed out, it was time to leave the mine.
The same kinds of environmental chemicals that provoke symptoms in the chemically sensitive have been associated with serious health problems in people who do not consider themselves chemically sensitive.
An example of this can be seen in how rates of autism among children in the U.S. have increased dramatically over the past 30 years. Development of autism in children has been associated with prenatal and perinatal chemical exposures of the type that may provoke symptoms in people with chemical intolerance.
With so much of our time spent indoors, chemical exposures at home, the office, at school and in stores poses a substantial challenge. Learn more about this important health issue in Sick Building, Sick People.
Chemical intolerance should not be ignored or stigmatized. It should be seen as a common physiologic response to living in a chemical world.
Now I'd like to hear from you:
Have you been exposed to chemicals?
Have you noticed any immediate or long-term affects?
What steps have you taken to limit exposure and detoxify?
Has anything helped?
Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
Best Health,
Leo Galland, M.D.
Important: Share the Health with your friends and family by forwarding this article to them, and sharing on Facebook.
Leo Galland, MD is a board-certified internist, author and internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine. Dr. Galland is the founder of Pill Advised, a web application for learning about medications, supplements and food. Sign up for FREE to discover how your medications and vitamins interact. Watch his videos on YouTube and join the Pill Advised Facebook page.
[1] Leo Galland, "Biochemical Abnormalities in Patients with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, in Workers with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities", M. Cullen ed., Occupational Medicine: State of the Art Reviews. Hanley and Belfus, Philadelphia (1987), pp. 713-720.
[2] David A. Katerndahl, Iris R. Bell, Raymond F. Palmer, and Claudia S. Miller, "Chemical Intolerance in Primary Care Settings: Prevalence, Comorbidity, and Outcomes", Ann Fam Med July/August 2012 vol. 10 no. 4 357-365
Larsson M, Weiss B, Janson S, Sundell J, Bornehag CG. "Associations between indoor environmental factors and parental-reported autistic spectrum disorders in children 6-8 years of age." Neurotoxicology. 2009 Sep;30(5):822-31. Epub 2009 Feb 10
Edelson SB, Cantor DS. "Autism: xenobiotic influences." Toxicol Ind Health. 1998 Jul-Aug;14(4):553-63.
Windham GC, Zhang L, Gunier R, Croen LA, Grether JK. "Autism spectrum disorders in relation to distribution of hazardous air pollutants in the san francisco bay area." Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Sep;114(9):1438-44.
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute (i) medical advice or counseling, (ii) the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, (iii) or the creation of a physician--patient relationship. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.]]>Fighting Back Against Lyme Diseasetag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.14563962012-04-27T11:58:30-04:002012-06-27T05:12:02-04:00Leo Galland, M.D.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/"Lyme Disease: The Perfect Storm Is Headed Our Way."
Today I look at fighting back against Lyme disease, a persistent and challenging foe that should not be underestimated. To illustrate this I'd like to briefly mention a fascinating study I recently came across about Lyme's spread.
The movement of ticks that carry Lyme disease into new areas is being monitored at universities in the U.S. and internationally. At the University of Illinois, researchers are discovering the ways Lyme ticks are creeping into new environments.
As a result of the spreading ticks this season, many people will receive antibiotic treatment for tick bites or suspected infection. Yet controversy surrounds the issue of what is the optimal treatment for Lyme disease.
Some studies have shown that different strains of Borrelia, the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, differ in the way they respond to antibiotics.
In my own clinical experience, there is no single "best" treatment. People vary greatly in their response to antibiotic therapy and their tolerance for different antibiotics. The "Advanced Topics in Lyme Disease" published by Dr. Joseph Burrascano, a pioneering physician specializing in Lyme disease, is a good place to start in terms of getting up to speed on this difficult-to-treat infection.
Antibiotics are the standard therapy for Lyme disease. Like other drugs, the way they are taken can strongly influence the outcome of treatment. Interactions between antibiotics and food or supplements are very important and have been described in the medical journals. To help educate people about this research, I created a database of interactions that is accessible as a free online tool at pilladvised.com.
To further educate doctors and patients about negative interactions and beneficial ones, I've highlighted some of that information, as it relates to treatment of Lyme disease, below.
Information on drug/food interactions is also available from your pharmacist and often included in the patient-package insert when you buy medication. This should be checked for each individual drug being taken, because the dosage form (sustained-release vs. regular, for example) may influence the effect of food on drug absorption.
Here are highlighted interactions between some common antibiotics and food or supplements:
Food or Supplements May Affect Antibiotic Absorption
Doxycyline, the most commonly prescribed antibiotic for Lyme disease, forms complexes with minerals like calcium, magnesium and iron that impair antibiotic absorption. Because of their high calcium content, dairy products should not be taken within several hours of doxycycline. A glass of milk reduces doxycycline absorption by almost 30 percent.
Doxycycline should also be taken several hours apart from nutritional supplements containing minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc). Some herbal dietary supplements, like fennel and dandelion, are rich enough in mineral content that their consumption may negatively affect doxycycline absorption. The food and drug interactions that affect doxycycline are shared by other antibiotics in its class, like minocycline and tetracycline.
Penicillins are another class of antibiotics used to treat Lyme disease. They may also have their absorption impaired when taken with food, but by a different mechanism. Food causes most drugs to be retained in the stomach, where the presence of acid can cause penicillin to decompose. This effect is more likely to occur with penicillin V and ampicillin than with amoxicillin, which is more stable. Extended-release amoxicillin, however, may actually be more bioavailable when taken with food. Psyllium fiber, used to treat constipation, has been shown to bind penicillin, decreasing its absorption.
Two other classes of antibiotics often used to treat Lyme disease are also affected by food. These are cephalosporins, which include cefuroxime (Ceftin or Omnicef), and macrolides, which include claithromycin (Biaxin) and azithromycin (Zithromax). Food enhances absorption of cefuroxime and of the extended-release form of clarithromycin. Food impairs absorption of Zithromax capsules but appears to not impact absorption of Zithromax tablets Azithromycin can be irritating to the stomach. If you need to take it with food, request the tablet form.
Always check with your pharmacist on the best way to take the specific prescription you're been given. The difference can affect the success of treatment.
Clarithromycin is subject to an additional type of interaction. It may interact with herbal supplements. Clarithromycin is changed to an inactive metabolite by an enzyme called CYP3A4, which acts on it in the intestinal lining. The herb Echinacea, used as an immune stimulant, inhibits intestinal CYP3A4 and might increase absorption of active clarithromycin. St. John's wort, used to relieve depression, in contrast, increases CYP3A4 activity, and may potentially decrease clarithromycin absorption.
Antibiotics May Deplete Beneficial Bacteria And Nutrients
The human body is home to about 100 trillion bacteria. For every cell, your body harbors about 10 bacteria. Taking antibiotics can have a massive impact on your normal bacterial population, depleting sensitive organisms and allowing resistant ones to overgrow.
The most common effect is antibiotic-induced diarrhea, which may be prevented by the use of probiotics. The best-studied probiotics are Saccharomyces boulardii, a yeast, dubbed "yeast against yeast" in France, Lactobacillus rhamnosis GG, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus sporogenes.
The normal gastrointestinal bacterial flora synthesizes B vitamins, biotin and vitamin K, which are absorbed and utilized by humans. Depletion of normal bacteria by prolonged antibiotic therapy may produce vitamin deficits. Bleeding caused by vitamin K deficiency has occurred as a result of cephalosporin antibiotics.
High-dose penicillin therapy can lead to increased excretion of potassium by the kidneys. When combined with antibiotic-induced diarrhea or poor appetite, this effect may lead to potassium deficiency, with fatigue and muscle weakness as primary symptoms.
When taking antibiotics for several weeks, it may be worthwhile to take probiotics and a multivitamin.
As I have highlighted here, research has revealed how antibiotic treatment can be impacted by foods, such as dairy, and supplements, such as calcium, and herbs. Antibiotics may also lead to nutritional deficiencies, and beneficial bacteria can be reduced.
Lyme disease presents many challenges, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment. Given the scope of the problem, more research, education and prevention should be done to fight Lyme disease.
And Lyme is not limited to the U.S. While Lyme disease was first observed in Lyme, Conn., it is now recognized as an international problem, with infections in the UK, France, Spain, Italy and other countries.
Please share your experience fighting Lyme disease.
Have you been tested for Lyme or other tick-borne diseases?
Have you received treatment for Lyme, and has it helped?
Let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
Best Health,
Leo Galland, MD
Important: Share the Health with your friends and family by forwarding this article to them, and sharing on Facebook.
Leo Galland, MD is a board-certified internist, author and internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine. Dr. Galland is the founder of Pill Advised, a web application for learning about medications, supplements and food. Sign up for FREE to discover how your medications and vitamins interact. Watch his videos on YouTube and join the Pill Advised Facebook page.
References and Further Reading
Preac Mursic V, Marget W, Busch U, Pleterski Rigler D, Hagl S, "Kill kinetics of Borrelia burgdorferi and bacterial findings in relation to the treatment of Lyme borreliosis." Infection. 1996 Jan-Feb;24(1):9-16. Max v. Pettenkofer Institut, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany.
Agwuh KN, MacGowan A. "Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the tetracyclines including glycylcyclines." J Antimicrob Chemother. 2006 Aug;58(2):256-65 Department of Medical Microbiology, Old Medical School, Leeds General Infirmary Great George Street, Leeds LS1 2EX, UK.
Kshirsagar NA, Ankalesaria PS. "Effect of food on doxycycline absorption." J Postgrad Med. 1987 Jul;33(3):117-9.
"Comparative effect of different types of food on the bioavailability of cefaclor extended release tablet." Khan BA, Ahmed T, Karim S, Monif T, Saha N, Sharma PL. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2004 Apr-Jun;29(2):125-32
Karim S, Ahmed T, Monif T, Saha N, Sharma PL. "The effect of four different types of food on the bioavailability of cefaclor." Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2003 Jul-Sep;28(3):185-90
Guay DR, Gustavson LE, Devcich KJ, Zhang J, Cao G, Olson CA. "Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of extended-release clarithromycin." Clin Ther. 2001 Apr;23(4):566-77. Institute for the Study of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA.
"Mechanistic study of the azithromycin dosage-form-dependent food effect." Curatolo W, Foulds G, Labadie R. Pharm Res. 2010 Jul;27(7):1361-6
Gorski JC, Huang SM, Pinto A, Hamman MA, Hilligoss JK, Zaheer NA, Desai M, Miller M, Hall SD. "The effect of echinacea (Echinacea purpurea root) on cytochrome P450 activity in vivo." Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2004 Jan;75(1):89-100. Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, 46202-2879, USA
Alitalo et al. "Hypoprothrombinaemia and bleeding during administration of cefamandole and cefoperazone." Ann Clin res 1985; 17: 116-9.
Shimada et al. "Bleeding secondary to vitamin K deficiency in patients receiving parenteral cephem antibiotics." J Antimicob Chemother 1984; 14 (Suppl B): 325-330
Gill et al, "Hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis induced by high-dose ampicillin sodium." Am J Hosp Pharm 1977; 34: 528-31
Surawicz et al, "Prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea by Saccharomyces boulardii: A prospective study." Gastroenterol 1989; 96: 981-88
Vanderhoof et al, "Lactobacillus GG in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children." J Pediatr 1999; 135: 564-48.
Armuzzi et al, "The effect of oral administration of Lactobacillus GG on antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal side effects during helicobacter pylori eradication therapy." Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2001; 15: 163-69.
LaRosa et al, "Prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea with Lactobacillus sporogens and fructo-oligosaccharides in children. A multicentre double-blind vs placebo study." Minerva Pediatr 2003; 55: 447-52.
Leipner et al, "Therapy with proteolytic enzymes in rheumatic disorders." BioDrugs. 2001;15(12):779-89.
Luerti & Vignali, "Influence of bromelain on penetration of antibiotics in uterus, salpinx and ovary." Drugs Exp Clin Res 1978, 4: 45-48.
Full Text: "Diet and Inflammation" Leo Galland, MD, Nutr Clin Pract December 7, 2010 vol. 25 no. 6 634-640
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute (i) medical advice or counseling, (ii) the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, (iii) or the creation of a physician -- patient relationship. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.
For more by Leo Galland, M.D., click here.]]>Lyme Disease: The Perfect Storm Is Headed Our Waytag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.14299842012-04-18T08:06:22-04:002012-06-18T05:12:02-04:00Leo Galland, M.D.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/Blood-sucking ticks coming to a field and forest near you.
That may sound like the latest horror film, but unfortunately it is a reality due to a surge in ticks that spread Lyme disease this spring.
Fortunately, the media interest in Lyme disease appears to be growing with the threat. At the start of the month I was interviewed on Martha Stewart Living Radio about Lyme disease.
The Perfect Storm for Lyme Disease
A perfect storm happens when two conditions converge to amplify each other's effects. Two conditions are creating what may become the perfect storm for transmission of Lyme disease this spring:
An unusually warm winter, which left deer ticks alive, hungry and looking for a meal.
A dramatic flip-flop in the acorn cycle: A large crop of acorns in the fall of 2010 and a very small crop in 2011 in the East. This means fewer mice for the ticks to feed upon, as I explain below.
These two conditions mean tons of deer ticks that are hungry and lacking their typical food supply. You could be their next meal.
Ticks Transmit Lyme and Other Diseases
The bacteria that cause Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, are transmitted to humans by the bite of a deer tick (Ixodes dammini).
Deer ticks live for two years and in their lifetimes take only three blood meals: the first as newborn larvae, the second a year later as immature nymphs and the third a season later as adults.
Mice and Other Rodents Carry Ticks Too
If you don't see any deer and think the coast is clear, think again.
Deer ticks live in vegetation and hitch rides on animals on which they feed, not only deer, but mice and other rodents.
White-footed mice may be the most efficient carriers of deer ticks for human infection. White-footed mice thrive in vacant lots and small wooded parcels near homes because their natural predators cannot survive in those environments.
The mice feed on acorns and store them for winter. The fall of 2010 brought a bumper crop of acorns, which led to a surge in the mouse population and created abundant homes for tick larvae last spring.
In the fall of 2011 the acorn crop was the smallest it's been in two decades, decimating the mouse population over the winter and leaving a huge number of displaced nymphs that are looking for warm-blooded hosts, like humans. Ixodes nymphs are especially good at transmitting Borrelia to humans.
One of the key challenges with Lyme is getting people to change their behavior. Prevention starts with awareness. THINK LYME. You're as likely, maybe even more likely, to get bit by a deer tick in your backyard as hiking in a forest.
Steps to Prevent Lyme Disease
Do daily tick checks. Deer ticks are tiny, about the size of poppy seeds, and easy to miss.
You may need to spray your clothes and your yard with permethrins or other pesticides, but chemical tick control is never enough.
Remove debris and clutter on your property to discourage rodent populations. Keep grass and weeds cut short in areas you use for recreation.
Strong sunlight kills deer ticks by drying them out. Since ticks cannot hop or fly they find you by dropping onto you from vegetation, after sensing your presence. If pesticides have been sprayed on the upper surface of a plant, the tick will simply hide on the under surface.
If you find a tick, remove it with small-tipped tweezers, grasping it as close to the skin as possible. Try to get it all, slowly but firmly pulling the tick away from the skin. Save the tick in a sealed plastic bag or a container of alcohol. State health departments and private laboratories can test the tick for the presence of bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
In many areas the majority of ticks are infected with Borrelia. Talk to your doctor about pre-emptive therapy and check the website Treat the Bite (www.treatthebite.com). Once you have removed the tick, wash your hands and disinfect the tweezers by leaving them in alcohol for several hours.
Lyme disease is a great masquerader, which makes getting a proper diagnosis of Lyme a real challenge. Lyme can cause symptoms in multiple organs, including skin, heart, nervous system, joints and muscles and gastrointestinal tract. Involvement of the lungs, eyes or urinary tract has also been reported.
For some people, fatigue or brain fog is the only symptom of Lyme disease. Sometimes the most prominent symptom is a change in mood or personality.
Symptoms may begin days or months after a tick bite. Many victims of Lyme disease are unaware of having had a tick bite. The majority of Lyme patients I've seen never had the classic "bull's eye rash" that can be an early sign of the disease.
Doctors usually use blood tests to make a diagnosis of Lyme disease, but several factors limit their value:
These tests rely on antibodies, proteins made by your immune system to attack Borrelia. Antibodies may not be measurable for a month after the tick bite.
Early treatment with antibiotics may prevent antibody formation without curing Lyme disease.
People who are immune-suppressed may not make antibodies.
The results of antibody testing at different labs can vary greatly.
Deer ticks may carry pathogenic microbes other than Borrelia. These other infections will not be detected by a test for Lyme disease but may produce distinct illnesses like babesiosis, ehrlichiosis or bartonellosis that overlap symptomatically with Lyme disease.
At the present time, the diagnosis of Lyme disease is a clinical diagnosis, not a laboratory diagnosis. It requires a clinician with Lyme experience.
The Challenge of Treating Lyme Disease
There is a great deal of controversy about optimal treatment for Lyme disease. The Infectious Disease Society of America recommends two to three weeks of antibiotics as the treatment for Lyme disease, but more than two dozen studies have documented persistence of illness among patients with Lyme disease after a 2-3 week course of antibiotics.
Persisting symptoms are often associated with evidence of persisting infection with Lyme disease. The presence of other tick-borne infections usually impairs the treatment response to Lyme disease.
When it comes to Lyme disease, many people feel that their concerns have not been adequately addressed by the conventional medicine approach. Learn more about what makes Lyme so elusive in Lyme Disease -- Why Lyme is the Mystery Disease.
Now I'd like to hear from you:
Do you have unexplained symptoms?
Have your been tested for Lyme or other tick-borne diseases?
How do you think you may have gotten Lyme disease?
Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
Best Health,
Leo Galland, M.D.
Important: Share the health with your friends and family by forwarding this article to them, and sharing on Facebook.
Leo Galland, MD is a board-certified internist, author and internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine. Dr. Galland is the founder of Pill Advised, a web application for learning about medications, supplements and food. Sign up for FREE to discover how your medications and vitamins interact. Watch his videos on YouTube and join the Pill Advised Facebook page.
References and Further Reading
Ostfeld, R. S. 2011. Lyme disease: The ecology of a complex system. Oxford University Press
Keesing, F., J. Brunner, S. Duerr, M. Killilea, K. LoGiudice, K. Schmidt, H. Vuong and R. S. Ostfeld. 2009. Hosts as ecological traps for the vector of Lyme disease. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences 276:3911-3916.
Schauber, E. M., R. S. Ostfeld, and A. S. Evans, Jr. 2005. "What is the best predictor of annual Lyme disease incidence: Weather, mice, or acorns?" Ecol. Appl. 15:575-586
Eisen, Rebecca J.; Piesman, Joseph; Zielinski-Gutierrez, Emily; Eisen, Lars. "What Do We Need to Know About Disease Ecology to Prevent Lyme Disease in the Northeastern United States?"Journal of Medical Entomology, Volume 49, Number 1, January 2012 , pp. 11-22(12)
Stricker RB, Johnson L, "Lyme Disease: the next decade", Infect Drug Resis 2011: 4: 1-9.
Weber K, Bratzke HJ, Neubert U, Wilske B, Duray PH. "Borrelia burgdorferi in a newborn despite oral penicillin for Lyme borreliosis during pregnancy." Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1988;7:286-289
Schmidli J, Hunziker T, Moesli P, Schaad UB. "Cultivation of Borrelia burgdorferi from joint fluid three months after treatment of facial palsy due to Lyme borreliosis." J Infect Dis. 1988;158:905-906.
Cimmino MA, Azzolini A, Tobia F, Pesce CM. "Spirochetes in the spleen of a patient with chronic Lyme disease." Am J Clin Pathol. 1989;91:95-97.
Preac-Mursic V, Weber K, Pfister HW, et al. "Survival of Borrelia burgdorferi in antibiotically treated patients with Lyme borreliosis. Infection." 1989;17:355-359.
Haupl T, Hahn G, Rittig M, et al. "Persistence of Borrelia burgdorferi in ligamentous tissue from a patient with chronic Lyme borreliosis." Arthritis Rheum. 1993;36:1621-1626.
Priem S, Burmester GR, Kamradt T, Wolbart K, Rittig MG, Krause A. "Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi by polymerase chain reaction in synovial membrane, but not in synovial fluid from patients with persisting Lyme arthritis after antibiotic therapy." Ann Rheum Dis. 1998;57:118-121.
Liegner KB, Shapiro JR, Ramsay D, Halperin AJ, Hogrefe W, Kong L. "Recurrent erythema migrans despite extended antibiotic treatment with minocycline in a patient with persisting Borrelia burgdorferi infection." J Am Acad Dermatol. 1993;28(2 pt 2):312-314.
Chancellor MB, McGinnis DE, Shenot PJ, Kiilholma P, Hirsch IH. "Urinary dysfunction in Lyme disease." J Urol. 1993;149:26-30.
Preac-Mursic V, Pfister HW, Spiegel H, et al. "First isolation of Borrelia burgdorferi from an iris biopsy." J Clin Neuroophthalmol. 1993;13:155-161.
Oksi J, Kalimo H, Marttila RJ, et al. " Inflammatory brain changes in Lyme borreliosis. A report on three patients and review of literature." Brain. 1996;119:2143-2154.
Kirsch M, Ruben FL, Steere AC, Duray PH, Norden CW, Winkelstein A. "Fatal adult respiratory distress syndrome in a patient with Lyme disease." JAMA. 1988;259:2737-2739.
Masters E. "Spirochetemia after continuous high-dose oral amoxicillin therapy." Infect Dis Clin Prac. 1994;3:207-208.
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute (i) medical advice or counseling, (ii) the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, (iii) or the creation of a physician -- patient relationship. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.
]]>Frankenfats: How the Food Industry Created a Monstertag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.12553102012-02-07T11:41:57-05:002012-04-08T05:12:01-04:00Leo Galland, M.D.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/
"A 2 percent absolute increase in energy intake from trans fat has been associated with a 23 percent increase in cardiovascular risk," note researchers from Kansas State University.[2]
But did you know how these diabolical fats are manufactured to make them so dangerous?
Toxic Trans Fats
To understand the toxic potential of trans-fatty acids, you have to know how they affect the body's use of essential fatty-acids (EFAs). EFAs have a chemical structure that is polyunsaturated. Technically, this means that each molecule of an EFA has two or more double chemical bonds. The double bonding twists the molecule, giving it a serpentine shape.
When incorporated into a cell's membranes, the snakelike EFA molecules add fluidity and flexibility to the membrane. But unfortunately, EFAs are rather unstable when exposed to air. The double bonds break down rapidly, producing a toxic form of fat that can be detected in food by its rancidity.
Preservatives may be added to food to prevent this breakdown from occurring, thereby increasing the shelf-life of the food. A natural preservative for fatty acids is vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), but the most commonly used preservatives are the synthetic antioxidants BHT and BHA.
Industrial food processing has discovered a more efficient way to prolong shelf life of products: hydrogenate the fatty acids, destroying the EFAs. In hydrogenation, the double bonds are broken by hydrogen gas and the unsaturated fatty acids become saturated with hydrogen.
This means that all sites for chemical bonding are filled. Naturally saturated fatty acids are commonly consumed in meat and dairy products. They are also manufactured in your liver and stored in your body's fat cells.
Saturated fatty acids are straight, not twisting, in shape, and impart stiffness and solidity to membranes. Human cell membranes usually have one saturated fatty acid lined up alongside one unsaturated fatty acid, producing just the right blend of stiffness and flexibility for responding properly to signals sent from other cells.
Manufacturing an Abnormal Oil
In food processing, the hydrogenation of vegetable oils is usually not complete. It is partial. Partially hydrogenated oils are easier to work with and produce a softer foodstuff than fully hydrogenated oils. "Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils have been in the American diet since 1900," note University of Illinois researchers.[3]
Chemically, partial hydrogenation converts EFAs into trans-fatty acids, which are unsaturated fatty acids that twist abnormally. Trans-fatty acids do not have the serpentine shape and fluidity of naturally unsaturated fatty acids. Trans-fatty acids are stiff and straight, like saturated fatty acids, but because they are unsaturated, they replace natural unsaturated fatty acids in the cell membranes.
The result of trans fatty acid consumption is stiff cell membranes, abnormal response to signals from other cells, and an increase in dietary requirements for EFAs.
Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, which are prevalent in manufactured foods, are loaded with these anti-nutrients.
In my book Superimmunity for Kids, I warned parents about the dangers of raising their children on margarine and other foods built from partially hydrogenated oils. My arguments derived from research on the chemical effects of trans-fatty acids and knowledge of how this chemistry could distort cell function. Clinical studies have vindicated the warning.[4][5]
Nutrition researchers now sing together loud and clear: Eat zero trans fats! Read the ingredients on the label and skip anything that says hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated.
Now I'd like to hear from you:
What do you think of trans fats in the food supply?
How do you avoid trans fats?
What do you think of trans fats bans (such as New York City's)?[6][7]
Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
[1] Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2009 Jun;5(6):335-44. Epub 2009 Apr 28. "Trans fatty acids: effects on metabolic syndrome, heart disease and diabetes." Micha R, Mozaffarian D. Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
[2] J Am Diet Assoc. 2010 Apr;110(4):585-92. "Trans fats in America: a review of their use, consumption, health implications, and regulation." Remig V, Franklin B, Margolis S, Kostas G, Nece T, Street JC. Department of Human Nutrition, Kansas State University, 206 Justin Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
[3] Atherosclerosis. 2009 Aug;205(2):458-65. Epub 2009 Mar 19. "The negative effects of hydrogenated trans fats and what to do about them." Kummerow, FA. Department of Bioscience, University of Illinois, Urbana, 61801, United States.
[4] Eur J Clin Nutr. 2009 May;63 Suppl 2:S5-21. "Health effects of trans-fatty acids: experimental and observational evidence." Mozaffarian D, Aro A, Willett WC. Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
[5] N Engl J Med. 1999 Jun 24;340(25):1933-40. "Effects of different forms of dietary hydrogenated fats on serum lipoprotein cholesterol levels." Lichtenstein AH, Ausman LM, Jalbert SM, Schaefer EJ. Lipid Metabolism Laboratory, Jean Mayer U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
[6] CMAJ. 2005 Nov 8;173(10):1158-9. "Chewing the fat on trans fats." Murray S, Flegel K.
[7] N Engl J Med. 2007 May 17;356(20):2017-21. "New York to trans fats: you're out!" Okie S.
Ann Nutr Metab. 2004;48(2):61-6. Epub 2003 Dec 16. "Influence of trans fatty acids on health." Stender S, Dyerberg J. Danish Nutrition Council, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
PLoS ONE 6(1): e16268. 26-Jan-2011, Sanchez-Villegas A, Verberne L, De Irala J, Ruı´z-Canela M, Toledo E, et al. (2011) "Dietary Fat Intake and the Risk of Depression: The SUN Project."
Behavioral Neuroscience, Vol. 125, No. 4 "Fat Substitutes Promote Weight Gain in Rats Consuming High-Fat Diets," Susan E. Swithers, PhD, Sean B. Ogden, and Terry L. Davidson, PhD, Purdue University;
Important: Share the Health with your friends and family by forwarding this article to them, and sharing on Facebook.
Leo Galland, M.D. is a board-certified internist, author and internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine. Dr. Galland is the founder of Pill Advised, a web application for learning about medications, supplements and food. Sign up for FREE to discover how your medications and vitamins interact. Watch his videos on YouTube and join the Pill Advised Facebook page.
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute (i) medical advice or counseling, (ii) the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, (iii) or the creation of a physician--patient relationship. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.]]>Six Steps to Beat Stress and Boost Immunitytag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.12372102012-01-31T14:22:56-05:002012-04-01T05:12:01-04:00Leo Galland, M.D.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/
Did holiday shopping and spending leave you stressed out?
Have chilly days and nights kept you stuck indoors?
If it feels like the perfect storm has hit your immune system this time of year, you're right.
So now is a perfect time to see how stress impacts immunity and find out what to do about it.
Stress and Immunity
Scientists have known for years that major and minor life stresses interfere with immune function and contribute to disease. Stressful life events increase your susceptibility to several types of infections, from the common cold to tuberculosis and to auto-immune disorders, in which your body's immune system attacks its own cells.
A study of medical students found that taking final exams produced a measurable decline in the type of immune function that protects against viral infections.
The death of a spouse or a child causes a profound drop in immune function, which may explain why the death rate among men soars by almost 40 percent during the six-month period after losing a wife.
Although you may not be able to control all the stressors in your life, there are many steps you can take to build your immune resistance in the face of stress.
The emotional impact of a stressful event is determined by the way you think about it. There is a tendency to overreact to relatively small setbacks, giving them more weight than they deserve.
"Cognitive restructuring" is the name given to a psychological strategy that allows us to reevaluate our stressors and gain perspective. Cognitive restructuring forms the psychological basis for all the great religions and is central to the philosophy of Buddhism.
Non-religious methods have been developed and popularized by psychologist Albert Ellis (Rational Emotive Therapy) and psychiatrist Aaron Beck (Cognitive Behavior Therapy).
Isolation can be a killer, increasing the death rate from infection, heart disease and cancer. Involvement with others builds immunity.
A California research team studied people suffering from melanoma, a highly malignant form of skin cancer. They found that involvement in a cancer support group improved survival and increased the activity of a group of white blood cells called natural killer cells, which are an important component of the body's defense against cancer.
Harvard researchers found that students could improve immune function simply by watching a video about Mother Theresa's compassionate work among the poor of Calcutta.
3) Exercise
Exercise of modest intensity, like brisk walking 30 minutes a day, appears to improve immune function. Both your level of activity and your general level of fitness are important.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that a quarter million deaths per year in the U.S. can be prevented by regular physical activity at this level of intensity.
4) Sleep
Your sleep is an active time during which your body restores itself. Sleep deprivation of experimental animals increases susceptibility to viral and bacterial infection, and, in humans, insomnia reduces natural killer cell activity. Healthy young men awakened from sleep between 3 and 7 a.m. show a 30 percent dip in natural killer activity the next morning.
The natural sleep requirement of adults varies from as little as six to as much as 10 hours per day, with most people needing seven to nine hours, preferably without interruption. Daytime relaxation also has important health benefits. A period of quiet meditation each day may lower blood pressure, relieve anxiety, improve nighttime sleep and decrease the discomfort of chronic headache and other painful conditions.
5) Nutrition
The leading cause of immune deficiency, worldwide and within the U.S., is poor nutrition. Study after study has found that vitamin and mineral supplements improve immune function among the elderly and among children with recurrent infections. The specific nutrients with the most profound effects are the omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs), which are found in flax seed and in fish, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, selenium and iron.
Restricting unhealthy dietary fat is also important for building resistance. The activity of natural killer cells is enhanced by low fat diets and diminished by high fat diets.
6) Herbs
If you are highly stressed and prone to developing repeated infections, immune-stimulating herbs may be a helpful addition to a nutritious diet. These include Echinacea species (a native American herb), and Astragalus root (a component of traditional Chinese medicines.
Clear thinking, supportive social relationships, moderate exercise, adequate sleep and immune-boosting nutrients can keep you from becoming a victim of stress.
Now I'd like to hear from you:
Are you stressed out?
Notice any impact on your immunity?
Have you tried anything that helps?
Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
Best Health,
Leo Galland, MD
Important: Share the health with your friends and family by forwarding this article to them and sharing on Facebook.
Leo Galland, MD is a board-certified internist, author and internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine. Dr. Galland is the founder of Pill Advised, a web application for learning about medications, supplements and food. Sign up for FREE to discover how your medications and vitamins interact. Watch his videos on YouTube and join the Pill Advised Facebook page.
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute (i) medical advice or counseling, (ii) the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, (iii) or the creation of a physician -- patient relationship. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.
]]>Cut Your Risk of Diabetestag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.11720472012-01-23T14:05:43-05:002012-03-24T05:12:01-04:00Leo Galland, M.D.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/
Eating that way can increase your risk of developing diabetes by 300 percent.
Are you carrying around extra weight? That raises the risk of getting diabetes a lot. A woman who is mildly obese -- for example, weighing 190 at 5'6" tall -- has a 55 percent chance of getting diabetes. A man who is mildly obese, for instance, who weighs 225 pounds and is 6 feet tall -- has a 57 percent chance of developing diabetes.
This can be prevented, and I will share with you the exciting research on nutrition and foods that can help prevent and reverse diabetes in a moment. But first, a closer look at the problem.
The Diabetes Epidemic:
There are 21 million diabetics and 41 million people at risk of becoming diabetic in the U.S.
One out of three American children born in the year 2000 is predicted to develop diabetes during their lifetime. For children of African-American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American descent, the odds are closer to one in two.
Diabetes is predicted to increase by 481 percent among Hispanics, 208 percent among blacks and 113 percent among whites by mid century.
The estimated total costs of diabetes rose from 23 billion in 1969 to 132 billion in 2002 and is expected to reach 192 billion by 2020
However, it is in the cost to the individual and their families where diabetes takes its human toll:
Diabetes is the No. 1 cause of blindness, kidney failure, amputations and nerve disease in the U.S.
Diabetes causes damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.
A diagnosis of diabetes doubles your risk of dying over the next 10 years.
What makes this so unacceptable is this simple fact: Type 2 diabetes, the form of the disease responsible for this epidemic, is almost totally preventable. Staying fit and lean reduces your odds of developing diabetes by over 90 percent.
What Is Insulin Resistance?
Type 2 diabetes occurs when cells do not respond normally to insulin, a hormone made by your pancreas. This condition is called insulin resistance and it leads to high blood sugar, high blood levels of fat (triglycerides) and high blood pressure.
Once it was a disease seen only in people over 40 and referred to as "adult-onset diabetes." Today, Type 2 diabetes occurs even in young children. Almost half the new cases of childhood diabetes are now Type 2, reflecting the sharp increase in obesity and lack of physical fitness among our children.
At least 171 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, and this is expected to reach 366 million by 2030, according to the World Health Organization. Clearly, prevention of Type 2 diabetes must become an international priority.
We already have the knowledge necessary to reverse the diabetes epidemic.
Three Steps To Reducing Diabetes Risk
Cut your risk of Type 2 diabetes in half by increasing physical activity. Just 30 minutes of moderate exercise like walking can do it. Adopt a diet rich in vegetables, nuts and seeds. Lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. It is estimated that over half of all cases of Type 2 diabetes could be avoided if excessive weight gain in adults could be prevented.
These steps prevent Type 2 diabetes by preventing insulin resistance. When your diet is high in sucrose (table sugar), saturated fat and white starchy foods like white bread you increase your chances of developing insulin resistance.
The Diabetes-Inflammation Connection
Silent chronic inflammation increases your risk of developing diabetes. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet high in fiber, omega-3 fats (the kind found in flax seed and in fish) and carotenoids (the yellow, orange and red colors in many fruits and vegetables) reduces your chances of developing insulin resistance and diabetes.
For many Americans, adopting a healthier diet is a radical change, with sacrifices such as swapping a salad and vegetable juice for a burger and a shake. But the positive results are equally radical in terms of weight loss, improved health and reduction in diabetes risk. I know this because of my experience in helping people make the switch to an anti-inflammatory diet with our book The Fat Resistance Diet.
Foods That Cut Diabetes Risk
The following foods have been associated with a reduced risk of developing diabetes in observational studies of people in different countries:
Flaxseed prevents insulin resistance in four ways, making it the king of antidiabetic foods. Flaxseed is loaded with fiber, omega-3 fats and carotenoids. It also contains a large quantity of lignans, natural compounds shown to reduce insulin resistance in experimental studies. The best way to eat flax is to grind organic flaxseed in a coffee grinder every day, to make sure it's fresh.
Salmon
Salmon is a concentrated source of omega-3 fats and carotenoids.
Green tea contains natural compounds called flavonoids that reduce inflammation, a leading cause of insulin resistance. "Slim Chai Tea," a recipe found in our book, uses spices like chives, cardamom and cinnamon to enhance the anti-inflammatory effect of green tea.
Walnuts
Walnuts are a source of fiber and omega-3 fat, and eating nuts is associated with a reduced risk of diabetes.
Bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, red cabbage, spinach and tomatoes
These vegetables are six highest in carotenoids. You'll absorb more carotenoids from these by eating them in a meal that contains some healthy fat, like salmon or olive oil.
Brewing cinnamon in a tea produces an extract that directly increases the sensitivity of your body's cells to insulin. Cinnamon extract was also shown to reduce the blood sugar of people who already had developed Type 2 diabetes.
These foods reduce inflammation, one of the chief causes of insulin resistance. Each of these has been shown to reduce blood sugar in scientific experiments.
Now I'd like to hear from you:
Do you have diabetes or pre-diabetes? Are you on an exercise and nutrition routine? What have you noticed that helps?
Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
Best Health,
Leo Galland, MD
Important: Share the health with your friends and family by forwarding this article to them, and sharing on Facebook.
Leo Galland, MD is a board-certified internist, author and internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine. Dr. Galland is the founder of Pill Advised, a web application for learning about medications, supplements and food. Sign up for FREE to discover how your medications and vitamins interact. Watch his videos on YouTube and join the Pill Advised Facebook page.
References and Further Reading
PLoS One. 2011;6(6):e19852. Epub 2011 Jun 6. "Immunological and cardiometabolic risk factors in the prediction of type 2 diabetes and coronary events: MONICA/KORA Augsburg case-cohort study" Herder C, Baumert J, Zierer A, Roden M, Meisinger C, Karakas M, Chambless L, Rathmann W, Peters A, Koenig W, Thorand B,Institute for Clinical Diabetology, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
Int J Circumpolar Health. 2007 Apr;66(2):101-12. "National type 2 diabetes prevention programme in Finland: FIN-D2D."Saaristo T, Peltonen M, Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi S, Vanhala M, Saltevo J, Niskanen L, Oksa H, Korpi-Hyövälti E, Tuomilehto J; FIN-D2D Study Group. Finnish Diabetes Association, Tampere, Finland.
Diabetes Care. 2011 Jan;34(1):14-9. Epub 2010 Oct 7."Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with the Mediterranean diet: results of the PREDIMED-Reus nutrition intervention randomized trial." Salas-Salvadó J, Bulló M, Babio N, Martínez-González MÁ, Ibarrola-Jurado N, Basora J, Estruch R, Covas MI, Corella D, Arós F, Ruiz-Gutiérrez V, Ros E; PREDIMED Study Investigators. Human Nutrition Unit, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.
BMJ. 2010 Aug 18;341:c4229. doi: 10.1136/bmj.c4229. "Fruit and vegetable intake and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic review and meta-analysis." Carter P, Gray LJ, Troughton J, Khunti K, Davies MJ. Diabetes Research, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 5WW.
Diabetes Care. 2010 Feb;33(2):227-32. Epub 2009 Oct 30. "Effects of walnut consumption on endothelial function in type 2 diabetic subjects: a randomized controlled crossover trial." Ma Y, Njike VY, Millet J, Dutta S, Doughty K, Treu JA, Katz DL. Yale University School of Medicine, Derby, Connecticut, USA.
Int J Clin Pract Suppl. 2011 Feb;(170):71-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2010.02581.x. "Exercise and diabetes." Zisser H, Gong P, Kelley CM, Seidman JS, Riddell MC. Sansum Diabetes Research Institute, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
Abstract
J Med Food. 2011 Sep;14(9):884-9. Epub 2011 Apr 11. "Cinnamon intake lowers fasting blood glucose: meta-analysis." Davis PA, Yokoyama W.Department of Nutrition, University of California-Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Sep;82(3):685-93. "Diabetes mellitus and serum carotenoids: findings of a population-based study in Queensland, Australia." Coyne T, Ibiebele TI, Baade PD, Dobson A, McClintock C, Dunn S, Leonard D, Shaw J. School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Full Text: "Diet and Inflammation" Leo Galland, MD, Nutr Clin Pract December 7, 2010 vol. 25 no. 6 634-640
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute (i) medical advice or counseling, (ii) the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, (iii) or the creation of a physician -- patient relationship. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.
For more on diabetes, click here.]]>Big Benefits Of Pomegranate Juicetag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.9468532011-09-06T08:08:39-04:002011-11-06T05:12:02-05:00Leo Galland, M.D.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/
Once an exotic item rarely seen in the supermarket, the popularity of ruby red pomegranate juice has made it easy to get the pleasure and benefits of this sweet fruit.
The enthusiasm for pomegranates stems from the high concentration of antioxidants that accompanies the sweetness of its juice.
Pomegranate Heart Health Benefits
One active area of research has looked at the potential heart health benefits of the pomegranate.
These studies indicate that daily consumption of pomegranate juice, about 8 ounces a day for three months or more, can help:
Reduce dangerous LDL-cholesterol in blood
Improve blood flow to the heart in patients with coronary artery disease
Reduce thickening of the arteries that supply blood to the brain
Laboratory studies have demonstrated that pomegranate juice can help maintain the health of blood vessels by several interacting mechanisms:
1) Reversing a process called LDL-oxidation. LDL, which stands for low-density lipoprotein, is the major protein responsible for transporting cholesterol in your blood and depositing cholesterol in the walls of blood vessels. The level of oxidized LDL in blood is emerging as a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
2) Decreasing inflammation in the lining of blood vessels. Inflammatory cells called macrophages, found in the walls of your arteries, accumulate cholesterol and deposit it in the vessel wall, initiating a process called atherosclerosis, a major step in hardening of the arteries. Pomegranate juice prevents this type of inflammation and inhibits atherosclerosis.
3) Raising the levels of nitric oxide, a chemical that keeps your arteries supple and flexible. Many types of stress impair your blood vessels' ability to make nitric oxide. Pomegranate juice can prevent both reasons for reduced nitric oxide: impaired synthesis and rapid breakdown.
Research is looking at the ways pomegranate juice and extracts of pomegranates may be able to help fight cancer.
The anticancer effects of pomegranate juice are related to its potential ability to induce cancer cells to self-destruct, a process called apoptosis. Laboratory research studies suggest that pomegranate juice may help induce apoptosis of human breast, prostate and colon cancer cells by activating genes and enzymes that regulate apoptosis.
Pomegranates Fight Inflammation
Whenever it's been studied, unsweetened pomegranate juice has been more effective than any single component.
Not only does pomegranate juice contain potent phenolic antioxidants, like other brightly colored fruits, but pomegranate juice contains unique complex sugars that are anti-inflammatory on their own.
Here is a delicious recipe featuring pomegranate juice that my son Jonathan Galland wrote for The Fat Resistance Diet.
Omega Blast Granola
Granola is a crunchy and satisfying comfort food. This recipe has a smart mix of whole grain oats, fruit and nuts, and is high in Omega 3's.
3 Cups Rolled Oats
1 Cup Oat Bran
1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts
1/4 Cup Freshly Ground Flaxseeds
3/4 Cup Pomegranate Juice
2 Teaspoons Walnut Oil or Olive Oil
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 Cup Raisins
Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a big bowl, mix everything except the raisins. Spread the mixture over a nonstick baking pan and bake for 20 minutes, or until nice and brown, stirring occasionally to cook evenly.
Remove from the oven and toss in the raisins. Let cool and put in a glass container for storage in the refrigerator. Makes about 5 cups. Serve one cup granola with one cup nonfat plain yogurt, nonfat milk, or unsweetened soy milk per person.
I hope you enjoy the healthy pleasure of pomegranate juice throughout the year.
Now I'd like to hear from you:
Have you tried pomegranate juice?
Where do you shop for it?
What is your favorite pomegranate juice?
Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
Best Health,
Leo Galland, MD
Important: Share the Health with your friends and family by forwarding this article to them, and sharing on Facebook.
Leo Galland, MD is a board-certified internist, author and internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine. Dr. Galland is the founder of Pill Advised, a web application for learning about medications, supplements and food. Sign up for FREE to discover how your medications and vitamins interact. Watch his videos on YouTube and join the Pill Advised Facebook page.
References and Further Reading
Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2011 Aug;51(7):626-34. "The bioactivity of pomegranate: impact on health and disease." Faria A, Calhau C. Biochemistry Department (U38-FCT), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal.
Nutr Rev. 2009 Jan;67(1):49-56. "Pomegranate juice: a heart-healthy fruit juice." Basu A, Penugonda K. Department of Nutritional Sciences, 301 Human Environmental Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078-6141, USA.
Drugs Exp Clin Res. 2002;28(2-3):49-62. "Pomegranate juice flavonoids inhibit low-density lipoprotein oxidation and cardiovascular diseases: studies in atherosclerotic mice and in humans." Aviram M, Dornfeld L, Kaplan M, Coleman R, Gaitini D, Nitecki S, Hofman A, Rosenblat M, Volkova N, Presser D, Attias J, Hayek T, Fuhrman B. Lipid Research Laboratory, Technion Faculty of Medicine, Rappaport Family Institute for Research in the Medical Sciences, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel, 31096.
Clin Nutr. 2004 Jun;23(3):423-33. "Pomegranate juice consumption for 3 years by patients with carotid artery stenosis reduces common carotid intima-media thickness, blood pressure and LDL oxidation." Aviram M, Rosenblat M, Gaitini D, Nitecki S, Hoffman A, Dornfeld L, Volkova N, Presser D, Attias J, Liker H, Hayek T. The Lipid Research Laboratory, Rappaport Family Institute for Research in the Medical Sciences, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa 31096, Israel.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Oct 11;102(41):14813-8. Epub 2005 Sep 28. "Pomegranate fruit juice for chemoprevention and chemotherapy of prostate cancer." Malik A, Afaq F, Sarfaraz S, Adhami VM, Syed DN, Mukhtar H. Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
Nutr Cancer. 2009;61(6):811-5. "Cancer chemoprevention by pomegranate: laboratory and clinical evidence." Adhami VM, Khan N, Mukhtar H. Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Jan 19;109(2):177-206. Epub 2006 Sep 10. "Punica granatum (pomegranate) and its potential for prevention and treatment of inflammation and cancer." Lansky EP, Newman RA. Punisyn Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Haifa, Israel.
J Inflamm (Lond). 2008 Jun 13;5:9. "Bioavailable constituents/metabolites of pomegranate (Punica granatum L) preferentially inhibit COX2 activity ex vivo and IL-1beta-induced PGE2 production in human chondrocytes in vitro." Shukla M, Gupta K, Rasheed Z, Khan KA, Haqqi TM. Division of Rheumatic Diseases, Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Fitoterapia. 2005 Mar;76(2):181-6. 'Flavonoids from Punica granatum--potential antiperoxidative agents" Sudheesh S, Vijayalakshmi NR. Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 695581 India.
Full Text: "Diet and Inflammation" Leo Galland, MD, Nutr Clin Pract December 7, 2010 vol. 25 no. 6 634-640
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute (i) medical advice or counseling, (ii) the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, (iii) or the creation of a physician--patient relationship. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.
]]>Surprising Health Benefits Of Garlic And Onionstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.9007842011-07-21T08:19:51-04:002011-09-20T05:12:01-04:00Leo Galland, M.D.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/
Would you be willing to smell a little worse to feel a little better?
Of course, for fans of these vegetables, the answer is a resounding "yes."
Since ancient times, onions, garlic and scallions have been prized around the world for their culinary uses. Because of their durability, onions have been shipped and traded across long distances. According to a study from the UK, when it comes to horticultural crops, onions are the second most important after tomatoes.
Now scientists from the U.S., England, France, Italy and other countries are confirming the outstanding health benefits of allium vegetables such as onions, garlic and scallions. Research has looked at how these vegetables help to facilitate detoxification and act as powerful antioxidants, stimulate immune responses and reduce inflammation.
Some scientists believe the components in onions and garlic called allyl sulfides and bioflavonoids may be key to the research observations of generally lower incidence of cancer and heart disease in people who consume large amounts of garlic and onions, compared with those who eat less.
A study conducted at Case Western Reserve University indicated that garlic may help reduce the occurrence rate of pre-cancerous tumors (polyps) in the large intestine.
Garlic and Onions for Detoxification
Many cancers are thought to be caused by damage to DNA, often induced by environmental toxins. A study conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle found that eating a teaspoon of fresh garlic and a half cup of onions per day increases the levels of a key enzyme for removing toxins in the blood cells of healthy women. The authors of this study believed that men would require a higher dose on average for the same effect, because of their larger body size.
Another study, conducted in Scotland, found that eating sautéed onions increases the resistance of the blood cells to DNA damage.
Garlic and Cholesterol
While a highly publicized clinical trial at Stanford University found that garlic did not lower cholesterol levels in healthy people with moderately elevated cholesterol, previous studies have indicated that garlic is more likely to produce beneficial effects on cholesterol in women than in men, and in patients with diabetes or heart disease than in healthy individuals.
News reports of this negative trial failed to recognize that the cholesterol-lowering effects of garlic are not the same for all people and that any trial containing a large percentage of healthy men could miss an effect that might be found if the people studied were patients with diabetes or heart disease.
In addition, while there is so much focus on the connection between cholesterol and heart disease, the benefits of garlic in preventing heart disease are probably due to factors other than changes in cholesterol.
In particular, clinical experiments have shown that regular consumption of garlic decreased calcium deposits and the size of arterial plaque in coronary arteries, prevented unhealthy blood clotting and improved the circulation of the subjects who were studied.
How to Add Garlic and Onions Your Day
The minimum effective amount is generally two teaspoons a day of garlic or two tablespoons of onions or scallions, chopped or crushed.
When shopping, look for the freshest bulbs. Onions should be very firm with an intact outer layer. For garlic, look for a bulb with tightly packed cloves. Pick scallions that are bright green and skip any that are wilted.
In the kitchen, chopped onions or garlic are the starting point for many cooked dishes. They also add robust flavor to main courses, soups and omelets. A sprinkle of chopped scallions or chives makes a perfect garnish to add flavor to dips, sandwiches, salads and grilled dishes. Cooking does not diminish the protective effects of garlic, onions or other alliums.
Caramelized Onion
For a savory side dish my son Jonathan Galland wrote this simple recipe for caramelized onion.
Simply slice one large onion and sauté slowly in a half teaspoon of olive oil on medium heat, stirring frequently. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook until the onion turns soft and golden, which brings out the natural sweetness. For more delicious ways to enjoy onions and garlic, visit www.fatresistancediet.com.
I hope you enjoy the healthy pleasure of onions and garlic now and throughout the year.
Now I'd like to hear from you:
Do you enjoy onions or garlic?
Where do you shop for them?
How do you usually eat onions or garlic?
Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
Best Health,
Leo Galland, M.D.
Important: Share the Health with your friends and family by forwarding this article to them, and sharing on Facebook.
Leo Galland, MD is a board-certified internist, author and internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine. Dr. Galland is the founder of Pill Advised, a web application for learning about medications, supplements and food. Sign up for FREE to discover how your medications and vitamins interact. Watch his videos on YouTube and join the Pill Advised Facebook page.
References and Further Reading
J Natl Cancer Inst. 2002 Nov 6;94(21):1648-51. "Allium vegetables and risk of prostate cancer: a population-based study." Hsing AW, Chokkalingam AP, Gao YT, Madigan MP, Deng J, Gridley G, Fraumeni JF Jr. Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-7234, USA.
Eur J Nutr. 2000 Oct;39(5):213-23. "Absorption and DNA protective effects of flavonoid glycosides from an onion meal." Boyle SP, Dobson VL, Duthie SJ, Kyle JA, Collins AR. School of Pharmacy, The Robert Gordon University, Schoolhill, Aberdeen, Scotland.
J Nutr. 2001 Mar;131(3s):1027S-31S. "A historical perspective on garlic and cancer." Milner JA. Nutrition Department, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Environ Mol Mutagen. 2009 Apr;50(3):247-65. "Biological properties of garlic and garlic-derived organosulfur compounds."Iciek M, Kwiecień I, Włodek L. Chair of Medical Biochemistry, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2009 Jun;49(6):538-51. "Garlic: nature's protection against physiological threats." Butt MS, Sultan MT, Butt MS, Iqbal J. National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Environ Health Perspect. 2001 Sep;109(9):893-902. "Allium vegetables and organosulfur compounds: do they help prevent cancer?" Bianchini F, Vainio H. Unit of Chemoprevention, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
Amino Acids. 2011 Jun;41(1):103-12. Epub 2010 Mar 6. "Allyl sulfur compounds and cellular detoxification system: effects and perspectives in cancer therapy." Melino S, Sabelli R, Paci M. Department of Sciences and Chemical Technologies, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Italy.
J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Dec 12;55(25):10067-80. Epub 2007 Nov 13." Onions: a source of unique dietary flavonoids." Slimestad R, Fossen T, Vågen IM. PlantChem, Saerheim Research Centre, N-4353 Klepp station, Norway.
Phytother Res. 2002 Nov;16(7):603-15. "Onions--a global benefit to health."
Griffiths G, Trueman L, Crowther T, Thomas B, Smith B. Department of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology, Horticulture Research International, Wellesbourne CV35 9EF, UK.
Full Text: "Diet and Inflammation" Leo Galland, MD, Nutr Clin Pract December 7, 2010 vol. 25 no. 6 634-640
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute (i) medical advice or counseling, (ii) the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, (iii) or the creation of a physician--patient relationship. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Check out this video from Prevention Magazine on the health benefits of garlic:
]]>The Health Benefits of Tomatoestag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.8862142011-07-02T11:08:59-04:002011-09-01T05:12:01-04:00Leo Galland, M.D.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/ What's in a tomato?
Tomatoes are excellent sources of potassium and several vitamins:
folic acid
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
But did you know that eating tomatoes could possibly help to burn fat?
Bioflavonoids, which are concentrated in the tomato skin, may xcounteract inflammation and allergic reactions. The main compounds are quercetin and kaempferol. A study from the University of California-Davis found the amounts of quercitin and kaempferol to be higher in organically grown tomatoes than conventionally grown tomatoes.
Inflammation-fighting tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of my favorite inflammation-fighting foods. When you reduce inflammation, you can possibly make your weight loss hormones, such as leptin, work properly, allowing you to lose weight.
Leptin plays an important role in appetite control, metabolism and weight loss. It is your body's natural weight control mechanism.
Tomatoes also contain important anti-inflammatory nutrients called carotenoids and bioflavonoids.
Key tomato carotenoids are:
beta-carotene, an orange pigment also found in carrots and sweet potatoes, an important antioxidant that can help to protect against damage from sunlight. Your body also converts beta-carotene into vitamin A.
lycopene, a red pigment, with demonstrated anti-cancer effects. In Western countries, 85 percent of dietary lycopene can be attributed to the consumption of tomato-based products.
phytoene and phytofluene, the newest anti-cancer compounds in tomatoes.
Studies indicate that tomato consumption is associated with a potentially reduced risk of:
ovarian cancer, especially in premenopausal women.
digestive tract cancers (mouth, throat, esophagus, pancreas, colon and rectum).
cardiovascular disease.
asthma and chronic lung disease.
Tomatoes And Prostate Cancer
American men who eat at least four servings of tomato products per week have, according to some research, a 40 percent reduction in the risk of prostate cancer. Studies of men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer found that increasing consumption of tomato products was associated with a marked decrease in cancer progression. In one study, when men with prostate cancer ate three-quarters of a cup of tomato sauce a day, cooked in various dishes, evidence of cancer regression could be detected in only three weeks for the men in the study.
One theory as to the benefit for prostate cancer is due to lycopene. Studies in animals, however, found that powdered tomatoes were more effective than pure lycopene, indicating that other tomato components, perhaps phytoene and phytofluene, are also important. Thus far, though, clinical trials of lycopene for prostate cancer have been negative, so more data will be needed.
Health Benefits of Tomatoes Boosted by Cooking
The absorption of carotenoids and flavonoids from tomatoes is greater from cooked tomatoes than fresh tomatoes, since cooking breaks down the tomato cell matrix and makes the carotenoids more available.
Addition of olive oil to diced tomatoes during cooking greatly increases the absorption of lycopene. Oil is essential for absorbing carotenoids from tomatoes in salads or salsa. There is almost no absorption of these vital nutrients from salad eaten with a non-fat dressing.
Organic Tomatoes Have More Vitamin C
Compared to conventionally grown tomatoes, organic tomatoes have a higher content of vitamin C and bioflavonoids.
Enjoying Tomatoes
Look for fresh ripe tomatoes at farmers markets in the city, a farm stand in the country or your local supermarket.
Here is a delicious summer recipe my son Jonathan Galland wrote for my book "The Fat Resistance Diet." It brings together wonderful vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers and bell pepper with fresh herbs and garlic.
Gazpacho
Fast and easy to make right in your blender, gazpacho is about freshness and big flavors. Bursting with beautiful tomato color, gazpacho features both raw and cooked tomatoes, and is rich in antioxidants including lycopene. This recipe combines a nice vegetable crunchiness with a touch of satisfying spiciness.
1 1⁄2 Pounds Ripe Tomatoes
1 Cucumber
1 Yellow or Red Bell Pepper
1 Red or Sweet Onion
2 Cloves Garlic
1 1/2 Cup Tomato Juice or Vegetable Juice
Juice of 1 Lime
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1⁄2 Cup Fresh Parsley
1⁄4 Teaspoon Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Give the tomatoes, cucumber, pepper and onion a rough chop and toss into the blender. Add diced garlic and onion and chopped parsley, and blend until chunky. Pour half out into a bowl. With half the vegetable mixture remaining in the blender, add the vegetable juice, lemon juice and olive oil into the blender and blend again until smooth. Combine both mixtures together and season with salt and black pepper. Serve hot or cold depending on the season.
I hope you enjoy the healthy pleasure of tomatoes now and throughout the year.
Now I'd like to hear from you:
Do you enjoy tomatoes or tomato sauce?
Where do you shop for them?
How do you usually eat them?
Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
Best Health,
Leo Galland, M.D.
Important: Share the Health with your friends and family by forwarding this article to them, and sharing on Facebook.
Leo Galland, M.D. is a board-certified internist, author and internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine. Dr. Galland is the founder of Pill Advised, a web application for learning about medications, supplements and food. Sign up for FREE to discover how your medications and vitamins interact. Watch his videos on YouTube and join the Pill Advised Facebook page.
J Med Food. 2010 Dec;13(6):1443-50. Epub 2010 Sep 27. "Antimutagenic effects of lycopene and tomato purée." Polívková Z, Šmerák P, Demová H, Houška M. Department of General Biology and Genetics, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
Curr Med Chem. 2010;17(23):2547-63. "Tomato lycopene and inflammatory cascade: basic interactions and clinical implications." Palozza P, Parrone N, Catalano A, Simone R.Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University, School of Medicine, Lgo F. Vito, 1 00168 Rome, Italy.
Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2002 Nov;227(10):920-3. Full Text: "Overview of mechanisms of action of lycopene." Heber D, Lu QY. University of California Center for Human Nutrition, 900 Veteran Avenue, Room 1-2-213, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1742, USA.
J Agric Food Chem. 2000 Jul;48(7):2663-9. "Occurrence of flavonols in tomatoes and tomato-based products." Stewart AJ, Bozonnet S, Mullen W, Jenkins GI, Lean ME, Crozier A. Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, U.K.
J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Jul 25;55(15):6154-9. Epub 2007 Jun 23. "Ten-year comparison of the influence of organic and conventional crop management practices on the content of flavonoids in tomatoes." Mitchell AE, Hong YJ, Koh E, Barrett DM, Bryant DE, Denison RF, Kaffka S. Department of Food Science and Technology and Department of Plant Sciences, One Shields Avenue, University of California-Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Mediators Inflamm. 2010; 2010: 289645. Published online 2010 July 14. doi: 10.1155/2010/289645. Full Text: "Chronic Inflammation in Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome" Rosário Monteiro* and Isabel Azevedo Department of Biochemistry (U38-FCT), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
Full Text: "Diet and Inflammation" Leo Galland, MD, Nutr Clin Pract December 7, 2010 vol. 25 no. 6 634-640
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute (i) medical advice or counseling, (ii) the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, (iii) or the creation of a physician--patient relationship. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.
]]>Lyme Disease Symptoms: Key Facts About This Mysterious Illnesstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.8760962011-06-18T00:32:20-04:002011-08-17T05:12:01-04:00Leo Galland, M.D.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/Summer is peak season for transmission of Lyme disease.
The only known transporter of Lyme bacteria -- the deer tick -- goes through the most infectious stage of its life cycle in the summer.
But you don't need to be in contact with a deer to get a deer tick bite. Deer ticks can hitch a ride on small animals and land right in your backyard.
Here is a case study that highlights why Lyme disease is a mystery illness:
Anne had been diagnosed with three different autoimmune diseases, each by a top specialist:
Iritis, an inflammatory disorder of the eyes that causes eye pain and blurred vision.
Spondyloarthritis, an inflammatory disease that attacks the spine and other joints.
Two of the specialists wanted to treat her with immune suppressive drugs, a decision that would have been counterproductive, given the fact that her real diagnosis was Lyme disease -- an infection spread by a tick bite.
Anne had suffered a tick bite five years ago, about six months before the onset of her arthritis, and had been treated with an antibiotic, doxycycline, for three weeks. Subsequent testing of her blood for antibodies to the Lyme bacteria were negative on four separate occasions. Her doctors, therefore, discounted the idea that Lyme disease could be causing her chronic illness.
Two Key Points About Lyme Disease
Active Lyme disease can persist after antibiotic therapy.
Active Lyme disease may occur in the absence of positive blood antibody tests. This condition, called false negative serology, may be more likely in people who received antibiotics very early in the course of infection, as had Anne.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America has stated that three weeks of antibiotics will cure "over 95 percent" of people with Lyme disease. But many experts have challenged these treatment guidelines as being inaccurate. As I see it, even if the Infectious Diseases Society of America's guidelines are accurate, they are grossly inadequate: a failure rate approaching five percent for a curable disease is unacceptable.
New Cases of Lyme Disease
Let's check the math: At present there are about 30,000 new cases of Lyme disease reported to state health departments each year. Everyone acknowledges that under-reporting is the rule, so that there are undoubtedly many more cases of Lyme disease acquired in the U.S. every year. The annual incidence is probably more than 100,000 new cases each year.
Lyme disease has been with us for at least 30 years. So, even if the failure rate of the IDSA guidelines is only 1 to 4 percent, as claimed, there are tens of thousands of Americans living with incompletely treated Lyme disease. Anne was one of these and, like so many others, saw many competent physicians for her complaints without the correct diagnosis being made.
Anne Sought Evaluation for a Different Condition
She came to see me not for evaluating Lyme disease, but to find a nutritional therapy for Crohn's disease because she did not want to take the medication her gastroenterologist was recommending. Although her digestive complaints were controlled by a special diet and her iritis could be prevented by supplements of curcumin, an herbal extract, the cycles of joint and muscle pain and fatigue that she had experienced for the past five years continued.
I ordered some detailed blood tests to evaluate the possibility that she may still be suffering from active Lyme disease. The evidence was inconclusive, but strong enough that she and I agreed that further antibiotic therapy was warranted.
Like many other patients with Lyme disease who start antibiotic therapy, Anne originally felt worse with antibiotics. Fortunately, this reaction, called a "Herxheimer response," only lasted for about a week. Within a month, it had become clear that antibiotics, not immune suppressant drugs, were the right therapy for her. Although not totally well, Anne no longer has any evidence of Crohn's disease, iritis or spondyloarthritis. What appeared to be autoimmune diseases were the deceptive manifestations of a chronic infection of Lyme disease.
It is an infection with a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted by the bite of a deer tick.
The tick is so small -- sometimes as small as a poppy seed -- that you may not be aware of a tick bite.
Symptoms of Lyme disease may occur within days or may not occur for many weeks after infection.
Lyme disease may involve any part of your body: skin, joints, muscles, the nervous system, the heart or the intestinal tract.
Laboratory tests for Lyme disease are imperfect and can be misleading.
Prompt treatment of early infection improves the likelihood of cure, but persistent chronic infection may occur and can take many forms. It is important to note though, that some people with chronic symptoms confuse them for chronic Lyme disease. It's ultimately important to explore all possible explanations for these sorts of symptoms.
The possibility of Lyme disease should be carefully considered in anyone with unexplained fatigue, fever or muscle pain, in people with an acute unexplained change in emotional or cognitive function, and in everyone given a diagnosis of autoimmune or degenerative neurological disease.
Many people feel that their thoughts or feelings about their condition, particularly with Lyme, have been brushed off by conventional medicine. Get my take on treating the whole person, and how to talk with your doctor in my article Is Conventional Medicine Ignoring You?
Now I'd like to hear from you:
Do you have unexplained symptoms? Has your doctor considered Lyme Disease?
Have you had any treatments? Did they help?
Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
Best Health,
Leo Galland, M.D.
Important: Share the Health with your friends and family by forwarding this article to them, and sharing on Facebook.
Leo Galland, M.D. is a board-certified internist, author and internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine. Dr. Galland is the founder of Pill Advised, a web application for learning about medications, supplements and food. Sign up for FREE to discover how your medications and vitamins interact. Watch his videos on YouTube and join the Pill Advised Facebook page.
N Engl J Med. 1988 Dec 1;319(22):1441-6. "Seronegative Lyme disease. Dissociation of specific T- and B-lymphocyte responses to Borrelia burgdorferi." Dattwyler RJ, Volkman DJ, Luft BJ, Halperin JJ, Thomas J, Golightly MG.
Infection. 1989 Nov-Dec;17(6):355-9. "Survival of Borrelia burgdorferi in antibiotically treated patients with Lyme borreliosis." Preac-Mursic V, Weber K, Pfister HW, Wilske B, Gross B, Baumann A, Prokop J.
Am J Clin Pathol. 1996 May;105(5):647-54. "Polymerase chain reaction detection of Lyme disease: correlation with clinical manifestations and serologic responses." Mouritsen CL, Wittwer CT, Litwin CM, Yang L, Weis JJ, Martins TB, Jaskowski TD, Hill HR.
Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2004;2(1 Suppl):S1-13. "Evidence-based guidelines for the management of Lyme disease." Cameron D, Gaito A, Harris N, Bach G, Bellovin S, Bock K, Bock S, Burrascano J, Dickey C, Horowitz R, Phillips S, Meer-Scherrer L, Raxlen B, Sherr V, Smith H, Smith P, Stricker R; ILADS Working Group.
Interdiscip Perspect Infect Dis. 2010; 2010: 876450. "Proof That Chronic Lyme Disease Exists."
Daniel J. Cameron.
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute (i) medical advice or counseling, (ii) the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, (iii) or the creation of a physician-patient relationship. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.]]>Surprising Benefits of Blueberriestag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.8691962011-06-15T18:41:13-04:002011-08-15T05:12:01-04:00Leo Galland, M.D.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/
Intensive research by scientists working in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia continues to reveal the amazing health benefits of blueberries.
Blueberries are divided into two major species: the wild ones, which are called "low bush," and the farmed berries that are "high bush." Both types have received a great deal of favorable attention from scientists over the past several years.
Blueberries boost memory
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center achieved very interesting results when they studied the connection between blueberries and memory. Their study on older adults with early memory decline found that memory function was boosted by drinking the juice of wild blueberries for 12 weeks. The University of Cincinnati researchers noted: "To our knowledge, this is the first human trial assessing the potential benefit of blueberry supplementation on neurocognitive function in older adults with increased risk for dementia."
It should be noted that this study involved a small group who consumed blueberry juice with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Given the interest in finding solutions to the growing problem of cognitive decline in aging, larger studies on blueberries and the mind should follow.
Blueberries are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K and fiber. The color of blueberries, from deep blue to purple, is caused by a group of flavonoids called anthocyanins, which have remarkable antioxidant power.
Laboratory tests suggest that anthocyanins may help to prevent degenerative diseases, including cancer, heart disease, stroke and memory loss.
Blueberry anthocyanins may protect humans and animals from the effects of a condition known as oxidative stress, which underlies the common disorders associated with aging. Oxidative stress increases with high fat meals and with exposure to environmental toxins.
Recent research supported by the United States Department of Agriculture-Research, Education and Economics shows that eating blueberries may help combat cardiovascular disease.
Scientists at the University of Arkansas fed mice a diet enhanced with blueberry powder, and found that it helped reduce atherosclerosis.
Publishing their findings in the Journal of Nutrition, the researchers indicate that the benefit may be from the antioxidant effect of the blueberries, reducing the oxidative stress that leads to heart disease.
Here's what eating blueberries can do for oxidative stress:
When healthy volunteers ate blueberry powder along with a high fat meal, the blueberries produced a significant increase in the antioxidant status of their blood, compared to the high fat meal alone.
When mice stressed by aging or by toxins were fed blueberries at a dose that would equal one cup a day for a human, their brains revealed a decrease in damage from oxidative stress. Blueberry-fed mice performed better than "control" mice (not fed blueberries) on tests of learning, memory and coordination.
Preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Like their cousins, cranberries, blueberries contain flavonoids that can possibly prevent urinary tract infections. Blueberry flavonoids prevent bacteria that cause urinary infections from binding to the lining of the bladder and can even inhibit the growth of bacteria.
Research on blueberries, cancer and cholesterol
In addition to fighting oxidative stress, eating blueberries may potentially help to prevent cancer and heart disease through other mechanisms.
Blueberry anthocyanins have shown the potential to possibly help inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells in certain research studies.
A group of chemicals that are found in blueberries called stilbenes have possible cholesterol-lowering effects.
Enjoying blueberries
In season, it is easy to find luscious blueberries with a sweet and tart flavor from the farmer's market, farm stand or supermarket.
Before storing fresh berries, remove crushed, unripe or moldy fruit, and stems and leaves. Wash the berries just before you serve them.
You can eat delicious blueberries as a snack or dessert anytime.
Toss a handful of blueberries on your favorite foods, like cereal or granola, hot oatmeal, smoothies and yogurt.
Frozen blueberries are a great way to enjoy berries all year round. The study on memory improvement from the University of Cincinnati used juice made from frozen wild blueberries, which indicates that frozen blueberries also have nutritional potency.
Enjoying blueberries is a great way to boost consumption of fruit and vegetables to nine to 10 servings per day. That is the amount of fruit and vegetables I recommend in my healthy weight loss program. My son Jonathan Galland wrote this blueberry recipe for my book, The Fat Resistance Diet, an anti-inflammatory program.
Blueberry cinnamon bowl
An update on a morning tradition, here is a quick and easy hot breakfast. The aroma of blueberries and cinnamon rising from the bowl makes this a special treat. Oatmeal is a great source of cholesterol lowering fiber and cinnamon reduces insulin levels.
1/2 Cup rolled oats
1/2 Cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 Tablespoon freshly ground flaxseeds
1/2 Tablespoon ground walnuts
Dash of cinnamon
Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan, then stir in the oats. Cook for 4 minutes, then add the blueberries and cook until piping hot. Mix in the flaxseeds, walnuts, and cinnamon. Serves 1.
I hope you enjoy the healthy pleasure of blueberries now and throughout the year.
Now I'd like to hear from you:
Do you enjoy blueberries?
Where do you shop for them?
How do you usually eat them?
Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
Best Health,
Leo Galland, M.D.
Important: Share the health with your friends and family by forwarding this article to them, and sharing on Facebook.
Leo Galland, MD is a board-certified internist, author and internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine. Dr. Galland is the founder of Pill Advised, a web application for learning about medications, supplements and food. Sign up for FREE to discover how your medications and vitamins interact. Watch his videos on YouTube and join the Pill Advised Facebook page.
References and Further Reading
J Nutr. 2010 Sep;140(9):1628-32. Epub 2010 Jul 21. "Dietary blueberries attenuate atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice by upregulating antioxidant enzyme expression." Wu X, Kang J, Xie C, Burris R, Ferguson ME, Badger TM, Nagarajan S. USDA Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA.
Nutr Rev. 2010 Mar;68(3):168-77. "Berries: emerging impact on cardiovascular health." Basu A, Rhone M, Lyons TJ. Department of Nutritional Sciences, Oklahoma State University (OSU), Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078-6141, USA.
Mol Nutr Food Res. 2007 Jun;51(6):652-64. "Cranberry and blueberry: evidence for protective effects against cancer and vascular diseases." Neto CC. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA 02747, USA.
Yao Xue Xue Bao. 2010 Apr;45(4):422-9."Chemical principles and bioactivities of blueberry" Chen CF, Li YD, Xu Z. Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Behav Brain Res. 2009 Mar 17;198(2):352-8. Epub 2008 Nov 17. "Effect of a polyphenol-rich wild blueberry extract on cognitive performance of mice, brain antioxidant markers and acetylcholinesterase activity." Papandreou MA, Dimakopoulou A, Linardaki ZI, Cordopatis P, Klimis-Zacas D, Margarity M, Lamari FN. Laboratory of Human & Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Greece.
Neurobiol Aging. 2006 Feb;27(2):344-50. "Blueberry supplemented diet reverses age-related decline in hippocampal HSP70 neuroprotection." Galli RL, Bielinski DF, Szprengiel A, Shukitt-Hale B, Joseph JA. Neuroscience Laboratory, USDA-ARS Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, 711 Washington St., Boston, MA 02111, USA.
Br J Nutr. 2002 Oct;88(4):389-98. "The effect of wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) consumption on postprandial serum antioxidant status in human subjects." Kay CD, Holub BJ. Department of Human Biology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
J Agric Food Chem. 2010 Apr 14;58(7):3996-4000.
"Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults." Krikorian R, Shidler MD, Nash TA, Kalt W, Vinqvist-Tymchuk MR, Shukitt-Hale B, Joseph JA. Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0559, USA.
J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Dec 13;54(25):9329-39."Blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry, cranberry, red raspberry, and strawberry extracts inhibit growth and stimulate apoptosis of human cancer cells in vitro." Seeram NP, Adams LS, Zhang Y, Lee R, Sand D, Scheuller HS, Heber D. Center for Human Nutrition, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Chin Med J (Engl). 2010 Oct;123(19):2714-9. "Anthocyanins extracted from Chinese blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum L.) and its anticancer effects on DLD-1 and COLO205 cells." Zu XY, Zhang ZY, Zhang XW, Yoshioka M, Yang YN, Li J. Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Tsukuba University, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan.
Full Text: "Diet and Inflammation" Leo Galland, MD, Nutr Clin Pract December 7, 2010 vol. 25 no. 6 634-640
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute (i) medical advice or counseling, (ii) the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, (iii) or the creation of a physician--patient relationship. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.
]]>Eat Well and Avoid Diseasestag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.8525592011-06-01T08:30:08-04:002011-08-01T05:12:01-04:00Leo Galland, M.D.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/
The answer goes far beyond "You are what you eat."
Nutrition is important because it fuels your body and gives you chemical building blocks like amino acids for making protein and calcium and magnesium for building bones and teeth. It provides fatty acids for building the membranes of cells and their components.
Vitamins, Minerals and Enzymes
The vitamins and minerals nutrition provides act as co-factors for the enzymes that run almost everything that happens in your body. These important effects of nutrition have been the focus of scientific research for more than a hundred years.
Scientists have concluded that vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids are essential nutrients and that carbohydrates are the most efficient sources of fuel.
Get more info about essential fatty acids in my article: Supplement Your Knowledge of Omega Fats Recent research has revolutionized nutritional science by discovering other reasons why nutrition is important.
Nutrients in food can dramatically affect the way your body functions.
Key among these are the bioflavonoids and carotenoids that give food some of its richest colors: the deep blue of blueberries, the red of cherries and tomatoes and the orange of carrots. The antioxidants in these foods can provide protection against free radical damage, helping to protect against disease and aging.
With the growing body of scientific evidence, the importance of nutrition in prevention, wellness, anti-aging and combating disease is now beyond a doubt.
What we eat on a regular basis can contribute to various conditions. A major way diet impacts health is the case of obesity, diabetes and related diseases.
Discover how the typical modern eating pattern got us into trouble, and discover a new approach in my article: The Standard American Diet (SAD)
Learn which dietary patterns contribute to conditions, and a quick look at some nutritional approaches that can help:
Crohn's Disease and Nutrition
Diets high in sugar and white starch increase the risk of Crohn's disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease.
What Can Help: For people who already have Crohn's disease, a high protein, low carbohydrate diet can improve long-term outcome.
Parkinson's Disease and Nutrition
High protein diets may possibly increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease. In addition, the medication taken for Parkinson's disease tends to work better when people avoid animal protein.
What Can Help: Drinking coffee (but not decaf) may decrease the risk of developing Parkinson's disease (and also decrease the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes). People with Parkinson's disease may also need extra fat in their diets.
Read about research on fruit that may protect the brain against cognitive decline and lower the risk of Parkinson's: Berry Good News
Gout and Nutrition
Diets high in animal flesh (red meat, poultry and seafood) can increase the risk of developing gout.
About three million Americans have celiac disease, a genetic disorder that causes intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat (including white flour products), barley and rye.
Celiac disease can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue, neurological and psychiatric problems, osteoporosis, skin rashes and joint pain, and can trigger a variety of autoimmune disorders and some cancers. Most people don't know they have celiac disease until they're specifically tested for it.
What Can Help: It is essential for people with celiac disease to follow a strict gluten-free diet for life.
The Sugar Trap
A variety of different conditions are adversely affected by eating food with added sugar (either sucrose or high fructose corn syrup). These include diabetes and its many complications, Meniere's syndrome, hypoglycemia, depression, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, vaginal yeast infections and fatty liver disease.
What Can Help: Avoiding foods with added sugar and corn syrup. Eating whole, unprocessed foods.
Intolerance or allergy to specific foods may trigger numerous disorders. These include:
What Can Help: Identifying those foods that trigger allergies and eliminating them from the diet may have dramatic effects in reversing a wide range of conditions.
Now I'd like to hear from you:
What do you eat on a daily basis?
How does it impact how you feel?
Have you noticed anything special that helps or hurts?
Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
Best Health,
Leo Galland, MD
Important: Share the Health with your friends and family by forwarding this article to them, and sharing on Facebook.
Leo Galland, MD is a board-certified internist, author and internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine. Dr. Galland is the founder of Pill Advised, a web application for learning about medications, supplements and food. Sign up for FREE to discover how your medications and vitamins interact. Watch his videos on YouTube and join the Pill Advised Facebook page.
References and Further Reading:
"Increased requirements for essential fatty acids in atopic individuals: a review with clinical descriptions" L. Galland, Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol 5, Issue 2 213-228, 1986
Full Text: "Diet and Inflammation" Leo Galland, MD, Nutr Clin Pract December 7, 2010 vol. 25 no. 6 634-640
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute (i) medical advice or counseling, (ii) the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, (iii) or the creation of a physician--patient relationship. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.
]]>Eat More, Lose Weight?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.8529472011-05-21T01:15:02-04:002011-07-20T05:12:01-04:00Leo Galland, M.D.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/
Given the most common food sources, your hunger is really no surprise.
Can't Get No Satisfaction
Fast food, restaurant food and even many of the foods in the supermarket can leave you feeling unsatisfied and overweight at the same time.
The high sugar and fat meals even program your body to crave more sugar and fat. It's a vicious cycle.
The problem is that the typical, modern foods are so high in calories and low in nutrition that if you eat enough to satisfy your appetite, you get more calories than you can burn off in a day.
Breaking the Vicious Cycle
What if there were a way to eat more healthy food, and lose weight?
Spring is the perfect time to celebrate the health benefits of food brimming with the power of phytonutrients.
The Key to Weight Loss
Salads are an excellent example of high nutrient density meals that help you lose weight: The vegetables in garden salad have a high ratio of nutrition to calories. In other words, you get lots of nutrition for very few calories.
High nutrient density meals such as salad allow you to eat more, satisfy your appetite and stick to a healthy weight loss plan.
And salads are a wonderful way to get more vegetables -- a lot more -- into your day. This is important because optimum nutrition requires nine or 10 servings of fruit and vegetables per day, which is the target amount in the meal plans of my book "The Fat Resistance Diet." (Please see link below for free recipes.) Having salad is a delicious way to move toward getting nine or 10 per day.
The latest research shows us the amazing health benefits of lettuce, arugula and endive, and motivates our family to eat a big salad every day.
Benefit from Antioxidants
These are items you can find in your supermarket that can add important nutritional elements to your meals. For example, romaine and red leaf lettuce, spinach and arugula are all excellent sources of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant nutrients, such as carotenoids and phenolics.
The positive effects on your body start right away. For several hours after you a eat large bowl of fresh romaine lettuce, there is a significant increase in your blood of:
Total antioxidant activity
Vitamin C
Beta-carotene
Quercetin, an important bioflavonoid
Phenolics
Mangia Italian Style
Arugula is a trendy green leaf found on Italian restaurant menus. Arugula is not only an excellent source of bioflavonoids, but it also contains calcium. Arugula has Vitamin A, which helps build immunity and potassium that is important for muscles.
Endive, which is widely used in northern Europe (especially Belgium and Holland), is a source of Vitamin K for strong bones, as well as Vitamin A.
Skip Fat-Free Dressing
Fat is essential for carotenoid absorption. For maximum benefit, eat your salad with a little extra virgin olive oil or walnut oil.
Discover research on how olive oil can reduce pain and inflammation: Olive Oil or Advil
Easy Salad Tips
When shopping for salad, freshness is key. You want to get vegetables that are vibrant, brightly colored, firm and crisp. A farmstand in the countryside or a farmer's market in the city is a great place to shop for farm fresh vegetables.
For romaine lettuce and arugula, look for deep green leaves that look freshly picked. Skip anything that is wilted or waterlogged
At home, all vegetables should be washed carefully, whether packaged or not.
For endive, look for something that is very firm, with white leaves touched by green. Avoid any that has become brown or softened. They should be firm to the touch when you buy them.
For romaine lettuce, pull off the outer leaves and cut the bottom stalk. Tearing the leaves is an easy way to prep romaine for a salad. For arugula, cut off the bottom stems, then tear the leaves
into bite-sized pieces.
For romaine lettuce and arugula, soak the leaves briefly in lukewarm water to remove any sand or dirt, then rinse well in cool water. Repeat soaking and rinsing until clean, then dry in a salad spinner.
For endive, remove outer leaves, cut the bottom stalk and chop the leaves.
Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
Best Health,
Leo Galland, M.D.
Important: Share the Health with your friends and family by forwarding this article to them, and sharing on Facebook.
Leo Galland, M.D. is a board-certified internist, author and internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine. Dr. Galland is the founder of Pill Advised, a web application for learning about medications, supplements and food. Sign up for FREE to discover how your medications and vitamins interact. Watch his videos on YouTube and join the Pill Advised Facebook page.
References and Further Reading:
Full Text: "Diet and Inflammation" Leo Galland, MD, Nutr Clin Pract December 7, 2010 vol. 25 no. 6 634-640
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute (i) medical advice or counseling, (ii) the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, (iii) or the creation of a physician--patient relationship. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.