ARE YOU GETTING MORE FORGETFUL

     “If you seem more forgetful,” explains Andrew Weil, M.D., director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, “you are obviously not getting enough Omega-3 essential fatty acids in your diet.  The architecture of the brain becomes weak, and brain functions, including memory, suffers.  It is not only the amount of omega-3s that is important, but the balance between them it is equally crucial.  Our diets are flooded with omega 6 fatty acids, mostly from processed foods”, says Dr. Weil.  “The more omega-6s you eat, the more omega-3s you need to balance your levels and most of us do not get enough omega-3s and too many omega-6s.”

     A quick review of what you eat is all your doctor needs.  “If there are no fish, walnuts, or freshly ground flax seed in your diet, your doctor will know the fats you eat are mainly from meat and you are not getting any omega-3s, explains Manuel Villacorta , RD, an American Dietetic Association spokesperson in san Francisco. 

     For a food-fix, reduce the amount of refined processed foods you eat and cook with olive and canola oil.  Eat 3 and ½ ounces of herring, sardines or halibut each week.  Use the same amount of wild salmon and herring in another week.  Add 2 tablespoons of fresh ground flax seed to cereal for whole grain side dishes or shakes daily.  Garnish salads or cereal with one tablespoon of walnuts five days a week.  Enjoy two or three almonds four times a week.

    “If your blood pressure has been rising over time, consider the amount of salt you eat, having too little potassium in your diet magnifies the toxic effects of excessive salt intake,” says Dr. Fruge “Most processed foods have added sodium but no extra potassium.  This damages blood vessels, driving up blood pressure.  If your meals come from boxes, you are likely at risk.  When your kidneys try to flush out the salt, you lose more potassium.  Eating better can correct the problem. I’ve seen people drop 30 pounds in three days.  How your doctor knows?  A review of your diet reveals all your general practitioner needs to know.  He can evaluate your cardiovascular function with blood tests to check blood sugar, cholesterol levels and kidney function and stress tests, body fat measurements and ultra sounds of your heart and arteries.  Cut salt consumption to no more than l.500 mg per day.  Eat seven to nine servings of fruits and vegetables every day.         

     

HEART DISEASE TREATMENT

     A study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, suggests that certain patients treated with bypass surgery tend to live longer than those treated with angioplasty plus stents.  The study followed 190,000 people 65 and older with heart disease in at least two of their coronary arteries.  After one year, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups.  But after that, bypass patients had the advantage.  By the four year mark, they had a 21 percent lower mortality rate than those who had angioplasty,

    “It is essential to get the first treatment right,” says David M. Shahian, M.D., a professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School.  “It can affect your life for years to come.”  Many patients can opt for just diet, exercise and drugs.  For others, surgery to bypass the narrowed arteries provides a survival advantage, according to a study in the April 19, 2012 new England Journal of Medicine.  One of the largest problems is that ‘the interventional cardiologist acts as the gatekeeper,” says William Boden, M.D, chief of medicine at the Samuel A. Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, N.Y.  But that specialist only represents his or her skill set.”

    Dr. Boden points out that with cancer treatment in which specialists confer to provide optimum care, the complexity of heart disease requires a range of expertise.  In 2011 that heart team was endorsed by several organizations representing different cardiovascular specialties.  When there is no single “right” treatment that is the best one.  Your primary care doctor will help coordinate care.  A non invasive cardiologist may perform initial tests and manage medical treatment.  The interventional cardiologist could perform the diagnosis angiogram as well as the angioplasty.  Cardiothoracic surgeons could discuss the surgery option to build the heart team.  In nonemergency situations the group should confer after the angiogram and then discuss options with the patient.  “In the ‘real world’,” says Brahmajee Nallamothu, M.D., an associate professor at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center in Ann Arbor, “Systems are not set up to encourage it.”

          

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THAT PUT ON POUNDS

    Weight gain is often an overlooked side effect of many drugs.  Some stimulate the appetite or slow the body’s metabolism.  Others cause fluid retention or enough drowsiness to reduce physical activity and thus trigger weight gain.  Those effects can be rapid and significant.  For example, a study found children and teenagers starting antipsychotic medication added an average of 10 to 19 pounds after taking the pills for nearly 11 weeks.

    Before starting a new drug ask your doctor or pharmacist about its possible effect on weight gain.  Exercising more and paying attention to the weight might help minimize the problem.  If you find yourself putting on pounds while taking a medication, ask your doctor about switching to a lower dose or a different drug.  Check out allergy drugs, antidepressants, blood pressure drugs, diabetes drugs, seizure and nerve pain drugs, psychiatric drugs, and steroids.   From February Consumer Reports on Health.

COMPETING WITH MOTHER NATURE

    According to Consumer Reports on Health, new evidence shows that vitamin and mineral supplements cannot compete with the nutrients from Mother Nature.  Vitamin supplements as well as fresh vegetables and fruits are now available at most health stores and now even many of the large super stores handle both.  If anyone is exhausted by 9:00 pm, it is time to crawl under the covers where only sleep can come to the rescue.  The digestive system calls to the brain to get digestive crews on duty and may have completed their jobs very early in the morning as far as they can until missing nutrients can be found.

    GLIMMERS OF HOPE support the use of certain supplements for certain conditions. Vitamin and mineral pills can benefit certain people in different times of their lives.  First discuss this need with your physician to be sure it does not interfere with other medications. People who have at least moderate age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness, may be able to limit damage by taking a daily supplement that contains vitamins C, E and beta carotene, but talk to your ophthalmologist first since the formula could be risky for some people, depending on other medications used.  Recent research suggests that folic acid and other B vitamins reduce the risk of AMD for some people.  This is the first suggestion of a way of preventing the early stages of AMD other than avoiding smoking,” says William G. Christin, Sc,D, an associate professor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.  But the study sponsored by the National Eye Institute needs to be repeated before firm recommendations can be made.

   An OSTEOPOROSIS study presented a comprehensive review of 167 studies federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that calcium and vitamin D pills reduced fractures and bone loss – although the fracture benefit was primarily in female nursing home residents.  Vitamin D also helped prevent falls in older people in a 2009 analysis but only at doses of 700 IU a day or higher.  Shortfalls of vitamin D are common, recent research suggests, so if you have health problems possibly linked to abnormal calcium metabolism or vitamin D deficiency such as hyperthyroidism and osteoporosis, consider having your blood levels tested.  If the reading is low your doctor may likely call for a vitamin D supplement for a few months and then retest.    

         

SALT - HOW MUCH

     The average person consumes 3,500 milligrams day which is more than twice the 1,500 mg for African American people 40 and older, or if you have high blood pressure.  These groups together represent about 70 percent of the population.  All that sodium can raise blood pressure multiplying the risk of heart attacks and especially strokes, and could boost the risk of asthma, kidney stones, osteoporosis and stomach cancer.  Most sodium comes from processed, packaged and restaurant food 77%.  Some people are more sensitive and even small amounts can cause a big jump in blood pressure.  Your genes, age and race count as you grow older.

    EXERCISE:  Brisk walking can lower blood pressure, strengthens the heart and relaxes blood vessels.  People who work out very hard can use extra sodium because heavy sweating can deplete it. 

     LOSE WEIGHT;   Those who are overweight with too much body fat, especially in the abdomen may find this can interfere with the ability of the hormone insulin to ferry sugar from the blood into body cells.  Such insulin resistance may make the body more sensitive to sodium.  Type 2 diabetes people tend to have high blood pressure but losing weight helps lower it.

    EAT RIGHT:  A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and low fat dairy products help keep blood pressure low.  These foods contain nutrients, notably calcium and potassium that helps blunt the effect of sodium on blood pressure.  Good sources of calcium include dark green leafy vegetables, nuts and sardines.  High in potassium include avocados, bananas, grapefruit, baked potatoes and raisins.       

    THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY:  The good unsaturated fats do not raise the cholesterol and include avocadoes, fish, olives, walnuts and vegetable oils such as canola, corn, peanut, safflower, and sunflower.  The bad saturated fats – from animal sources include red meat, dairy and palm oil.  The ugly may be found in some margarines and many processed foods including some cookies, crackers and doughnuts so try to avoid these altogether.  Consumer Reports on Health,

    

FAREWELL SWEET ONE

    Friday, September 7, 2012, family and friends met to say farewell to a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.  She was admired, loved, and cherished by all who crossed her pathway throughout her 92 years of her Earthly sojourn.  Love and truth walked with her and we all felt assured that her “Book of Life,” had recorded it all accurately as Heaven’s Pearly Gates swung open to the message on its pages.  “Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant, Enter Thou Into the Joys of the Lord.” 

    Passing through the lobby of the chapel of the formal farewell service the record of Eva Neufeld’s helpful heart displayed itself upon its walls and counters of what remained of items her helpful hands had fashioned into spreads, blankets, hand protectors and many other everyday items for family and friends as well as for anyone else in need.  The last time I invited her to my place for dinner, she brought with her a package with several handle pads to protect the hands of anyone who may wish to help. I have at this moment looked in my kitchen where a hot pad sits ready on a chair handle to protect the hands of myself and others.  Many “ouches” were likely avoided.  Pink, white with and earthy gold were patterned throughout.  I would learn later that these colours held special meaning for her.  I hope to learn more about her favorite colours from one of her three daughters or her son the next time he comes from the coast.  All four of her children were able to take a turn being with their mother to comfort and help her throughout the last weeks of her life until the moment of her Heavenly transition.  Those attending said that at times it seemed that distant heavenly choirs sang softly from above.  Eva’s legacy of the many items she had knitted and fashioned into blankets and other helpful items will carry on throughout time as they are given away for those in need of them.         

EDIBLE SUNSCREEN

   According to Andrew Weil, MD, director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, compounds found in grapes, cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, bok choy and brussel sprouts, garlic and onions, and the spice turmeric also show promise for general cancer prevention.  Berries of all kinds also boost the body’s defenses.  Preliminary studies also suggest Heliocare, an oral supplement made from a South American fern plant are also excellent but very expensive so be sure to  remember to apply the sun block lotion 20 minutes before you leave the house.  It is helpful to wear a wide brim hat during the mid-day hours of 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

GRILLED CHICKEN IN THE WARM SUMMER MONTHS

    From the time the chicken is served, the food safety countdown begins.  “Grilled chicken can be left at room temperature for two hours,” says Tina Hanes RD, RN, a USDA, a food safety expert.  “When temperatures reach 90 degrees or higher do not leave it out at room temperature for more than an hour.  The leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator.  A cold second helping beats a trip to the ER,” she adds.

WALK OFF BELLY FAT

     You might find Travis Stork, MD, an ER physician in the emergency room saving a life, or in a television studio as star of The Doctors.  He is trying to get us all on the right path to improved health and keep us there.  He explains how to attain lasting health for a long and happier life.  He is on the run to help each us get to work weekdays and on weekends sometimes goes to the mountains with his mountain bike to enjoy a trim up. 

     “It’s the simple things that make me the happiest,” Dr. Stork says.  “To me the perfect day is having time to spend with my wife, Charlotte, doing things we enjoy and adding that heath benefit.  We have a healthy, great dinner, grab our dog Nala (a 12 year old husky cross) and go for a walk.  It’s a good way to decompress.  Here’s how Dr. Stork does it – and how we all can do it too. 

     “You can’t predict what you’re eating at a restaurant, but when you make it yourself, you can and it tastes better.  While growing up, I ate meat and potatoes, with vegetables on one side of the plate.  Now I eat locally grown foods and we have a dark chocolate treat once in awhile.”

     “It’s good to find your stress-relief valve and for me it’s a bike ride, not down a busy street but at a park that is closed off to cars and where I can be alone with my thoughts, even if my day has been a tiring one.”  He says he feels that patients as well as others at the studio can tell if you are too busy.  The Doctors program airs around the world.  If we say ‘Quit smoking’ and if even 1% of people watching quit, that’s thousands of people. I can be an influence in the emergency department as well.  People sometimes stop me on the street to tell me one of their children has diabetes because I have explained it on the show.  It is thrilling for me that they genuinely want to engage in conversation about health.”     

    “I have done some motivational health talks called ‘Your Best Life’ and plan to do more.  There are times when I wish it could be a little simpler but it is better to face the facts and use the talents we all have to help others,” Dr. Stork concludes.  Someone just called me and said “The Doctors” can be seen each afternoon in Vernon on Global TV around 2:00 or 3:00 PM.   

   

BASIC BRAIN FOOD

    Blueberries top the list of all berries that are rich in plant chemicals called polyphenols and “a recent study found that polyphenols increase clearance of toxic proteins in the brain,” says Leslie Beck, a registered dietitian and nutrition writer.  (In Alzheimer’s disease (AD) – brain cells become clogged with these protein toxins.)  While researching her latest book, “Leslie Beck’s Longevity Diet (Penguin Canada, 2010), Beck also discovered that “evidence suggests a berry-rich diet activates the brain’s natural house-cleaning process, helping it remove toxins and other compounds that can interfere with brain function.”

     Rosie Schwartz, a registered dietician and author of “The Enlightened Eater’s Whole Foods Guide (Viking Canada, 2003), notes other research suggests that blueberries, in particular benefit the brain.  “Compounds in blueberries seem to play a role in how neurons (nerve cells) in the brain communicate.  There is more about this in animal studies.  A blueberry-enriched diet has been linked with an increase in the birth of new brain cells, as well as improvements in short-term memory and navigational motor skills.  A tiny ad in Wednesday’s Morning Star says blueberries have a U-pick offer for @2.50 per pound at 4886 Grandview Flats near Armstrong. 

    The second in brain food importance is curcumin, found in turmeric and has been implicated in the lower than average incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in curry-eating populations.  The authors of The Rising Tide:  Dementia in Canadian Society, a report commissioned by the Alzheimers Society say that part of the reason might be that herbs like curry, ginger and garlic might cut back the use of salt, which lowers the risk of both stroke and dementia.  Certain white blood cells gobble up proteins that gum up brain function.  Preliminary evidence in experiments with rabbits shows curcumin can help brain cells after a stroke.

     The third most important brain food is “DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found only in oily fish and is also the only one that makes its way to the brain, Beck reports (see first paragraph above), high levels of which has been linked to an elevated proportion of communication membranes in the brain.  The fourth most important brain food is lentils which is rich in folate.  Along with B12 it keeps down blood levels of an amino acid called homocysteine. Beck will soon have more to say on this in a future blog.