Guest guest Posted October 13, 2005 Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 ************************************** Fall 2005 issue of Dr. Michael Greger's quarterly newsletter ******************************************************* CONTENTS (online at http://www.DrGreger.org/newsletters.html ) I. Latest Updates in Human Nutrition A. Ornish Takes on Cancer B. Peppermint Oil for Irritable Bowel Syndrome C. Atkins Diet: Dead Meat D. Arteries--Open Sesame! E. Childhood Brain Tumors and Maternal Diet II. Personal Update III. Mad Cow Update: FDA gutless, brainless; Our food and cosmetic supply should be so lucky IV. Bird Flu Update: On a Wing and a Prayer V. Mailbag: " " What sources do you use to write the newsletter? " ******************************************************* I. LATEST UPDATES IN HUMAN NUTRITION -------------------------- A. Ornish Takes on Cancer Until Dean Ornish published his landmark study in 1990, most cardiologists saw heart disease as an inexorable part of old age and treated it largely palliatively, going to great lengths--even open heart surgery--to alleviate the pain and disability. What Dr. Ornish showed was that heart disease could be not only slowed down, but actually reversed with a plant-based diet and other lifestyle changes.[1] People learned they could quite literally take their life in their own hands and cure themselves of a debilitating life-threatening disease once thought incurable. The broader implication, of course, was that a plant-based diet could potentially prevent heart disease in the first place. Largely ignoring the evidence Ornish presented, physicians of today, however, continue to talk of merely decreasing the risk of heart disease. As Dr. William Roberts, editor of the American Journal of Cardiology, points out " Pediatricians do not focus on decreasing the risk of mumps, measles, pertussis, or rheumatic fever. They focus on preventing these illnesses entirely. The same concept needs to be applied to atherosclerotic events. " [2] Having demonstrated we could prevent and cure our number one killer without drugs and surgery, Ornish has now decided to take on killer number two, cancer. [To continue reading please go to http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html] -------------------------- B. Peppermint Oil for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects millions of Americans with painful abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, and bouts of diarrhea and constipation. Eliminating dairy and caffeine often takes care of the problem, but if not I often put patients on peppermint oil--and there is finally now solid evidence to support this centuries-old practice.[9] [To continue reading please go to http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html] -------------------------- C. The Atkins Diet: Dead Meat My latest book, " Carbophobia: The Scary Truth Behind America's Low Carb Craze " : published February 1st, 2005. The multibillion dollar Atkins corporation: files for bankruptcy August 1st.[10] Six months. Not bad (though I was hoping to topple them in four . Seriously, though, all the I-told-them-so satisfaction is lost upon reflection of the thousands of families shattered by pork-rind and egg-yolk fueled heart attacks spawned by these high-fat frauds. Americans are now fattening at a rate never before seen, with a recent report showing rising obesity rates across 48 states. Right now two thirds of Americans are overweight. By 2008 the number is predicted to approach 75%.[11] And just when we thought we couldn't get any fatter comes the follow-up to the Framingham Heart Study published last week in the Annals of Internal Medicine, suggesting that over the long haul as many as 9 out of 10 men are likely to become overweight.[12] The answer, according to two new studies piling onto the mountain of evidence, is a plant-based diet. [To continue reading please go to http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html] -------------------------- D. Arteries--Open Sesame! People who have lived with me know about my " magic powder. " I sprinkle it on almost everything. It's a combination of ground flax seed, dulse flakes, vitamin B12-fortified nutritional yeast and toasted and ground sesame seeds. The flax is for my Omega 3 fatty acids (although as little nutritional powerhouses they are much much more); the dulse is for iodine since I don't use salt (I've always wanted to include sea vegetables in my diet, because I knew they were so amazing trace mineral-wise, but I never liked the taste. Dulse is a gorgeous purple seaweed with but a mild flavor); and the nutritional yeast is for my B12 (although again there's so much other nutrition in this stuff it turns your pee yellow . But the toasted sesame seeds (just spread a layer of raw sesame seeds in a toaster oven tray and toast until golden brown) are just to make the whole thing edible. Sesame seeds are the first recorded seasoning ever, dating back over 5000 years and no wonder--the rich sweet nutty flavor and fragrance of freshly toasted sesame seeds is out of this world. Little did I know that all this time they were helping to keep my arteries clean. And I love hearing good news about my good habits. [To continue reading please go to http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html] -------------------------- E. Childhood Brain Tumors and Maternal Diet Cancer is second only to accidents as a leading cause of death for our children these days. Brain tumors are the most common solid form of pediatric cancer. The development of childhood brain tumors is a chief reason why pregnant women no longer get X-rayed. Evidence has been building, though, that the mother's diet during pregnancy also plays a significant role. [To continue reading please go to http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html] ******************************************************* II. PERSONAL UPDATE Alas, what was once monthly is now sadly only quarterly. As much as I really enjoy working on this newsletter it takes me at least a week to research and write, and now with a more than full time job, on top of the writing, and traveling, and speaking I just can no longer afford to spend a quarter of my month on it. So, I'm now sadly down to the seasons. You can expect the Winter issue this January (hopefully with tellings of the hatching of my new bird flu book!). I'll put a Spring issue out every April, a Summer issue out in July and a Fall every October. It kills me to have to pass over so many important juicy articles I see every month, and I miss the feeling of more frequently reaching out to everyone that has reached out to me over the years, entrusting me with a piece of their family's health. I hope you can understand. [To continue reading please go to http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html] ******************************************************* III. MAD COW UPDATE: FDA gutless and brainless; our food and cosmetic supply should be so lucky Early last month, while all eyes were on Katrina, the FDA quietly announced that it was even backtracking on the few rules it had already put in place. You may remember my April 2004 mad cow update ( http://www.drgreger.org/april2004.html ) in which I encouraged everyone to put pressure on the FDA to follow the European example and exclude not only small intestine from the human food and cosmetics supply, but all cow/calf colons and rectums as well. Not only did they refuse to ban these potentially risky tissues, but the exclusion of all smaller intestines was evidently so costly to the sausage industry that they've decided to allow them back in, forcing producers just to cut off the last few feet.[21] As one public health commentator commentated: " So while the FDA may be gutless, your food and cosmetics won't be. " [22] [To continue reading please go to http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html] ******************************************************* IV. BIRD FLU UPDATE: On a Wing and a Prayer Two weeks ago a Dr. " Frist " wrote an op-ed in the Washington Times warning that the bird flu virus " poses an immense potential threat to American civilization. " [33] A threat to civilization? Who is this guy? This " guy " is Bill Frist, M.D., Majority Leader of the United States Senate. [To continue reading please go to http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html] ******************************************************* V. MAILBAG: " What sources do you use to write the newsletter? " I love libraries. I grew up in libraries. I would actually skip class in high school so I could spend more time in a basement--the science library at the local state university. Let's just say I was an uber-nerd. [To continue reading please go to http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html] ******************************************************* REFERENCES at http://www.drgreger.org/fall2005.html If anyone missed previous months, check out my newsletter archive at http://www.DrGreger.org/newsletters.html Until (hopefully) next month, -Michael -- (206) 312-8640 425 North Frederick Ave. #4A Gaithersburg, MD 20877-2431 http://www.DrGreger.org http://www.AtkinsExposed.org http://www.organicconsumers.org/madcow.htm HEART FAILURE: Diary of a Third Year Medical Student (full text now available free): http://www.upalumni.org/medschool My latest book: CARBOPHOBIA: The Scary Truth Behind America's Low Carb Craze http://www.lanternbooks.com/detail.html?session=a2bc38f2856ef73e88f55552a47cc4f8\ & id=1590560868 To to my free quarterly nutrition newsletter send a blank email to: drgregersnewsletter- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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