Healthy Living Archives | Page 2 of 8

October 11, 2022October 12, 2022

Health Benefits of Whole Grains

bowl of whole grains next to golden ladle

Whole Grains are Super Foods for our Health

The many health benefits of whole grains are why I often write about this subject.

The data continues to mount on the health benefits of these humble foods. This is because they are not only good for human health, but also for the health of our planet.

I recently watched the TV series “The Chosen.” When someone asked Jesus what his favorite food was, Jesus said, bread.

While it is fashionable now in some health circles to denigrate bread, bread is also my favorite food. Especially bread made from freshly milled whole grains. The health benefits of whole grains are so pronounced—and the taste so delicious—I’ll take a slice of hardy whole-grain bread over just about anything.

September 30, 2022October 3, 2022

Why We Need to Reduce Medication Prescriptions for Older Adults

Pills coming out of a prescription bottle

It’s important to reduce medication prescriptions for older adults (and everyone else). Why do we want to reduce medication prescriptions? Because prescription drugs are the third leading cause of death in the United States and Europe. Only heart disease and cancer cause more death.

In 2014 Peter Gøtzsche, a medical doctor and internationally known researcher and book author, wrote an article, called “Our prescription drugs kill us in large numbers.” In some ways his work is more relevant today than when he first wrote it. As Dr. Gøtzsche points out:

50% of those who die have taken their drugs correctly. The other half die because of human error, such as too high a dose or use of a drug despite contraindications.

May 25, 2022July 26, 2022

The Role of Nutrition in Individual and Planetary Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has had deleterious effects on overall health in numerous ways, and not only for those who actually contracted the disease.^[1] For many people, COVID-19 lockdowns negatively affected physical activity and diet, which are risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, including hypertension and obesity.^[2]^,^[3]^,^[4]

Equally concerning is that the importance of health optimization has been largely ignored.

The entire premise for vaccinations is to utilize non-pathogenic material to mimic the immunological response of a natural infection, thereby conferring immunity in the event of pathogen exposure.^[5]

August 11, 2021March 8, 2022

Statin-Associated Myopathy and Mitochondrial Impairment

“If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” Albert Einstein

Part One

I’m often asked if I think statin drugs are useful. Of course it’s important first to address the issue of cholesterol levels which statin drugs are used to control. I recently wrote a blog entitled “What can Centenarians teach us about cholesterol levels and longevity – It isn’t what you think” in which I provided substantial evidence questioning the current guidelines regarding what is actually a healthy total cholesterol level.

As far as statins go, my opinion is that if people are willing to be involved in their own healthcare by adopting a comprehensive approach to health optimization—which includes a healthy diet and lifestyle, the support of appropriate botanical and nutritional medicines, and a positive attitude—then I see little to no need for statin drugs.

However, if you do feel the need to take a statin, then I will provide you with essential supportive care to both mitigate the adverse effects of statins and to potentiate them, so that a reduced amount might be sufficient.

December 19, 2019March 29, 2022

Potatoes: The Humble Food That Tops All Other Super Foods

People love the idea of ‘super foods,’ and I’m commonly asked my thoughts about everything from goji berries to blue-green algae. Some super foods, like chia seeds and coconut oil, are foods that I recommend. Others, like blue-green algae—sourced from a lake polluted by agricultural runoff—are supplements that I obviously do not advise taking. But even the super foods I like and recommend don’t compare to the humble potato. The humble potato is nutrient dense, and not only is it good for you, it’s good for the health of the planet.

Potatoes have gotten a bad rap, with many people thinking that they’re fattening and devoid of nutritional value. But potatoes have a long history of nourishing humankind. In Ireland, people based their diets on nutrient rich potatoes for hundreds of years.

November 18, 2019October 11, 2022

WHOLE GRAINS, WHOLE PLANET: SUSTAINABLE FOOD IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Grains are the most important source of food on our planet, providing nearly 50% of the caloric needs of cultures around the world. Fortunately, grains also happen to be among the least intensive foods to produce. Along with environmental sustainability, grains provide significant health benefits.

According to the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, “consistent evidence indicates that, in general, a dietary pattern that is higher in plant-based foods, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, and lower in animal-based foods is more health promoting and is associated with lesser environmental impact.” ¹