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Fall 2005 issue of Dr. Michael Greger's quarterly newsletter
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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?"
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I. LATEST UPDATES IN HUMAN NUTRITION
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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 subscribe to my free quarterly nutrition newsletter
send a blank email to: drgregersnewsletter-subscribe@lists.riseup.netg
Fitness By Marilyn
Independent AIM Member - Marilyn Wilson Price
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