Doctor’s Natural Health and Beauty Blog

To be or not to be vegetarian.

2012-01-24T15:57:00.006-05:00

I am frequently asked “Should I be a vegetarian?” A 60 years old female, recently diagnosed with breast cancer, told me she’d read that a vegetarian diet is superior for fighting cancer. She came to my office seeking advice.

As a naturopath I see in my practice long standing vegetarians, resent converts, and people who have simply decided to eat a diet rich in vegetables for health reasons. Vegetarianism is not for everybody! Before you go vegetarian you must do some study of nutrition, anatomy and physiology to understand what is involved. Here are few topics to ponder:

1. Learn about “junky” vegetarians, but do not become one yourself. Often people who eliminate meat tend to eat more pasta, bread, cheese, cakes, sodas and other processed foods. You have to understand that processed foods lack vitamins, minerals and protein, but are high in simple carbohydrates, and thus can be harmful to your health in the long run. Be sure to understand why! Learn about main sources of protein in our diet, such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, nuts, seeds, rice and beans. Learn about complex carbohydrates and why they are better than simple carbs. Learn about omega3, 6 and 9, and good fat vs. bad. This is all just basic nutrition.

2. All the food that you eat is broken down into smallest particles in our digestive tract. For example, proteins are broken down into amino acids. Those amino acids are absorbed into the blood stream and become building blocks for our own protein. To understand how protein is absorbed from your diet, you must learn about saliva, teeth, stomach, small and large intestine and understand how the health of this last organ in particular affects digestion and absorption of all nutrients. If any part of the digestive tract is not healthy, being vegetarian can compromise your health.

3. Vegetarians tend to be deficient in Vitamin B12, because the best source of Vitamin B12 is meat. B12 is key to a healthy nervous system and deficiencies can result in permanent damage to peripheral nerves. Vitamin B12 also helps with synthesis of DNA during cell division. Lack of B12 causes formation of abnormal cells, which eventually leads to anemia. Legumes such as lentils and peas have limited amount of amino acids Tryptophan and Methionine. Vegetarians must know a little physiology to understand how these amino acids are used in our body to build complete proteins. Although it is easy to diagnose Vitamin B12 deficiency, a deficiency of amino acids is more difficult to pin point and treat.

At the end of the appointment with my 60 year old patient, we agreed that for now she will have 2-3 vegetarian days a week, and in the meanwhile will learn some nutrition, anatomy and physiology. She can start to experiment and have fun exploring new ways to cook. Later she can decide if a complete vegetarian diet is right for her.

Emergency update on Japan

2011-04-12T18:40:00.001-04:00

Dear friend and patients.

"Japan's nuclear regulators raised the severity level of the crisis at a stricken nuclear plant Tuesday to rank it on par with the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The rating was being raised from 5 to 7 — the highest level on the international scale." according to Yahoo news. here

1. Take your Iodine supplements NOW.

I still have few packages and bottles in both offices (FF and Stamford) for free. Buy your own now! Pills or Lugol’s solution will do the job.

To pick up from my Fairfield office call 203-255-5300 Nancy. M-F 9 till 5pm

To pick up from my Stamford office call 203-321-0000. M, W, F, S 9-5pm

2. Take good supplements of Multi-vitamins and minerals. I have in both offices: $40.00/180pills if you need.

3. Continue to apply Iodine topically.

4. Cook with sea weed.

Dr. V Waks

Update on the Situation in Japan and Preventive Steps.

2011-03-18T18:16:00.001-04:00

March 18, 2011

The situation in Japan gets worse with each passing day.

Today’s story from The New York Times:

“The nuclear safety agency raised the assessment of its severity to 5 from 4 on a 7-level international scale. Level 4 is for incidents with local consequences while level 5 denotes broader consequences.”

“American officials say they suspect that the Tokyo Electric company has consistently underestimated the risk and moved too slowly to contain the damage.”

Status of the Nuclear Reactors is here.

Still there is no reason to panic: the distance is great and much of the radioactive material will be dispersed over the ocean.

But we want to be on the safe side.

Take low cost, safe and effective preventive steps.

1 Buy in CVS Providone Iodine Solution (1% iodine) and apply it topically! Do this once every day!

2. Use dry sea weed in cooking. Sea weed is a good source of iodine.

3. If you have my pills of Potassium Iodine or 2%solution of Iodine, you may wish to stretch the supply: take one drop of the 2% solution instead of 2 drops.

4. Take supplements of good multi-vitamins and minerals. Radioactive Iodine is not the only substance released into the air that may cause cancer. Antioxidants from your multi such as Vitamin C, A E and mineral Selenium will help to fight any possible damage.

All suppliers are out of Potassium Iodine pills. If you can find 2%Iodine solution called Lugol’s solution on the internet, buy it. It is an iodine solution for internal use. Take 2 drops per day. I have limited supply. The Lugol’s solution is now available in both offices and you may pick up a supply in Fairfield and in Stamford on Monday.

It is free to all.

Good quality multi-vitamins are available in my both offices $40.00per bottle, per 180 pills. Take one pill daily.

If the reactor blows today, I’ll be available in both offices on Saturday for 2 hours so that you can pick up pills or bottles of solution while my supply lasts.

Look for my e-mails updated.

Office locations:

992 High Ridge Rd, 2nd Floor Stamford CT 06905

Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center. 111 Beach Road, 2nd Floor, Fairfield , CT 06824

Feel free to call me 203-331-1490

Update on the Situation in Japan and Preventive Steps

2011-03-17T14:21:00.000-04:00

Today’s headlines from Japan are not promising.

Yahoo News reports “Japan Takes Desperate Steps as Alarm Rises.”

The New York Times writes somberly “Radiation Hinders Cooling Attempts.”

The situation appears to be out of control, and no reliable information is forthcoming from either the Japanese government or Tokyo Electric.

What is clear is that radiation levels are dangerously high there. Computer models predict that the radioactive cloud will arrive in California on Friday. This suggests that we will experience higher levels of radiation in the Northeast starting around Monday.

Levels here are expected to be low, but cannot now be predicted as we have little reliable information about the situation in Japan.

There is no reason to panic: the distance is great and much of the radioactive material will be dispersed over the ocean.

But we want to be on the safe side. While the probability of dangerous radiation here is low, the cost of preventive steps is even lower (unless you have an allergy to Iodine). Young people and those with risk factors for cancer are strongly advised to take them. The time to start is now.

Starting tomorrow you can take these preventive steps:

1. Buy in CVS Providone Iodine Solution (1% iodine) and apply it topically! Do this once every day!

Do not take this orally: it is for topical use only, as shown on this picture.

The exact received dose cannot be measured. Do not use it if you have allergy to iodine.

2. Use dry sea weed in cooking. Sea weed is a good source of iodine. i cooked dry sea weed with my brown rice

3. Remember to take your multi-vitamins and minerals. Iodine is not the only one radioactive substance in the air from japan. Caesium-137 is water-soluble and chemically toxic in small amounts. It has a half-life of about 30.17 years. Vitamin C, E and mineral Selenium are strong anti-oxidants, and are contained in your multi-vitamins and minerals

I’ll be in my Stanford office today (Thursday, March 17, 2011) from 4:45 till 6:15. You may drop in at that time to talk to me and pick up potassium iodine pills.

If danger of radiation increases I’ll open my offices on Saturday or Sunday so that you may come and pick up 2% Iodine solution (Lugol’s solution). I have it ordered and hope it will be here Friday.

You may consider buying you-own Lugol’s solution. Take 2 drops in one ounce of water for adults, one drop for children under twelve.

Remember, my supplies are limited.

Look for my e-mail updates on Saturday and Sunday.

March 17th 1:49 pm

call me if you have any Q: 203-331-1490

PROTECT YOURSELF NOW FROM JAPAN RADIATION

2011-03-15T21:34:00.005-04:00

If you opened Yahoo news this morning you would have been greeted by this headline: Radiation levels Soar. The article states:

“Dangerous levels of radiation leaking from a crippled nuclear plant forced Japan to order 140,000 people to seal themselves indoors Tuesday after an explosion and a fire dramatically escalated the crisis spawned by a deadly tsunami."

Japanese officials told the International Atomic Energy Agency that

"the reactor fire was in a fuel storage pond — an area where used nuclear fuel is kept cool — and that radioactivity is being released directly into the atmosphere."

Japan's meteorological agency reported "one good sign":

“the prevailing wind in the area of the stricken plant was heading east into the Pacific, which would help carry away any radiation.”

That may be good news for Japan, but it is bad news for us. This wind will carry radiation to California in about 5 days. It will reach the Northeast U.S. a few days later. Now is the time to protect yourselves and your families. You must start preventive treatment three days before exposure to radiation.

* * *

The radioactive materials being released at this time include: radioactive iodine(iodine-131), cesium, nitrogen, plutonium, and argon. Radio-active iodine presents the greatest risk, so I’ll deal with it first.

Iodine-131 is notable for causing mutation and death in cells which it penetrates and those close to them. When present in the environment from radioactive fallout, it can be absorbed through contaminated air and food, and will accumulate in the thyroid. The primary risk from exposure is thyroid cancer, but cancer can also spread elsewhere in the body.

The risk from Iodine 131 can be mitigated by taking iodine supplements (Potassium Iodine), to raise iodine levels in the body, therefore reducing uptake and retention of iodine, including the radioactive variety. The ‘good’ iodine binds to the receptor cites, so when the radioactive iodine shows up at your thyroid it finds a “no vacancy” sign. As a result it is washed out in the urine without causing damage. I’ll say even more below about what you can do now to protect yourself.

Now let’s look at the other radioactive materials in the fallout from Japan.

Another potential radioactive hazard is cesium. Caesium-137 is water-soluble and chemically toxic in small amounts. Its half-life is about 70 days. According to experts,

"Prior to Chernobyl, we believed that the cesium would be diluted out, that once the cloud went through and it rained, the cesium would be washed out. What we found out was there was an accumulation of cesium in certain types of vegetation, and it accumulated rather than diluted,"

Caesium-137 can cause leukemia. To protect yourselves from cesium toxicity, take supplements of anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C, E and mineral Selenium, eat more fruits and vegetables.

Radioactive Plutonium accumulates in the bone and liver. Its half-life 88 years, and it is more dangerous when inhaled than when ingested. The risk of lung cancer increases once the total dose exceeds 400 mSv , but as of now we do not know how much Plutonium we’ll get with the wind from Japan.

Radioactive nitrogen decays within seconds of its release, and argon poses no threat to health.

* * *

The time to start protecting yourself and your family is now!

Here are the active steps you can take:

To prevent thyroid cancer take supplements of Potassium Iodine.

I have only 60 pills now in each office. Every supplier I called today was out of stock. The five most popular items this week on Swanson were all iodine supplements, and all five were sold out

I will have more iodine in the form of 2% iodine solution coming in soon.

I’ll dispense Iodine pills in the envelope in count of 5 pills per envelope for free, starting tomorrow in my Fairfield office, until I run out. Please drop in between 12:30 and 5:30 pm.

2% iodine solution also will be available for free starting Friday in Fairfield office and Monday in my Stamford office Take 2 drop per day for adults and 1 drop per day for children younger than 12 years old in 1oz of water.

Iodine can also be absorbed through the skin. However, the exact received dose cannot be measured. Many households have 1% iodine solution in the medicine chest. You can also buy this at CVS and apply topically (see the picture how to do that).

Sea weed or sea kelp is also a very good source of nutritional iodine, though the dose you receive is hard top measure. It is safe, high dose assuming it did not just come from Japan! You can add it to many dishes as you cook them; cooking does not destroy the iodine.

For some protection against the other radioactive substances, take a good high dose multi-vitamin and mineral supplement as a source of vitamins C and E and Selenium. If you do not have these at home I have some in my office ($40.00per 180 pills). Take 1-2 pills per day.

If you have any questions, please, call me 203-331490

Benefits of Probiotics

2010-04-27T16:43:00.003-04:00

by Eric Vonheim & Terrible Tummys

Recent research shows that our adult human bodies contain an enormous biomass of trillions of good bacteria, or probiotics, which generate metabolic activity and plays an important physiological role in humans.

Probiotics are well known to contribute to overall general health. Since over 70-80% of your immune system resides in your intestines, probiotics play a key role in supporting the every day battle between good and bad bacteria that try to take over health. They work by crowding out potentially harmful bacteria, as well as creating an environment inhospitable to these pathogens.

Probiotics are even better known to promote a healthy digestive tract. They help maintain healthy intestinal cells and support bowel regularity. They can assist the manufacture of digestive enzymes that help break down food, as well as help your body absorb nutrients better.

Out of the myriad of benefits surrounding probiotic research, the best-documented health benefits associated with probiotic use are:

· decreased incidence or duration of diarrhea caused by antibiotics or viruses;²^,³^,⁴

· resolved occasional constipation;⁵^,⁶

· improved immune function;⁷^,⁸

· improved the ability of lactose-intolerant people to digest lactose, thereby improving tolerance to dairy products;⁹ and

· reduction of common infections¹⁰

The two most predominant probiotic species are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria- the most prevalent bacteria in our intestines. These are also the two genera of greatest research and use regarding human health. Lactobacillus organisms reside mainly in the small intestine, bifidobacteria in the large.

The lactobacillus genus contains dozens of species, including important organisms such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus salivarius. One of the most important members of the bifidobacteria genus include Bifodobacterium lactis. Scientists are now formulating products that contain select species from both genera to improve the colonization of probiotics in both the small and large intestines.

Many researchers have suggested that a mixture of probiotics may have a greater effect on the intestine than the individual strains. Not only have research studies found that multiple strains of probiotics can enhance adhesion of other probiotics to the intestinal wall and increase the richness and diversity of the bacterial microbiota in the gut, but these combinations offer functional benefits as well.

A premium, strain-identified formula consisting of Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus salivarius in a clinically effective dose of 20 billion live organisms per serving can be beneficial to any person wishing to introduce probiotics into their diet.

For more information, please visit:

www.terribletummys.com

References
1. Bourlioux P, et al. The intestine and its microflora are partners for the protection of the host: report on the Danone Symposium "The Intelligent Intestine," held in Paris, June 14, 2002. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;78(4):675-83.
2. Hickson M, et al. Use of probiotic Lactobacillus preparation to prevent diarrhoea associated with antibiotics: randomised double blind placebo controlled trial. BMJ 2007;335(7610):80.
3. Johnston BC. Probiotics for pediatric antibiotic-associated diarrhea: a meta-analysis of randomized placebocontrolled trials. CMAJ 2006;175(4):377-83.
4. Katz JA. Probiotics for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridium difficile diarrhea. J Clin Gastroenterol 2006;40(3):249-255.
5. Koebnick C, et al. Probiotic beverage containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota improves gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with chronic constipation. Can J Gastroenterol 2003;17(11):655-9.
6. Marteau P, et al. Bifidobacterium animalis strain DN-173 010 shortens the colonic transit time in healthy women: a double-blind, randomized, controlled study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2002;16(3):587-93.
7. Schiffrin EJ, et al. Immune modulation of blood leukocytes in humans by lactic acid bacteria: criteria for strain selection. Am J Clin Nutr 1997;66(2):515S-520S.
8. Sheih YH, et al. Systemic immunity-enhancing effects in healthy subjects following dietary consumption of the lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001. J Am Coll Nutr 2001;20(2):149-56.
9. de Vrese M, et al. Probiotics--compensation for lactase insufficiency. Am J Clin Nutr 2001;73(2 Suppl):421S-429S.
10. de Vrese M, et al. Effect of Lactobacillus gasseri PA 16/8, Bifidobacterium longum SP 07/3, B bifidum MF 20/5 on common cold episodes: A double blind, randomized, controlled triaL J Clin Nutr 2005;24:481-91.

The Importance of numbers: thoughts on diet, exercise and smoking cessation.

2010-02-10T14:40:00.000-05:00

Recently I read an article on WebMD describing how “changes in diet and exercise can make a big difference within six months of ACS” (acute coronary syndrome: MI, stroke, cardiovascular death)
It reported a well designed study with expected results: ”the benefits of improving diet, exercising more, and quitting smoking are additive and can reduce a patient's risk of having ACS within six months if the patient sticks with it”.
Now everybody already knows this by now, either from the literature or just as a common sense: eat healthier and exercise and you will get healthier. But it is always a good idea to have numbers at your fingertips and be able to show them to a patient.
This study included 18 809 patients from 41 countries. It showed that “quitting smoking cut the risk of MI by almost half compared with persistent smoking (odds ratio 0.57; 95% CI 0.36–0.89). Diet and exercise adherence also reduced the risk of MI by nearly half compared with non-adherence (odds ratio 0.52; 95% CI 0.4–0.69). On the other hand, patients who continued to smoke and did not adhere to diet and exercise regimens were 3.8 times (95% CI 2.5–5.9) more likely to suffer an MI, stroke, or death within six months than nonsmokers who modified diet and exercise”. Good numbers!
But what really impressed me was this: “47.2% of North Americans adhered to their recommended diet for at least 30 days after ACS, compared with 88.1% of Indians and 83.3% of South Americans. Of the eight regions evaluated, Australians had the best rate of exercise compliance, but it was still only 60.7%. The worst rate of exercise compliance was reported by South Africans (25.7%), who also were near the bottom of the table in diet adherence (39%) and smoking cessation (39.4%). Western Europe had the worst rate of smoking cessation (38.8%), while India had the best (90.5%)”.
I thought that quitting smoking would be no easier or more difficult for an Indian than for a European. Why can almost 88% of people in India and S. America adhere to a diet and only 47.2% of those in North America? Is culture or physician practice the factor involved? If physician practice is involved, then I would like to know what doctors in Australia or India tell patients that make 60.7% of the former and 88% of the latter to adhere to exercise. If I were to frame my advice in the same way to my patients in America would it have the same effect?

Filter choice and water quality in Connecticut

2010-01-21T21:36:00.007-05:00

I was asked by one of my patients to do some research on Water filters, to find out which are the best on the market right now. Here is what I learned.

1. You can not simply recommend the “best” water filter. There is no one filter best for all circumstances: you have to know water contaminants in your town.

2. I was surprised to find that both Stamford and Bridgeport have lead in the drinking water. The level was between 0.38 to 3 ppb (health limit is 0; legal limit is 15ppb. As you can see it does not exceed legal limits)(2). Stamford also has Radium-226 and 228 between 0.22 pCi/L to 1.1 pCi/L (health limit is 0; legal limit is 5 pCi/L). For residents of Greenwich and Canaan: please do some research and see what you have in your water.

3. Match your filter with your water contaminants.

4. Make sure that you understand the possible side effects of the filter that you are using; you can run into potential problems. I talked to other health care practitioners and they are aware that water from distillers and reverse osmosis filters is depleted of trace minerals, but most people may not see the negative effects until year 4-5 or even 6.

Choosing Your Filter

Step one: learn about types of filers and water softeners. Here they are in a nut shell.
Activated carbon filter
The most common type of water filter, also sometimes referred to as activated charcoal, made with specially treated carbon designed to absorb contaminants. It is most effective with organic substances. The drawback is that charcoal filters are unable to remove dissolved metals like lead and iron
Distillation system
A water filter system that boils water and captures the resulting steam in a reservoir to be used as drinking water. This system theoretically results in the contaminants being left behind in the boiling tank, but many substances have a higher boiling point than water and are therefore carried with the steam into the drinking water reservoir. Recently there has been growing awareness of distilled water's effects on the balance of minerals in the body, plus the acidic result that a typical distiller creates.
Reverse osmosis (RO)
A filtration process in which water is forced through specific membranes that allow water molecules to pass but trap larger contaminant molecules, including bacteria, fungi, organic compounds and many heavy metals .Reverse osmosis filters also take out beneficial chemicals and minerals.
Ultraviolet disinfection
A filtration method where water is exposed to UV rays that kill microbiological contaminants. This step does not affect other types of contaminants, so it is often used in conjunction with other methods of filtration. Kills bags only.
Water Softener (Hard water: water with an exceptionally high mineral content, typically calcium and magnesium. These minerals cause the premature corrosion of plumbing and fixtures, give water an unpleasant taste and can damage laundry.)
A large, in-line tank that mixes water with treatment pellets or beads that dissolve minerals and some inorganic substances in “hard” water.

Step two: learn about possible contaminants. There are four classes of contaminants in water:
1) microbiological
2) organic substances
3) inorganic substances
4) radioactive pathogens
Each type of contaminant requires a specific type of water filter.

Microbiological contaminants: bacteria, protozoa and viruses. It takes a distillation system, UV disinfection or reverse osmosis system to effectively remove these contaminants.
Organic substances: pesticides, herbicides and chlorine byproducts. Most of these are easily removed with an activated-carbon water filter or a distillation system.
Inorganic substances: arsenic, fluoride and lead, as well as any man-made substances that do not contain carbon. Reverse osmosis does the best job at getting rid of these contaminants, but these water filters can waste up to five gallons of water to produce one gallon of purified water. They also remove good minerals, like iron, and are among the most expensive water filters, with some under-sink models costing more than a $1,000. For people with compromised immune systems or areas prone to heavy metal contamination, reverse osmosis is the best choice. Water softeners and distillation systems will remove some inorganic compounds as well.
Radioactive pathogens are rare, occurring naturally in some soils or resulting from the mining, disposal or storage of radioactive materials. If you have multiple types of contaminants in your water, then …. Nothing mach you can do about it.

Before you go and buy water filter decide which one you need. Check water quality in your town on this web, just put in your zip code- "search" and then chose Water Company in your area. WHAT'S IN YOUR WATER

http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/fullreport

Here is the result for Bridgeport CT (06604): Lead(total) is “Over Health Guidelines”. It means: Lead is higher than health guidelines (1), (2). Also, nitrate & nitrite were found, they are agricultural pollutants that come from pesticides, fertilizers and factory farms.
Here what we have in Stamford CT(06905)higher then health guidelines(1) : Lead (total). Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) and Radium-226 and 228 are radioactive substances

Step three: Match your water filter to water contaminants.
Both, Bridgeport and Stamford, are require reverse osmosis (RO) filter to filtrate lead. RO filter will take out nitrate & nitrite from the water in Bridgeport, but there are no filters for radioactive substances in Stamford.

Step four: Understanding potential side effects of ware filtration system.
RO filters will take out of the water microminerals (trace elements): Magnesium, Chromium, Calcium, Iodine and many others. You must take supplements of microelements!

For my patients in Stamford: Take extra Vitamin C and other anti-oxidants to combat radioactive substances (alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium). If you have family history of cancer, set up an appointment and we’ll make a plan for cancer prevention.

When I did my research I contacted Stephen Gladstone, he runs Stonehollow, INC in Stamford and does all sorts of water testing, he said that “the big problem recently is pesticides leaching into well water in CT”. He is easy to reach by phone: 203-327-6824 or e-mail him steve@stonehollow.com if you have more questions about water testing.

If you did independent testing of water in your town, please, post the info or send it to me that I can share it with all my patients and friends.
If you have more info about filtration systems that will combat alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) and Radium-226 and 228, please, post that information.

Stay healthy

Dr. Veronica

(1) A Health Guidelines is a non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of person occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: US Environmental Protection Agency.
(2)Low-level environmental lead exposure and children's intellectual function: an international pooled analysis. HERE

Dental Hygiene, Caries, Cavitis and Gum Disease

2010-01-11T20:28:00.004-05:00

Doctor Veronica on Nutrition

2009-10-01T21:07:00.000-04:00

How to Rein in Medical Costs, RIGHT NOW

2009-09-16T20:39:00.000-04:00

By GEORGE LUNDBERG

Efforts to control American medical costs date from at least 1932. With few exceptions, they have failed. Health care reform, 2009 politics-style, is again in trouble over cost control. It would be such a shame if we once again fail to cover the uninsured because of hang-ups over costs.

Physician decisions drive the majority of expenditures in the US health care system. American health care costs will never be controlled until most physicians are no longer paid fees for specific services. The lure of economic incentives to provide unnecessary or unproven care, or even that known to be ineffective, drives many physicians to make the lucrative choice. Hospitals and especially academic medical centers are also motivated to profit from many expensive procedures. Alternative payment forms used in integrated multispecialty delivery systems such as those at Geisinger, Mayo, and Kaiser Permanente are far more efficient and effective.

Fee-for-service incentives are a key reason why at least 30% of the $2.5 trillion expended annually for American health care is unnecessary. Eliminating that waste could save $750 billion annually with no harm to patient outcomes.

Currently several House and Senate bills include various proposals to lower costs. But they are tepid at best, in danger of being bought out by special interests at worst.

So, what can we in the USA do RIGHT NOW to begin to cut health care costs?

An alliance of informed patients and physicians can widely apply recently learned comparative effectiveness science to big ticket items, saving vast sums while improving quality of care.

Intensive medical therapy should be substituted for coronary artery bypass grafting (currently around 500,000 procedures annually) for many patients with established coronary artery disease, saving many billions of dollars annually.

The same for invasive angioplasty and stenting (currently around 1,000,000 procedures per year) saving tens of billions of dollars annually.

Most non-indicated PSA screening for prostate cancer should be stopped. Radical surgery as the usual treatment for most prostate cancers should cease since it causes more harm than good. Billions saved here.

Screening mammography in women under 50 who have no clinical indication should be stopped and for those over 50 sharply curtailed, since it now seems to lead to at least as much harm as good. More billions saved.

CAT scans and MRIs are impressive art forms and can be useful clinically. However, their use is unnecessary much of the time to guide correct therapeutic decisions. Such expensive diagnostic tests should not be paid for on a case by case basis but grouped along with other diagnostic tests, by some capitated or packaged method that is use-neutral. More billions saved.

We must stop paying huge sums to clinical oncologists and their institutions for administering chemotherapeutic false hope, along with real suffering from adverse effects, to patients with widespread metastatic cancer. More billions saved.

Death, which comes to us all, should be as dignified and free from pain and suffering as possible. We should stop paying physicians and institutions to prolong dying with false hope, bravado, and intensive therapy which only adds to their profit margin. Such behavior is almost unthinkable and yet is commonplace. More billions saved.

Why might many physicians, their patients and their institutions suddenly now change these established behaviors? Patriotism, recognition of new science, stewardship, and the economic survival of the America we love. No legislation is necessary to effect these huge savings. Physicians, patients, and their institutions need only take a good hard look in the mirror and then follow the medical science that most benefits patients and the public health at lowest cost. Academic medical centers should take the lead, rather than continuing to teach new doctors to "take the money and run".

Physicians can re-affirm their professionalism and patients their rights, with sound ethical behavior without undue concern for meeting revenue needs. The interests of the patients and the public must again supersede the self interest of the learned professional.

Toxins in sunscreens

2009-07-21T12:39:00.000-04:00

Vitamin D and Sun.

2009-07-07T17:05:00.000-04:00

Dietary Fiber

2009-06-05T22:46:00.001-04:00

Book Review: "The Murad Method" for beautiful skin

2009-05-18T15:21:00.000-04:00

A Few Thoughts on Mammography

2009-05-14T21:14:00.000-04:00

I had three patients visit my office in recent months because of inconclusive results on mammograms. The results showed numerous small calcium deposits (sometimes in a particular area). The doctors’ recommendations had all been: follow up in 1/2 year.

All three of them were stressed by the fact that they have had to do repeated mammograms. One had 4 mammograms, the others 5 and 6, in the last 2-3 years and all were ordered to have another one again in just six months.

All three were concerned that numerous and frequent mammograms may cause cancer just by themselves. Also, all three of these women were living in state of constant fear that eventually a so-called “pre-cancerous” condition might turn into a cancer. Their doctors could do nothing more than “observe” and “follow up” with repeated mammograms.

All three were asking similar questions: how many mammograms they could safely undergo, and what I could do for them as a naturopathic doctor to improve breast health and stop that crazy cycle of endless mammograms.

I reviewed current research about benefits and possible side effects of mammogram. Here some interesting and important facts:

1. Mammography is the most studied method for breast cancer detection today; mammography is superior to the other imaging modalities in the depiction of tumor-associated micro-calcifications;

2. The screening age for breast cancer in Israel was 50, but they have lowered it to 45. In America it is 40. For women with family history it’s calculated individually.Source

3. The benefits and the harms in mammography screening are not given equal attention in scientific articles, which tend to emphasize the major benefits of mammography screening over its major harms. This imbalance is associated with the authors' affiliation. Source

4. I found a web-site where you can calculate the dose of radiation with each mammogram for yourself:

http://www.safety.duke.edu/radsafety/mammo_dose/default.asp

I plugged in some numbers. The median dose of a single exposure is about 171.7 millirads while the maximal dose could be as high as 473.7 millirads. The technique used, and the thickness and composition of breast tissue, are the most important factors. A thick and dense breast with a lot of glandular tissues will get maximum radiation. Thin and non-dense (with more fat tissues) breast will require less radiation.

On this web-site you may calculate how much radiation you get annually from the environment and other medical procedures.
http://www.ans.org/pi/resources/dosechart/

I put my numbers in. I got 294.75 millirads/year. Add this number to the dose from your mammogram dose.

5. The false-positive rate is lower in non-dense versus dense breasts. If a woman has thick and dense breasts the rate of false-positive results could be as high as 50%, according to some articles.

6. For Radiation Users and "members of the public" the corresponding limit of radiation is between100 millirads per year minimum to 5,000 millirads maximum. If annual dose is higher then 5,000 millirad/year in your environment, it would be classified as a hazard. During pregnancy radiation dose shall not exceed 400 millirads per year. It could cause fetal genetic disease and fetal abnormalities.
Source

7. In 1977 mammography was declared a superior tool. Since then thermography is not used. Currently, however, there are more and more voices and research to revive thermography. “In light of technological advances and maturation of the thermographic industry, additional research is required to confirm the potential of this technology to provide an effective non-invasive, low risk adjunctive tool for the early detection of breast cancer.Source

8. I have not been able to find any information about cumulative effect of radiation due to mammogram on breast cancer. It is possible that research has not been done on this topic or it will take more intense serge to find it.

Conclusion: I think mammography raises some real concerns for some women. Let’s look at this: during one mammogram a woman can receive up to 470 millirads of radiation; add to that a typical environmental dose (294) and the total is 764. That dose is higher then the allowed annual dose of radiation for a pregnant female (400millirads) per year. If 2 or even 3 mammograms were done during any given year, then the number could be as high as 1234 or even 1704. If this dose of radiation could be damaging to a fetus, could it also be damaging to breast tissues? Possibly so. Remember, reliable information about the harms of this procedure is hard to come by. Nonetheless this dose is still too small to be considered dangerous according to government standards. As you can see there is no simple answer to a question: how many mammograms are safe to have per year or through the life.

Here are my suggestions: It is prudent to do a base-line mammogram and if micro-calcifications are found then start naturopathic anti-cancer treatment with natural substances immediately. I see in my practice that improvements in breast health can be observed within six months to a year.

In my next blog I will answer in greater detail the second question: can a naturopathic doctor help if micro-calcifications are found in the breast tissues, and how? I’ll talk about anti-cancer diet, herbs and supplements that can be used safely.

Therapeutic Facial Spa May 23rd and 24th, 2009

2009-04-30T21:59:00.000-04:00

Shine on your Special Day

Date: May 23rd. Saturday and May 24th Sunday

Location: 992 High Ridge Rd, 3d Floor, Stamford, CT 06905

Time: Two 2-Hour Sessions -- 10 AM-12 Noon and 1PM -3PM on May 23d
10AM-12Noon on May 24th.

For other dates and locations please call Dr. Veronica @
(203)-331-1490 or (215)240-0838.

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What You Will Get:

• A personal evaluation of your skin type and facial beauty needs;
• A complete therapeutic facial including derm-abrasion to lift off the top layer of dead skin, clay mask, and moisturizing treatment;
• A plan for your daily skin care routine;
• Answers to all your skin care and beauty questions;
• A $140 Value for a special introductory price of only $35.

Who Should Attend?

• Women 16 and older;
• Those who want to look their best all day every day;
• Those experiencing skin care concerns, such as blemishes, acne, or aging spots;
• A perfect gift for Mother’s Day, Graduation, Weddings and Birthdays.

What to Bring and to Wear:

• Bring a yoga mat or a blanket, or both. Facial treatment and follow-up rest will be done on the floor, so you need to be comfortable;
• Bring a hair band to hold your hair back;
• Bring one big old towel, to put it on top of your blanket or yoga mat;
• Wear or bring a low cut t-shirt or camisole for Ill work on your neck; the older the better, so that there will be no regrets if stained.

Special Introductory Price of Only $35, cash or check please.

Green tea and a healthy snack will be served.

RSVP: 203-331-1490 (or 215-240-0838 cell) to talk to Dr. Veronica.

Call Now:

Only 2 spaces left!!

Lawn as a garden

2009-03-31T20:53:00.000-04:00

All my patients and friends remember me for saying: “if you want to be healthy, you should eat 4 cups of raw vegetables per day, 2 cups of cooked vegetables per day and 2 cups of fruit per day.” But how can we do that when the economy is down and prices and unemployment are up, and many are cutting their food budgets?

Here are two thoughts:

1) Follow the First Family and use your lawn as a garden.

2) Look for a public garden in your neighborhood.

For the past three years I have had a garden. It is not in my back yard; it is one block away from my house in a public garden. The term “Public garden” does not mean that all neighbors regardless of their participation can harvest (although they sometimes do), it means that I have my own small plot in a large parcel of land where I can plant and harvest. The size of my plot is about 7 feet by 7 feet.

Here what I’ve learned from my 3 years of gardening:

This plot size can provide me with all vegetables I want during the summer!

Start early, at the end of March. I do not wait till May 15 or the weather is warm; I sow seeds of arugula, onion, mustard, kale and chard. I do not put them into the frozen ground, but I start soon after the ground is defrosted. Seedlings of those vegetables can withstand the cool temperatures of April; as a result I’ll have my first fresh salad in mid- May. The chard will be good all the way through the summer to the end of October.

In mid-April I buy 6 seedlings of green and red salad, 4 tomato plants, one cucumber and one zucchini plant. Check the weather for frost in your area. You may need sometimes to cover those seedlings overnight. Use old pots or old plastic shower curtain with sticks.

In early May I soak several different kinds of beans for 48 hours. Once they sprout they go into the ground. They will grow up tall and require long sticks. Also you will need long poles for the cucumber plant and to support your tomatoes. I like everything that grows up tall, because these plants do not require a lot of space.

At the end of August re-seed arugula, kale and mustard. They can be harvested till first frost. Last year I was able to eat from my garden from mid-May till the end of October.

Like everything else in our life, gardening requires time and perseverance, but the results can be fantastic.

To take or not to take supplements.

2008-06-27T13:31:00.000-04:00

Often I tell to my patients that the food they eat could be their biggest enemy. Food, however, should be their best medicine. Despite this, I also take multi-vitamins and mineral supplements in the form of pills, and that sometimes surprises my clients.

I explain that I do that for two reasons:

(1) In American agricultural practice, soil for growing fruits and vegetables is depleted of nutrients and these are not restored properly.

(2) Fruits and vegetables are delivered from different parts of country, sometimes from abroad, and time between harvest and purchase can be weeks or even a month. Many vitamins have short lives, measured in hours or days.

Knowing this, I advocate use of natural supplements.

Today Baycrest published the results of a very small preliminary trial that involved only 16 adults with type 2 diabetes who were not regularly taking antioxidant supplements. Patients attended three weekly sessions that involved consuming a different test meal on each visit. One meal consisted of high fat foods (a Danish pastry, cheddar cheese and yogurt with added whipped cream); the second meal consisted of only water; and the third test meal was the same high-fat meal plus vitamin C (1000 mg) and E (800 IU) supplements.

“Researchers found that vitamin supplementation consistently improved recall scores relative to the meal alone. Participants who ate the high fat meal without vitamin supplements showed significantly more forgetfulness of words and paragraph information in immediate and time delay recall tests, relative to those who had the water meal or the meal with antioxidant vitamins. Those on water meal and meal with vitamins showed similar levels in cognitive performance.”

Because study was small, the authors emphasize that their findings obviously require further replication in much larger trials. “Future studies will also need to look at how the antioxidant vitamins may be working and whether vitamins are directly targeting oxidative stress reactions or triggering an independent memory-enhancing ability which is simply masking the detrimental effects.” I also would like to see if fresh fruits and vegetables will have effect similar to vitamins if taken in conjunction with meals.

It is important that this study was not financially supported by vitamin or pharmaceutical companies!!

SUMMER SKIN CARE FOR LONG TERM HEALTH AND BEAUTY

2008-06-14T13:24:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I spoke about summer skin care at New Morning Natural and Organic in Woodberry CT. I was invited by new Customer Services Coordinator, Julie Benedetto. We had big crowd. It seems that more and more people want to know about the research on Vitamin D’s preventive role in colon, breast, lungs and prostate cancer, and especially about sunscreens and their effect on Vitamin D levels. During the discussion several challenging questions were raised.

1. What is the recommended level of Vitamin D in the blood for patient with cancer?

Answer: The current recommendation is 55-70 mg pet ml. In my own practice very few patients have 35ng per ml; most of them have 25 or less. I try to bring their number to 55 minimum by supplementing with them with 5,000IU every other day for 1 month and then send them back to the lab for another test. I think that heavy propaganda for unlimited use of sunscreens contributes to Vitamin D deficiency.

2. Can I have adequate level of vitamin D without supplementation?

Answer: Yes, you may get to an adequate level by spending 20 to 30 minutes in the sun every day, exposing about 30% of your body. Remember, you should expose different parts of the body. Most people tan hands and face only; as a result, late in life they may have skin cancer in those areas. A better idea is to cover your face and hands and bake your belly, back or legs.

3. Would any of the commonly used chemical substances in commercial sunscreens cause skin cancer?

Answer: While it is unlikely that such commonly used substances in the sunscreens as: Aminobenzoik acid, octyl methoxycinnamate, benzophenone, oxybenzone or salicilates will by themselves cause skin cancer, they may cause skin irritations. Applied just once, detectable amounts of sunscreen will remain present in your skin cells 24 hours after use. The concentration of oxybenzone and these other substances in sunscreens is at least 5-fold lower then considered toxic load for this substance. See the research here.

4. Does that mean that if I apply the sunscreen 5 times a day the concentration of oxybenzone will reach toxic load and can cause damage to my skin?

Answer: I think that is a fair conclusion, but the current research does not go that far.

5. Can sunscreens cause damage to other organs besides skin?

Answer: They may! Benzophenone-3, octyl-methoxycinnamate and 3-(4-methylbenzylidene) camphor were used in one research study as topical applications on the whole body and their concentration in the blood stream and urine were measured. All three substances were in the blood stream 2 hours later, and maximum concentration was detected 24 hours later. They were still detectable in blood and urine after 96 hours. So the potential damage is hardly restricted to the skin.

6. What is the best natural way to protect the skin from cancer?

Answer: First, clothes are your best protection. Second, stay out of the sun between 12 and 3pm. Third, zinc oxide ointment offers the best protection, but not the prettiest.