Monthly Archives: April 2018

Clean fuel

Can Food Change Your Mood?

Can you eat yourself out of depression?

If you looked at my last posts, you will know that a diet high in processed food contributes to or causes heart attacks and strokes.

A diet high in meat  is associated with certain kinds of cancers as described in the China Study,  a longitudinal study looking at diet and cancer death rates.

Dirty fuel contributes to a host of other illness including diabetes, and  high blood pressure.

Moreover, dirty fuel contributes to depression.

The Evidence

Check out this Wall Street Journal article by Elizabeth Bernstein. She highlights multiple studies concluding that a healthy diet prevents and treats depression.   It is worth a read.  Some specifics need highlighting.

First, the writer describes the following “healthy diet” as “high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and unprocessed lean red meat”.   Then they mention that an adequate diet is a  “Mediterranean-style diet made up primarily of fruits and vegetables, extra-virgin olive oil, yogurt and cheese, legumes, nuts, seafood, whole grains, and small portions of red meat.”  Since this article was published in the Wall Street Journal, I would never expect them to ever say anything to challenge the major national food producers, so they must include some meat and dairy to satisfy industry.  Moreover, a Mediterranean style diet reduces the incidence of heart attacks, and strokes, but fails to resolve the issue.  A whole food plant-based diet eliminates the risk of cardiovascular disease altogether.  It appears that the cited study in the article received contributions from Glaxo SmithKline, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Bristol Myers Squibb and the Meat and Livestock Board of Australia.  Need I say more?

The second issue  is this whole new field called “nutritional psychiatry”.  It would be very interesting to see psychiatry pioneer a stronger focus on diet since the rest of the medical industry is woefully behind.  Again, nutrition was not a focus of my education.   Money drives medical and surgical care.  Perhaps it will change, but it will require a grassroots effort.  It will not come from the top.

 

patient education

4 Strategies to Avoid Ear-Related Doctor Visits

Ear problems  are something I see at least 1-2 times weekly, so I felt inspired to post a primer on how to handle common issues at home before calling the doctor.

  1. Avoid using  Q-tips or cotton swabs.   Q-tip use is common and effective.  However, Q-tips can compress cerumen or wax in your ear leading to hearing loss.  Compressed wax is deep into the canal and usually overlies the tympanic membrane or eardrum.  Moreover, it is very dry  and difficult to remove either at home or in the doctor’s office.  You can apply Debrox or Murine ear drops inside the ear for 10  minutes daily for 5 days to soften the wax to where it is easily removed, but your hearing may be compromised for that time period.

2.  Avoid using sharp objects (i.e. tooth picks, needles or pins) in the ear.  The canal and eardrum are delicate and puncture is possible.

3.  Use alcohol or peroxide to avoid swimmer’s ear.  Patients frequently come in the office with ear infections after swimming in a pool.  One way to avoid it is to use Auro over-the-counter ear drops in each ear after swimming.  An even cheaper way is to mix hydrogen peroxide  with lukewarm water at a 1:1 ratio (mix together 1 tablespoon of each in a small dish) and place a few drops  in one ear and wait at least 2 minutes. Then follow the same instructions for the other ear.

4.  Wash ears at home to prevent hearing loss due to dry compacted wax/cerumen.  Dry compacted wax is the most common ear issue I see.  I experience the same problem.  Use either olive oil,  or over-the-counter Debrox or Murine ear drops to soften earwax.  I prefer Debrox.  Lie down one side and drop a 2-3 Debrox drops into the opposite ear, and continue to lay on the unaffected side for at least 15 minutes.  Then turn over and allow the Debrox to drain out of one side while placing more ear drops into the opposite ear and wait another 15 minutes.  Once finished, fill a bulb syringe with lukewarm water.  Bulb syringes come in an ear care kit sold in pharmacies and supermarkets.  Then gently flush the affected ear out 1-2 times while using a towel under the ear to catch the water.  Turn over and follow the same instructions for the other ear.    Perform this process once weekly.  Afterward, you may hear a roaring sound in the ear, and that means water remains in the ear canal putting you at risk for ear infections.  To resolve the issue, combine rubbing alcohol and water at a  1:3 ratio and apply a few drops into the affected ear. (1:3 ratio means you will combine a 1/3rd cup of rubbing alcohol with a 2/3rd cup of lukewarm water)   Avoid alcohol if your ear hurts or bleeds.  Drain the ear on a towel 2 minutes after using the solution and the roaring will resolve within an hour.  The combined liquid readily evaporates anything left behind.

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Clean fuel, Weight Loss

3 Solutions for the Truck Driver’s Dilemma

Tractor Trailers

 

A truck driver’s occupation demands a sedentary lifestyle, but there are ways to counteract it.

  1.  Exercise:  Activity is important, but is not paramount.  Sitting for 15 hours daily is an issue and requires work.  However, I would simply advise a truck driver to get out of his truck in a safe place and walk around the rig twice to stretch his legs.  Walking gets the circulation moving, works muscles and burns calories.  However, patients rarely sustain weight loss by exercise alone.

2.  Avoid fast food:  Everyone knows there is a lack of healthy food options while driving.  It is easier to drive while eating a sandwich instead of soup and salad.    Fast food is dirty fuel which promotes weight gain, and is directly absorbed as fat.  A truck driver must create his own dietary safe space by providing his own food.  Keeping a cooler or refrigerator full of prepared food is a good way to account for this issue.

3.  Find a way to eat clean fuel:  Clean fuel stimulates fat-burning,  and weight loss occurs when dirty fuel is eliminated or severely limited.  Therefore, it is a great way to lose weight and does not require significant exercise, though light-to-moderate intensity exercise is advised.  It is a passive method for weight loss, but it really works well, especially for men, though women lose as well if they are disciplined.