• Dec8

    Here's a Quick Way to Find Out if YOUR Water is Safe for Your Health

    Posted in: Cancer, Environmental Health, Wellness and Health

    The NY Times piece today describing “illegal concentrations of chemicals like arsenic or radioactive substances like uranium, as well as dangerous bacteria” in over 20 percent of tap water in the U.S. has people wondering: is my tap water contaminated? Is my health in danger?

    And could it have caused cancer/asthma/birth defects/obesity in my family or neighbors?

    A quick way to find out: click on your state on the EPA map.

    The Times reports “a system could deliver tap water that puts residents at a 1-in-600 risk of developing bladder cancer from arsenic, and still comply with the law.” Great!

    One answer: Filter, filter, filter.

    I use a Brita Filter Pitcher because it needs new Brita cartridges only every 2 months; my Mom, always ahead of the curve, uses a Pur Pitcher and Pur Replacement cartridges. every 40 gallons.

    Missing: the source of contamination. The fix is personal, not just public. That’s true for most personal health.

    Take your leftover household chemicals, paints and electronics to a hazardous waste disposal site. Pharmaceuticals too: trace concentrations of antibiotics, seizure meds, mood stabilizers and sex hormones have been found in 24 major drinking water systems. Learn about drug take-back.

    What do you do with Rx drugs? And to keep Your water safe and clean?

     
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  • Oct13

    Turmeric and Culinary Medicine

    Posted in: Cancer, Common Conditions

    Filled with flavor, anti-inflammatories and in every yellow curry in the book, turmeric is not just for mustard coloring any more.

    In fact, culinary medicine–the art of cooking blended with the science of medicine– is one of the great bargains of our time. That’s essential in these times where value seems gone and security is scarce. And it’s as easy as learning a little about cooking, about what’s in your food, and what it can do for you. See my ChefMD’s Big Book of Culinary Medicine for more.

    For example, in a recent treatment study, the spice turmeric had effects on cytokine levels and on enzymes in some pancreatic cancer patients. Not the same as a remission, but on the way.

    Turmeric was safe and there were no side effects. One patient had a brief remission. Curcumin–the active ingredient inside–has promise.  But curcumin is not well absorbed–it has poor bioavailability. The subjects took 8 grams per day for 18 months.

    Bioavailability just means “body-ready”.  The body has to absorb the curcumin for it to attack cancer cells. It’s a term I apply to food…not just pharmacology.

    I wonder if they know what so many Indians do—add black pepper to their curry.  Not just because it tastes good.  But it also happens to improve the body-readiness of curcumin.  Why? It’s the piperine in black pepper. Piperine gives black and white pepper pep; stimulates pancreatic digestive enzymes; and increases absorption, perhaps as a result of its effect on the ultrastructure of intestinal brush border.

    By the way, turmeric is a rhizome (an above-ground root), like ginger.  And it looks like ginger: fingers of bright yellow goodness grated into Indian dishes, or dried into a powder.

    The next scientific step is a randomized, controlled trial of not just safety, but real effectiveness. And though these patients took curcumin in a pill, you can get it every day in the spice turmeric, and in every yellow curry, and some mustards (it’s used for coloring).

    By the way, curcumin is best known for its potential to reduce inflammation and the risk of Alzheimer’s: India consumes most of the world’s turmeric and has one of the lowest rates of Alzheimer’s.

    Read the entrance criteria and the full abstract. And try my ChefMD  Coconut Milk Curried Shrimp with Turmeric with free video, nutrition data and extra value!

     
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  • May6

    Why I Wrote the New ChefMD’s Big Book, Plus Video

    Posted in: Aging and Costs of Aging, Cancer, Common Conditions, Drug Food Safety, Obesity and Weight Loss, Wellness and Health


    Read reviews and features on Amazon.com.

    In early 2007, Nicholas Genes interviewed me for Medscape about blogging, which not all physicians have taken to eagerly. He writes well and started Grand Rounds: read his blogborygmi. He asked:

    “Dr. Genes: Do you ever run into trouble when you headline a post with something like “strawberries are helpful for joint pain”? Do you get irate letters from disappointed arthritic patients who had been hoping for a miracle?

    Dr. La Puma: My job is to help people choose what’s good for them. When you tell patients that strawberry extracts have been shown to inhibit COX enzymes, or that donut glaze is sweetened Crisco and that it raises non-HDL cholesterol, or that fish oil lowers triglyceride levels, patients love it and want to know and do more.

    My patients are smart; they know that a strawberry isn’t an ibuprofen tablet, and that too many of either will make them sick. But if they have a chance of doing something good for themselves besides taking their medication, with a simple change of food, they jump. It’s confidence-building and easy.

    Dr. Genes: On the other extreme, do you find that some doctors criticize or dismiss your approach because you didn’t go straight to labs, imaging, and meds? Or because you’re citing less well-known, maybe smaller studies, perceived as out-of-the-mainstream?

    Dr. La Puma: As long as the peer-reviewed science we cite is solid, most physicians understand that I am trying to motivate people to control their own health and be responsible for what they choose. You really can improve your energy level, your sleep, your wound healing, and your quality of life with what you eat.”

    This new book helps you make look and feel better and healthier, just with what you eat. Enjoy!

     
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  • Jan1

    2008: The Year of Vitamin D

    Posted in: Aging and Costs of Aging, Cancer, Vitamins and Supplements, Wellness and Health

    Vitamin D is cheap, easy to take, has no side effects except in very high doses, and most of the U.S. is deficient. And it’s costing us hip fractures, muscle strength, common cancers and autoimmune system function. 1 billion people worldwide are deficient.

    About 50 percent of patients with hip fractures admitted to the hospital from home have severe vitamin D deficiency. And 75 percent among patients admitted from nursing homes or assisted living.

    Severe vitamin D deficiency means vitamin D levels below 30 nmol/L. The right vitamin D level to ask your doctor to measure?

    It’s 25-(OH)D, meaning 25 hydroxy D. To improve leg function and strength, or prevent hip fracture, your level should be from 50 to 100 nmol/L. To prevent fall related fractures, taking the standard 400 IU is not nearly enough.

    The rule of thumb: about 100 IU raises your vitamin D blood level by 1 nmol/L.

    So, if you want to supplement precisely, get your level measured. Most people will need at least 1000 IU.

    If you live above a line drawn between San Jose and Norfolk, Virginia, you have to get it with a supplement from October through April.

    The sun’s angle is so low during the winter months that light can’t make it through the atmosphere with enough intensity to activate the Vitamin D in your skin.

    If you live below that line, you’re in luck: 12 minutes on your arms, face and legs, without sun block, will get you about 3000 IU daily. Twice a week should do it for many people.

    Or, just look for vitamin D3 on the shelf, and make sure to take it with food with a little fat—vitamin D is best absorbed when it is in oil, or surrounded by it.

     
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  • Nov5

    Top Recommendation for Preventing Cancer

    Posted in: Cancer, Obesity and Weight Loss, Wellness and Health

    …based on 7000 studies, objectively reviewed and published online.
    49 percent of Americans believe it to be impossible or highly unlikely to prevent cancer.
    But risk isn’t fate.
    The top conclusion: Excess body fat increases risk for prostate, breast, ovarian, colorectal and many other cancers.
    How do you know if it your extra weight is fat or muscle?
    Measure your waist-to-hip ratio. Measure your waist like this. Your hips likethis. Calculate the waist-to-hip ratio here, free.

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