• Jun4

    Food as Medicine: Cancer Treatment, from TED

    Posted in: Cancer, Drug Food Safety

    Food as medicine has had a long history, but until recently in the U.S., it’s been seen as a sort of fringe element. A little scruffy, not very tasty, and honestly, a bit weird.

    Foodies often don’t like the idea because food should be about flavor, love, aroma, authenticity, personality and nuance. Or boldness. But certainly not clinical work. Sadly, only 1% of the attendees of the 2010 IACP’s Annual Conference identified themselves as nutritionists (I spoke…it was great!)

    And medical types often don’t like the idea because it seems too squishy, scientifically speaking. Pharmaceuticals are single, usually short-acting chemical compounds honed down to FDA approval. Food is so much more complicated, biochemically, than pharmaceuticals that it’s hard for even the sharpest scientists to identify the single variable which is causing the effect in food.

    And yet, the science has evolved dramatically over the past 15 years. The really great news is that physicians and scientists are getting it, and finally catching up to the public’s interest. Here, for example, is a TED lecture on cancer and food…just what the doctor ordered (culinary medicine, if you will!).

     
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  • Mar8

    Safe Omega-3s Deserve a Place in Your Kitchen

    Posted in: Drug Food Safety, Environmental Health, Vitamins and Supplements

    The recent omega-3 lawsuit about reported PCB contamination (from the oil of farmed fish) of some omega-3s supplements raises 3 issues:
    a. Are OTC omega-3 capsules safe?
    b. Do their benefits outweigh their potential harms?
    c. Are there good alternatives, such as food(!?) and prescription meds?

    a. Omega-3s (which are EPA, DHA and ALA) from fish oil in modest doses are likely safe. Nearly all studies not done with fish have been done with OTC capsules, probably contaminated with PCBs. Omega-3s and fish clearly help some people, especially those deficient in omega-3s. EPA and DHA are found in fish and krill; ALA is found in plants.

    b. Omega-3s prevent heart disease; in those with heart disease, they lower triglycerides, help prevent death, heart attack and stroke. They also probably help autism symptoms, brain development in infants, depression and bipolar disorder. Taking over 3 grams of fish oil daily can increase the risk of bruising and bleeding. Look for the “USP Verified Mark” on the label for safety guarantees.

    Krill, a tiny shrimp-like organism, offers omega-3s with good research in PMS, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Plant-derived (canola, flax, walnut) ALA has a small amount of benefit, but does not equal DHA and EPA-rich capsules.

    c. The best source of omega-3s is nontoxic fish: sardines, herring, and cold water wild Pacific salmon. Rich in omega-3s, canned salmon is wild, and still only about $2.50 U.S. per pound. Use as tuna. Unless you are buying a USP Verified omega-3 capsule, fish is probably the best non-Rx source.

    I also recommend purified, concentrated prescription omega-3 Lovaza to lower high triglyceride levels, an underappreciated risk factor for heart disease, and for pancreatitis.

     
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  • Feb11

    Weight Loss Drugs and Supplements: What's for MDs? for Consumers?

    Posted in: Drug Food Safety

    This week I gave a seminar to attorneys who are interested in weight loss. Specifically, in how those drugs make it to market, and how they’re marketed, advertised and labeled: you can look thru it on slideshare.net and weight loss drugs.

    I dug through the literature to prepare. Nearly all the documentation that is prepared with prescription drugs–the package insert, the drug label–is actually for docs, not for consumers. It helps protect the company and inform the doc. At least, when it’s accurate, clear and complete.

    But there is no package insert for dietary supplements (DS). Why?

    Because there is no required reporting of drug-supplement interactions, or randomized controlled trials, or any trials. Except, as of 2006, “Serious Adverse Events” though “Serious” is largely determined by the manufacturer.

    In June 2010 manufacturers and some others must comply with current GMPs which require evaluating the id, purity, strength and composition of what they manufacture. Unless they (easily) find a loophole.

    A new academic article argues that dietary supplements should be considered as prescription drugs. Food for thought. Supplements can have drug-like effects.

    As for DS weight loss ads…if Kevin Trudeau owes the FTC $37 million for violating a 2004 stipulated order by misrepresenting the content of his book, “The Weight Loss Cure ‘They’ Don’t Want You to Know About”, it’s not just HCG marketers that should be on notice.

     
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  • Jan5

    Capsiplex: Does Chile Work for Weight Loss?

    Posted in: Drug Food Safety

    Can weight loss and wellness be yours in a Capsiplex pill? Especially a chile head pill, with Britney, Brad and JLo as testimonials?

    There is clear evidence that capsaicin (the chemical in chilies that makes hot peppers hot, and presumably in capsiplex) does increase metabolic rate, and *eaten* over months, does help people eat less.

    The studies cited on capsiplex.com, and many more in pubmed.gov and my Culinary Medicine book, show fat-burning from capsaicin, in the right dosage, can work…though few people can stomach the right dose. Most studies are done with chilies, not supplements.

    However, the studies cited on Capsiplex.com are for a different compound, Capsimax™ Plus Blend. It consists of:

    Capsicum Fruit Extract
    Caffeine Anhydrous
    Black Pepper Extract (Piperine)
    Niacin

    If Capsiplex contains these, it’s not a good idea, IMO, for people with high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety, irritability or caffeine addiction…without medical supervision.

    The amounts in Capsimax Plus are not mentioned; and the Capsiplex label is nowhere to be found. If the studies claiming “278 calorie burning” are published anywhere, there is no reference.

    The best way to wellness and weight loss in 2010 is learning what’s in what you eat. Choose quality over quantity, with extra flavor.

    Don’t be fooled by pills claiming to be good food.

     
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  • Nov29

    What do you eat for…acne?

    Posted in: Drug Food Safety

    The culinary medicine questions I’m asked most are about weight loss. And losing weight does help many medical problems: in fact, food can work like medicine in the body. The trick, often, is to make sure it tastes like food, not like medicine.

    Acne vulgaris–young adult acne–is very common. Skin pores become clogged and infected, and can too easily ruin self-esteem and self-confidence. Medication often helps, and should be used as appropriate.

    Foods that can help are those with lower glycemic loads. These foods improve insulin sensitivity, which slows acne growth. That means whole foods: more vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and poultry, fish and shellfish, nuts, and many fresh fruits, but not all.

    Foods to avoid are foods with higher glycemic indices: sodas, candy, cakes, fast food: ever notice the skin of kids hanging out at the convenience store? Not a coincidence. High GL carbs foods here increase insulin levels, decrease insulin sensitivity, and androgen in the bloodstream. Not a coincidence.

    Avoid lowfat and nonfat milk, which contain too much insulin-growth factor 1, which is out of balance with other dairy hormones: “consuming dairy products from pregnant cows exposes us to the hormones produced by the cows’ pregnancy.” Although this isn’t a recommendation for whole milk, at all.

    Of course, you want to eat recipes, not just foods. Try my Poached Salmon with Sauteed Kale and Warm Cherry Tomatoes: it’s easy, fast and delicious…and low GL.

     
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