Did You Get Flu Vaccine?

By On · Add Comment · In cold, flu shot, rhinovirus, vaccine
My daughter Delilah has been sick as Swiss measles outbreak–has a nasty cold, probably the same one you have. Hacking dry cough, lots of snot, fever–I’ve seen so many people in my practice with this nasty little bug, and even more that I’ve talked to. It’s that time of year, all right.

Did you get a flu shot? I didn’t. I was sick about a month ago–same thing that’s going around now. I didn’t get my daughters a flu shot either, despite massive pushing from our pediatrician. It got me wondering, why don’t they have a vaccine for the common cold? It can’t be because the rhinovirus is benign; I mean, my daughter has been nailed. After eight days of labored respiration and irrepressible cough, I think she’s been through the ringer. So why no vaccine?

I wouldn’t do it anyway, because I’m sure it wouldn’t do squat. Just like the flu vaccine. As I reported back in December, very few Americans are getting the flu shot this year. And we haven’t been hit yet with the massive flu epidemic that we’ve been told for years would happen unless everyone got their flu shot. Uh..told you.

Even better, doctors are now saying the flu shot doesn’t prevent the flu, it only lessens symptoms. Ha, ha, ha…what a crock of sh*#! Last year it was, “The flu vaccine protects at risk people, like children or the elderly, from the flu.” Today it’s, “You can get the flu even if you’ve been vaccinated, and even if it hits the right virus, you just may not get as bad of a flu.” Yeah…exactly what I’ve been saying.

To the credit of the flu shot pushers, the new word on the hospital floor is that people who haven’t gotten flu shots should try to ride the season out. Bout time somebody started talking sense.

Stem Cell Cancer

By On · Add Comment · In ataxia telangiectasia (A-T), brain, genetic engineering, stem cells

What holds the greatest promise for a disease-free future? Well, if you’ve guessed stem cells, then you certainly know your panacea. Yes, these miraculous little cell line precursors are a shoo-in to rid the world of such maladies as Alzheimer’s, depression and cancer.

But not so fast my little genetic engineering groupies–there’s a hidden danger within the nano-confines of the micropipette. According to a recent story, a family desperate to save their son from a lethal brain disease sought highly experimental injections of fetal stem cells, which triggered tumors in the boy’s brain and spinal cord.

The boy was suffering from ataxia telangiectasia (A-T), a fatal neurodegenerative disease of the brain that ultimately leads to loss of coordination of movement. Because the disease also affects the immune system, frequent infections and cancer can also result. His parents took him Russia when he was nine, and it was in a Moscow clinic where he received the stem cell injections into his brain and spinal cord. He received subsequent injections at 10 and 12 years old.

The boy began suffering greater symptoms of incoordination as well as headaches. While under observation in a Tel Aviv hospital, doctors found two cancerous growths pushing on his brain stem and spinal cord. Doctors at Tel Aviv University removed the growths and found the cells to have both male and female cells present, as well as two normal copies of the A-T genes, which led them to conclude that they were the result of the injected stem cells. Yeesh.

Lot’s of red flags arise with this story. First, stem cell research is in its infancy. Much of its promise is currently a dream; nothing definitive in the science yet. Just because they can clone goats, doesn’t mean they know how to safely use stem cell lines for any medical treatment yet.

Second, if chasing an experimental treatment, wouldn’t it make sense to first determine if said treatment is indicated for your particular condition? Dr. Marius Wernig of Stanford University pointed out that A-T is not a disease conducive to stem cell therapy, so what the hacks in Moscow were thinking (besides where they were going to drink their money) is anyone’s guess.

And finally, if you are going to get a new and highly uncertain treatment done, don’t do it outside the U.S. We’ve got the best medicine in the world here; why go to Russia, Brazil, or the Philippines for a pipe dream? At least someone in this country might be held accountable (well, I guess we’ll see what happens to Octomom Doc, anyway).

Although the boy in the story survived, there are still important points to be made: Genetic engineering is serious business, and it is not to be taken lightly. There is so much we do not know about the science, despite how freely it is discussed by laymen, politicians and the media. We have an incredible responsibility with this technology, and although we should look into its promise to “cure disease,” this story proves that the dark side of genetic tampering can be more than just ideological.

Laser Printers Release Toxic Emissions

By On · Add Comment · In cancer, cough, laser printers, temperature, toxic dust
I noticed one of my staff members coughing incessantly. “Get that hack checked out,” I’d snarl at her. She had, and nothing out-of-the-ordinary could be found. We’d try to figure it out, ourselves. Biofreeze, she thought. No way; I hardly use it. Air conditioning. Maybe, but every place in L.A. is air conditioned. Something you’re eating? Doubtful; it’s worse at the office.

“It’s me,” I said.

“Without a doubt, but you cause headaches, double vision, and extreme irritation to the point of wanting to commit homicide.” Oh…

But then I came across this story: Australian researchers have found that laser printers release a fine, toxic dust that can cause damage “on the scale of inhaled cigarette smoke“–whenever they were in use. Damage that can results from repeated exposure range from lung irritation to cancer. Apparently, it’s the rise in temperature of the internal printer components, toner and lubricating oil that causes the release of particles. The emitted particles then react with the air and ozone to produce the toxins. The printers’ temperatures, and consequent emissions, peaked at one minute of continuous printing, and then declined. They peaked again at two minutes of continuous printing.

There is variability among both printers and cartridges–I’m including a list of high-emitting laser printers below, but I’ll keep my ears open for any more news on this front. I’m sure nobody will be surprised to hear that the printer manufacturers have fiercely disputed the findings of the Queensland University of Technology research team, but facts are facts. Ink jet printers did not show any toxic emissions.

So, my advice: print small jobs that take less than one minute, let the printer cool, perhaps another couple of minutes, and then print the next small job. Larger jobs can be broken up in the same way, taken to Kinko’s, or started right before lunch when you can leave the room as the toxic particles are forming. Leave windows open if possible; or run an air purifier. And never, ever stop looking for the cause of your hacking cough.

The high-emitting laser printers:

  • HP Color LaserJet 4650dn
  • HP Color LaserJet 5550dtn
  • HP Color LaserJet 8550N
  • HP LaserJet 1320N
  • HP LaserJet 1320n
  • HP LaserJet 2420dn
  • HP LaserJet 4200dtn
  • HP LaserJet 4250n (old)
  • HP LaserJet 4250n (new)
  • HP LaserJet 5(a)
  • HP LaserJet 8000DN
  • HP LaserJet 8150N
  • Toshiba Studio 450

Mountain Dew Tooth Experiment

By On · Add Comment · In Body

Thems conductin’ um toof study up in ’em Appalachian mountains: See how many Mountain Dews it takes to lose a tooth. Awesome.Caught the latest 20/20 segment on the A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains about the kids in Central Appalachia. Mountain Dew is the drink of choice in them thar hills, so much so that dentists in the area have coined a term Mountain Dew mouth. MD mouth describes the rotten teeth that owe their condition to the sweet corrosion of excessive sugar and acid contained in each can of Dew. As teeth dissolve away, poor people in the region often have to extract their own dents using wire; the region has been rated #1 in toothlessness–not a distinction to be proud of. The addiction to Dew is so bad that mothers have been known to put MD in their babies bottles, and it is not uncommon for children to have more than ten cavities in their baby teeth.

We may as well pay close attention to this news here in the flat lands, as soda consumption among city slickers is astronomical. Yes, Mountain Dew is higher in sugar than regular sodas (19 tsp. sugar to the typical 10); and it causes 2-5x more corrosion from its high acidity. But this doesn’t make Coke and Pepsi benign. On the contrary, all soda is garbage; so let’s not lose the lesson hidden in the Appalachian soda experiment. If you are pounding the liquid sugar every day, or worse, several times a day, then get ready for them dentures, sonny, ‘cuz you’re jacking up your teefasis a’plenty.

Watch the vid on Mountain Dew mouth and get grossed out.

Childrens’ Vocabulary Linked to Pointing

By On · Add Comment · In communication, education, gesturing, hand gestures, infant, toddler, vocabulary

When speaking to your infant or toddler, gesturing will help increase his or her vocabulary. Scientists have found that the more a child can communicate with gestures, the richer the vocabulary when starting kindergarten. And the ability to use hand and arm gestures to express oneself might be translated later into a better education overall.


University of Chicago researchers looked at the communication habits of fifty Chicago-area families of varying socioeconomic status. They found that the children (aged 14 months) whose parents used the most gesturing to communicate with them (and vice versa) had the greatest vocabulary. The gestures were not a form of sign-language but instead a way to communicate everyday concepts and objects–for instance, pointing at an object while naming it, “Yes, that’s a dog,” or signifying directionality like “up” “down” or “big.”

Another interesting find was that families of higher socioeconomic status tended to use more gestures on average than those of lower income and lower educational status. The way parents talk to their children from babyhood onward has been previously found to influence vocabulary early on; and it persists into later life, ultimately leading to better overall education. On average, children from higher socioeconomic families produced 25 meanings in a 90-minute period, while poorer children produced only 13. This study does a good job of explaining at least one reason why poorer children enter kindergarten with smaller vocabularies than their financially better-off classmates. Kindergarten vocabulary is a predictor of how well youngsters ultimately fare in school.

So the take home lesson here is when speaking with Junior, use lots of hand gestures. Hey, you don’t have to be Italian or from Brooklyn to get into talkin’ witchya hands. Heck no, start today–you’ll be doing your kids a great service in the learning department, as communication is the first form of problem solving. Getting started early in brain training is often of great advantage; but saying that, it’s not too late to start with your toddler now, either.

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

By On · Add Comment · In American Psychiatric Association (APA), antidepressants, black box warning, drug companies, medical seminars
Well, hallelujah. There is hope. Apparently some doctors see a problem in accepting gifts from drug companies, too. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) will be considering a proposal from some of its members to halt the practice of medical seminars being funded by pharmaceutical companies. No guarantee that the board will also see it as a problem, but this is a good start.

Drug companies have been courting doctors for years, with trinkets, luxury trips, and cash. It’s not uncommon for doctors to earn big bucks speaking in favor of one drug or another (of course we mean name brands). And antidepressants are high on that list. Considering the questionable effectiveness, and the even more shaky science behind these highly over-prescribed drugs, and you can only imagine why pharmaceutical courting exists.

Here is the problem: When doctors are paid by a pharmaceutical company–like Wyeth, makers of Effexor, let’s say–then do you think those doctors will recommend any other option? When full-on seminars are sponsored by drug companies, do you think that most attendees will be prescribing Effexor like crazy on Monday? Do you think drug companies will place their product in anything but the most positive light? That’s exactly how drugs like Prozac, Luvox, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro, and Zoloft received black box warnings after they had been on the market for several years, despite the fact that research showed a hightened risk for violence and suicidal tendencies in children. Do you think the manufacturers of these drugs disclosed these very important findings to their seminar attendees?

But once again, thank goodness some doctors and medical groups like the APA see the inherent problem. As former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Marcia Angell, says,

“It is self-evidently absurd to look to a company for information about a product it makes. Why can’t doctors, who are among the most privileged members of society, pay for their own continuing medical education? Why have they abdicated that responsibility to the companies who make drugs?”

And for those doctors who think they are above being persuaded, Dr. Angell adds,

“There are still those who feel strongly that they can hear things but it doesn’t influence their practice. But the evidence points the other way.”

Precisely.

Kids Need Vitamins

By On · Add Comment · In nutritional deficiencies, supplements, vitamins

How stupid would this sound? Most people who exercise don’t really need to; their health status is good already, so exercise is actually overkill. Retarded, right? OK, check this out:

According to a recent study, many children taking vitamin supplements don’t need them because they are not at risk for nutritional deficiencies. Sounds reasonable so far, right? Not to me, but keep reading. The report goes on to say that children who might benefit the most from nutritional supplements, including those with overall poor health or diet, may be the least likely to take them. Alright then, so they’ve established that supplementation is necessary, at least under certain circumstances. Hang in there, this will make sense shortly.

The researchers also say that the children who tend to take vitamins are “the healthiest and most active with a balanced diet.” The conclusion from the researchers, at least as the media is reporting it, is that healthy children receive all their nutrients from their diet, and don’t need supplements. But is that true? I think another possibility is that the healthier children just live healthier lifestyles. Is income and education level a part of the equation? Sure, but equally important is that healthier kids take their vitamins. So isn’t it possible–hang on to your hats now–that taking vitamins adds to the overall level of health?

Duh! Vitamins are important–and this study is just more evidence in support that claim.

*Just so you know, the media has totally misreported the conclusions of this study. Just another example of media distortion of the truth.

Flu Shot Study Update

By On · Add Comment · In flu season, flu shot, flu strain, vaccine
Remember my post on the unplanned flu shot study? Remember how I pointed out that only 33% of the American population had received a flu shot as of December ’08, and that only an estimated 17% more would be receiving the vaccine all season? Do you also recall how I pointed out that 80-90% of the population needs to be inoculated for protection to take place–at least theoretically?

OK, OK…you must remember all the other post of mine regarding the flu shot. Remember? You know, that I think it’s the biggest scam of the last two centuries; that the flu shot doesn’t protect against diddly (read this); that if you’ve bought into the flu shot hype, you’ve been duped royally. Well, let’s add a little more fuel to the fire.

Experts now report that the flu may be off to a slow start–flu-like symptoms have been below normal all season. Well whaddaya know. Lets see, government agency sells public on shaky vaccine–one meant to combat rapidly mutating organism. Scientific community admits difficulty getting vaccine strain right, as whole process is guessing game as to which flu strain will rear its ugly capsid in any given year. Despite this, public still buys into flu shot BS.

Rewind to 2007: Record numbers of Americans go out and get the flu shot, yet we experience the worst flu season in three years. Now 2008: People say, “Up yours!” to the flu shot and stay away in record numbers, and to date…flu cases are down! Hmmm…does anybody else smell something fishy?

Well it’s no surprise to me–I’ve been reporting this story for over two years. The flu shot is bona fide bovine scat. And you know what gives me gran satisfacción? People are getting it. Yes! But wait…is it possible that getting the flu shot, gulp, gives you the flu? Public health officials say, “Absolutely not!” But go ahead, read the side effects–sounds like flu to me. Okay…flu-like symptoms. Whatever. But check it: flu shots up…flu up. Flu shots down…flu down. Could it? Nah, it’s just coincidence…right?!?!

Ritalin, Cocaine, the same

By On · Add Comment · In addiction, ADHD, cocaine, medication, methylphenidate, National Institute on Drug Abuse, personality, Ritalin
Giving Ritalin to your kid may be much the same as giving him an eight ball. Yes, you’ve got it: The popular ADHD medication causes the same brain changes seen in cocaine addiction. What? Don’t believe me? Check it out.

A recent study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse showed that healthy mice exposed to daily injections of methylphenidate, or Ritalin, caused changes in the reward centers of their brains, and some of these changes resembled those in mice given cocaine.

This study was prompted by reports that more than 7 million people in the United States have abused methylphenidate, using it to get high or to improve academic performance. This shouldn’t come as any surprise to my regular readers; in fact, I said just that in my book, The Six Keys To Optimal Health:

“For some of these drugs, like Ritalin, abuse has reached epidemic proportions. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) lists Ritalin as one of the top ten most stolen drugs in the country. The frightening thing it isn’t just adults who are abusing these meds, children as young as twelve years old are becoming regular users. As much as 2.5 percent of eighth graders abuse Ritalin…“

If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, don’t accept it as a helpless situation and succumb to the pressures of drugging him. Your kids will have plenty of opportunities to damage their own brains–why be a part of that equation. Don’t get brainwashed into believing your child has a problem. ADHD, a labelled disorder in one child, is another child’s special gift. All personality traits–good or bad–exist with other aspects (we all, in fact, express every personality trait at various times); it’s up to you to see all aspects of your child’s personality. So you can nurture and encourage the positive aspects of your child’s personality, or you can drug ’em–it’s your choice.

More on the positive aspects of ADHD
Advantages of ADHD
The 151 positive traits of ADHD

I Retract

By On · Add Comment · In carotid artery stenosis, heart disease, POM, pomegranate juice, stroke, tunica intima
Last month I wrote a post on the “Cheat Death” marketing campaign for POM–the pomegranate juice. I said I thought the advertisement was going a little far in their claims. I have since learned something about pomegranates in general, and the juice specifically, that is leading me to retract that post.

Here’s what I found out: Drinking three ounces of pomegranate juice every day reduced thickening of blood vessels (particularly the tunica intima layer) in people with severe carotid artery stenosis. The effects were cumulative, so that the longer study subjects drank pomegranate juice, the greater the effects. See the details here.

Carotid artery stenosis is narrowing of the blood vessels that carry blood to the brain. As the lumen of the arteries gets smaller, less blood can get through to the brain over time, and blood pressure increases as a result. High blood pressure can lead to heart disease or stroke–the two leading killers in the U.S.

If drinking pomegranate juice decreases blood vessel narrowing, which in turn lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke, then it does, in fact, cheat death. Thus, POM’s advertisement claiming such is…well, correct. I was wrong, they were right.

So here’s what I’m going to do in retribution. I’ve committed to drinking 3 oz. of POM pomegranate juice every day–for one year! One 16 oz. bottle costs $5.69, so my total cost for the year will be $389.41–a small price to pay for good health…and for passing false information. I’ll let you know how the experiment goes.

Home-birth or Not

By On · Add Comment · In American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American Medical Association (AMA), childbirth, home births, midwife
There’s a new trend sweeping the nation, and that’s home births–Au natural. Many women are opting for a more relaxed, less sterile experience and home births are it. Home births are typically aided by a midwife, a practitioner that provides pre- and postnatal care as well as attending the birth itself. Aside from their skills in labor and delivery, midwives are trained in recognizing and dealing with any deviations from the norm. For the most part, they are hired to assist in low-risk pregnancies and childbirth.

Today’s costly medically-assisted deliveries, where non-cesarean births can run as much as $20K ($35K+ for a C-section), a cheaper alternative is sorely needed. This is especially true for women who don’t want the accompanying drugs; and at a fraction of the cost (approximately $3,000), midwife-assisted home birth might just be the perfect option.

Great–let’s recognize and certify midwives, and even better, let’s make home births reimbursable. Not so fast, Campos–home birthing and midwifery have some pretty powerful opponents, specifically the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The arguments against home births are questions of safety and training. The AMA and ACOG just don’t respect the current level of training of midwives, and they stress that the absolute safest way to have a baby is through the monitoring and observation of a hospital staff, period.

Hmmm….you know, this debate isn’t about safety or training at all–it’s about control. Not control of people, but of an industry. It’s the same old same with the AMA. They want complete authority over all matters health. If it ain’t supervised by Big Papa, it ain’t hapnin’. Sorry. Any healthcare professionals practicing “on the fringe” of the mainstream deal with this reality on a daily basis; but is it based on truth?

Home birth or hospital birth is a choice. Obviously higher risk pregnancies should be managed where the pros who deal with that stuff operate. However, lower risk pregnacies in relatively healthy women can be experienced joyfully in the comfort of one’s home. Hey, I’m no hippy–my wife and I had our girls at Cedars Sinai (she liked the cocktails way too much to pass up that option). But it was simply a choice–not better, not worse–just how we wanted to do it. Looking back, we could have easily done it at home with a midwife. Frankly, my wife did all the work. The nurse watched. I napped. And the OB walked in like a rock star for the last half hour, yelled “push”, and pulled the baby out–something a midwife could have done just as well, only cheaper.

Our hospital birth was cool; I enjoyed the experience. My wife got her fix, and we got to eat hospital food. And we had good insurance so we didn’t end up paying that much. But for people who don’t have great insurance; or for those who want a more serene birth (ours wasn’t rough, mind you–I got to watch lots of ESPN and presidential debate highlights, while Erika was a pack of Pall Malls short of a party), a home birth is a nice option.

Fugu Booboo

By On · Add Comment · In blowfish, fugu, neurotoxin, pufferfish, sushi, tetrodotoxin

Oh man, I can’t make this stuff up. Three men remain critical after eating blowfish testicles. Digest that for a while.

Apparently fugu balls are a delicacy in Japan. Fugu is Japanese for pufferfish, and it contains tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin with no known antidote. Seven men ate the off-the-menu special and reported feeling numb soon afterward. Three of the seven are still hospitalized and critical. Fugu must be prepared by specially-trained chefs, but the owner of the Northern Japanese restaurant did not have a proper licence to prepare fugu. He is now in police custody. God help him.

Like I’ve said before, sushi is a delicay that takes special skills and knowledge–there’s an art to preparing it. I don’t recommend eating in sushi restaurants that don’t have a bonafide top-quality chef. And definitley not the puffer balls, especially if you ever find yourself in Northern Japan–they have less stringent rules there. Eat a blowfish testicle there and you might come home in a bodybag.

Soda and Weight Loss

By On · Add Comment · In diet soda, Eddie Pence, gastric bypass, obese, obesity, soda, The Biggest Loser, weight loss

My wife was reading my earlier blog on government funded gastric bypass surgery, and while looking at The Biggest Loser before and after pictures, noted that many of the people submitting photos had cut out soda.

Ah, soda–the lowest common denominator in obesity. If someone is obese, I’ll bet the farm they drink soda. And diet soda is no healthy alternative, yet I’m sure many people think it is.

Without a doubt, my lovely wife was astute in picking out that common act–quitting soda–that leads to dramatic weight loss. I’ve said it again and again and again: Cut the soda or you’ll never lose weight. And if you do kick the habit, you’ll see the pounds shed quickly and permanently–that is, as long as you remain permanently abstinent. Read the interview I conducted with comedian Eddie Pence. He lost 15 lbs like that (finger snap), just by kicking Diet Coke.

It’s up to you: Lose the soda and lose the pounds, or keep drinking that crap and settle for a stomach staple.

Sex Trap

By On · Add Comment · In Centers of Disease Control (CDC), chlamydia, ectopic pregnancy, gonorrhea, HIV, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), syphilis

What’s old is new again, especially in the world of sex. It seems that we just can’t get enough of the good old days. Let’s reminisce: Free love, orgies, John Holmes, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Joy of Sex, bath houses–man, that’s hot. Oh wait, let’s not forget our old friends gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia. No, no, no…we couldn’t leave them out now, could we? Don’t worry, here they come again.

According to the latest numbers from the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), 2007 saw another rise in syphilis cases–the seventh year in a row–driven by homosexual and bisexual men. Chlamydia has reached an all time high, and gonorrhea is still way up. Blacks are disproportionately affected. Although the black population is only 12%, they make up 70% of gonorrhea cases and almost half of chlamydia and syphilis cases. Black women aged 15 to 19 have the highest rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea, and gonorrhea rates for blacks overall were 19 times higher than for whites, the CDC reports.

Untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and ectopic pregnancy in women–unfortunate since both bacterial infections are preventable, and treatable if found early enough.

Syphilis infection is up 81% since 2000. Damn! Sixty five percent of all cases are among gay and bi men. as I reported in this blog back in 2007, many infections are the result of HIV+ men having unprotected sex with other HIV+ men. The idea behind the practice is, “Hey, you’re +, I’m +…let’s party.” But gentlemen, have you forgotten?…the syph? Bad, bad stuff, man.

Here’s the bottom line on all the above STDs–condoms are critical. It’s that simple. Unless you’re in a committed, monogamous relationship (married?), then you better wear the glove, period. Any practice other than that is plain stupid.

Ockham’s Razor**

By On · Add Comment · In diet, epidemic, exercise, gastric bypass, obesity, Ockham's Razor, The Biggest Loser, universal health plan

What’s the best way to combat an obesity epidemic? Have insurance companies–or better yet, the government–pay for gastric bypass surgeries. You heard me right, let somebody else pick up the tab for one’s disregard. At least that’s what some crackpot lawmakers want to do.

According to a recent story, the obesity epidemic may throw a wrench in President Barack Obama’s universal health plan. I couldn’t agree more. Throw in a few professional patients, and a few more prescription drug addicts, and I think the President’s plan is in for a world of hurt. How do I know? Because that’s exactly why health care costs are currently out of control. We’re all paying for the “sick care” of the relatively few.

But fear not–one New Hampshire politician has it all figured out. Turns out all of State Senator Bob Clegg’s health troubles went away following his gastric bypass surgery in 2007. The surgery helped him deflate from a whopping 380 to a respectable 240 lbs. Not bad, Senator, not bad. So he believes this must be the answer: Government funded gastric bypass–or at least have the surgery covered by private medical insurance. He’s so convinced of it’s effectiveness, that he authored a bill in January 2008 requiring New Hampshire insurers to offer surgery as a treatment option, just as the state’s Medicaid program for the poor does. Apparently other states are looking at the “Live Free or Die” credo of New Hampshire and taking it literally. But to take it one step further, some think that the law should be extended federally.

All I can say is, “Oy vey!” Senator, Senator, Senator…you are wrong, dead wrong. Why should taxpayers pay for an elective surgery? Let me be frank, sir: Obesity–despite what some enablers in the medical and psychology field may wish us to believe–is not a disease. Not. It’s a condition. One that is mainly the result of lack–lack of information, lack of understanding, lack of discipline, lack of responsibility, and lack of accountability.

In my book, The Six Keys To Optimal Health, I say very clearly to people battling their weight, “You have the power to overcome obesity; it’s in you.” I also say run–don’t walk–away from anybody who tells you that you are not in complete control of your weight. Run! Run from New Hampshire, and run from Senator Bob Clegg cuz’ that man’s dangerous. Implying that obesity is a disease that needs surgical intervention* (paid for by you and me in taxes and insurance premiums) is the road to hell. Here’s the laugh: Clegg’s impetus to pull the wool over New Hampshire’s eyes was that he had to pay $20,000 out of his own pocket. His rationale: he’s saving the state $3,000 per month in doctor’s visits.

Hey, I’ve got no beef with that…if it were reality. But it’s not. Clegg could have lost the weight himself through diet and exercise. No? Don’t think so? Sorry, The Biggest Loser proves it. That T.V. show has single-handedly buried any hope for the “I just can’t lose weight no matter what I try” set…definitively. Have you seen the show, Clegg? It’s incredible. Slap in the face of perpetual victims. If anybody reading this hasn’t seen Biggest Loser yet–one of the best shows on T.V. as well as an unexpected public health phenomenon–you simply must. If you can’t stomach T.V., then at least check out the website, especially the before and after photos. Disease my arse. The contestants of the show do it purely with diet and exercise–the only way to lose weight effectively. I hope the former Senator’s dangerous bill gets no farther than New Hampshire.

*I’m not against gastric bypass surgery, at all. I just don’t want to pay for yours, as I’m sure you don’t want to pay for my penis enlargement.

**Thank you to a great client and regular reader, Kelly D.

The Importance of Core

By On · Add Comment · In abdominal core, abdominal hollow, chiropractic, disc herniation, low back pain, Martin Luther King Day

My wife and I bought a lamp on this Martin Luther King Day weekend. OK, three lamps and a mirror, but who’s counting. Wait, this is a health story, I swear.

So, one of the lamps we bought was too big to fit in my car. It was light enough, however, for me to carry. Since I live close to the furniture store–Blueprint in West Hollywood–I thought I’d just carry it home.

As I was carrying the oversized box, I noticed how much I was using my abdominal core to stabilize my body as I walked. It occurred to me–we really do rely on our abdominal muscles for everyday movements. You know, sometimes we know things intellectually, or perhaps even practically but forget, then we do something–like carry a box–and we are reminded of that which we know (have I confused you, yet?)

In my West Hollywood chiropractic office, I give abdominal core exercises to anyone presenting with low back pain. That’s because a functional core is essential to long-term low back pain prevention. And interestingly, the fundamental movement I teach my is called an abdominal hollow. Abdominal hollowing is the pulling inward of the core muscles and upward of the diaphragm. It’s creating a concavity of the midsection. Hollowing is a movement we do naturally when we carry things, such as I was doing while carrying the box. When people lose this ability to hollow–through deconditioning and such–they are unable to stabilize the body, specifically the low back. As a result, the force is transferred to the lumbar spine especially the disks and guess what?…POP! Herniation.

So keep your core strong: Visit a chiropractor and go to the gym, or drop down and give me twenty crunches. Better do it if you want to save your back and save on delivery charges.

BTW–here’s the lamp. What do you think?

Chiropractic Superstars

By On · Add Comment · In chiropractic, chiropractor, ESPN the Magazine, Jerry Rice, low back pain, NFL, Philadelphia Phillies Cole Hamels, San Francisco 49ers, The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP)
Two more sports superstars plugging chiropractic:

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher and World Series MVP, Cole Hamels, has been using chiropractic since 2005. He originally went to see a chiropractor for low back pain that had been plaguing him since high school. Hamels has also used chiropractic to relieve him of an elbow injury that disrupted his 2007 season.

Says Hamels, “I felt a difference right off the bat. A lot better than my physical therapy and the prescription drugs the doctors were giving me.” Hey, that’s a progressively-minded young man. Hamels also does yoga, spins (bike-riding), and has a supplement tray in the locker room filled with vitamins and fish oils. Nice.

Also speaking out for chiropractic is NFL legend and former San Francisco 49er, Jerry Rice. Rice was named the national spokesman for chiropractic by The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP); he has been featured in full-page advertisements in ESPN the Magazine with positive statements on how chiropractic helped him become one of the greatest receivers in the game. According to the F4CP, Rice’s ESPN ad is the beginning of a comprehensive public relations effort for the chiropractic profession.

Booyah! See the video below to hear Rice’s words on how chiropractic helped him. Rice also talks about chiropractic’s role in his success on Dancing With The Stars.

Thank you Cole Hamels and thank you Jerry Rice. As more and more athletes step up and tout the miraculous benefits of safe, effective chiropractic care, the more the general public will feel inclined to try it. And the better off we’ll all be.

More on Vegetarianism

By On · Add Comment · In dairy, eggs, meat, protein, vegan, vegetarian, vegetarianism

In my article last month on protein and vitamin B deficiency I speak about a woman who called me about her vegetarian daughter’s lack of energy and ability to concentrate. I pointed out that my advice was to kick the vegetarianism.

However, what I failed to mention in the article was that I also said, “If [quitting vegetarianism] is out of the question, then you should, at the very least, make sure your daughter is getting her protein through dairy and/or eggs.” This is essential. As I said last post, you can get some protein from most vegetable sources, but meat, by far, is the best source. Eggs and dairy are the next best sources.

What this means for vegans–no meat, no eggs, no dairy–is that they really have to be diligent in getting their daily protein. Since very few vegetables are high quality proteins–that is, containing all essential amino acids in sufficient concentrations–many different vegetables must be consumed throughout the day. It can be done, no question; but the average busy person (vegetarian)…isn’t doing it.

And what about those high quality proteins (soybeans, quinoa, and spinach)? Well, you’d have to eat them solely, or eat the low quality vegetarian protein sources at such a high quantity that it would be virtually impossible to do so for long. According to one vegetarian website, you’d have to eat “12-1/3 cups of cooked corn OR 6-1/2 large potatoes OR 2-1/2 cups of tofu OR 15-1/2 cups of cooked brown rice.” And you know that isn’t going to happen.

So…just eat meat.

Is Your Kid a Vegetarian?

By On · Add Comment · In health, kids, protein, teens, vegan, vegetarian, vegetarianism, vitamin B deficiency
Have you heard? 1 out of every 200 kids is a vegetarian. Dang, that’s dumb!

A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that a whopping 367,000 youths don’t eat the meat. Some vegetarians eat fish and dairy, others are vegan–no meat, no dairy, nada. The typical teen vegetarian is female, from higher-income family, living on the East or West coast. Sound familiar?

Vegetarianism, isn’t just for girls anymore; plenty of boys are doing it, too. Rarely is this dietary lifestyle taken up for health reasons. Most kids cite animal welfare as the reason they’re doing it. They don’t eat meat because…it’s inhumane. Swear. And with the popularity of certain chicken slaughtering videos on You Tube…well, I guess you can figure out the rest.*

Wow! I’m sure you can guess my feeling on this. If you read my monthly articles, you definitely know I think it’s a dangerous health game to be playing–vegetarianism for kids, that is. I said so in my last article on protein and vitamin B deficiency. Kids keep growing until they are 25 years old. They need protein; they need nutrients (vitamins B, D, iron and calcium); the best foods to get them from is meat, fish, and dairy. Yes, you can get protein from vegetable sources. But it’s hard; and it requires lots of planning and preparing–something that most adults have a hard time doing, let alone your average teenager.

But the conscience of the typical teen vegetarian guides them, along with some good old fashioned parental ignorance. Listen up parents: vegetarianism isn’t in the best interest of your child’s health. I predict we are going to see some ill adults within the next 20-30 years as a result of this fad.

*I talk about the unacceptable conditions of many of the country’s poultry farms in my book, The Six Keys To Optimal Health; but I don’t think that endangering one’s health with vegetarianism is the answer.

Cool Wellness

By On · Add Comment · In Health and Human Services Department, health care crisis, prevention, Tom Daschle, wellness
“Cool” wellness and “hot” prevention is it. So says incoming Health and Human Services Department Secretary, Tom Daschle. President-elect Obama’s new health secretary says that the real answer to the current health care crisis is, well…wellness.

That’s right. About time somebody in government gets it. Duh! What’s costing the country big bucks right now is the high price of “sick care.” And what do illness and disease come from, primarily? C’mon, what do you think? Random chance? Roll of the dice? Tough luck? George W. Bush? C’mon, what?

That’s right, the most common cause of illness and disease is not taking care of one’s health. Very good. Give yourself a gold star.

And give a gold star to Daschle, too. According to the former U.S. Senate Majority Leader, getting people to focus on wellness will be all about marketing. “Wellness has to be cool,” he said, “And prevention has to be a hot thing. And we’ve got to make prevention hot and wellness cool.”

Yup, T.D., that’s what I’ve been saying for a long time–hot wellness and cool prevention. Or was that cool wellness and hot prevention? Either way, here’s what I propose:

  • Jennifer Aniston, nude yoga, televised
  • Nationwide Guitar Hero geek battles in gym class every week
  • Barack Obama 3 on 3 White House Basketball Tourney every summer
  • Jonas Brothers aerobics (oh sorry; we were talking about cool, weren’t we?–my bad)
  • Matthew McConaughey swingin’ sac boot camp (instructional video not to be missed–definitely not for the squeamish)
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