JULY 27, 2022 INTERMITTENT FASTING

ARE YOU DOING INTERMITTENT FASTING ? It seems it is all the rage today on both coasts. There are good health benefits from intermittent fasting

If you’re looking to live a longer life, intermittent fasting may be the answer. Numerous studies have shown that this dieting strategy can help to extend lifespan and protect against age-related diseases. Intermittent fasting involves periods of fasting, followed by periods of eating.

During the fasting periods, you abstain from all food and drink For most of my patients that want to discuss this - I recommend 8 pm to 12 noon - the next day which is a 16 hour fast

Intermittent fasting is good for diabetes prevention and reduction in belly fat. For me as a cardiologist, intermittent fasting has shown to lower cholesterol There are some studies to suggest it is good prevention from cancer. During fasting the body and its cells undergo autophagy. This ensures strong cells. There is a mood boosting effect from intermittent fasting as well as preventing any inflammation.

For those that want to try You must do for at least 2 weeks. One or two days will not show the benefits that are discussed.

Until tomorrow…

JULY 26, 2022 GREEN COFFEE EXTRACT

Green Coffee Extract ( GCE- Coffea canephora ) is mostly obtained from green or raw coffee. It has been reported to have anti oxidant potential. The purpose of Onakpya review et al was to assess the clinical efficacy of GCE as a weight loss supplement. After Dr Oz's show it became the most natural weight loss supplement of 2012. This is wrong ! Since then there are many other supplements for weight loss

The study mentioned above did use endpoint of mean changes in body weight. From this review it does indicate that GCE can promote weight loss. The magnitude of this weight loss was moderate but there were very few trials and limited small groups. I agree with the authors that larger trials are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of GCE especially if this is to be used on a long term basis. This is why I object to discussing this on a television broadcast. I am afraid that might be long term side effects which have not been studied and it is possibly not right for every overweight individual.

In 2007 Blum and others studied GCE ( Coffea canephora robusta Pierre) .The authors did conclude the green coffee extract can modulate glucose metabolism which may impact weight management. I did not put patients on this supplement at that time nor now, because the population studied was 18 men and women from Bangor, Maine. This is not a large patient population and jelly beans were used as the glucose load. An innovative approach which has much merit, but this does not mean I tell the world to use Green Coffee Extract

More studies need to be done on this

Until tomorrow

JULY 25, 2022 BERRIES

Berries are known as superfoods. The reason for this is that they are high in cancer fighting phytochemicals. These phytochemicals are called flavonoids. Berries contain a specific bioflavonoid called anthocyanin. This phytochemical function as a plant pigment in plants which gives berries its blue-purplish color.

I love berries. I love all berries Some you might not of heard of or eaten have eaten as Wolfberries, Gooseberries and Chokeberries. Berries is a big business not only for food , but in the health and cosmetic/beauty products. I recall that when a dermatologist, Nicholas Perricone promoted Acai berries on the Oprah Winfrey Show - the sales of powdered acai berries on his website were staggering.

In my small property in Black Rock, CT ,I decided to plant High land Blueberry bushes, mulberry tree, strawberries, 3 elderberry trees and a Gooseberry bush. I especially use elderberry as a tincture or cough syrup during the cold and flu season

I drink Blueberry Juice from Weyman’s daily Though berries are diminutive never underestimate the power of the berry.

Until tomorrow…

JULY 21, 2022 PAPER BIRCH

While in Savannah Georgia this past weekend I admired all the botanical species in the parks and squares on this historic city. I saw Leopard plants ( Farfugum japonicum ), Shell ginger ( Alpinia zerumbet ), multiple species of Magnolias and even a Paper Birth.

Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) bark is white with beige horizontal streaks that peel back and shed naturally.

All part of the Betula family, the paper birch tree has many siblings. Silver birch, yellow birch, gray birch, sweet birch, black birch, or the river birch tree, are all a set of very impressive tree species. They can produce sap just like the sugar maple (which can then make birch syrup ), they all have relatively white bark, their flowers are catkin

Native Americans used paper birch sapwood to eliminate toxins, soothe headaches, control menstrual bleeding, and stop wound bleeding by inducing coagulation. Decayed birch wood was mixed with labrador tea and powdered to treat skin irritation. Today, it’s used in natural remedies as an astringent, diuretic and anti-inflammatory ingredient.

My interests are varied. I became interested in trees after reading The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben and The Secret Language of Trees by Gill Davies. There are many good books on trees. You can read about Black or White Spruce being used as an antimicrobial by Native Americans and other fascinating facts

Until tomorrow

JULY 20, 2022 PROTECT YOUR HEART

You have only one heart - protect it well. WE all have our heart broken at one point- ending a relationship, death of a loved one or ending a career. I am not talking about your emotional heart but the physical structural heart There are lifestyle changes you can make to protect your heart .

First you should eat a balanced diet. You should avoid simple sugar or anything white as bread, pasta, and even cereals. Eat a Mediterranean diet without the pasta and the bread. A healthy diet includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and limits saturated fats, trans fats, sodium, and added sugars.

Second, you should exercise Exercise helps to keep your heart muscle strong and promotes healthy blood flow. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity 3 days of the week This reduces your cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by 38 %

Obviously quit smoking and drinking high amounts of alcohol. Alcohol is myocardial toxic. Excessive alcohol can not only predispose you to diabetes and liver disease , but it can cause a cardiomyopathy

Finally manage your stress levels. This can be done by starting yoga, block therapy, acupuncture and regular massages. I also advocate starting a new hobby or a fun project you wanted to do as a child and never did. This could be Lego building, finger painting, knitting, and model building. This will increase your self-esteem and decrease your stress. Remember IT ISPROGRESS NOT PERFECTION

Until tomorrow…

JULY 19, 2022 FATIGUE

When you are tired all the time you need to get some blood tests ! The possibilities are a lot. It could be your thyroid, your hormones levels, vitamin deficiencies, and even a reactivation of the EBV

Do you have trouble focusing? You may be experiencing the signs of iron deficiency. This common condition can leave you feeling run down and drained. Maybe you are not eating enough of protein especially red meat. If you are vegetarian, you need to look into iron deficiency

Some symptoms of iron deficiency include fatigue but also pale skin, brittle nails, and even headaches. Both shortness of breath and dizziness can also be signs of iron deficiency.

If you get your levels checked and your iron levels are low, you can change that. You might not want to eat red meat which is totally understandable. Then you must consume nuts and seeds, and certain grains that can help iron

Two natural remedies is to consume 1 tsp of black strap molasses every other day to increase iron. You can also drink a herbal tea containing yellow dock. Yellow dock increases iron absorption Dark leafy greens also contain iron. You might to take an iron supplements. Be aware that iron supplements will turn your stool color to black and some cause constipation.

Until tomorrow…

JULY 18, 2022 SUMMER INSECT BITES

Insect bites and stings are very common in the summer. Some may cause discomfort, unless you suffer from a severe allergic reaction. The best course of treatment is to soothe the pain and reduce swelling. Of course, you could get the stinger out. The stinging insect ( as the honeybee) inject the toxin through a stinger at the tail end of the abdomen. The reaction is usually local, but if occurs in the mouth or buccal mucosa of the cheek can be a problem. Yellow jackets and wasps have stingers and their sting does hurt more than a honeybee

When I arrived home from Savannah my bees were mostly out of the hive due to the humidity. I opened the hive
I got stung a lot but honeybee will die shortly afterwards. I did mind getting bit on my face twice. My hands got bit, as did my neck and feet. The sting is felt but I was only worried about my eye, since I do not wear a face covering. All turned out fine.


Some quick remedies:

A. FOLK REMEDIES
1. Some old folk remedies are to use the juice of a cucumber, onion or radish to sooth the pain
2. Bathe in baking soda and water if stung all over the body
3. Compress with apple cider vinegar and /or lemon juice
4. I use fresh garlic on the wound

B. HERBAL REMEDIES
1. Marigold petal on a bee bite ( I should have thought of this this weekend- as marigold plants are in the front of the house)
2. Cover the bite with a macerated plantain leaf ( usually not always available in Fire Island, but can be found upstate)
3. Witch hazel is great , but not effective on bee stings, but better on mosquito bites

C. HOMEOPATHY
1, Apis can be used once the stinger is removed. Vincent removed all of my stingers. He was amazed at the size of the stinger.
2. Hypericum can be used with great results

To make an insect bite oil:

1. 1 teaspoon of lavender essential oil
2. 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil

Combine and place directly on the bite. Rick and I will make some since we are opening the hive next weekend for close friends who love bees. I would love both of them to consider hives in their upstate home. Store the bottle in a glass bottle with a tight lid. Glass bottles better than plastic.

To make a bite/sting poultice

1. 1 tablespoon of echinacea root tincture
2. 1 tablespoon of distilled water
3. 1/2 tsp of lavender essential oil
4. 1 tablespoon of clay

combine the mixture and then add to the clay. Stir slowly till all absorbed. The paste should be tacky enough to stick to the skin. Apply directly to the bite and store in a glass container in a cool place.

Until tomorrow

JULY 14, 2022 THE RIGHT JUICES

For the last year I have consumed Blueberry Juice from Weyman’s every day. I love it. I can’t describe how good I feel, and I love the taste. America has been on a juice craze for the last 10 years. The consumption of the celery juice has more than tripled due to Anthony Williams’ best seller , The Medical Medium (and his other books) I advocate celery juice for EBV ( Epstein Barr Virus) infection. For the last two years due to the COVID pandemic (and the use of vaccinations/boosters) there has been an increase in the reactivation of EBV in most individuals. Celery juice must be consumed first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Please consult the Medical Medium (or one of his practitioners) I have found that celery juice can reduce your blood pressure.

The other two juices that reduce blood pressure are beet and pomegranate . Beetroot is rich in nitrates which the body converts to nitric oxide which dilates (relaxes) blood vessels. In addition, beetroot is rich in fiber and contains potassium. Pomegranate juice also contains potassium which lowers blood pressure. Because of a healthy conscious America, you can find both juices in your local grocery store.

Until tomorrow…