Dietary Modifications Decrease Cardiovascular Risk
December 29, 2008 by George Mandler · Leave a Comment
A recent study showed that a Mediterranean Diet plus nuts can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in people that have Metabolic syndrome also known as “Syndrome X”. Metabolic syndrome is characterized by high blood sugar, high blood pressure, decreased HDL, elevated triglycerides and fat deposits around the waist. There is a high prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in the US and unfortunately all too often these people will be prescribed drugs such as metformin for type 2 diabetes, various beta blockers or diuretics for high blood pressure and potentially a statin for high triglycerides. Read more
Vegetables Reduce Risk of Endometrial Cancer
December 28, 2008 by George Mandler · Leave a Comment
There have been a plethora of studies showing the benefits of eating vegetables. In a study involving 541 women with histologically confirmed endometrial cancer and 541 women with an intact uterus and non-cancer diagnoses, intake of vegetables, vitamin E, dietary fiber, beta-carotene, and folate were found to be independently, significantly inversely associated with risk of endometrial cancer. Comparing women in the highest versus the lowest quartiles of intake, significantly lower odds ratios of endometrial cancer were found for: total vegetables, vitamin E, dietary fiber, beta-carotene, lutein, and folate. These results suggest that increased consumption of vegetables and vegetable-related nutrients may reduce the risk of endometrial cancer.
Auricular Acupuncture for Post Surgery Vomiting
December 22, 2008 by George Mandler · Leave a Comment
There have been a couple of other recent studies involving only auricular acupuncture. I would assume there is so much interest in auricular acupuncture because it is easy to administer. The most simple style of auricular acupuncture doesn’t require the many thousands of hours of in-depth training needed by an acupuncturist. Therefore even MDs with a few hundred hours of acupuncture training can properly administer an effective acupuncture treatment. It can be carried out in hospitals with minimal invasion by individuals not fully trained in acupuncture. Read more
Blueberries Antioxidant Capacity Undone By this Common Morning Ritual
December 18, 2008 by George Mandler · Leave a Comment
There is a plethora of research showing the benefits of blueberries and their super anti-oxidant capacity. No need to purchase expensive acai berry juice transported from another continent when we have an abundance of a super food all around Massachusetts, Maine and NH. However the antioxidant capacity of blueberries can be completely undone by a common practice – especially in the morning. The undoing is a four letter word. M-i-l-k. This is similar to how the antioxidant capacity of tea is undone.
In a just released Italian study looking at blood levels of 2 phenolic phytochemicals, i.e. antioxidants, they found that ingesting blueberries without milk increased antioxidant blood levels. However when milk was consumed with blueberries there was absolutely no change in blood antioxidant levels.
We must consider the possibility that the binding of milk to these acidic antioxidants reaches far beyond tea and blueberries. Any fruit or herb (i.e. tea, coffee, chocolate) that has acidic water soluble antioxidants (as opposed to something fat soluble like beta-carotene in say a mango or vitamin E in nuts) would probably be mitigated by adding milk.
The researchers of the above article suggest to gain maximum antioxidant potential from fruits that they’d be consumed away from other meals. (This does make sense for a digestive point of view as well as many people can have trouble with fruits after meals causing gas and bloating.)
So ditch the milk. Drink your tea black, your coffee black, your chocolate dark, and your berries on its own.
In Health,
George Mandler
Licensed Acupuncturist
Licensed Dietitian / Nutritionist
Maynard, MA & Cambridge, MA
Antacid Meds During Pregnancy Increases Risk of Childhood Asthma
December 17, 2008 by George Mandler · Leave a Comment
There are so many natural options available for the majority of cases known as acid reflux, GERD (GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease ), heartburn, or whatever you want to call that it is appalling how these are indiscriminately handed out given their potential deleterious effects. There are certainly times when someone may need a Proton Pump Inhibitor (i.e. Prilosec) or H2 Antagonists (i.e. Ranitidine). However those cases are when there is concern about esophogeal cancer, throat cancer, ulcers etc. where the symptoms have become more severe or there is concern about it getting that severe.
During pregnancy almost 9 out of every 10 women have acid reflux symptoms and often they are prescribed these medication to treat the symptoms. However, many women find that acupuncture and/or abdominal massage offers outstanding results for eliminating acid reflux or at least reducing it to a tolerable level so that medications aren’t required. A study to be published next month out of Children’s Hospital in Boston determined that pregnant women who take acid medication increase their child’s risk of asthma by nearly 50% if the mother had no prior allergy history. Read more
Vitamin D During Pregnancy May Support Offspring Immunity
December 10, 2008 by George Mandler · Leave a Comment
The news has been loaded with a plethora of articles touting the benefits of vitamin D reported in nutrition journals. Based on research of the past few years it appears that Vitamin D plays a large role in regulating the immune system. Most recently the American Academy of Pediatrics have doubled its recommended daily dosage of Vitamin D for kids. Read more
Acupuncture Effective For Chronic Headaches
December 3, 2008 by George Mandler · Leave a Comment
For many types of headaches acupuncture can provide relief of pain and reduce medications. In addition Chinese Medicine is effective at bringing the headache sufferer’s body back into balance by using acupuncture, herbs, diet and lifestyle changes. The majority of the time headaches are a symptom of imbalance in the body. Read more
One Man’s Experiment Eating Organic Food For 3 Years
December 2, 2008 by George Mandler · Leave a Comment
There is a great article published today in the NYT about a pediatrician in California who experimented by eating only organic food for 3 years. (Of course he lived in California it is one of the few places you can get organic food all year round). Dr Greene runs a website aptly named drgreene.com – it is a great resource for all pediatric questions. Read more