Disease Proof

A Little Fuhrman Tale

Lisa Fuhrman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:58:17 -0500

Most of us were sitting at the dinner table but we had a bigger crowd than usual, my sister and her two children, as well as my mother were there, visiting from Florida. Joel was standing up (not unusual--he usually eats that way) and we were all eating except Hailey, my four-year-old niece and she was complaining that she was hungry. Haily doesn't eat too many real foods. When offered, it is always, (without even tasting it) "I don't like that". Lots of talk was going on so I really didn't think Joel heard her, but he did. He took out a bag of blanched almonds and told Hailey she couldn't have any because he needed them all for his strength and to be smart. He just was going on and on about if she ate them, there would not be enough for him to be so strong and he needs them for his work. .

He started to go into a very dramatic routine about how our son, Sean (eight-years-old and Hailey's idol) loved slivered almonds (something Sean and I didn't know) and that Sean was going to get very strong from eating them, but that she couldn't have any because both him and Sean must have enough. Well Joel was really playing it up for a good 5 minutes and we were all getting a kick from it except Hailey. She didn't budge in saying she was hungry or showing any interest in the almonds. Sean however was very affected by his daddy's words about getting strong and he started eating the slivered almonds like never before. So, we all had a good laugh about Sean and kept eating. Hailey was given something else to eat.

What makes this story remarkable is that a full 10 minutes after Joel's performance ended, Hailey started eating the slivered almonds like nobody's business. We adults had gone on, continued our conversations and forgot about the recent attempt Joel made to get Hailey to try a new healthy food. We were completely amazed that Joel's antic worked. Hailey couldn't put enough almonds into her mouth and thoroughly enjoyed them. We all stopped, looked and were astounded. We thought there was no way he could get this picky eater to eat something new.

I'm not saying that a parent has to always outwit the child to get them to try something new, but in this case, and in our experience with our four children it certainly works. No arguments occur and we get our way (how often does that happen?)

Stop Abuse

Emily Boller — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:54:30 -0500

Soon we’ll be facing holiday traditions that are based upon feasting: turkey, dressing, gravy, candied yams, yeast rolls, butter, jam, pumpkin, apple and pecan pies, cranberry sauce, glazed ham, eggnog, cheese balls, crackers, cookies, candy, fruit cakes, nut breads, fudge, confectionary treats, peppermint ice cream, pancakes, waffles, sausages, bacon; just to name a few.

As a culture, I think its time we seriously evaluate our traditions.

If a tradition abuses the body, why participate in it?

If a tradition promotes disease, why do it?

image credit: google.com

morals:

accepted rules and standards of human behavior (Wikipedia)
pertaining to the distinction between right and wrong (Dictionary.com)

As a nation, perhaps it’s time we raise our morals and stop abuse.

Will you be promoting food abuse this holiday season; or stopping it?

Let's dialogue. What are your plans to eat for health during the holidays?

Sodium and artificial sweeteners linked to decline in kidney function

Joel Fuhrman — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:59:46 -0500

Two studies presented at the American Society for Nephrology’s annual meeting earlier this month are beginning to build data on the links between diet and kidney disease. The researchers used data from the Nurses’ Health Study to correlate intake of sodium and sweetened beverages with kidney function in 3,000 women over an 11-year period.

In the first study, the authors found that higher dietary sodium intake was associated with a greater decline in kidney function over that 11-year time frame. Excessive sodium intake is already well-known to promote hypertension and consequently heart disease, and now we have one more reason to avoid it.

In the second study, women who drank two or more servings per day of artificially sweetened soda doubled their odds of kidney function decline.

Sure, we save a few calories drinking a diet soda, but does that really help us? Scientific studies have linked artificial sweeteners and/or diet soda to weight gain, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

As a society, we disregard these possible dangers to the detriment of our health. We have grown accustomed to the intense saltiness of restaurant meals and processed foods, and the intense artificial sweetness of aspartame, acesulfame K, and sucralose. By cutting these harmful substances out of our diets, we can begin to enjoy the more subtle flavors of natural whole foods, and benefit our kidneys in the process.

Reference:

American Society of Nephrology (2009, November 2). Diets High In Sodium And Artificially Sweetened Soda Linked To Kidney Function Decline. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 17, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091101132543.htm

Glucosamine supplements fail to improve knee osteoarthritis

Deana Ferreri — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:47:22 -0500

A previous meta-analysis of clinical trials had suggested that the benefits of glucosamine supplements were exaggerated, and noted that most of the studies had been carried out by manufacturers of the supplements.¹

Now, a recent study called “Joints on Glucosamine,” presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology has concluded that glucosamine has no beneficial effects on osteoarthritis of the knee. The 201 participants, given either glucosamine or placebo, were subject to MRI at baseline and after 6 months to structurally assess arthritic conditions. The odds of worsening of the cartilage were the same in the control and treatment groups, indicating that glucosamine did not slow the damage to the cartilage.2

In a news story covering this study, Eric Matteson, MD, chair of rheumatology and professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic, commented:

"We do know that glucosamine therapy does not appear to be harmful, but there is no evidence it is helpful."³

In October, in a review of the literature on glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, the Center for Science in the Public Interest reported that the evidence for each of these supplements (and combined glucosamine and chondroitin) were inconclusive.⁴ They also note that for arthritis symptoms, the placebo effect is particularly strong – the author of the article, David Schardt states:

“Studies show that a sugar pill relieves arthritis pain in up to 60% of patients.”

This fact highlights the importance of the results of this new study – the scientists quantified cartilage damage via MRI, rather than relying on the subjects’ reports of knee pain.

Like so many other diseases, the best way to prevent and treat osteoarthritis is to remove the cause. A recent meta-analysis of 85 studies on the risk factors for osteoarthritis found that being overweight posed the greatest risk.⁵ For most of us, reaching and then maintaining a healthy weight with nutritional excellence is the best protection against osteoarthritis.

References:

1. McAlindon TE et al. Glucosamine and chondroitin for treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic quality assessment and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2000 Mar 15;283(11):1469-75.

2. http://acr.confex.com/acr/2009/webprogram/Paper15123.html

3. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ACR/16561

4. Schardt, David. “Do arthritis supplements work? Don’t bet your joints on it.” Center for Science in the Public Interest: Nutrition Action Healthletter, October 2009

5. Blagojevic M et al. Risk factors for onset of osteoarthritis of the knee in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2009 Sep 2. [Epub ahead of print]

Help! I'm a People Pleaser

Emily Boller — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:08:07 -0500

Flickr image credit: Manky M.

Are you currently engulfed in the sea of pleasing everyone but yourself?

Do you help your children and/or others reach their fullest potential, but neglect your own goals?

Are you afraid to “rock the boat” and say, “No” to others to the extent that you don’t take care of yourself?

Would you like to eat healthier, but are afraid of hurting someone’s feelings by rejecting their food? Are you going along with the crowd at the expense of killing yourself?

A people pleaser is concerned with the expectations of others and trying to fit in, even if it means compromising personal goals to do so. Pleasing everyone is emotional dysfunction, and is usually on the side of evil, not goodness. Trying to please others, even if what they are promoting is hurtful, is a deadly snare. Gang members can torture and kill people trying to please their peer group.

Don’t meet the expectations and demands of others if they are unrealistic and disease promoting. Love means having the best affect on others, not acting in a way to be viewed more favorably. The latter is weakness and self-love.

If you are a habitual people pleaser it will take courage to change the dysfunction. Saying no without feeling guilty can be difficult, but for optimal health, you must change damaging behaviors.

Standing up for yourself and doing what is right, not necessarily what is popular or what is promoted by your peers is the best gift that you can give to others!

Let’s dialogue. In what practical way(s) do you need to change to be emotionally and physically healthy? (Feel free to use a nickname if you wish to remain anonymous.)

Dr. Fuhrman Appears on E! Entertainment Television

Deana Ferreri — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:07:22 -0500

Alanis Morissette has transformed her health using Dr. Fuhrman's Eat to Live program. Two weeks ago, her weight loss success was reported in People Magazine.

Now, her journey to excellent health has been featured on "E! Original Countdowns: 15 Remarkable Celebrity Body Bouncebacks." Dr. Fuhrman was interviewed and appears on the show - he comments that Alanis was drawn to the focus of his diet-style on disease prevention (rather than only weight-loss) and that this will be instrumental in her continued success.

The show aired Wednesday night - you can view the segment below, and read a transcript here.

Future airings of the show are as follows:

Sat. Nov. 14: 2-4 pm

Sun. Nov. 15: 5-7 pm

Thurs. Nov. 19: 8-10 pm

Fri. Nov. 20: 3-5 pm

Sun. Nov. 22: 12 midnight - 2 am

Sun. Nov. 22: 7-9 pm

Processed foods, low-carb diets linked to depression

Joel Fuhrman — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:59:21 -0500

(Image credit: Fakeelvis @Flickr)

Three recent studies document that consumption of processed foods increase odds of depression, and not only that, but those high protein, high fat diets (high in animal products) are also linked with more depression. The diet to protect against depression – that is simple, a high nutrient, plant-based diet outlined in my books, Eat for Health and Eat to Live.

In one study, middle-aged subjects were categorized by their dietary patterns based on how much “whole” or “processed” food they consumed. The high processed foods group was characterized by high intake of sweetened desserts, fried food, processed meat, refined grains, and high-fat dairy products. Five years later, the researchers evaluated how many of the subjects had reported depression symptoms.

Subjects who ate the most whole foods had the lowest odds of depression, and those who ate the most processed foods had the highest odds of depression – 60% increased odds compared to those who ate the least amount of processed foods.¹

Another study compared the effects of low-fat plant-based diet and low-carbohydrate animal-product-rich diet on mood in overweight women. Although both groups lost similar amounts of weight over one year, measures of mental health and mood only improved in the low-fat group. The low-carb dieters eating more fat and animal products had higher depression scores. The authors also cited previous human studies in which high protein, low-carbohydrate diets have resulted in cognitive impairment.²

A third study measured scores of depression before and after removing meat, poultry, and fish from subjects normally eating a typical American diet. Indicators of depression significantly decreased after removing all the animal products and shifting to a plant-based diet for 2 weeks. ³

Nutrition is crucial for regulating mood – high oxidative stress in the brain and low levels of several micronutrients have also been linked to depression.⁴

These studies are a reminder that what we eat affects not only our physical health but our mental health as well. Combine great diet with light therapy, exercise, sufficient Vitamin D and the right fatty acid balance for the brain, and you have my protocol to beat depression.

References:

1. Akbaraly TN et al. Dietary pattern and depressive symptoms in middle age. Br J Psychiatry. 2009 Nov;195(5):408-13.

2. Brinkworth et al. Long-term Effects of a Very Low-Carbohydrate Diet

and a Low-Fat Diet on Mood and Cognitive Function. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(20):1873-1880

3. Beezhold BL et al. Preliminary evidence that vegetarian diet improves mood. American Public Health Association 2009 National Meeting, Abstract 206464.

4. Leung BM, Kaplan BJ. Perinatal depression: prevalence, risks, and the nutrition link--a review of the literature. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009 Sep;109(9):1566-75.

The Amazing Healing Power of Real Nutrient Rich Food

Deana Ferreri — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:18:41 -0500

A shark almost cost Bruce Lurie his life. Now, three years later, a recuperating Bruce continues to pay tribute to Dr. Fuhrman for the nutritional guidance that put him on the path to recovery.

Dr. Fuhrman and Bruce

It all started as a fun-filled hot July day when Bruce and his13-year old son were boogie boarding. Suddenly, and tragically, a large shark chasing a sea lion for his dinner hit Bruce with such force it rendered the 60 year old man a quadriplegic near death.

“I suffered a massive and catastrophic spinal cord injury,” says Bruce. “I nearly drowned and was only saved because my son pulled me from the water and other people on the beach helped to resuscitate me. I was paralyzed below the neck. I was suffering from numerous infections. I had major surgery to repair my broken neck. I was on IVs and a respirator. I could not swallow or speak.”

Suffering catastrophic injuries, Bruce was in intensive care for 30 days and then spent over 3 months in Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado for intensive rehabilitation.

Bruce’s family was devastated. Fortunately, they knew of Dr. Fuhrman. “While at Craig Hospital, my family contacted Dr. Fuhrman and told him I was being fed canned "nutrients" through a tube that went directly into my stomach. They asked Dr. Fuhrman to help devise a way that I could eat real food. Dr. Fuhrman worked closely with the hospital dietitian. The hospital was very cooperative, and in fact was eager to see what effect eating real food would have on my recovery. Dr. Fuhrman prescribed a diet of numerous fruits and vegetables and seeds and berries.”

Luckily, a local Whole Foods Market in Denver, CO, which specializes in superior organic foods, worked with Dr. Fuhrman and the hospital’s dietitians to supply the food prescribed by Dr. Fuhrman and blend the ingredients in a VitaMix blender. A tube was used to insert the food directly into the injured man’s stomach.

“Almost immediately after I began to eat the real food prescribed by Dr. Fuhrman, my infections were completely healed. I started feeling better and was able to breathe without the ventilator. After a few weeks of having the real food injected into my stomach, I learned to swallow again and was able to begin eating whole foods by mouth.”

Today, Bruce continues to follow Dr. Fuhrman’s diet. “I am happy to say that despite my devastating injury and the long road, I have been traveling towards recovery, I have not been sick for a single day and have been able to focus on the difficult task of learning to walk again. I am very grateful to Dr. Fuhrman for taking the time to help me recover and for having such a profound impact on my path to recovery.” says a grateful Bruce.

Nutritarian Eating Costs Too Much?

Emily Boller — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:51:58 -0500

image credit: Emily Boller

In my town lentils cost 92 cents/lb. Combined with no-salt tomato puree, garlic, onions and spices, an entire pot of lentil stew can be made for a fraction of the cost of spaghetti and meatballs, frozen pizza, chicken nuggets, or beef and noodles.
Ripe bananas can be purchased for 29 cents/lb. They can be frozen and made into delicious and healthful ice cream desserts. I make ice cream for my family for less than ten dollars a month. Compare that to two quarts of high fat, high sugar, chemical laden ice cream that lasts a family a couple of days (or one stress-relief binge!)
At monthly sales I stock up on bags of frozen vegetables: 10 bags for $10. Compare that to two bags of frozen fries for ten bucks.
A pound of romaine lettuce is cheaper than a pound of shredded cheese.
A large bag of fresh carrots costs the same as a bag of chips.
A bag of oranges is comparable in cost to a package of disease promoting cookies.
Oatmeal is a fraction of the price of processed cereal.
Gardening saves even more on bountiful supplies of high nutrient foods.

Add the astronomical costs of doctor visits, insurance co-pays, hospitalizations, missed work, and popular medications used to manage cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes: Prinivil, Zocor, Lipitor, Atenolol and Metformin . . . . . eating for health costs more than eating for disease?

Don’t believe the lie.

As the old adage goes, “Pay the grocer or pay the doctor.”

I’d rather pay food bills any day!

Do you have a money saving tip that supports eating for health? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

Vitamin D protects against death from heart disease and stroke

Deana Ferreri — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:12:50 -0500

(Image credit: denn @Flickr)

The evidence connecting Vitamin D deficiency with chronic disease continues to mount. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to osteoporosis, multiple cancers, musculoskeletal diseases, thyroid disease, depression, and Type II diabetes. This is especially troublesome since several studies have found that most Americans are Vitamin D deficient.

Now, a long-term study has examined the connection between blood Vitamin D levels and death from cardiovascular disease – and the results were dramatic:

Serum Vitamin D levels were measured at the beginning of the study, and subjects were followed for 26 years. The researches found that those individuals with the highest blood levels of Vitamin D were 24% less likely to die from any cardiovascular disease, and 52% less likely to die from stroke.¹

This new data supports results from the Framingham Heart Study, in which subjects were followed for 5 years – even after 5 years, those with low blood levels of vitamin D had a 60% greater risk of heart disease.²

How might Vitamin D affect cardiovascular health? Vitamin D localizes to most tissues and cells in the human body and is involved in several vital processes – to name a few - insulin production, immune cell function, inflammation, and heart contractility. Vitamin D deficiency could possibly lead to a pro-inflammatory environment, which would promote cardiovascular disease.³

How can you get adequate Vitamin D? Food sources of Vitamin D are scarce, and it is almost impossible for your body to produce sufficient Vitamin D from a safe amount of sun exposure, especially if you work indoors and don’t live in the tropics. So a Vitamin D supplement is your best bet. Remember – the standard dose of Vitamin D found in most multivitamins is not enough to assure adequate blood Vitamin D levels. In order to support all of Vitamin D’s important actions in the body, additional supplementation is necessary. Be cautious of Vitamin D supplements geared toward bone health – they may also contain excessive amounts of calcium, which can result in poor absorption of other minerals. Dr. Fuhrman’s Osteo-Sun was designed to deliver adequate amounts of Vitamin D along with a low dose of calcium in order to promote bone health without causing adverse effects associated with excess calcium intake.

References:

1. Kilkkinen A et al. Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Oct 15;170(8):1032-9. Epub 2009 Sep 17. Vitamin D status and the risk of cardiovascular disease death.

2. Wang TJ. Circulation. 2008 Jan 29;117(4):503-11. Epub 2008 Jan 7. Vitamin D deficiency and risk of cardiovascular disease.

3. Holick MF. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Dec;80(6 Suppl):1678S-88S. Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease.

Excess body fat responsible for over 100,000 cancer cases per year

Joel Fuhrman — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:48:58 -0500

(Image credit: Tobyotter @Flickr)

The American Institute for Cancer Research is currently holding their annual conference on Food, Nutrition, Physical Acitity, and Cancer in Washington D.C. Yesterday AICR held a news conference and announced new estimates based on the work of their researchers - that excess body fat is responsible for 100,500 cancer cases in the U.S. each year.

100,500 – this equates to:

49% of endometrial cancers

35% of esophageal cancers

24% of kidney cancers

21% of gallbladder cancers

17% of breast cancers

9% of colorectal cancers

ALL preventable!

Also in this news conference, AICR expressed their concerns about the lack of public awareness about the link between obesity and cancer.

Scientists suggest that this link between obesity and cancer is due to excess fat increasing levels of sex steroids and other hormones that promote cancer growth. Also the reduced immune function and elevated oxidative stress associated with excess body fat may contribute to the initiation of cancer by damaging DNA.

AICR presented additional data showing that overweight and obesity also decrease rates of survival in those already diagnosed with cancer.

Overall, the message is that maintaining a healthy weight with nutritional excellence and exercise will dramatically (even more dramatically than previously thought) reduce your risk of cancer.

Reference: http://www.aicr.org/site/News2/153571380?abbr=pr_&page=NewsArticle&id=17333&news_iv_ctrl=1102

Delicious Guilt-Free Pumpkin Pie with Oat Crust

Emily Boller — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:24:39 -0500

Here in the United States we’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving in less than three weeks. I thought it would be fun to share a recipe for pumpkin pie from the vast selection of nutritarian recipes that are posted on the members’ center of www.DrFuhrman.com Enjoy!

Serves 8

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

OAT PIE CRUST

1 cup quick oats (not instant)

1/4 cup ground almonds

1 tablespoon whole wheat pastry flour (optional)

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons water

PIE FILLING

1 15-ounce can of pumpkin

1/2 cup date sugar*

1/2 cup raisins

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 1/2 tablespoons arrowroot powder

1 10-ounce pkg soft tofu

CASHEW CREAM

1 1/3 cups raw cashews

3/4 cup vanilla soy milk

2/3 cup dates

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Pie Crust: Mix oats, almonds and flour. Blend oil and water together with a wire whisk. Add to dry ingredients and mix until it holds together. You may need to add a little more water. Spray 9-inch pie dish lightly with cooking spray and press the crust to thinly cover the bottom and sides of the pie dish.

Pie Filling: In a blender combine the pumpkin and date sugar.* Add raisins, spices, arrowroot powder, and tofu. (Some like more spices; individual preference.) Blend until smooth. Pour mixture into pie shell and bake for 15 minutes then lower heat to 350 degrees. Cover crust with strips of aluminum foil to prevent burning, and bake for an additional 60 minutes.

While pie is in the oven make the Cashew Cream. Blend all ingredients together in a Vita-Mix or other powerful blender.

Serve slightly warm or cold with a dollop of Cashew Cream.

Note: The pie filling will firm up as it cools.

* A member commented that she used dates in the pie filling instead of date sugar and liked it better. She baked the pie for 75 minutes at 350 degrees; 15 of those minutes with the crust uncovered, and 60 minutes with the crust covered. (Tip: Cover crust by using a square of aluminum foil with a large hole cut out in the middle, leaving most of the pie uncovered.) According to her, the texture and appearance came out great!

Breast cancer and prostate cancer: Early detection saves lives?

Joel Fuhrman — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:14:18 -0500

If breast and prostate cancer were detected early, via mammograms and PSA tests, treatment could begin earlier, and lives would be saved – right?

Wrong, according to a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association that examined incidence and mortality rates for breast and prostate cancer over the past 20 years.¹

Why? The authors think that we are in a state of “overdiagnosis” – that many slow-growing, non-threatening tumors are being detected and treated; at the same time, the more dangerous and aggressive cancers may be missed because they can grow and become lethal in the time interval between screenings, and by then treatment will not work. Overall, the mortality rates of breast and prostate cancer have not decreased significantly in the past 20 years.

Still, are there sound reasons to skip these screenings altogether? You decide…

Mammograms: Following detection of a tumor, 80% of biopsies are negative, and the risk of false positives is very high in women under 50.² This equates to thousands and thousands of unnecessary surgical procedures are performed on women after they have had a suspicious mammogram result. In a recent review, it was estimated that for every 2000 women screened, one will benefit, more than 200 will have a false positive result, and 10 healthy women will be treated unnecessarily.³ And those women who are treated for cancers earn many chemotherapy-related deaths counterbalancing any life-span enhancements in those treated.⁴ PSA tests: About 70% of men who have elevated PSA levels do not actually have cancer.¹ And the side effects of the associated treatments include bowel, urinary, and sexual dysfunction.⁵ Additionally, a 9-year study in Sweden showed that men who had undergone endocrine treatment for prostate cancer were at a 20-30% increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and death from myocardial infarction.⁶

With both of these tests, detection of low-risk cancers also causes much undue emotional trauma to patients and their families.

(image credit: Samat Jain @Flickr)

The American Cancer Society now advises:

“There are some cancers for which we don’t currently recommend screening, such as prostate cancer, because the benefits are unclear or unproven.”⁷

The authors of the JAMA article offer strategies for the scientific and medical communities: to find specific biomarkers that can differentiate high-risk from low-risk cancers, and to target high-risk individuals with preventive treatments.

I offer a strategy to you: Be proactive – reduce your risk of breast and prostate cancer. Practice prevention by maintaining a healthy weight and eating an anti-cancer diet - a high-nutrient diet rich in protective phytochemicals from cruciferous vegetables, leafy greens, and berries, and minimizing or eliminating browned foods, animal products, and refined flour and sugar. Taking sufficient Vitamin D is also important. You can read more about the strong connections between diet and cancer in my article “Eat for Health – the Anti-Cancer Diet."

References:

1. Esserman L, Shieh Y, Thompson I. JAMA. 2009 Oct 21;302(15):1685-92. Rethinking screening for breast cancer and prostate cancer.

2. Wright CJ, Mueller CB. Screening mammography and public health policy: the need for perspective. Lancet 1995;346(8966(:29-32.

3. Gøtzsche PC, Nielsen M. Screening for breast cancer with mammography. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Oct 7;(4):CD001877.

4. Rock E, De Michele. A Nutritional approaches to late toxicities of adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer survivors. J Nutr 2003 Nov;133(11 Suppl 1):3785S-3793S.

5. Albertsen PC, Hanley JA, Fine J. 20-year outcomes following conservative management of clinically localized prostate cancer. JAMA 2005;293 (17):2095-2101

6. M. Van Hemelrijck et al. 1BA Increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality following endocrine treatment for prostate cancer: an analysis in 30,642 men in PCBaSe Sweden. EJC Supplements - September 2009 (Vol. 7, Issue 3, Page 1, DOI: 10.1016/S1359-6349(09)72024-5)

7.http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MED/content/MED_2_1x_A_Special_Message_from_CEO_John_Seffrin_PhD_on_Cancer_Screening.asp)

Success Tips

Emily Boller — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:48:28 -0500

What would life be like

if we had no courage to attempt anything?

-Vincent van Gogh

Someone recently wrote on my facebook wall, “When you started (referring to nutritarian eating), what was most helpful?”

I began the journey to get my health back on July 10, 2008. At that time, what helped me the most was taking the prior month of June to thoroughly study and assimilate Dr. Fuhrman’s book, Eat to Live. (Eat for Health was not available yet.)

Now, fifteen months and plenty of battle scars later; plus observing many who have successfully overcome food addiction and made it to their weight loss goal and restored good health, my resounding response to everyone is, “Members’ center, members’ center, members’ center!”

I got free from food addiction and have successfully maintained excellent health because of the ongoing support of Dr. Fuhrman on “Ask the Doctor”. The hurdles of life have been overwhelming at times, and Dr. Fuhrman’s nutritional and health guidance has helped me navigate the many obstacles that I’ve faced:

advice during the hospitalization of a child
guidance in overcoming food addiction, including several relapses
practical instruction during a weight loss plateau
advice concerning a major surgery
navigating pain relief, bloating and continual weight loss after that surgery
pain management after a serious bike wreck
and a myriad of other bumps in the road

He gave straightforward and helpful answers that I couldn’t have received elsewhere.

Now I encourage everyone who is serious about living in optimal health to get involved in the members’ center of drfuhrman.com:

read the tutorials
listen to the teleconferences
participate in the member forums, phone chats and Ask the Doctor
share recipes, success tips, struggles and victories with other members

Dr. Fuhrman’s books and the members’ center are so much cheaper than medications, diabetic supplies, surgeries, frequent visits to doctors’ offices, rise in insurance premiums, weight loss meetings, and missed work due to illness. The investment will maximize and extend the quality and productivity of life for years to come!

Introducing Stephanie

Emily Boller — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:41:31 -0500

Preface: Over the next year or two, I'll be following the weight loss journey of Stephanie, age 39, who is 200% committed to getting her health back. Her husband died recently and she’s currently raising four young children under the ages of nine, plus attending nursing school. Stephanie has courageously volunteered to share her thoughts and medical stats with DiseaseProof readers as she undertakes the journey to optimal health. Welcome Stephanie!

Why have you chosen to commit to nutritarian eating? I currently weigh 398 lbs (5’10”) and I’m tired all the time. I cry a lot and get easily irritated and aggravated. My knees hurt, I have constant headaches and acid reflux. My local doctor feels that I’m unable to lose weight on my own and is urging me to have gastric bypass surgery. I want to play at the park, ride bikes and be a fit and healthy mother for my children. Most importantly, I want to BE HERE for them.

What are some of the events in your life that have led you to this point? I’ve been overweight my entire life, but have steadily added more pounds each year; especially after having babies. Last year my husband died after a battle with congestive heart failure and a failed heart transplant. In an instant, I became a 38-year-old widowed mother of four children ages eight to three, and the stress has been overwhelming. During this past year I have been diagnosed with premature osteoarthritis in both knees, high blood pressure, ADHD, and major depression.

Describe a typical day for you: My alarm goes off at 6:45 am, but I hit the snooze button four times before I drag myself out of bed. I struggle to pull myself together and prepare the kids’ breakfasts and get them off to school. I plan my day by prioritizing how much energy and/or steps it will take to do an activity. It’s difficult to do much with my children, because I’m unable to move fast due to my size.

I feel like I’m a prisoner in my own body.

Weight 398 lbs.
BMI 57.1
Blood pressure 140/100
Waist measurement 58”
Cholesterol 180
Triglycerides 98
HDL 48
LDL 112
Fasting blood sugar 87
currently taking anti-depressants, amphetamines for ADHD, and medication for urinary incontinence

Stephanie’s “official” starting date is November 1, 2009, and I’ll be posting her progress updates the first week of every month. We are cheering for Stephanie and wish her all the best as she takes this courageous step to get her health and life back!

Eat to Live is featured in this week's People Magazine!

Joel Fuhrman — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:43:48 -0500

Alanis Morissette lost weight in a healthy, natural way following my Eat to Live program.

Alanis Morissette was plagued by eating disorders as a teenager, feeling shameful about gaining weight and going to extreme measures to lose it. On her last tour in 2008, she fell into some unhealthy habits - late-night trips to restaurants and high-calorie drinks, and the weight piled on…

The turning point came when she read Eat to Live, which she calls her “redefining moment” – she equates food with fuel, not “fat” or “thin.” She attributes her successful, healthy weight loss, as well as her ability to choose the right foods to the Eat to Live program.

I wish Alanis continued success on her nutritarian journey, and I’m cheering her on as she trains for her first marathon!

View the entire article here.

Junk food - as addictive as smoking??

Deana Ferreri — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:59:17 -0500

In Eat for Health, Dr. Fuhrman states that food addiction is the main reason that people eat too much and become overweight.

A study presented at the Society for Neuroscience national meeting last week agrees with this statement. Scientists presented their findings – that high-fat, high-calorie foods are addictive.

Credit: LittleMissCupcakeParis@Flickr

These scientists allowed rats to eat readily available, processed junk foods (such as sausages, bacon, and assorted cakes) at will for 18 hours a day – after only five days, they noted evidence of reduced sensitivity in the pleasure centers of the brain, which is a classic indicator of addiction. The rats were increasingly motivated to eat the junk food, consuming about double the number of calories as control rats - they soon needed to consume more food in order to get the same “high.” Even when the rats were given a foot shock upon eating the unhealthy food, they continued to eat. They found these results are similar to those of addictive drugs such as heroin.

The addictive properties of the unhealthy food essentially support two biologic mechanisms of addiction. One, dopamine stimulation and two withdrawal supporting Dr. Fuhrman's explanation of toxic hunger – detox symptoms from an addiction to unhealthy, low-nutrient foods. Most people eat more unhealthy food in order to relieve the discomfort of these symptoms, interpreting them to be true hunger. But this simply postpones the detoxification process, and perpetuates a cycle of unhealthy eating.

Unlike the rats in the study, we know the difference between addictive low-nutrient foods, and health-promoting high-nutrient foods. Without understanding the science behind food addictions, it becomes nearly impossible for people to follow a healthy diet or lose weight. Are you a food addict or are you a nutritarian? Did Dr. Fuhrman's information enable you to lose your food addictions? Let us know.

References:

1. Johnson PM, Kenny PJ. Motivational drives in obesity: Evidence for addiction-like compulsive responding for palatable food. Program No. 550.1/X15. 2009 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Chicago, IL: Society for Neuroscience, 2009. Online.

2.http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/48605/title/Junk_food_turns_rats_into_addicts

Let's Change Halloween

Lisa Fuhrman — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:39:21 -0500

OK. I know Halloween is a really fun holiday for the younger generation, teens included, but I, as a parent, can't stand it. It is the one holiday that promotes ill-health and practically every parent/adult I know goes along with it. It is not a holiday for our children; oh no, don't kid yourself. It is a holiday for the candy industry. Do our children really benefit from a holiday where they are given junk that is bad for their health, their psychology, their emotions? Very few understand the serious consequences to our childrens' health from this. And, they don't just have one treat, they go home with a huge stash of brain-damaging, cancer-causing junk that lasts for weeks or months.

I don't get it--I do get all the propaganda about Halloween. Many corporations benefit from it, like Party City for example. What I don't get is the public going along with it. I buy small, inexpensive toys to give out and the kids love it. That makes me feel better. But I can't stand seeing the aisles and aisles of candy being sold in the supermarkets and in bowls in professional offices you visit. Our country, in promoting this junk food day is promoting ill-health and if there is one thing I know, the fattening of America is getting worse and worse. Should we really be exploiting our children and sacrificing their future to benefit the junk food industry?

Let's make Halloween treats healthy! Give out healthy treats or toys. I know raisins don't compare to a Snickers bar, but it may stop your child from having a sugar-high tantrum that night! We need to start changing the way we act with our children, as a nation and individually, if we are really going to help them to a healthy future.

What are you doing with your family on Halloween? Are you going along with this insanity or not?

Board Certified by Coca-Cola!

Joel Fuhrman — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:24:41 -0500

The American Academy of Family Physicians, which I am a member, is accepting money from Coca-Cola. Wow.

The AAFP today announced a corporate partnership with The Coca-Cola Co., in which the beverage giant will provide a grant for the Academy to develop consumer education content related to beverages and sweeteners for the AAFP's award-winning consumer health and wellness Web site, FamilyDoctor.org.

According to the Kansas City Business Journal, Coca-Cola is providing a grant of an unspecified amount to the AAFP for the project.

Now it comes full circle. The drug industry manipulates and controls the drug information given to doctors and now soda companies fund the nutrition information. Good work guys! Even if the AAFP changes their mind due to public outcry it won’t be enough for me. They need to clearly state publicly that drinking soda has been a significant contributor to the epidemic of overweight, heart disease and cancer in this country and is disease and death promoting. It is designed to be addicting and serving it to children is child abuse. What if the AAFP accepted funding from Phillip Morris and promoted smoking in moderation? I can’t resign my membership, I would lose board certification credentials. I could send them a letter, but what else should we do?

Read more about it on AAFP’s very own website: http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20091006cons-alli-coke.html

P.S. Just in case you didn’t know, the American Dietetic Association, the organization that certifies nutritionists and dietitians, also accepts money from Coca-Cola, as well as PepsiCo, Kellogg’s, General Mills, Mars and the National Dairy Council. Take a look at the corporate sponsor’s page on the ADA website and see for yourself!

UPDATE (10/30/09): Based on reader response we would like to ask that you let the AAFP and the ADA know what you think about this. Please feel free to post the letters you wrote to them here in the comments so others can use your writings too.

AAFP - http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/aboutus/theaafp/contact.html

ADA - http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/home_4682_ENU_HTML.htm

Stress

Emily Boller — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:29:26 -0500

Stress.

We’ve all been there. Done that. Bought the t-shirt.

It’s a part of life.

Kids get sick. Job lay-offs happen. Loved ones die. Mundane responsibilities of life get overwhelming. Life gets too busy for fun.

It’s during those times, which may be chronic, we usually reach for ways to somehow pamper ourselves.

Pamper (verb) – to treat with extreme or excessive care and attention (Merriam-Webster dictionary)

We rationalize, "Life’s been hard. I deserve a break. I deserve to be pampered. It's okay. Everyone will understand. No one will care if I dig into a huge bowl of ice-cream and hot fudge. I’ll skip exercise and do whatever I want. Forget health. When life gets easier, I’ll focus on it again.”

STOP!

WAKE-UP AND BUST THE LIES!

It’s in moments like these that “excessive care and attention” are required the most!

It’s in times of stress that excellent nutrition, exercise and rejuvenation are crucial to restore optimal health and well-being.

Excellent nutrition will nourish the cells with much needed micronutrients, minerals and phytochemicals.

Exercise will oxygenize and rejuvenate the mind and entire body.

An empty stomach will cleanse toxins and provide deep, restorative rest.

Let’s wake up to reality. Let’s make the choice to pamper our bodies with kindness during times of stress.

A body under stress deserves the best of care possible.

Let’s shine the light into the deep crevices of our thoughts and expose the lies that hold us captive.

Do we pamper our bodies with the best of care during times of stress?

The truth will set us free.