Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Vegan 2017


Thursday, November 09, 2017

Surprising New Study: Stents Don’t Work for Chest Pain

In a shock to cardiologists around the world, a new study reveals that one of the most common medical uses of stents—to relieve chest pain in stable heart patients—may not work. Every year, more than half a million people worldwide receive stents for this purpose.
A stent is a tiny mesh tube that doctors insert into narrowed or weakened arteries to prop them open. The procedure saves lives for people in the midst of a heart attack, but it’s also prescribed for stable heart patients with angina—the chest pain and tightness caused by limited blood flow to the heart. Even pain-free patients with arterial blockages sometimes get stents, and cost of the procedure starts at about $11,000 for people without insurance.
Patients often report relief from the procedure, but the new study, published last week in The Lancet, found no significant difference in pain relief among patients treated with stents compared to those treated with a placebo procedure.
In the randomized, controlled experiment involving 200 patients in the United Kingdom with severe narrowing of one artery, about half were treated with stents, and the other half underwent a placebo procedure. All were given drugs to reduce the risk of a heart attack and prevent blood clots. Neither the patients nor the researchers observing them during the six-week study knew who received stents and who did not.
After six weeks, all the patients reported relief in angina symptoms, and all showed an improvement on treadmill tests—regardless of whether or not they had received a stent.
“All cardiology guidelines should be revised,” wrote David L. Brown, MD, of the Washington University School of Medicine and Rita F. Redberg of the University of California, San Francisco, in an editorial in the same issue of The Lancet.
“Several randomized trials have clearly shown that stents and angioplasties don’t prolong life or prevent heart attacks in stable patients. Now, we know that they don’t reduce angina either,” wrote Dean Ornish, MD, clinical professor of medicine at the University of California of San Francisco, commenting on a New York Times report of the study.
“In contrast, comprehensive lifestyle changes cause a 91 percent reduction in angina in only a few weeks, reverse the progression of coronary artery blockages, and cause a 400 percent improvement in blood flow at a fraction of the costs, and the only side-effects are good ones,” added Ornish, who is also founder and president of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California.
sourced from https://www.forksoverknives.com/surprising-new-study-stents-dont-work-chest-pain/

Thursday, October 26, 2017

What Happens To Your Body When You Stop Eating Meat, Dairy & Eggs

The internet is abound with promises of what will happen when you try a plant-based diet. Of course, some rumors are more true than others, which is why knowing the actual science of what happens to your body when you stop eating meat, dairy, and eggs is so important. Having gone vegan myself two years ago now — and having experienced numerous health and emotional benefits as a result — I was wondering which changes have actually been backed up by science, mostly so that I can tell friends and family members giving a vegan diet a try what they might be able to expect.

I spoke with Dr. Michael Klaper, an internationally recognized authority on the links between diet and health, as well as Dr. Thomas M. Campbell, medical director of the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and clinical director of the University of Rochester Program for Nutrition in Medicine, to find out more. Of course, if you’re thinking about trying a vegan diet yourself, first consult a medical health professional.

They both told me the changes a person will notice in the first few weeks of a vegan diet can vary significantly, based on their medical conditions and genetic predispositions. “But in general, within a couple weeks of eating a healthy whole-food, plant-based diet, it would be typical that people may enjoy improved insulin sensitivity (their insulin works better)… and their cholesterol levels may decline,” Dr. Campbell tells Bustle. “Anecdotally, some people describe improved bowel movements, improved sleep, energy, and skin quality. All of that happens within days to a couple weeks.”

Your Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, And Risk Of Heart Disease Could Begin To Drop

Decades of scientific study have linked dietary cholesterol and saturated fat to cardiovascular disease. Saturated fat is present in all meat and fish, while a vegan diet is devoid of any cholesterol and is low in saturated fat — so it makes perfect sense that studies have consistently shown that when people switch to a plant-based diet, their cholesterol levels drop and their risk of heart disease goes down.

Dr. Klaper tells Bustle that within just a few weeks on a plant-based diet, “elevated cholesterol levels begin to decline, and blood vessel walls become healthier and more compliant as cruciferous vegetable intake increases nitric oxide in arterial walls, all of which reduces the risk for heart attacks and strokes.”

Your blood itself also begins to change quickly. “Without heavy saturated animal fats, blood is less viscous and thus easier to pump at lower pressures. As a result, elevated blood pressures classically begin to decline and efficiency of the heart pump often increases,” Dr. Klaper says.

If You Have Diabetes, You May Notice Changes In As Little As 24 Hours


It seems unbelievable, but “a person with uncontrolled diabetes, on insulin, can see demonstrable improvements in medication usage and efficacy in 24 hours,” Dr. Klaper tells Bustle.

The American Diabetes Association confirms that a vegan diet improves glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with Type-2 diabetes, even reversing the disease altogether in certain patients. According to a study published by the American Diabetes Association, people who eat high amounts of animal protein, on the other hand, are 22 percent more likely to develop diabetes. Type-2 diabetes runs in my family, so I’m happy to know my plant-based diet is helping prevent my developing it one day (even if I still can’t convince my uncle and dad to try it).

Your Risk Of Developing Several Different Cancers Could Begin To Go Down

Here’s what we know for sure: A vast array of studies from top universities and independent researchers have found that eating animal products promotes cancer in many forms. Large studies in England and Germany showed that vegetarians were about 40 percent less likely to develop cancer compared to meat-eaters, the most common forms being breast, prostate, and colon cancers. A 2014 Harvard study found that just one serving a day of red meat during adolescence was associated with a 22 percent higher risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer, and that the same consumption in adulthood was associated with a 13 percent higher risk of breast cancer overall.

In 2006, Harvard researchers published the results of a meta study that looked at 100,000 women aged 26-46. Those who had the highest intake of meat and dairy products also had the highest risk of breast cancer (an astonishing 33-36 percent more than those who consumed the least). For men, over 20 studies have established a strong link between prostate cancer and milk consumption. A more recent study published in the British Journal of Cancer, which followed 22,788 lactose intolerant participants from Sweden, showed that low consumption of milk and other dairy products is linked with decreased risks of lung, breast, and ovarian cancers. The World Health Organization declared processed meat a “carcinogen” which increases one’s risk of colon or rectum cancer by 18 percent.

There are a number of hypotheses that could explain why animal products increase your risk of so many cancers. First, meat is devoid of fiber and other nutrients that have a protective effect against cancer. Meat also contains animal protein, saturated fat, and, in some cases, carcinogenic compounds such as heterocyclic amines (HCA) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which are formed during the processing or cooking. Most meat and dairy also often contains artificial hormones — and always contains sex hormones naturally present in the animals, like estrogen, which also increase your cancer risk.

You May Reduce Inflammation And Alleviate Joint Pain, Psoriasis, Migraines, And Certain Digestive Disorders

Animal products are some of the most inflammatory foods for our bodies, and especially after a few months without them, people tend to start noticing certain results.

“With less pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid from animal fats, and more anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats from plants, inflammatory reactions throughout the body begin to subside. The “fire” leaves inflamed joints, while “angry” skin plaques of psoriasis begin to fade,” Dr. Klaper says. “Inflamed intestines of Crohn’s disease and colitis move toward healing, as do asthmatic lungs and heads that are prone to migraine headaches.”

Indeed, one study, which removed dairy from the diets of people suffering from either migraines or asthma, found that the majority of them reported their condition improving significantly.

Your PMS May Improve

A research study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology in February 2008 found that a low-fat vegan diet significantly reduced pain and PMS for many women, likely because of the reduced inflammation, improved hormonal balance, and decreased bloating we’ve been talking about.

This certainly happened to me. Don’t get me wrong, I still get PMS — but my cramps, bloating, and bleeding are all lighter.

You May Experience A “New-Vegan High”

Recently, a newly vegan friend shared with me that he experienced a sort of “stoned” feeling in his first week going plant-based. I remembered a slight emotional and physical high as well from when I transitioned, which I chalked up to generally living more in line with my values and feeling in better health. But I wanted to find out: Is there any medical basis for this feeling during the first few weeks of a vegan diet?

“We now know that the food we eat determines the microbes that live in our gut. These microorganisms are not innocent bystanders. Their metabolic byproducts get into our circulation and wash through our brain, altering our emotional states,” Dr. Klaper says. “The more beneficial bacteria in our gut likely spawned by a plant-based diet are key in creating a sunnier disposition in our minds.”

You Might Experience Some Digestive Irregularity At First…

One of the main perks of going on a plant-based diet many people report is an end to constipation, or at least far more regular digestion. That said, at first, that isn’t the case for everyone — as your digestive system adjusts to taking in more fiber, you might experience some increased irregularity and bloating.

“Occasionally, in the very beginning, if someone is greatly increasing their fiber consumption, they may be gassy, bloated, or have changes in their bowel movements that make them ‘too fast’ or ‘too slow,’” Dr. Campbell says. “Sometimes tweaking the amount of water consumed, certain fruits, or probiotics can help this situation, and it often is a temporary issue.”

If you’re consuming more fiber without also consuming more water, it can actually make constipation worse. So if you’re trying out a plant-based diet, be sure to up that water consumption along with all that new, beneficial fiber.

…But Then Your Digestion May Become Seriously Awesome

This, I have to say, is one of the biggest perks I never expected. I’m hardly ever constipated or bloated on a plant-based diet, unless it’s right before my period or I eat something really processed.

This is a common experience — many people on a healthy vegan diet experience more regular bowel movements because animal products like meat and dairy are especially constipating for our systems. In fact, three-quarters of us actually lack the enzyme to properly digest cow’s milk. An estimated 98 percent of Southeast Asians, 90 percent of Asian-Americans, 74 percent of Native-Americans, 70 percent of African-Americans, and the majority of Jewish, Latino, and Indian people all suffer from lactose intolerance. So even if you don’t think you’re lactose intolerant, if you’re part of one of these groups especially, you’re likely to notice a marked change in your digestion within weeks of cutting out dairy.

You can also expect other digestive benefits. “A high-fiber [plant-based] diet creates larger, easier-to-pass stools and better colon function, and thus, healing of hemorrhoids and diverticulosis. A change in the microbiome organisms to more Firmicutes-type, beneficial bacteria occurs within weeks. As a result, less inflammation is found in the colon wall and throughout the body,” Dr. Klaper says.

The Bottom Line

If all of these changes sound good to you but you’re not sure where to start, I’d suggest checking out this recent Bustle guide to moving toward a plant-based diet, or heading over to Choose Veg, which provides more information, meal plans, and free live chat support to people looking to transition towards a plant-based diet.

You can start off gradually and take it from there — or try it out for completely for a month to feel more noticeable results. Either way, your little health experiment will be helping animals and the planet, and that’s something you can feel great about no matter what.

From http://www.thedailyberries.com/happens-body-stop-eating-meat-dairy-eggs/

Monday, October 02, 2017

The Shocking Truth About Eggs: Top 7 Reasons To Stop Eating Them


Here's why you should stop consuming eggs for good. Period.

Eating chickens' periods is gross, unhealthy, and cruel. While it's unfathomable that some people still eat eggs, aka chicken menstruation, the current misconceptions about their nutrition facts and ethical aspects are increasingly worrying.

The average American (and Australian consumes about 247 eggs every year - and not only is this outrageously cruel, it can also have serious health repercussions.

It is still believed by the masses that eggs are healthy, and free-range is a thing.

Spoiler alert: it's not.

So have a look at why consuming eggs is gross, health-damaging, and cruel.

1. Millions of male chicks are ground up alive

Also known as chick culling, the egg industry kills newly-hatched male chicks for which the hatcheries have no use. They are considered redundant to the egg-laying industries because they don't lay eggs.

This is the case for all industrialized egg production in both the US and UK - regardless of whether it's free-range, organic, or battery cage.

The majority of culling methods don't involve anaesthetic, and include cervical dislocation, asphyxiation by carbon dioxide, and the American industry's favorite: maceration using a high speed grinder.

A spokesman for the British Egg Information Service said the practice of culling male chicks has been in place 'as long as the industry has been there'.

As many as 200 million male chicks are minced up alive annually just by US egg hatcheries.

2. One egg = five cigarettes?

Egg yolks are loaded with cholesterol - a known risk factor for coronary artery disease and heart attacks.

A medium-sized egg contains 186 mg of cholesterol, which is 62 percent of the recommended intake.

And it makes sense; a whole egg contains all the nutrients needed to turn a single cell into an entire baby chicken.

Experts suggest that consuming even one egg a day may exceed the safe upper limit for cholesterol intake - which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

In fact, a study published in the Journal of Atherosclerosis Research found that eating one egg per day is just as bad for your heart as smoking five cigarettes a day.


An egg contains all the nutrients needed for a baby chick to develop

3. Cruel

Female chicks survive being minced alive, but instead, they will have their beaks cut off (or burnt off) without anaesthesia or pain relief. This is done in an attempt to prevent the hens from injuring themselves or each other when living in such cramped conditions.

Chickens in battery cages live in such small areas that they are unable to spread their wings - ever.

Even in the best-case scenario, a hen spends her life crowded in a space about the size of a file drawer with several other hens, unable to lift a single wing.

Disease also runs rampant in the cramped sheds, given that the egg-laying hens are forced to urinate and defecate on each other.

After two years of living in these conditions, the birds have suffered from severe bone loss and tens of millions suffer new broken bones as they're ripped from their cages. The hens' bodies become exhausted, and they are shipped to slaughterhouses - where fragile legs are forced into shackles and their throats are cut.

"Consumers should be aware that this is what they are paying for when they buy eggs, regardless of whether they are from caged or free-range hens," said a spokesman for animal rights organization Animal Aid.

4. Cancer risk

Cholesterol consumption was found to be a strong predictor of liver cancer.

Compared with men who rarely eat eggs, men eating even less than one egg a day appear to have twice the risk of prostate cancer progression, according to plant-based physician Dr. Greger.

In addition, choline, a compound found in eggs, is converted into a toxin called trimethylamine by bacteria existing in meat-eaters' guts. The toxin was found to increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and premature death.

5. Intelligent animals

According to research, chickens outperform both dogs and cats on tests of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral complexity.

Dr. Jane Goodall explains: "Farm animals feel pleasure and sadness, excitement and resentment, depression, fear, and pain.

"They are far more aware and intelligent than we ever imagined... they are individuals in their own right."

Research from the University of Bristol also found that "Chickens do not just live in the present but can anticipate the future and demonstrate self-control... something previously attributed only to humans and other primates.''

6. Chicken menstruation

Many people are probably not aware that they are eating someone's period.

But think about it: female chickens have a menstrual cycle, during which a hen's ovary sends a yolk on its path.

As it moves though the reproductive tract and into the shell gland, the yolk forms into an 'egg white'.

The shell takes about 20 hours to form - and that's your breakfast right there.

7. Bacteria and pesticides

Salmonella bacteria in eggs can survive most cooking methods, including scrambled, omelettes, sunny-side-up, and boiled.

This particular bacteria is a leading cause of food poisoning-related hospitalizations, and the top cause of food poisoning-related death, says Dr. Greger.

For instance, more than half a billion eggs were recalled due to Salmonella outbreaks in 2010.

And in more recent news, 700,000 contaminated Dutch eggs were distributed to the UK this summer. The eggs contained the pesticide fipronil, which can harm people's kidneys, liver, and thyroid glands.

But why put yourself at risk?


You should know that 95 percent of U.S. eggs come from caged hens; and 20,000 hens in one barn still counts as 'free-range'.

You don't need eggs - grocery stores sell egg-free substitutes for eggs used in baking recipes. You can even make vegan scrambled eggs using this nifty product. Or just try tofu scramble.

So stop eating eggs. Period.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Dr Garth Davis explains (re What the Health documentary)

For the love of GOD, I am about to lose it. It is just getting so friggin ridiculous out there. I don't know why I don't just give up and treat the typical western diseases and stop trying to educate. The stupidity that is out there is just beyond me and not sure how I can show people the facts when they are so inundated with nonsense from biased and inexperienced pseudo experts!
Nina Teicholz is a journalist, and yet she has the friggin nerve to have a website called Diet Doctor. She has ZERO experience with scientific research and yet acts like she is the Queen and all actual nutritional scientists have no idea what they are talking about. She also is a frequent speaker for the different animal industries.
She made a post that the What The Health has no evidence. I happen to have a book with hundreds of studies backing every statement in the movie (except the thyroid cancer anecdotal cure). Just because she hasn't read the studies doesn't mean they don't exist!!
Lets look at her ridiculous conclusions!!!
1) No human population has ever lived on a vegan diet. She must have missed the Seventh Day Adventist vegans:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11434797
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3046303
http://jamanetwork.com/…/jamainternalme…/fullarticle/1710093
The Seventh Day Adventists have one of the longest life spans recorded on average and also have one of the largest populations of vegetarians and vegans, many life long.
Also, Huang et al did an excellent meta analysis of studies on vegetarians, albeit of various duration, which showed vegetarians had lower incidence of heart disease and cancer.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22677895
Now if you deep dive into Adventist Health Studies you will see that vegans tend to weigh less, have less cancer, and less heart disease than vegetarians. SO saying that there are no vegan populations is not entirely true, and the implication that because there are no vegan populations, it must be bad for you, is just plain false.
2) She claims that a vegan diet is nutritionally insufficient. She must have missed these studies that vegetarian diets tend to have the best nutrient profiles.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3967195/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21616194
And, while not looking at vegan diets, studies have shown that when comparing low carb vs high carb, more nutrients are found in high carb diet.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12074255
These facts have lead Kaiser to instruct their doctors to recommend plant based diets:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12074255, and has lead the ADA to say that a vegetarian diet can be nutritionally complete.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19562864
Now she draws attention to the only real deficiency which is B12. Now, she seems to miss the fact that even meat eaters have B12 deficiencies. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10648266
B12 comes from bacteria. Eat food from dirt and you should get B12 but these days that can be dangerous.
That being said, I don't see some wide spread vegan epidemic of B12 related diseases. Take a small supplement once a week. Easy
The MOST ridiculous claim she makes is that vegans are deficient of heme iron. I damn well hope so!!!!! Heme iron is toxic and can cause damage to vessels and pancreatic islet cells. A recent review found meat to be associated with all cause mortality and specifically found heme iron to be an independent risk factor.
http://www.bmj.com/content/357/bmj.j1957
In fact, high iron stores have been associated with diabetes
https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/…/10…/1741-7015-10-119
http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/198182, and many more
Heme iron is also directly associated with heart disease
There are many studies but this is a great review: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4033158/
3) A vegan diet causes HDL to drop and triglycerides to rise so therefore vegans should have more heart disease. BUT THEY DON'T. In fact they have less!!!!!!!
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22677895
HDL is a carrier protein and if you eat less fat and cholesterol you get less HDL with no untoward effect. In fact, the lowering of HDL, seen clearly with vegan diet, is the primary indicator of reduction in heart disease.http://www.bmj.com/content/338/bmj.b92,
http://heart.bmj.com/content/98/10/780
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22607825 I can go on and on with HDL
As far as the triglycerides, it is a transient rise after eating and as mentioned before, has no effect in heat disease in vegans, who continuously show lower heart disease rates.
4)Finally, she pulls the tired old, weak argument that there are vegetarians in India and they stick have western diseases. This population has been studied over and over. There are actually studies showing the vegetarians have LESS heart disease.
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article…
Very important to note that these "vegetarians" eat very unhealthy processed food diets. They have exceptionally high butter and saturated fat intake. HUGE. They also eat lots of sweets, and little actual vegetables. They are also very poor and get very little health care.
What a ridiculous group to use as an example.
In conclusion, Nina does not know the science behind a plant based diet. She has made a career pushing for fat and would do so regardless of what studies contradict her narrow world view. She is not an expert, she has never treated a single patient, and her arguments are intellectually and factually barren.

Sunday, July 16, 2017

7 Amazing 30-Minute Meals



forks over knives logo
Try these tasty family-friendly meals you can make in 30 minutes or less. 
Burrito Bowl
Burrito Bowl
This dish comes together quickly when you use leftover grains and whatever beans you have on hand. Top with avocado, tomato, and fresh herbs.
View the Recipe
Chickpea Avocado Salad
Chickpea Avocado Salad
Garlic, lime, avocado, and cilantro combine beautifully with the nutty flavor of the chickpeas. Serve over greens. 
View the Recipe
Easy Thai Noodles
Thai Noodles
An exotic Thai noodle dish made from mixed vegetables, lime, scallions, peanuts, and crunchy mung bean sprouts.
View the Recipe
"No-Tuna" Salad Sandwich
"No-Tuna" Salad Sandwich
Serve this tangy chickpea salad between two slices of your favorite bread for a quick and yummy meal.
View the Recipe
Mediterranean Vegetable Spaghetti
Mediterranean Vegetable Spaghetti
For this simple but sophisticated dish, cook the tomatoes, red pepper, and herbs first, before adding the fresh veggies and pasta. 
View the Recipe
Garlic Hash Browns with Kale
Garlic Hash Browns with Kale
These crispy, no-fat hash browns are great any time of the day. The crushed garlic adds an enticing depth of flavor.
View the Recipe
Orange Black Bean Taquitos
Orange Black Bean Taquitos
The whole family will enjoy these zesty, orange taquitos. They're good for entertaining too!
View the Recipe

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Who is Dr Caldwell Esselstyn?

Dr Caldwell Esselstyn is a force of nature. At 82, he still directs the cardiovascular prevention and reversal program at The Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute, and travels around the US regularly (hopefully he’ll come to Australia one day!), spreading his message that coronary artery disease is a reversible condition, even when it’s so advanced that mainstream cardiologists have given up on you and sent you home to die.
I’ve covered the key elements of Dr Esselstyn’s heart disease reversal program in my 2014 International PBNHC Round-up video and discussed some of the myths about heart disease that Essy busts in a previous post.
In brief, he teaches his patients to eat a wholefood, plant-based (i.e. vegan) diet with no added oil; no nuts or seeds except a tablespoon of ground flax/linseed each day; no avocado; and no added salt; and with the addition of green leafy vegetables at every meal and snack. You can find all the details in his book Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, and his wife Ann and daughter Jane have authored several recipe books that teach you how to make this way of eating enjoyable.
But what I really want to discuss in this post is why more people don’t know about his work, and the implications of that ignorance.
Let’s start with a little background. Caldwell Esselstyn has worked at the Cleveland Clinic, one of the most well-known academic hospitals in the US, since 1968. His surgical training was conducted there; he chaired the Clinic’s Breast Cancer Task Force and headed its Section of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery; he has served as President of the Staff and as a member of the Board of Governors. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Cleveland Clinic Alumni Association in 2009.
He has also served as President of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, was cited in The Best Doctors in America 1994-1995 for his surgical expertise in the categories of endocrine and breast disease, and is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. On top of all that, he is the author or co-author of over 150 publications in peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals.
I’m telling you all of this to make it clear that Dr Esselstyn is not some underqualified nut-job pushing a half-baked theory of his own creation that has never been tested. (There are plenty of contrasts to him in the ‘alternative medicine’ sphere, such as Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride, who makes outrageous claims for her GAPS diet based on either no science at all, or badly outdated science that has since been disproven, and who has never published a single paper in the medical literature to document her approach).
No, Essy is the real deal – a highly-qualified and well-respected doctor with an impeccable academic pedigree. So why is that the vast majority of people who undertake his program find out about him through friends, relatives or internet searches, rather than being referred to him by their doctors, including cardiologists who work at the Cleveland Clinic and have known of him, and his work, for decades?
Well, as I discovered recently, it turns out that the Cleveland Clinic actually has a policy that no doctors employed by it are permitted to refer patients to Esselstyn’s cardiovascular prevention and reversal program, even though it operates inside the Cleveland Clinic! Ummmm, whaaaat?
It’s simple, really. The average cost for heart bypass surgery in US hospitals is US$117 000, and being a top teaching hospital, the Cleveland Clinic probably charges more than that. The failure rate for this procedure is high (see my article What Bill Clinton’s cardiologist didn’t know (and why you need to know it), so a significant proportion of people will end up back under the surgeon’s knife, or undergoing other invasive procedures. Even if they don’t, they’ll have to come back for regular check-ups and to get their prescriptions updated, ensuring that they become cash cows for the hospital.
In contrast, Essy charges next to nothing to participate in his program, has detailed the entire program in a book that you can buy online for around A$20, and explains how the program works in numerous videos that you can watch for free on Youtube. People who stick strictly to the program are virtually heart-attack-proof, as he has documented in the long-term follow-up studies that he has published, so they have no need to come back to the Cleveland Clinic, or to Essy personally, for any more treatment.
Follow the money, folks. Treating people with surgery, stenting and medication keeps them sick patients for the rest of their lives, which is highly lucrative; while teaching them how to take charge of their health gets them off the medical merry-go-round, saving loads of taxpayers dollars as well as their out-of-pocket costs.
from empowertotalhealth.com.au

Monday, May 22, 2017

Mainstream media don't want us to know

The documentary ‘What the Health’ exposed how big pharma and food industry groups corrupt public health bodies with their generous donations. There was even a scene in which a hospital administrator was up front in making the point that the hospital derived its income from medical procedures not by giving health advice that might avoid the need for procedures. The donations and financial support from these industry groups is often indirect and very difficult to trace. While donations from meat, dairy, egg and pharmaceutical industries have a powerful influence, there are other reasons why your doctor does not recommend a whole foods plant-based diet for heart disease and your heart charity still recommends eggs as a heart healthy food.
Health professionals and health organisation leaders are real people with personal and cultural food habits and they do not want to hear bad news about these habits as this would damage their esteem and require difficult lifestyle changes. When we tried to introduce Cowspiracy concepts to a local environmental group we hit a wall that stopped them going beyond meat and dairy “in moderation”. A cancer organisation spokesperson responded to the 2015 WHO ‘processed meat is a class 1 carcinogen’ report by publicly stating that he would continue to eat bacon. Health organisations and their experts, like the rest of us, are inclined to save face. After years of arguing that eggs are heart healthy after all, it would be difficult for a heart charity to do an about face and tell us that eggs promote heart disease.
The main reason why more Australian health professionals are not prescribing plant-based diets is that they just don’t know. We wish that more would just find the NutritionFacts website or visit the PlantricianProject. However, in our current paradigm of lean protein and good fats, most would be incredulous of this information. Medical education articles now have even less emphasis on nutrition than they did 20 years ago and the medical media frequently ignores or distorts research that suggests that plant-based eating is optimal. For example, a couple of years ago they missed the discovery of a major new cardiac risk factor – TMAO (you can learn about it at NutritionFacts). It often seems that the experts who provide the medical education don’t know either, and are unaware of ground breaking research published in peer reviewed journals – reversing heart disease, stopping prostate cancer growth, and favourable modifying the gut microbiome in 3 days with a plant-based diet.
The stunning findings of the BROAD study - a randomised controlled trial in a community setting, where participants lost 11.5kg in 6 months (and kept it off at 12 months) with a low fat whole food plant-based diet and no portion control or exercise program - have not been reported in any Australian medical media since it was published in a peer reviewed journal two months ago, despite being a local (New Zealand) study. While this freshly published study was being ignored, there were editorials in the medical media suggesting that no diet is any better for weight loss, an industry-friendly view that has become more pervasive in mainstream nutrition.
If our health professionals understood the power of whole foods, plant-based nutrition and had tried it themselves, then no amount of industry funding would stop them from recommending it to their patients.