In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the impact that different types of fats and oils have on our health. While vegetable oils made from seeds, such as soybean, corn, and sunflower oils, have been staples in many households, evidence suggests that oils like olive, avocado, and coconut are far healthier options. As you may have read numerous times on this site, I stress diets of whole-foods, devoid of processed carbohydrates and seed oils that contain animal-based foods with their fats. But what are the plant-based alternatives to seed oils? This blog post will explore why these oils are superior, delving into their health benefits, the processes behind their production, and the issues with the high omega-6 content in seed oils.
Read MoreOn average, people spend about 60 to 90 minutes each day eating, which translates to approximately 15 to 30 minutes with food in their mouths. While this might seem like a small portion of the day, the impact of the food we consume on our oral health can be significant. But what happens once we swallow our food? The consequences extend far beyond the mouth, affecting our entire body in ways that are often devastating. I will explore the profound effects of diet on both oral and overall health and highlight the importance of a whole-food diet devoid of processed carbohydrates and vegetable oils.
Read MoreFor many years, the prevailing wisdom has been that vegetarian and vegan diets offer superior health benefits compared to diets that include animal products. This perspective is usually coupled with unfounded concerns over the health impacts of consuming meat, eggs, and animal fats and legitimate ethical considerations about animal welfare. When I inform people that I am on the carnivore diet and choose not to eat many fruits, nuts, and vegetables, the question I get asked most often is, " How do you get all of your nutrients, then?" The reality is that question should be posed to those who choose vegan and vegetarian diets because, as we will see, plant-based foods don't contain all of our required nutrients. However, animal-based diets do. This post will cover the misguided belief that plants provide complete nutrition and cover which nutrients are the most likely to be missing or deficient.
Read MoreHuman breast milk is a complex and dynamic fluid that plays a pivotal role in infant development, providing essential nutrients, immune factors, and a variety of bioactive compounds. Fatty acids are one of the crucial components of breast milk which contribute significantly to the overall health and well-being of the newborn. In recent years, scientific exploration has delved into the intricacies of these fatty acids, uncovering their diverse roles and potential therapeutic applications, including the unexpected benefits of trans-fats and Trans-vaccenic Acid in the fight against cancer.
Read MoreThere are specific nutrients required to make melanin. Lacking them could lead to difficulty tanning. I had a period in my life when I lost the ability to tan, that I attributed to a poor diet. Once I added the nutrients I needed, I could tan again. This post covers the key ingredients needed to produce melanin, the pigment that causes us to look darker.
Read MoreHealth experts and doctors have long touted the benefits of grains, with rice being a particularly healthy option. They also caution against consuming too much fat, particularly saturated fat. In recent years, low-carb-high-fat diets like keto have gained popularity because they reverse high blood sugar and blood pressure and improve BMI. This has led many to question the traditional belief in high-grain, low-fat diets. According to the PURE study, there is a connection between the amount of fat and carbohydrates consumed, cardiovascular risk, and mortality. The results will surprise you.
Read MoreColostrum is something that many people are totally or partially unaware of. If you have heard of it, it may have only been because you or someone you know had a child and had to deal with lactation. Colostrum is the first yellowish fluid produced after childbirth. It is pure for about the first four days of lactation, and then it is slowly replaced by milk over several weeks. The early milk that still contains some colostrum is called transitional milk. All lactating mammals produce colostrum. Research has proven that pure colostrum promotes growth and health in all newborn mammals, including humans.
Bovine (from cows) colostrum is consumed by some traditional cultures and is becoming more popular as a supplement for its supposed health benefits. This post will cover what it is, what it does for newborn babies, and its use for adults.
Read MoreSarcopenia is a condition that starts in our forties characterized by loss of muscle, strength, and stamina. Unfortunately, 10% of the population over the age of 60 have it. It starts slowly, and the rate of muscle loss can reach 15% per year in later years. It typically progresses until 50% of muscle mass is gone by our eighth decade. Since muscles account for 60% of our total mass, this condition can result in serious weakness and other health issues. Although the effects may be noticeable early, they can lead to increased hospitalizations and nursing home care, and early death with older age groups. The good news is that it can be avoided with proper lifestyles. Read on for more information.
Read MoreI recently took care of a patient who developed two cavities. He was shocked because he was convinced his diet was healthy. I was not convinced that his diet was totally healthy, and I was not shocked.The simple fact is that getting cavities (also known as caries) is very easy in western society. After a bit of an investigation, I found some processed foods in his diet. I don’t think he knew that they were highly processed. I want to draw attention to the stealthy nature of how processed foods can enter the diet, and if enough of them make it in, tooth decay and other problems can arise. Hopefully, after reading this post you will be able to identify them more easily and avoid potential health risks.
Read MoreAlthough there are several ways our diets have diverged from our ancient ancestors, today, I want to especially touch upon the two primary ingredients in our food supply, causing untold havoc on our health and well-being.
Read MoreTraditionally, humans have always eaten fats and oils that were predominantly saturated and animal-based. New industrial seed oils have replaced the traditional fats like butter, tallow, and lard. These oils contain large amounts of omega-6 oils which are problematic for our health. We utilize fats for a variety of uses including building blocks for cell membranes, and energy storage. This high omega-6 substitution has had a dramatic effect on our health which I will discuss in today’s post.
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