In the United States, data has consistently shown that individuals with a college education tend to live longer than those with only a high school education. A report from the National Center for Health Statistics found that in 2017, men with a college degree lived an average of 8.6 years longer than those with just a high school diploma, while college-educated women lived 4.2 years longer than their less-educated counterparts. The factors contributing to this disparity are multifaceted, with diet, lifestyle, healthcare access, and socioeconomic factors playing key roles. This post will cover some of the reasons why the disparity exists and what to do about them.
Read MoreThe Carnivore Diet has gained attention for its ability to significantly improve health and well-being. While much of the focus is on eliminating natural pesticides found in plant-based foods, an often overlooked but crucial factor contributing to these benefits is the complete removal of vegetable oils from the diet. Vegetable oils, which are high in linoleic acid, have been increasingly linked to the rise in chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The Carnivore Diet may unintentionally offer a "happy accident" by excluding these harmful oils, as pointed out by Dr. Chris Knobbe, author of The Ancestral Diet Revolution. This post will explore how the Carnivore Diet and the removal of vegetable oils can lead to better health outcomes.
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 MoreI recently heard an interview with Calley and Casey Means that really resonated with me regarding my concerns about the state of health in America. Their message struck a chord with me, and I believe it's crucial for everyone to hear. Casey Means, a physician who left a thriving career in traditional medicine, and her brother Calley, a whistleblower advocating against the corruption in the food and pharmaceutical industries, have joined forces to address what they see as the root cause of America’s health crisis: our toxic food environment.
Casey and Calley have a compelling story. Casey was frustrated with the medical profession's approach to treating illness, as she found herself constantly treating symptoms rather than addressing the underlying causes of her patients' ailments. Calley, on the other hand, was disturbed by the overwhelming influence of big food and big pharma on both doctors and patients. Together, they concluded that our poor health is due to the modern processed foods dominating our diets, and the reason we remain sick is because the pharmaceutical and medical industries benefit from this steady stream of unhealthy patients. This post will discuss their concerns and recommend the solutions.
Read MoreRecently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made a significant announcement that he was suspending his campaign and endorsed Donald Trump, a decision driven by his deep concern for Americans' health and well-being. His focus, which mirrors mine, was on the urgent need to address the toxic food environment contributing to a health crisis in the United States. His speech, a powerful call to action, brought to light several critical issues, echoing the sentiments of those advocating for a healthier, more sustainable food system. The impact of his message is significant and cannot be ignored.
Kennedy, known for his outspoken criticism of big pharma and big food, pointed out the pervasive influence these industries have over our health agencies. His frustration with how these industries dictate health policies and dietary guidelines resonated with many who are aware of the deep-rooted corruption within these sectors. The concern is that the pharmaceutical and medical industries are more interested in maintaining a steady stream of unhealthy patients rather than addressing the root causes of chronic diseases. This post will cover some of his concerns and discuss the possible solutions.
Read MoreIn today’s post, I will discuss how the mouth plays a significant role in the production of nitric oxide (NO) through a process called the enterosalivary cycle of nitrate. This process involves friendly nitrate-reducing bacteria in the oral cavity, predominantly on the tongue, which reduce dietary nitrate (NO3) from vegetables, meat, and drinking water to nitrite (NO2). The nitrite is then further reduced to NO, which helps regulate systemic blood pressure. This pathway highlights how important oral health is to cardiovascular health. But can mouthwash damage this process?
Read MoreYou may have heard of oxalate because it is infamously implicated in kidney stone formation. Oxalate is damaging in higher concentrations, cannot be metabolized, and needs to be excreted. Given their direct role in oxalate excretion, the kidneys often sustain the most severe damage in states of oxalate excess, but other tissues can suffer as well. This post will cover oxalate, what foods contain it, the problems it can cause, and what to do about reducing oxalate if you are experiencing a problem.
Read MoreCognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a person holds two contradictory beliefs at the same time. The psychologist Leon Festinger came up with the concept in 1957. Festinger believed that all people are motivated to avoid or resolve cognitive dissonance due to the discomfort it causes, and it can prompt people to adopt certain defense mechanisms when they have to confront it—namely, avoidance, delegitimizing, and limiting the impact. The last thing people seem to want to do is confront the conflicting ideas and change their beliefs. Sadly, scientists are not immune to this phenomenon. Today I am going to present some recent studies that are generating cognitive dissonance even though they do a better job of explaining phenomena related to cholesterol levels than the traditional theories.
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 MoreMy father is almost 94. When he was in his early 50s, he had a massive heart attack and has had heart problems since that time, including heart failure. Sadly, he followed all of the advice to avoid heart attacks but still had a few. I will explain some of the reasons in this post.
Read MoreThe major precursor of vitamin D is cholesterol. Without cholesterol, we cannot make it. Some people may find this shocking because vitamin D is highly praised, while cholesterol is demonized. Since vitamin D and cholesterol are so closely related, they have an interesting interplay. Statin drugs, which lower cholesterol, also take part in the interplay. The enzyme statins block is active at step two, so we would expect less production of all molecules in the cholesterol pathway, like CoQ10. Statins should block vitamin D production, but they don’t. Statins are supposed to lower your risk of heart disease. But by how much? You may be surprised by the answer. This post will cover the synthesis of cholesterol, vitamin D, and Co Q10 and discuss how statins alter the pathways.
Read MorePoor sleep is often caused by poor breathing, which, in turn, is often caused by poor jaw development. In 2016, the American Heart Association released a "scientific statement" on the connection between poor sleep and heart disease; you can find it here. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine states that severe sleep apnea doubles one's chance of dying from heart disease. I have spoken at length about the connection between facial development and obstructive sleep apnea before. In my post today, I am going to focus on the pressure changes to the body that sleep apnea causes and their consequences.
Read MoreI have been on the carnivore diet for almost three years. From the start, raw eggs have been a big part of my diet. My go-to recipe is one dozen yolks mixed with bone broth. It fits in a tall glass that I drink down each morning. Another way I consume my raw egg yolks is to mix them with water and honey. If this sounds strange, this post will clarify why I consider it an important part of my diet.
Read MoreToday I want to talk about the connection between gum disease and heart disease. I am going to talk about one specific recent study, and I am going to get more scientific than usual, so forgive me, but the information is too good to ignore.
Read MoreA large segment of my patient population believe that swollen gums happen normally about every six months due to plaque build-up. They come for their cleaning, the plaque is removed, and they are good to go for the next six months. There is nothing normal about having swollen gums. Unfortunately, it is so common, most people just accept it as a normal occurrence. It can be an indication of potential dietary issues.
Read MoreThe health benefits of chocolate are numerous. It is critical that you choose high quality dark chocolate low in sugar to avoid sabotaging your health.
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