Archives for April 2015

Fat Facts from the 2015 Nutrition Report

The media’s analysis of the USDA’s recent 2015 Nutrition Report is all over the map. One in particular, from a trusted news source was particularly off-base. This misleading headline stated that “No Evidence to Support the Low-fat Message.” This couldn’t be farther from the facts presented in the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) report. The […]

Q&A: Can I add egg yolks back into my diet based on the 2015 Nutrition Report?

Ultimately, the food we eat is what raises our blood cholesterol. Saturated fat and trans fat raise our “lethal” LDL cholesterol. Most foods that are high in dietary cholesterol are also high in saturated fat. If you read the U.S. Health Department’s Nutrition Report recently released by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) and compare […]

2015 Nutrition Report Runaround

Every five years the U.S. Department of Health reviews and updates the government’s dietary guidelines to help Americans live healthfully and prevent disease. This starts with a report from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) evaluating current medical research. This recent report (Feb 2015) created a firestorm of headlines that unfortunately seemed to miss the […]

Why I Care…

Why am I so concerned about lowering your cholesterol and preventing blockage or further blockage in your arteries? Because once its there, it is most likely there for good. The vast majority of studies show that there can be no significant reduction of arterial blockage once it has developed. However, it can be stopped in […]

Aspirin Alert: Know the Facts

The worst trick you can play on yourself is to believe you are doing something significant to protect your health, when in reality it has a minimal effect. The basic problem with so many “I heard that…is good for you” rumors and self-imposed implementation is that you are giving yourself a false sense of security. […]

Q&A: Are avocados good snacks, since they are vegetables?

Answer: Actually, avocados are technically fruits, although it’s easy to think of them as vegetables because of their green color. And of course, we’ve been encouraged since childhood and in Prescription for Life to eat our greens. Some people have mistaken avocados as nuts as well, since they are fatty in texture and can be […]

Two Myths about Your Health

Did you know doctors write over 255 million prescriptions for cholesterol-lowering drugs each year?  They are written for one purpose – to help lower LDL cholesterol. This group represents the most-widely prescribed group of drugs in America. Sadly, many physicians prescribe drugs to treat patients for a problem, but they don’t emphasize what the patient […]

“Am I going to die?”

Although most of them were unable or too frightened to speak, the panicked look on their faces spoke as clearly as if they had shouted. “Am I going to die?” So many times, I have stood by the beds of patients who had been admitted to the hospital following a heart attack or a massive […]

Q&A: Don’t I need to eat a lot of meat to get the protein I need?

Question: You suggest cutting out many meats and saturated fats? But, don’t we need a lot of protein to build muscles, and fats to balance blood sugar spikes and feel full and satisfied? Answer:  Good question. Our bodies do need protein and some fats. Protein and certain fats are essential nutrients for the body, used in […]