So I've been hearing a lot about this new study , a meta-analysis by Stanford researchers concluding that organic foods are not really healthier than non-organic ones. Basically, they analyzed nutrient contents from the two and found that they were similar. And from that, they conclude that there's no difference and that's what the media is running with. Headlines everywhere are saying how organic foods aren't more nutritious and that it's all a scam.
I've never told patients that organic foods are more nutritious because frankly, all are grown from the same soil. But I think people are missing a point here.
The researchers did find that there were less pesticides in organic foods and that organic meats produce less antibiotic resistant bacteria. Both of these ARE good things people! I'm not saying that everyone should only eat organic because that could get expensive, but it just baffles me how people interpret studies, even the researchers themselves.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Alkaline Diets - A quick summary
Alkaline diets seem to be all the rage these days in the U.S. The concept is pretty simple and as old as time. Pretty much, eat lots of veggies and fruits which are alkaline. Decrease consumption of large amounts of meats and processed foods which are acidic.
Some patients have asked about alkalinizing waters machines and such and I always give the same answer: There are no short cuts, you need to eat a healthy diet! I have no idea what long term consumption of alkaline water will do, but I do know that there are only positives to eating fruits and veggies.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Some patients have asked about alkalinizing waters machines and such and I always give the same answer: There are no short cuts, you need to eat a healthy diet! I have no idea what long term consumption of alkaline water will do, but I do know that there are only positives to eating fruits and veggies.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Food Allergy, Food Sensitivity or Food Intolerance Testing
UPDATE (Feb 1, 2012):
Here's another article from the Toronto Star about this issue. For people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD - ulcerative colitis or crohn's disease) or even irritable bowel disease (IBS), this test may be useful. IBS can cover the gamut from people who have lots of gas and bloating to people with constipation or diarrhea or even pain in the gastrointestinal tract.
Click on our website link below for more information.
Previous Article:
Some of my patients are already aware and have done laboratory tests for food allergies or for food intolerance/sensitivity. Sometimes, there have been dramatic results in health and well being because of the tests.
This type of testing is not well known and is not covered by OHIP, but it would seem that even doctors at Sunnybrook Hospital are beginning to see value in such tests. A patient of mine showed me an article from the newspaper 24 Hours, which I will attach to this post for all to read.
IgG and IgE food testing has been around for quite some time, but not all patients need to get this test. As discussed in this article, there are other less expensive ways to do so which some patients opt for. However, you should check with your insurance to see if you are covered for this laboratory test. If you're lucky, you will be and the test can be done for a much lower price than that quoted in the article depending on which laboratory provider is being used.
There are many lab tests that can be done to find possible problems or to track if treatments are working. Did you know that there are even urine tests to see if your osteoporosis treatments are working? This can be done sooner than waiting for a bone density scan, although bone density scans are considered the gold standard in medicine today.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Here's another article from the Toronto Star about this issue. For people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD - ulcerative colitis or crohn's disease) or even irritable bowel disease (IBS), this test may be useful. IBS can cover the gamut from people who have lots of gas and bloating to people with constipation or diarrhea or even pain in the gastrointestinal tract.
Click on our website link below for more information.
Previous Article:
Some of my patients are already aware and have done laboratory tests for food allergies or for food intolerance/sensitivity. Sometimes, there have been dramatic results in health and well being because of the tests.
This type of testing is not well known and is not covered by OHIP, but it would seem that even doctors at Sunnybrook Hospital are beginning to see value in such tests. A patient of mine showed me an article from the newspaper 24 Hours, which I will attach to this post for all to read.
IgG and IgE food testing has been around for quite some time, but not all patients need to get this test. As discussed in this article, there are other less expensive ways to do so which some patients opt for. However, you should check with your insurance to see if you are covered for this laboratory test. If you're lucky, you will be and the test can be done for a much lower price than that quoted in the article depending on which laboratory provider is being used.
There are many lab tests that can be done to find possible problems or to track if treatments are working. Did you know that there are even urine tests to see if your osteoporosis treatments are working? This can be done sooner than waiting for a bone density scan, although bone density scans are considered the gold standard in medicine today.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Food Intolerance / Allergies & Laboratory Testing
Some of my patients are already aware and have done laboratory tests for food allergies or for food intolerance/sensitivity. Sometimes, there have been dramatic results in health and well being because of the tests.
This type of testing is not well known and is not covered by OHIP, but it would seem that even doctors at Sunnybrook Hospital are beginning to see value in such tests. A patient of mine showed me an article from the newspaper 24 Hours, which I will attach to this post for all to read.
IgG and IgE food testing has been around for quite some time, but not all patients need to get this test. As discussed in this article, there are other less expensive ways to do so which some patients opt for. However, you should check with your insurance to see if you are covered for this laboratory test. If you're lucky, you will be and the test can be done for a much lower price than that quoted in the article depending on which laboratory provider is being used.
There are many lab tests that can be done to find possible problems or to track if treatments are working. Did you know that there are even urine tests to see if your osteoporosis treatments are working? This can be done sooner than waiting for a bone density scan, although bone density scans are considered the gold standard in medicine today.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
This type of testing is not well known and is not covered by OHIP, but it would seem that even doctors at Sunnybrook Hospital are beginning to see value in such tests. A patient of mine showed me an article from the newspaper 24 Hours, which I will attach to this post for all to read.
IgG and IgE food testing has been around for quite some time, but not all patients need to get this test. As discussed in this article, there are other less expensive ways to do so which some patients opt for. However, you should check with your insurance to see if you are covered for this laboratory test. If you're lucky, you will be and the test can be done for a much lower price than that quoted in the article depending on which laboratory provider is being used.
There are many lab tests that can be done to find possible problems or to track if treatments are working. Did you know that there are even urine tests to see if your osteoporosis treatments are working? This can be done sooner than waiting for a bone density scan, although bone density scans are considered the gold standard in medicine today.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Portion Sizes - They have gotten bigger along with our waist lines
In a report released this month in the Lancet, researchers from Columbia University state that half of U.S. adults will be "obese" by 2030 - that means 164 million Americans, a staggering statistic. Medically, being obese (BMI 30-35) is a different term than being overweight (BMI 25-29.9)
I've also noticed a couple of trends as we've gotten bigger. Some clothes sizes have become misleading. Retailers and manufacturers know that the public are more averse to buying bigger sizes so they have actually shrunk the sizes on the labels while increasing the waist and hip sizes. Don't believe me? If you have a really old pair of jeans, try them on for size and try one with the same size today to compare.
Another trend is the hyper portion food sizes that have become the norm. It seems like we all love a good deal so the more the merrier. Take a look at this article showing a pictorial representation of the changes in portion sizes from 20 years ago. I would like to add to that list a can of pop from my youth (with something like 250mL) vs today's can with (330 mL).
By the way, the researchers also note that a mere 1% reduction in BMI would prevent 2.4 million cases of diabetes and 1.7 million cases of heart disease and stroke. I would like to add that a mere 15 minutes of exercise (done regularly) has been shown to significantly improve one's health. What are you waiting for? If you've fallen off a good lifestyle regiment, then it's time to begin again. And I'm talking to my patients specifically. I know, I'm a nag.......but it's because I care!
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
I've also noticed a couple of trends as we've gotten bigger. Some clothes sizes have become misleading. Retailers and manufacturers know that the public are more averse to buying bigger sizes so they have actually shrunk the sizes on the labels while increasing the waist and hip sizes. Don't believe me? If you have a really old pair of jeans, try them on for size and try one with the same size today to compare.
Another trend is the hyper portion food sizes that have become the norm. It seems like we all love a good deal so the more the merrier. Take a look at this article showing a pictorial representation of the changes in portion sizes from 20 years ago. I would like to add to that list a can of pop from my youth (with something like 250mL) vs today's can with (330 mL).
By the way, the researchers also note that a mere 1% reduction in BMI would prevent 2.4 million cases of diabetes and 1.7 million cases of heart disease and stroke. I would like to add that a mere 15 minutes of exercise (done regularly) has been shown to significantly improve one's health. What are you waiting for? If you've fallen off a good lifestyle regiment, then it's time to begin again. And I'm talking to my patients specifically. I know, I'm a nag.......but it's because I care!
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Who is looking at the BIG picture?
Some of my patients have a number of conditions that are being managed separately by different specialists. My question is, who is looking at the BIG picture? The respirologist is prescribing his meds, the rheumatologist her meds, the GP has her meds and now the kidney specialist wants my patient to take more meds for her new kidney problem.
Is this the best course of action to take? How are all these medications interacting? Is it possible that long term use of this chemical cocktail is what's causing harm to the kidneys in the first place? Hopefully, someone's listening to my concerns.
A friendly rant from your local naturopathic doctor,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Is this the best course of action to take? How are all these medications interacting? Is it possible that long term use of this chemical cocktail is what's causing harm to the kidneys in the first place? Hopefully, someone's listening to my concerns.
A friendly rant from your local naturopathic doctor,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Insomnia - Something that may help
There are a number of reasons why you might have trouble falling asleep at night. A common one involves late night computer use. That's because the blue light from your computer screens trick your brain into thinking that it's day time. It's one of the reasons why I often advise patients with insomnia to cut out the use of laptops, ipads and even smartphone use late at night.
Another option for those that just "have" to use their gadgets is to use a program that can "dim" the light on your screen. There are different ones out there, but here's a link to a free one that you can try out: F. Lux
Let me know if it works for you!
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Another option for those that just "have" to use their gadgets is to use a program that can "dim" the light on your screen. There are different ones out there, but here's a link to a free one that you can try out: F. Lux
Let me know if it works for you!
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Further Evidence showing that certain Antidepressant Medications Increase Risks of Birth Defects
Obstet Gynecol. 2011;118:111-120.
This is the latest study showing that Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) increase the risk of heart defects in newborns. The first report to raise a red flag was published in the New England Journal of Medicine back in 1996 (Chambers et al. N Engl J Med. 1996;335:1010-1015).
Women who use SSRIs, particularly fluoxetine and paroxetine for depression while pregnant showed a 2-fold and 4-fold increased risk to ventricular heart defects in the newborns.
So far, these two specific SSRIs have been implicated and other SSRIs seem to be ok in the statistical analysis. There was also a statistically significant association between citalopram (a SSRI) and neural tube defects.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders have been observed to be nearly 10 times more common in SSRI-exposed offspring than in unexposed offspring. Therefore, expecting moms on SSRIs need to be especially cautious with alcohol use in pregnancy.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
This is the latest study showing that Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) increase the risk of heart defects in newborns. The first report to raise a red flag was published in the New England Journal of Medicine back in 1996 (Chambers et al. N Engl J Med. 1996;335:1010-1015).
Women who use SSRIs, particularly fluoxetine and paroxetine for depression while pregnant showed a 2-fold and 4-fold increased risk to ventricular heart defects in the newborns.
So far, these two specific SSRIs have been implicated and other SSRIs seem to be ok in the statistical analysis. There was also a statistically significant association between citalopram (a SSRI) and neural tube defects.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders have been observed to be nearly 10 times more common in SSRI-exposed offspring than in unexposed offspring. Therefore, expecting moms on SSRIs need to be especially cautious with alcohol use in pregnancy.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Do you know anyone on high dose Statin medications with high blood sugar? You'll want to read further.
Researchers from the University of Glasgow report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA 2011; 305:2556-2564) that people on high doses of statin medications increases the risk of diabetes by 12%. Statin drugs are often prescribed for those who have high cholesterol and are thus at an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
This new report follows another study published last year in the Lancet, another well regarded science journal.
(Sattar N, Preiss D, Murray HM, et al. Statins and risk of incident diabetes: a collaborative meta-analysis of randomized statins trials. Lancet 2010; 375:735-742)
Researchers conclude that it is prudent to monitor ones' blood glucose levels if you are on statin therapy. It should be noted that the authors still believe that benefits of statin therapy (ie. prevention of cardiovascular events) outweighs the cons (ie. diabetes). This is a bit of a contradiction because having diabetes puts one in the high risk category of getting a cardiovascular event.
Hopefully some of you have seen your cholesterol numbers from your blood work and may have noticed a chart/guideline like the one below. This chart uses American numbers, but for the purpose of this explanation, it doesn't matter. The way we are taught to treat patients for high cholesterol is to first assess which category of risk a patients fall in. For example, if you smoke, have a history of cardiovascular events or have diabetes, you are automatically classified as a "high risk individual". So then you are put on statins to decrease your risks if you do not meet the cholesterol target guidelines which are also shown on the chart.
So here's what I see as the big picture:
High risk individuals => Drug therapy (statins) => Some people are at increased risk of developing diabetes => Diabetes increases ones risk of having cardiovascular problems => May need another drug to treat the high blood sugar (?)
So what should you be doing if you're on statins?
1. Monitor your blood sugar, especially if you're on high doses of the drugs.
2. Make LIFESTYLE changes! Yes, there are natural supplements that can lower your cholesterol, but the truth is, if you don't exercise, eat right and get adequate sleep, you won't have the foundation required to go off whatever medications you are on.
The guidelines (American figures), based on the 10-year risk of a heart attack, are summarized in the table below.
Have a fantastic, fun-filled summer everyone!
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
This new report follows another study published last year in the Lancet, another well regarded science journal.
(Sattar N, Preiss D, Murray HM, et al. Statins and risk of incident diabetes: a collaborative meta-analysis of randomized statins trials. Lancet 2010; 375:735-742)
Researchers conclude that it is prudent to monitor ones' blood glucose levels if you are on statin therapy. It should be noted that the authors still believe that benefits of statin therapy (ie. prevention of cardiovascular events) outweighs the cons (ie. diabetes). This is a bit of a contradiction because having diabetes puts one in the high risk category of getting a cardiovascular event.
Hopefully some of you have seen your cholesterol numbers from your blood work and may have noticed a chart/guideline like the one below. This chart uses American numbers, but for the purpose of this explanation, it doesn't matter. The way we are taught to treat patients for high cholesterol is to first assess which category of risk a patients fall in. For example, if you smoke, have a history of cardiovascular events or have diabetes, you are automatically classified as a "high risk individual". So then you are put on statins to decrease your risks if you do not meet the cholesterol target guidelines which are also shown on the chart.
So here's what I see as the big picture:
High risk individuals => Drug therapy (statins) => Some people are at increased risk of developing diabetes => Diabetes increases ones risk of having cardiovascular problems => May need another drug to treat the high blood sugar (?)
So what should you be doing if you're on statins?
1. Monitor your blood sugar, especially if you're on high doses of the drugs.
2. Make LIFESTYLE changes! Yes, there are natural supplements that can lower your cholesterol, but the truth is, if you don't exercise, eat right and get adequate sleep, you won't have the foundation required to go off whatever medications you are on.
The guidelines (American figures), based on the 10-year risk of a heart attack, are summarized in the table below.
| ATP III LDL-Cholesterol Goals and Cutpoints for Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) and Drug Therapy in Different Risk Categories | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Risk Category | LDL-Cholesterol Goal | Initiate TLC | Consider Drug Therapy |
| High risk: CHD* or CHD risk equivalents† (10-year risk >20%) | <100 mg/dL (optional goal: <70 mg/dL)|| | >=100 mg/dL# | >=100 mg/dL†† (<100 mg/dL: consider drug options)** |
| Moderately high risk: 2+ risk factors‡ (10-year risk 10% to 20%) | <130 mg/dL¶ | >=130 mg/dL# | >=130 mg/dL 100–129 mg/dL; consider drug options)‡‡ |
| Moderate risk: 2+ risk factors‡ (10-year risk <10%) | <130 mg/dL | >=130 mg/dL | >=160 mg/dL |
| Lower risk: 0–1 risk factor§ | <160 mg/dL | >=160 mg/dL | >=190 mg/dL (160–189 mg/dL: LDL-lowering drug optional) |
Have a fantastic, fun-filled summer everyone!
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Acetaminophen & NSAID use - The Risks: Heart Attacks & Blood Cancers
I read two interesting studies lately about acetaminophen (tylenol) and NSAIDs of the cox-2 variety ( rofecoxib, celecoxib, etc).
We were told previously that cox-2 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can have adverse effects on the heart. The latest study in the journal Circulation arrives at the same conclusion. To sum up the study, the authors show that patients with prior heart attacks, NSAIDs use increased the risk of death and recurrent heart attacks in as little as one week of use. There was a 45% increased risk of death or recurrent heart attack in the first seven days of treatment and a 55% increased risk of treatment continued for three months. So the conclusion for those of you who have had prior myocardial infarctions, stay off the cox-2 inhibitor NSAIDs. Cox-1 inhibitors such as aspirin and tylenol are better for short term use.
Having said that, the newest research on acetaminophen in the Journal of Clinical Oncology shows that chronic users of acetaminophen nearly doubled their risk of developing blood type cancers like lymphoma and myeloma.
To quote the author:
"A person who is age 50 or older has about a one-percent risk in ten years of getting one of these cancers," White said. "Our study suggests that if you use acetaminophen at least four times a week for at least four years, that would increase the risk to about two percent."
Some of you might be thinking, who uses tylenol four times per week? I can tell you that there are a lot of people out there who use pain killers daily. No one wants to live in pain. Sometimes there are other options like acupuncture, cupping or the use of some herbs to help. At other times, medication is needed. But just as with all things in life, there are trade-offs and one needs to know the risks. I hope this information helps you to make an informed decision.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
We were told previously that cox-2 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can have adverse effects on the heart. The latest study in the journal Circulation arrives at the same conclusion. To sum up the study, the authors show that patients with prior heart attacks, NSAIDs use increased the risk of death and recurrent heart attacks in as little as one week of use. There was a 45% increased risk of death or recurrent heart attack in the first seven days of treatment and a 55% increased risk of treatment continued for three months. So the conclusion for those of you who have had prior myocardial infarctions, stay off the cox-2 inhibitor NSAIDs. Cox-1 inhibitors such as aspirin and tylenol are better for short term use.
Having said that, the newest research on acetaminophen in the Journal of Clinical Oncology shows that chronic users of acetaminophen nearly doubled their risk of developing blood type cancers like lymphoma and myeloma.
To quote the author:
"A person who is age 50 or older has about a one-percent risk in ten years of getting one of these cancers," White said. "Our study suggests that if you use acetaminophen at least four times a week for at least four years, that would increase the risk to about two percent."
Some of you might be thinking, who uses tylenol four times per week? I can tell you that there are a lot of people out there who use pain killers daily. No one wants to live in pain. Sometimes there are other options like acupuncture, cupping or the use of some herbs to help. At other times, medication is needed. But just as with all things in life, there are trade-offs and one needs to know the risks. I hope this information helps you to make an informed decision.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)