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drE Notes:  A Word or Two About Supplements from Dr Elliott

2/29/2016

2 Comments

 
Q:  First, why consider taking supplements in the first place?
A:  Two good reasons, actually.  First, the Standard American Diet (i.e., SAD) is just that, … rather “sad.”  As a nation we tend to eat very poorly.  In fact, truth be told, it’s simply far too easy to eat badly in America today.  It takes a lot of effort and discipline and INTENTION (we like that word) to eat well consistently.  Unfortunately, ours is a culture that values convenience extremely highly, often at the expense of everything else, even health.  We’re simply surrounded and bombarded by quick, cheap food — at restaurants, in the grocery aisle, on TV, on the internet, everywhere!  Everywhere you look you find lots of quick and simple — and incredibly bad — food choices.

Secondly, even when we DO try to eat well, to make wise choices, often our food comes from nutrient-depleted, pesticide- and herbicide-laden soil.  Truly nutritious, real, whole foods are harder to come by than you might first imagine. 
 
Q:  But how do I know what I really need?
A:  That’s a great question.  The answer is simple.  Your nutritional status, your nutritional strengths and weakness, can be measured very easily and very accurately.  It doesn’t have to be a guessing game.  You can be a very smart consumer.
 
Q:  There are so many products out there, how do I choose?  If I’m going to do this, I want to do it right.  I want to make sure I’m investing wisely.
A:  Of course you do, and you’re absolutely right to be cautious.  The supplement industry, with its myriad offerings, claims, and slick advertising, can be very enticing and misleading at the same time.  (“Wow!  That product sounds amazing!  Surely I could benefit from THAT!”)  While over the years we’re seeing a greater degree of regulation when it comes to quality and safety, not all manufacturers are the same.  Some (a growing number, in fact) are VERY good.  Others, unfortunately, are not.
 
Q:  So how do I know whom to trust?
A:  I asked that very same question several years ago when I first ventured into the study and practice of Functional Medicine, and for the past many years I’ve gone about a very intentional process of investigating that question, of weeding out the good from the bad.  Encouragingly, I’m pleased to report that my list of trusted manufacturers has grown over time and continues to do so.

Whenever I encounter a new manufacturer I’m not familiar with, I reach out and contact them with three simple, very pointed questions, all related to specific aspects of manufacturing, quality, and safety.  Most of the time I never hear back, but sometimes (about 10-15% of the time), I do.  And in those cases, thus far at least, those who respond have had the right answers.  My take-home message is simply this:  Those that ARE doing it right, who DO invest in and care about quality and safety, want us to know that they are.  For those that don’t respond, I simply can’t say either good or bad.  I just don’t know.  And because I don’t know, I can’t recommend them. 
 
Q:  Where can I get these really good, safe supplements?
A:  First please know this:  We have no expectation — and certainly no requirement — that our patients purchase their supplements from us.  While we offer a number of supplements as a convenience to our patients, we do so simply for that reason — as a convenience.  WHERE you purchase your supplements is entirely up to you.  My primary concern is that  those you DO purchase are both safe and of the highest quality.

Most of the supplements I recommend are those we stock here in our office.  However, many of these may also be found in select higher-end health food stores and/or on-line, and we invite you to shop around and invest in your health wisely. 

For our patients and clients who do choose to purchase their supplements here we automatically provide a 10% discount from the manufacturers suggested retail price across the board.
 
Q:  Anything else?
A:  One final important note:  The vast majority of my supplement recommendations are based on the results of specific testing we’ve done to uncover the true “root cause” of the particular concern(s) we’re addressing.  Altering this plan (by selecting “similar” alternatives, or by adding items to it, or by eliminating items from it) often results in sub-optimal or even negative outcomes.  Always sensitive to cost, the recommendations I make are those I believe will not only be the most beneficial but also the most cost-effective of possible options.
2 Comments

2/16/2016

1 Comment

 
The Heart of the Matter:  It’s Not What you Think
(or “Why Disinformation is the Greatest Risk Factor of All”)

Cholesterol is bad, perhaps even evil, right?  Wrong!
 
Cholesterol, in fact, is an absolutely essential and beneficial part of every cell in your body.  We literally couldn’t live without it. 
 
Now I know what you’re thinking:  “That can’t be right.  No way!  …  Can it?” 
 
Here’s the deal:  Scientists have known for at least 80 years that there is NO connection — none at all — between your cholesterol level and your risk of heart disease.
 
So now you may be thinking, “So why am I (or my husband, or my mom, or…) taking a “statin” prescription.  You know something?  That’s an extremely good question.  (See box below.)
 
Why?  Because we have been misled and misinformed, that’s why.  It’s that simple.
 
Which leads me to my point.  Our greatest risk for heart disease isn’t cholesterol.  Or diabetes.  Or hypertension.  Or family history.  Or obesity.  Or smoking.   It’s not that these are unimportant.  Not at all.  They’re all very important (except for cholesterol, as just noted).
 
Our greatest risk, the worst of all, is disinformation.
 
Disinformation like this:  The idea that heart disease is mostly a male problem.  The truth is that heart disease is the #1 killer for women and men alike, and that mortality is the same for both sexes.
 
Or this:  For women, breast cancer is more dangerous than heart disease.
In actual fact, 5 times as many women die of heart disease than breast cancer.
 
Or this:  Women experience chest pain the same as men.
That’s just not true.  For women, symptoms are different.  In fact, very few women experience actual chest pain as a warning sign that something dangerous is happening.
 
Or this:  A low-fat, no-cholesterol diet protects against heart disease.
Nothing could be further from the truth!  With the exception of trans-fats (so bad that New York City banned them in 2007) fats are actually an extremely important part of a healthy, heart-friendly diet.
 
My point?  Disinformation is the enemy.  It’s the most dangerous risk factor of all.
 
Why the disinformation?  Don’t get me started.  The answers to that question lie well beyond the scope of this brief article.
 
Back to the point.  What we need, most of all, is the truth.  We simply need to know the truth. 
 
And that means asking questions.  And challenging the status quo.  It means taking charge of your health.  It means understanding that the answer, the real answer to almost every health concern, isn’t a prescription.
 
Granted, it’s now considered “normal” in America to take a prescription medication.  Or two.  Or three.  Or more.
 
But think about it.  Does that make sense?  Wouldn’t it make more sense to figure out WHY something’s not right and then to solve that problem naturally.  Sure, that may take more time.  And more effort.  And some real lifestyle change.  But if it leads to true health, and to really feeling strong and vital, isn’t it worth it?

The number one risk factor?  Disinformation.  Ask questions.

Symptoms in Women
  • Instead of chest pain, women experience an intense pressure or squeezing sensation.
  • Jaw, neck, shoulder, or arm pain in either arm.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Abdominal pain.
  • Nausea.
  • Sweating.
  • Fatigue.
 
The Truth About Statins
  • Statins increase the risk of diabetes (which actually increases the risk of heart disease, Alzheimers, and cancer).
  • Statins can cause severe, debilitating PAIN.
  • Statins can cause severe, debilitating FATIGUE.
  • Still, despite these well-established risks, more than 250 MILLION statin prescriptions are written and filled every year in the US alone.
    • Q:  Does that make sense.
    • A:  No.  (So ask questions.)
1 Comment

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