Month: September 2016

Categories
Health

Hormones and chemicals in plastic

I used to think that “microwave-safe” simply meant that the container would not melt or warp when used in the microwave. However, many plastics contain harmful ingredients that can leach into food, especially when heat or oils are present, and should never be used in a microwave. So, in addition to being structurally intolerant to heat, some plastics actually become harmful to our health when used in the microwave.

I learned this the hard way. When my kids outgrew their Tupperware “sip ‘n’ seal” cups and lids I thought they would work well for coffee in the car. Eventually, the plastic taste in my coffee became so strong I discarded the cups, never realizing I had been endangering my health.

During this time I had a series of health problems with mammogram and Pap test recalls… but I didn’t connect the two until I attended a lecture on environmental connections to breast cancer, sponsored by our local breast cancer support group.

We watched a film entitled “Exposure: Environmental Links to Breast Cancer” then participated in a discussion with the producer and director of the film. They described many different types of environmental chemicals that have been connected to increased rates of cancer, including ingredients in plastic that contacts our food, some of which can disrupt the action of hormones in the body. I believe this film may still be available – I found a source online (www.womenshealthyenviroments.ca) or you could check with your local library if you are interested in seeing this film.

So, when it comes to plastics, some are safer than others. A numbering system, 1 to 7, has been developed to help sorting plastics for recycling, but the numbers also help us know which plastics are considered safer. You’ve probably noticed these numbers surrounded by a triangle, embossed or printed on the plastic container, usually on the bottom.

Basically, types 2, 4 and 5 are considered safest, with types 1 and some 7’s considered safe with some precautions. Here are the details:

  1. PET (or PETE) – Polyethylene Terephthalate

    • Thin, clear plastic

    • Used in water bottles, cooking oil, peanut butter jars, soda pop bottles

    • Safe for one use only

    • Do not heat or reuse (or leave in a hot environment, such as in a car)

    • Can be recycled once into other products

  2. HDPE (High density polyethylene)

    • Thick, opaque plastic

    • Used in milk/water jugs, juice bottles, containers for detergent, shampoo, motor oil, toys

    • Limit how often they are refilled

    • Can be recycled as with type 1 plastic

  3. PVC (Polyvinyl chloride)

    • Can be rigid or flexible

    • Used for bibs, mattress covers, commercial plastic wrap, some food and detergent containers

    • Recommended to avoid. Manufacture of PVC creates dioxin, a potent carcinogen

    • PVC may also contain phthalates to soften it. These are hormone-disrupting chemicals linked to reproductive problems and birth defects. (It seems likely that I mistakenly exposed myself to this type of chemical)

    • Difficult to recycle

  4. LDPE (Low density polyethylene)

    • Soft flexible plastic

    • Used for grocery bags, household plastic wrap, garbage bags

    • One of the safer plastics but best to recycle and reuse when possible to reduce impact on the environment

  5. PP (Polypropylene)

    • Hard but flexible

    • Used to make ice cream and yogurt containers, drinking straws, syrup bottles, salad bar containers, some dishware, diapers

    • One of the safer plastic, but recycle when possible as with type 4 plastic.

  6. PS (Polystyrene)

    • Rigid

    • Used for styrofoam coffee cups, meat trays, opaque plastic spoons and forks

    • Avoid. Can leach styrene, a known neurotoxin with other harmful effects

  7. Other (includes polycarbonate, bioplastic and acrylic)

    • Polycarbonate – used for 5-gallon water bottles, sports bottes, clear plastic cutlery, linings of food cans

    • Bioplastics – uused for biodegradable garbage bags

    • Safety grab bag:

      • Polycarbonate is made from BPA (bisphenol-A), a harmful synthetic estrogen (hormone disruptor). Usually labeled “Not for microwave use”. Best to avoid.

      • Bioplastics are considered safe for their stated use. Must not be recycled with other plastics (due to programmed degradation)

      • Acrylic (Plexiglass) – non-BPA, usually labeled “hand-wash”, “BPA-free”, safe to use but microwavable

      • Tritan (SAN) – BPA-free clear plastic. Looks similar to polycarbonate but does not contain BPA.

      • Melamine – considered less safe, not microwavable. Melamine is toxic if ingested with food.

    • Often type 7 plastics are not labeled. Check if BPA-free labeling.

So, to uncomplicated things a bit, here are some basic recommendations to follow to reduce potential exposure to harmful ingredients in plastic and protect the environment at the same time…

  • Choose glass, metal or food-safe ceramic to heat and store food whenever possible

  • Plastics labeled as recycle types 2, 4 and 5 are safest, with type 1 acceptable for single use only. Type 7 plastics need further investigation. Avoid food contact with other types of plastic.

  • Avoid exposing any plastic to high temperatures as much as possible (do not microwave or put in dishwasher)

  • Even with safer plastics (2, 4 and 5) acidic food, fat/oils and heat will promote breakdown of plastic and leaching of plastic ingredients into food

  • Recycle or discard cracked or worn plastic items as these are more likely to leach chemicals

  • Always recycle plastic except for biobased plastics

  • Avoid buying processed and packaged foods if possible. Buy from bulk and use reusable containers from home as much as possible

  • Use reusable shopping bags and lunch containers (stainless steel, glass, ceramic or wax paper) whenever possible

If you are interested in a chart of plastic types to download or print, a good one is available here.

References: healthychild.com, babygreenthumb.com, davidsuzuki.org

Categories
Health

Drug-induced nutrient depletion

Did you know that some drugs can cause you to lose nutrients from your body? Some side effects of prescription drugs may not be directly due to the drug itself, but may instead be caused by a nutritional deficiency caused by the drug over time.

While much research has been done in this area over the past 50 years, the results of many of these studies are not widely known… If you are aware of these potential deficiencies, you can then adjust your diet or take a supplement to replace what is being lost, and this may improve your tolerance of the medication and avoid some negative health effects.

Here are some examples:

  • Antibiotics – Broad spectrum antibiotics, those that kill a wide range of bacteria, also kill the good bacteria in your digestive system that help digest food, and protect us from harmful infections. These good bacteria, lactobacillus and bifidus, also produce a range of B vitamins and vitamin K. This interaction is of particular concern in those taking the blood thinner, warfarin, which works by blocking vitamin K’s action to promote blood clotting. Less good bacteria, means less vitamin K, which increases the effect of warfarin, leading to an increased tendency to bleed. B vitamins have many functions in the body, so a lack of these may have many effects.

  • Acid suppressing drugs – Stomach acid is necessary to absorb many nutrients, so suppressing or neutralizing acid long-term can cause depletion of various vitamins and minerals. Simple antacids can reduce absorption of calcium and phosphorus; histamine-2 receptor inhibitor drugs like ranitidine (Zantac) can deplete calcium, folic acid, iron, vitamin B12 and zinc; proton pump inhibitor drugs, such as omeprazole (Losec), pantoprazole (Tecta) and esomeprazole (Nexium) can reduce absorption of vitamins C, B6, B12, folic acid, magnesium and zinc.

  • Diuretic blood pressure medications – Hydrochlorothiazide, the most widely prescribed “fluid pill”, can deplete potassium, magnesium, Vitamin B6, coenzyme Q10, and zinc. Pharmacists will often advise to drink orange juice or eat a banana a day when taking these to replace lost potassium but potatoes actually contain more potassium than bananas… In extreme cases, potassium supplements are necessary, but changing to a different fluid blood pressure medication is a simpler approach to correcting the problem.

  • Birth control pills – Hormonal birth control medications deplete vitamins B2, B6, B12 and C, folic acid, magnesium and zinc. Low folic acid is associated with the birth defect, spina bifida, and this is one reason it is advised to stop birth control pills a few months before trying to become pregnant.

  • Beta-blockers and “statin” cholesterol drugs – Both of these classes of medications, often used together in heart patients, can reduce production of coenzyme Q10. CoQ10 is used in the mitochondria, the energy factories inside our cells, to produce the energy that is needed for all body functions, and it is an important antioxidant as well. Low coQ10 can affect many functions, in particular heart function. It is widely used in Japan as a treatment for various cardiovascular problems. Although coQ10 is present in small amounts in many foods, it would be difficult to get an amount comparable to what is normally produced by the body, making supplementation the best way to prevent coQ10 depletion.

  • Metformin – This drug, used to treat type-2 diabetes, depletes vitamin B12, a vitamin that is necessary for producing red blood cells and nerve growth and repair. One of the long-term consequences of diabetes is numbness of the extremities, due to nerve damage, known as peripheral neuropathy. In one study, nursing home residents with peripheral neuropathy who were taking metformin were given vitamin B12 supplements – 30% reported that their neuropathies improved, suggesting that lack of B12 was the cause. Deficiencies of B12 in the elderly can also cause moodiness, confusion, abnormal gait, memory loss, agitation, delusions, dizziness, dementia and hallucinations. Vitamin B12 is also depleted by numerous other drugs, as noted above. A simple blood test can readily identify low B12.

  • Mineral oil and stool softeners – Used for treating constipation, mineral oil is poorly absorbed from the digestive system and it works by creating a lubricant effect in the bowel. Stool softeners also stay in the bowel where they mix with stool, preventing it from hardening and causing constipation. However, vitamins A, D, E and K as well as the vitamin A precursor, betacarotene, tend to dissolve in these laxatives, reducing their absorption into the system and, instead, being excreted in the stool. Laxatives containing mineral oil or stool softeners can deplete these fat-soluble vitamins, especially if taken multiple times daily with meals. For this reason, they are best taken at bedtime, away from meals.

These are just a few examples of nutrients that can be depleted by medication. So, if you are taking medications regularly, ask your pharmacist to research whether you may need to replace any particular nutrients. To ensure they have sufficient time to research your question properly, I would suggest leaving your request and checking back in a day or two, rather than expecting them to give a quick answer from memory.

Not all nutrient depletions will occur in all individuals, however; ask your doctor to include tests for nutrients that may become depleted due to medication you are taking, along with your regular annual blood tests, to avoid taking unnecessary supplements. Also ask whether simply adjusting your diet would be adequate, given the degree of nutrient depletion found in testing.

Reference: Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook; R Pelton, JB LaValle

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Uncategorized

Erectile dysfunction

It has been suggested that approximately 40% of men experience erectile dysfunction (ED) at least occasionally. The cause can be functional or psychological, and these two types are treated differently.

Proper erectile function involves the brain, hormones, muscles, nerves and blood vessels. It is easy to see that problems could originate at many different levels.

Fatigue, stress, relationship issues, performance anxiety, or alcohol consumption can contribute to erectile problems., especially those of a temporary nature. A diagnosis of erectile dysfunction is only made if the problem lasts more than a few weeks or months. Common underlying causes include: heart disease, diabetes, poor physical health, obesity, multiple sclerosis, smoking Parkinson’s disease, enlarged prostate for prostate surgery. Basically, any disease that damages the nerves or blood vessels can affect erectile function. Treating the underlying cause, when one is identified, can often correct the problem. Dysfunction can also be associated with bicycling, and this is believed to be due to compression of nerves and blood vessels in the groin area.

If normal nighttime or early morning erections occur, this supports a diagnosis of a psychological cause, although there still may be a physiological (or physical) cause. Patients with psychological dysfunction often have a high response to a placebo (or sham medication) – nice to think that the problem might be fixed by simply taking a sugar pill, if you believe it will work!

Standard Treatments

The first line medical therapy is the”PDE5 inhibitor” class of drugs (Viagra, Cialis and others). These drugs block the breakdown of nitric oxide, a substance that dilates blood vessels, resulting in increased blood flow to the penis. Penile injection of vasodilators plus prostaglandin can be highly effective when these drugs fail, or in situations where nerve supply to the area has been damaged (such as in paraplegia).

Penile vacuum pumps (think of the first Austin Myers movie, where he claims “That’s not mine!”) can also be effective when used just before sexual activity. The specially designed pump draws blood into the penis creating an erection, and a special rubber band maintains it for a period of time. These pumps can be obtained through your urologist or can be ordered for you by a pharmacist.

Penile implants or blood vessel surgery are also available and may help in some cases but are more invasive and higher risk.

Natural treatments

  • Panic ginseng (also known as red ginseng) 600 to 1000 mg three times a day appears to show the most benefit in studies. Ginseng has been noted to raise blood pressure, however, so caution is advised in patients whose blood pressure is elevated.

  • Rhodiola 150 to 200 mg daily showed evidence in one study and has a long history of use in Russia.

  • DHEA, a hormone in the androgen class, is more likely to be helpful if the patient is low in hormone production. Although it is non-RX in US, it requires a prescription in Canada, and would need to be obtained from a compounding pharmacy.

  • L-arginine 3500 to 5000mg (or 3.5 – 5g) taken one hour before needed or in a lower dose taken daily, helps increase production of nitric oxide which relaxes blood vessels (note: Viagra-type drugs reduce breakdown of nitric oxide). L-arginine is reported to work better when combined with pycnogenol, a proprietary extract of pine bark. Tea, grapes,wine, juice and berries contain small amounts of proanthocyanidins similar to those in pycnogenol. L-arginine is an amino acid found in high protein foods, such as turkey (especially the breast meat [16g per breast], pork [14g per rib] and chicken [9g per breast]. So, it sounds like a glass of wine with a nice meal of turkey, chicken or pork just might be helpful for ED!

  • Acupuncture was found to benefit 20 to 40% of patients in one study. A series of regular treatments would be required to see benefit.

  • Zinc supplements are reported to help but only if low in zinc.

  • Yohimbe supplements have shown improvement especially in cases where erectile dysfunction is a side effect of medications (such as SSRI antidepressants, like paroxetine or sertraline). Note that yohimbe can increase blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety. Check with your doctor before taking.

  • L-citrulline supplements help the body make more l-arginine that, in turn, is metabolized into the vasodilator, nitric oxide. Note that L-citrulline can decrease blood pressure.

A number of “herbal Viagra” treatments marketed in North America have been found to contain unlabeled Viagra-like ingredients. US FDA warns that these contaminants are particularly common in products claiming to be ”as effective as Viagra”. Because of their range of side effects, this class of drug requires prescription and should only be used under a doctor’s supervision. In particular, heart patients who take nitrates are not recommended to use these, as the combination can cause dangerously low blood pressure. One way to detect these products would be to look where it was manufactured. Products made in North America are highly regulated and would be unlikely to contain dangerous contaminants.

And, a fun fact to finish off – In 16th and 17th century France, impotence was actually considered a crime and legal grounds for a divorce. Isn’t it fortunate that we have advanced since then!

References: Healthline.com; Wikipedia; WebMD.com

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Uncategorized

SPICE UP YOUR HEALTH

Hippocrates said “Let food be thy medicine” in 431 BC. Although we have much more potent medicines these days, there is still some truth to this. You are what you eat… and what you eat can have an influence on your health.

Volumes have been written about food and health – I’d like to take a quick look at reported medicinal uses of spices and flavourings that are probably already in your cupboard. Although these uses are interesting, keep in mind they may not always be the best choice, especially if your condition is looking serious.

Cinnamon – Cinnamon has been used historically as a digestive aid: for indigestion, gas, nausea and even diarrhea and it is possibly effective, at least for gas and spasms of the digestive system. It has also been shown to lower blood sugar by 18-29% but the dose to achieve this is 1-6 g daily, quite a bit! Perhaps this is a good reason to add cinnamon to sticky buns… although it would make more sense to stir cinnamon instead of sugar into your morning oatmeal if you wanted to lower blood sugar.

Cinnamon is considered safe when consumed in the amounts commonly found in food. In theory, it might interfere with antacids and other acid lowering therapy, since it may increase stomach acid.

Garlic – Garlic is known to have mild antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory action; hence, it has a historic use for colds, coughs, diarrhea and arthritis pain. It has some evidence of effectiveness for lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol modestly, but the dose to achieve this is quite high: 4 grams daily (up to 7 cloves of fresh garlic, depending on size), or 600-900 milligrams of powder.

Garlic decreases the “stickiness” of platelets, the first step of blood clotting, so it has a “blood thinning” effect that can reduce blood clots and heart disease risk. Although it is considered safe in amounts usually used in food, the 4 gram dose would likely add to the effect of other medications that reduce blood clotting, and could also cause increased bleeding risk after surgery. Definitely ask your doctor before taking these high amounts if you are taking warfarin or other potent prevention for blood clots.

Garlic has been shown to lower blood pressure a modest 2-7% and a dose of 900mg of powder appeared to slow development of atherosclerosis in one 4 year study. An observational study suggested increased amounts of garlic in the diet were associated with decreased risk of colorectal, stomach and prostate cancers but, of course, as we discussed last week, association doesn’t prove cause!

On the skin, garlic oil has been used in small amounts for fungal skin infections. However, in my opinion, it might be preferable to use a standard anti-fungal cream rather than impose the odor of garlic on your family and co-workers! It was not found effective for Helicobacter Pylori, the stomach bacteria infection that causes ulcers.

Taken in high treatment doses, garlic can cause breath and body odor; stomach upset, burning or irritation; as well as reducing clotting of the blood as discussed above. Asthma and allergic reactions have also been reported, as has dermatitis (skin reactions).

There is some concern that high amounts of garlic might interfere with anti-rejection drugs, birth control pills (by increasing hormone clearance), oral anti-fungal drugs, some chemotherapy and the calcium channel blocker class of heart/blood pressure medications (diltiazem, verapamil). Ask your pharmacist to check a herbal reference if you take prescription medications before taking large amounts of garlic.

Ginger – Ginger is known to prevent nausea and is even marketed as “Natural Source Gravol” in pharmacies. It has been shown to be effective and safe, but there is a controversy over its safety in pregnancy – it has never been demonstrated to cause harm to the fetus, in spite of widespread use for many years, but proper safety studies in pregnancy have not been done. Best to consult your doctor if pregnant and follow his/her advice.

Ginger has also been used for its anti-inflammatory properties, and was found to relieve arthritis pain as well as ibuprofen on one study. However, more studies of this use should be conducted.

Oregano – Oregano is active against a number of bacteria and yeast, including E. coli, Staph. aureus, Salmonella and Candida, among others. Oregano oil also inhibits the growth of intestinal parasites and can be effective in eradicating Blastocystis, Entamoeba and Endolimax infections when taken as 200mg of emulsified oil 3 times daily for 6 weeks.

A word of caution – when taken by mouth, oregano oil can cause stomach upset and irritation, or allergic reactions.

Sage – Sage is possibly effective for reducing gas, bloating, stomach upset, excessive perspiration and for inflammation of the mouth and throat. It is safe when used in amount normally added to food, but can be toxic if used long-term in high amounts.

For treatment, sage is often used by making a tea with 1-2 grams of leaves in 150ml boiling water for 5-10 minutes and consuming or gargling 3 times daily. Although up to 4-6 grams have been used to make tea, these amounts are considered unsafe to ingest long-term. Sage essential oil can also be diluted 2-3 drops in 100ml water, and used as a gargle or mouth rinse for inflamed membranes.

Treatment amounts of sage may interfere with blood sugar control if swallowed and should be avoided in seizure disorders, due to the potential for causing seizures.

Turmeric – Turmeric root contains curcumin, the substance that gives curry its yellow colour. Curcumin has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as bile-stimulating and liver-protecting actions. A small British study found 2 grams of turmeric compared with 800 mg of ibuprofen for arthritis pain and ability to climb stairs.

Like ginger and garlic, turmeric can also reduce blood clotting (although possibly less), and should be used with caution at treatment doses if taking other blood thinners. However, it is considered safe when used in amounts normally in food.

Any time you plan to use a natural medicine, it is advisable to speak to your doctor or pharmacist to make sure it is safe for you to use and that your condition is not more serious than you think. Essentially all pharmacists have quality references for herbal medicines (and spices that can be used as medicines!) and can help you sort out fact from medical fiction and hearsay uses that might cause harm. Always ask your pharmacist about natural medicines you use, especially if you are taking prescription medications.

Reference: Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database

Categories
Health

How to Be a Skeptic…

We’ve all seen the reports and advertisements… alcohol and sunshine are completely bad for us, calcium makes strong bones, Nutella is part of a healthy breakfast…

Research isn’t black and white – there is a lot of grey that is subject to interpretation. Even numbers can be manipulated to make the results of a study sound more dramatic. And sometimes, some numbers and facts (and even entire studies) are ignored when they don’t support the idea a researcher wants to prove. Of course, this isn’t good science but, unfortunately, we are starting to see this more and more…

Some years ago, I presented several lectures at an event sponsored by Dalhousie University. One presentation was provided to me by a pharmaceutical company co-sponsoring the event. A Dal professor was in the audience and, afterward, politely pointed out the bias that was in the data, with a graph stretched out to make the curved lines look more separated – making the drug’s effect look greater than it actually was. I was quite embarrassed but, in the end, thanked him for educating us in what to look for.

So, here are some “red flags” you can watch for when you are reading about a study in the media:

  1. Observational study (versus an Interventional study) – An observational study looks at what factors or events tend to occur together but provides no conclusion about a cause. An interventional study, in contrast, uses two groups that are well matched, changes the one factor they want to test, and then measures whether this made a difference at the end of the study. An observational study can give us an idea what could be tested, but an interventional study is needed to prove a cause.

  2. The words “is associated with” – This simply indicates that the factor they are talking about occurred along with a particular disease or condition in an observational study. An association does not demonstrate a cause. For example, yellow fingers (from smoking) could be said to be associated with heart disease; however, we know it is smoking that causes heart disease, not yellow coloured fingers. Scrubbing the colour off the fingers would do nothing to prevent heart disease. So, humour me while I say this again… if something is associated with a disease, it doesn’t necessarily mean it causes the disease.

  3. “Relative Risk Reduction (RRR or RR)” – This method of presenting results, compares the outcomes from 2 groups by using a percentage difference rather than subtracting the actual numbers, and can make differences appear much larger than they actually are. An example explains it more clearly: If you had 2 groups of 100,000 people and the results were 2 cases in the untreated group but only 1 in the treated group, this would be a 50% relative risk reduction. However, in actual numbers, called the “Absolute Risk Reduction”, where the results are simply subtracted, the difference is only 0.001%, a much less impressive figure. RRR is often used to make results appear more significant than they actually are, especially when the difference is very small. All too often, it is not specified that the results are RRR, creating misunderstanding of the study conclusion, even with doctors.

  4. The time over which the results were gathered is not specified – Was the effect observed after a short period of treatment or did they study participants take the drug for years in order for it to make any difference? We see this often when “Number Needed to Treat (NNT)” presentation of data is used. This number tells you how many people they needed to treat to make a difference for 1 person, so the lower the number, the fewer they needed to treat to see an effect. However, did you need to treat these people for 10 years to make a difference for one, or only for a month? The time frame makes a big difference, and needs to be specified.

  5. The study only uses deaths from one disease, not total mortality – The factor being studied could improve one disease state while worsening another. If total mortality is not mentioned, it is likely that the drug did not increase the overall lifespan of the study participants. Overall health and quality of life are what is important… we want to live longer healthier lives, not just change our cause of death. An example would be looking only at decreasing heart disease, while ignoring a drug’s effect on increasing death from other causes. New, less publicized reports of the well-known JUPITER study have pointed out that the cholesterol drug being tested did not change overall survival, yet the study results touted a significant reduction in deaths from heart disease.

  6. Who paid for the study – Any study that has been sponsored by a party with an agenda runs the risk of being biased. Negative results are more likely to be ignored or never published, if money is on the line! Unfortunately, much of our drug research is done by manufacturers of medicines, and has lead to incorrect results, whether intentional or not. Examples are Provera used in hormone replacement therapy, and the arthritis drugs Vioxx and Bextra. Although these drugs were tested thoroughly and used for years by millions of people, they were eventually found in balanced independent studies to cause more harm than benefit.

  7. Small numbers of participants – It is easier for a false result to be drawn when there are fewer people in a study. Using larger groups and ensuring that these groups are as similar as possible before changing one factor for testing, is more likely to give an accurate result. Of course, a very large study done over several years that quotes only relative risk reduction for one condition should send a red flag alert even though it is a large study.

  8. Multifactorial testing or making several changes at once – No conclusion can be drawn regarding one particular drug if several changes were made for the test. This was done with calcium supplement testing, where participants were given Calcium and vitamin D and were told to exercise more, and it was concluded that calcium supplements strengthened bone. It has since been demonstrated that dramatically increasing calcium intake by using supplements does not reduce bone fractures.

  9. Using a “surrogate end point” or measuring something other than the actual beneficial outcome you are trying to achieve. For example, simply measuring bone density does not give a true picture of how strong bone is… many years ago, fluoride was given to create more dense bone, and it certainly did this well. However, the bone created was brittle and broke easily, somewhat like a piece of chalk. The goal of treating osteoporosis is to prevent bone fractures, not simply make more dense bone. Unfortunately, it is difficult to measure actual bone strength so our medical system continues to measure bone density as a gauge of bone health. However, studies for osteoporosis prevention now must demonstrate fewer bone fractures, not just more dense bone.

This week I received a pharmacy flyer, with a 2-page article on the dangers of alcohol consumption. While it is factually correct, I’m sure, and offers some good advice about avoidance of drinking in excess, there is no discussion of study results showing benefits of light to moderate drinking over total abstinence. Only on a side bar, is there mention that “you may have heard that drinking a glass of red wine is good for your heart” and that this “may be true”. In actual fact, there is no study that found red wine reduced heart disease more than any other type of alcohol; this has simply been proposed as a possible reason why the French (in France) have low rates of heart disease in spite of their high-fat diet.

As for the dangers of sunshine, we know that we need some sun exposure in order to make the vitamin D we need, but no studies have been done to determine how much is too much, and the safe amount likely varies widely, depending on the angle of the sun, skin characteristics and other factors. The “5 servings a day” recommendation for vegetables and fruit consumption came out of thin air, and alcohol “limits” vary widely, since there is no real science to support the limits. The benefit versus risk of statin cholesterol medications is being questioned in many areas of the world (as discussed in last week’s blog) and, well, Nutella really doesn’t add a lot of nutrition to a breakfast even if it does contain ground hazelnuts along with the sugar and yummy chocolate! But, that last one was just an advertisement, not a “study”, so not many of us were likely taken in by that…

I still remember how dejected a friend was years ago, telling us he couldn’t have gravy on his Thanksgiving turkey because his triglycerides were elevated… and now we realize how inaccurate these measurements really were and how little effect triglycerides have on heart health. I think we all, especially health professionals, need to question how good the evidence is behind scientific “facts” that are presented to us. “Everything in moderation” may just be the best approach to life, especially when it comes to depriving yourself of what you enjoy most based on questionable reports.

If you are interested in reading further on this issue, I can suggest “Doctoring Data” by Scottish physician, Dr. Malcolm Kendrick.