Our Guest Doctor Michael P. Heim is a nationally known Bariactric Medicine (weight loss) Specialist. His clinic, The Center for Health and Age Management, is located in Tampa, Florida, where he practices anti-aging medicine, medical weight loss and primary care medicine.

 

I’ve just finished Michael Pollard’s Book, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto which I mentioned in my blog last week. Many thoughts went through my head while reading this book but the one that stands out the most was that it reminded me of why I majored in nutrition in college. Simply put, I believe in the power of food and always have. The natural next step as a physician has been to believe in the power of food and healthy living to fuel our health and well being. The author does a masterful job of explaining how the food supply in our country has become so unhealthy.  It also makes me question everything I put in my mouth and, as a parent, what my children put in theirs’.

To reiterate some of the points of last week’s blog, we as a country have been duped by the food industry with cooperation from our government. The food lobby is well funded and with that funding comes the power to obtain the right (by our government) to make, quite frankly, asinine health claims about the so-called food they are selling us. Are we really to believe that Lucky Charms is now somehow good for us because a small amount of “whole grains,” have been added? The same machine has produced the commercials mentioned last week about the merits of high fructose corn syrup, in moderation of course.  Does anyone else want to ask, “are you #@@?% kidding me?”

Let’s look at the facts shall we?

Table sugar or sucrose is 50% fructose and 50% glucose. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is 80% fructose and 20% glucose. Fructose is absorbed into the body much faster than sucrose which is the main issue with this highly processed sweetener. Between 1970 and 1990, the consumption of HGCS has increased by more than 1,000% and now comprises 40% of the caloric sweeteners added to our foods and beverages. During this same time frame the rate of diabetes increased greatly. There are countless studies that suggest consumption of HCFS is a causative factor in metabolic syndrome – the largely Western conglomeration of interrelated diseases which starts with obesity and typically leads to high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol and ultimately the number one killer of Americans, heart disease. HFCS in large quantities can also elevate triglycerides and lower HDL (good cholesterol). If you have high triglycerides and do not want to take medication, stop consuming food containing refined wheat and high fructose corn syrup and watch your numbers plummet.  The evidence against high fructose corn syrup goes on and on yet we still consume it in record amounts to the obvious detriment of our health.

As I’ve written in prior blogs, eating healthy in our country is not convenient, nor is it cheap. As for the first point, like many challenges in our life, overcoming them is mostly about making a decision to overcome them. Taking the time on Sunday to prepare food to be consumed for the week is a great strategy to eliminate the refined foods in our diet and planning in advance for when you may not have control of what types of foods are available. If you’ve sat in my office you know that in my house we regularly prepare large containers of mixed greens and chopped vegetables for salads during the week. There is also always a pitcher of home brewed green tea in the fridge which I take to work in water bottles each day. Grilling a batch of chicken breasts on Sundays gives us a ready supply of protein to add to salads during the week. Again, not convenient but this early week preparation allows me to avoid the pitfalls of relying on restaurants and other convenient foods during the work week which are usually highly refined. Finally, as a country, we must absolutely refuse to eat the products that the food industry is trying to pass off as food. The only way to change the products that are on our supermarket shelves is by the market forces of supply and demand.

In terms of the second point of the cost of eating healthy, I would suggest thinking in terms of a trade off between the future costs of your health care vs. the current cost of food. Believe me when I tell you, you can greatly reduce the future cost of your health care by following a healthier lifestyle now. We have become a population dependent on instant gratification. 30 minute pizza deliveries, 30 second drive through meals, and microwavable meals to go. Our demand has supplied endless products and services to feed our light speed lifestyles but again, at what cost? Take some time this week to slow down and ask yourself what is really important to you and if your actions are consistent with your priorities.  Many patients sit in my office expressing desires to lose weight, get off of medications, and to live a healthier lifestyle. The ones that accomplish their goals are the ones who have the will rise above the toxic environment in which we live, and taking the time to make those desires a priority.

“Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.”
H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Until next time, stay healthy and live well… Dr. Mike

Read more articles on nutrition on Dr. Heim's website:  www.tampahealthcenter.com

Many patients, especially those going for the one week prostate program at St. George, decide to take an extra week and see the beautiful countryside in Germany.  Germany is a country of castles, rolling hills, waterfalls, museums and wine festivals, medival towns and the Danube River Valley.

Here’s some tips and information we received from patients touring the country.

Germany has an excellent rail system.  All personnel at the train stations speak English and are happy to give directions and make suggestions.  If you stay in Frankfurt, you are in the middle of Germany, and can easily get anywhere in the country by train.  If you go to the website:   www.raileurope.com you can get discount train tickets.  A one day pass is 185 Euros.  A seven day pass in 240 Euros and will take you anywhere you want to go for an entire week.

Check the website: www.hotels.com to see how far your hotel is from the train station.  Taxis are expensive, and usually the less expensive hotels are not within walking distance of the train stations.

Another website to check out is  www.tompgalvin.com Click on the German flag at the bottom of the page for a wealth of information.

Interesting things to do/places to visit:

The town of Rothenburg, which has a 50’ wall around the whole town

The town of Reudeisheim – cable ride over the vineyards, big tourist attraction

Great castles:  Cochen, Marsburg, Heidelberg and Neuiweinstein

The city of Ulm has the tallest cathedral spire in the world.

Europe’s largest zoo is in Wilhelmina.

 

Please feel free to send us info on your travels and we will post them here.

June Blog

For patients who’ve undergone chemotherapy, or for anyone who would like to cleanse their body, there are some simple things you can do at home.  First, drink lots of pure mountain spring water – the higher the source, the better.  Do not drink distilled water – distilled water is ‘dead’ water – all of the health-giving minerals have been removed.  Avoid caffeine, soft drinks, tap water, hard liquors, frozen drinks and fruit juice (which is concentrated sugar).

Gently bouncing on a rebounder – a small trampoline – is another way to increase your circulation and stimulate your lymph system to flush toxins from the body.  Just bounce lightly – the balls of your feet never have to leave the surface of the rebounder.  Start with just a few minutes, and work up to 15 minutes a day.

Also, try to get at least 15 minutes or outdoor exercise a day – exercising in the fresh air can reduce stress and increase circulation of the blood and lymph.

Another great de-stressor is laughter.  Keep a positive attitude.  Be kind.  Smile.  Hug.  Believe.

Organic Coffee Enemas

Organic coffee enemas are prescribed at many holistic clinics.  They are simple to do at home.  Use only organic coffee (not decaf).  Make a pot of coffee – two tablespoons to 8 cups of water.  Let the coffee cool to comfortable warmth.  Put a towel in the bathtub, and hook the enema bag over the faucet.  Pour half the coffee into the enema bag.  Position yourself on the towel, and insert the enema nozzle.

The goal is to lie on your right side for 10 minutes, then your left side for 10 minutes.  When you are ready, keep the nozzle in, sit on the toilet, and release.  This cleans out the lower bowel.   As soon as you finish on the toilet, pour the rest of the coffee into the enema bag and get back in the tub.  Do the whole thing all over again.  The second time, the caffeine will be quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.  As it makes its way to the liver, it causes the liver to contract, and that will eliminate toxins (the liver is where we store lots of garbage, including residue from medications, alcohol, chemotherapy, etc.)

The first time you try this, you may only be able to hold the coffee for a minute or so.  It takes a few times to relax and get the hang of it.  Patients say they feel terrific and energized after a coffee enema.

IMPORTANT CAUTIONS:

• ALWAYS take a high quality multi-mineral supplement on the day you do an enema.  Coffee enemas leach the minerals out of your body and can make you feel very weak.  Liquid multi-mineral formulas are best.  They may be found in the refrigerated section at your local health food store.
• If you are not a coffee drinker, do the enema in the morning.  If you do it late in the day, you will get a caffeine buzz and not be able to sleep.

Do coffee enemas three times a week for a good cleanse, and then only once a week after that, unless directed to do more often by a physician.  Patients on chemotherapy may be advised to do more, but only do additional enemas on your physician’s advice.

DIET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CANCER PATIENTS

We’ve received many requests for more specific diet recommendations.  Here is a list of foods that are good for cancer patients, and foods to avoid:

NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETNERS! USE Stevia or Tupelo honey in moderation.  Never use commercial artificial sweeteners.

NO SUGAR! Remember, all ingredients ending with crose (such as sucrose, lactose, fructose, etc. are sugars)  Eliminate all sugar from your diet!  Also be careful to read labels for other sweetening agents – molasses, fruit juice) than may not end in crose.

ORGANIC VEGETABLES: Eat 5 servings daily.  Vegetables are rich in antioxidants.  Vary your diet by varying your cooking methods:  try your veggies steamed, sautéed, baked, raw, in salads and in soups.  Eat lots of dark green leafy vegetables.

A word here about raw foods.  We do not recommend a totally raw diet.  Raw foods are good for weight loss because it takes so much body energy to digest.  But cancer patients need that energy for healing, so while salads and some veggies are ok raw, it may be wise to gently cook most of your food.

ORGANIC FRUITS: Eat fruit only in moderation.  Tropical fruits, such as papayas, mango, pineapple and citrus are loaded with sugar.  When you do eat fruit, eat fruit that grows where it snows.   A cold snap in the growing season removed much of the fruit sugar.

PROTEIN: Organic free=-range chicken, cold water fish, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds.  Stay away from beef and pork.

GRAINS: NO white bread.   Use only whole grain breads.  Whole wheat bread is white bread with some brown dye.   See list for permissible grains and flours.  Whole grain cereals, whole grain pastas, and whole grain breads are perfectly ok!

DAIRY: Use only organic dairy.  Read sugar content on labels.  Use organic butter and never use margarine (lard with yellow food coloring).  Never use soy milk – soy is a natural estrogen, and few cancer patients need additional hormones in their system!

HERBAL TEAS instead of coffee.  If you must drink coffee, have a cup or two in the morning, but do not drink it throughout the day.

SPICES: Use onions, garlic and natural spices such as parsley, cilantro, chives, dill and peppers to flavor your food instead of salt.

Read Labels!! Avoid canned foods with sugar, coloring, artificial preservatives, added meats and meat by-products, sodium, oils, etc.

Our next blog will list specific foods from each food group.

FOODS FOR A HEALTHY DIET

The following suggestions will help you plan your healthy meals.  These are all foods that you should include in your diet.

VEGETABLES

Leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables:  Broccoli, Chinese broccoli, collard greens, green cabbage, turnip greens, endive, spinach, butter head lettuce, bok choy, daikon greens, parsley, red cabbage, brussel sprouts, Swiss chard, mustard greens, dandelion greens, cauliflower, watercress, Chinese cabbage, arugula, kale, escarole and romaine lettuce.  Skip the iceberg lettuce, there are virtually no nutrients in iceberg lettuce.

ROOT, ROUND AND GROUND VEGETABLES

Onion, parsnip, lotus root, leeks=, turnips, red radish, beets, acorn squash, carrot, burdock, scallions, white radish, summer squash, celery, kabocha squash, rutabaga, cucumber, zucchini.

MISCELLANEOUS VEGETABLES

Sweet potatoes (not not white potatoes), snap beans, green beans, garlic, celery root, mushrooms, fennel, yams, snap peas, green peas, artichoke, kohlrabi, plantain, chives, wax beans.

SWEET VEGETABLES (these vegetables become naturally sweet with cooking – use them with whole grains or as a soup base)  butternut squash, onion, daikon, kobocha squash, parsnip, carrots and cabbage

NIGHT SHADE VEGETABLES Green and red peppers, tomato and eggplant, mushrooms

BEANS Great white northern beans, anasazi, lentils, navy, black, turtle, peas.  Lima, fava, chick peas, kidney, black-eyed peas, pinto beans.

ORGANIC SEEDS/NUTS Pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds.  Almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, nut butters, chestnuts, pine nuts, pecans.

Stay tuned….next time we’ll go over fruits, proteins, oils and flours.

March Blog

We’ve all heard the stories – men have surgery and radiation for prostate cancer and end up incontinent and impotent for the rest of their lives.  Anyone who does research learns that even seed radiation and HiFu treatments that don’t immediately cause side effects eventually cause these problems in nearly every single case. And surgery always carries its own risk.   Is it any wonder men look for alternatives to losing their sexual ability!

St. George Hospital in Bad Aibling has been offering trans-urethral hyperthermia for over two decades.   This treatment is painless and effective – St. George claims an 89.9% total cure rate.  The best part – there are absolutely no side effects.

Hyperthermia kills cancer cells with heat.  The blood supply to cancer cells is different that the blood supply to normal cells, and they are more heat sensitive.  Hyperthermia to the prostate interrupts the circulation to the cancer cells, forcing them to either die or preventing them from dividing further.

After injecting a local anesthetic, a probe is inserted through the urethra into the enlarged prostate.  This is very similar to a catheter.  Using short waves (radio waves), the prostate is heated to between 113 and 158 degrees.  In addition to killing cancer cells, the function of the prostate is changed, allowing urine to flow readily again.  As the hyperthermia is killing cancer cells within the prostate, the surrounding tissue will be able to build up a specific immunity, by allowing the immune cells to recognize the dying cancer.  This leads to a specific immunity against prostate cancer and explains the long lasting response, so patients rarely develop metastases.  This treatment takes a little over an hour, and is usually done twice during a 5 day stay at St. George.  Results are apparent immediately.  There are no complications or risks because this is not a surgical treatment.  The computer controlled equipment constantly monitors the temperature and voltage through out the procedure and a printer precisely plots and documents each phase of treatment.

Once admitted, a patient receives a thorough physical exam, extensive consultations, measurement of urinary stream, ultrasound tests to measure the size of the prostate enlargement/tumors and computer tomography where applicable.  In addition, patients receive medications and Infusions of Vitamin C and Selenium, sonograms and lab tests (PSA).
During treatment the patient sits in a recliner and is able to read or watch TV.  Patients often have treatment in the morning and go golfing or skiing in the afternoon.  This treatment is also used for prostatitis.  Normally patients have a follow up program of several months, and hormone blockers are used during that time.  

This treatment is only used for prostate cancer that is confined to the prostate.  For more information, call us, we’ll be happy to discuss your case and let you know if you are a candidate for this procedure.