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A “Fun” Guide to the U.S. Healthcare System | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Photo by Dominika Greguu0161ovu00e1 on Pexels.com Opthalmologist Dr. Will Flannery has put together a whimsical guide to the U. S. healthcare system. It's well worth a look if you're relatively new to the system and need help understanding deductibles, co-pays, out-of-pocket maximums (hint: they're not really maximums), in-network, out-of-network, vertical integration, "surprise" medical bills, etc.…
Evidence for Long-Term Safety of Ketogenic Diets | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Many physicians and dietitians have been hesitant to suggest ketogenic diets due to 1) possible increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and 2) unknown effects on overall mortality. But a study published at Scientific Reports in October 2024 suggests that ketogenic diets reduce overall mortality by 24% without no effect on cardiovascular-related deaths. Click the link…
Alcohol’s Hidden Cancer Risks Revealed | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Photo by Chris F on Pexels.com In January of this year, then-U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy announced that drinking alcohol causes more cancer than previously thought. He proposed that alcohol be labelled with a new warning about this. Alcohol consumption is thought to be the third-leading cause of preventable cancer in the U.S., behind tobacco…
Ketogenic Diet May Prevent Cardiovascular Disease | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
In July, 2023, the journal Nutrients published a review of literature on the effect of ketogenic diets on cardiovascular disease. The abstract mentions potentially beneficial changes blood lipids, inflammation, blood pressure, etc., without going where the rubber meets the road: the effect on mortality and incidence of cardiovascular events in live humans. Click the link…
Does Therapeutic Exercise Help With Knee and Hip Osteoarthitis? | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Yes, it helps somewhat. But don't expect a dramatic improvement, according to this 2023 study published at The Lancet Rheumatology. The benefits tend to accrue to patients who are in most pain and most physically impaired at baseline. If you're carrying a lot of excess weight, it only stands to reason that weight loss would…
Specific Diets That Lower CRP Levels May Prevent Chronic Diseases | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Olive oil is a prominent component of the Mediterranean diet C-reactive protein (CRP) is a bloodstream marker of body-wide inflammation. A prominent theory is that if your CRP is too high, it causes chronic disease states like hypertension, dementia, and cardiovascular disease. A 2024 meta-analysis published in British Journal of Nutrition looked at the effects…
“Resuscitating U.S. Healthcare” Book Now on Sale | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
I'd be much appreciative of some Amazon reviews of my 2024 book, Resuscitating U.S. Healthcare: An Insider's Manifesto for Reform. To make the book available to more readers, I just dramatically reduced the price at the U.S. Amazon store. $2.99 for the e-book (Kindle) or $9.95 for the paperback. If you're curious, Amazon pays me…
“Dry January” Is Almost Over; Should You Extend It to 100 Days? | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6NrXS1No-U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR6bALsix2Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGVpHPSxjVY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LUm51Z-Ii0&t=0s I don't know Andrew Huberman's credentials or reliability, but you might find the following helpful. I haven't watched it yet and may never; it's two hours. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkS1pkKpILY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHyB7Yu4zjQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAHn1kSo9l8
QOTD: Evidence of Idiocracy or Lower Educational Standards? | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
"Free Parthenon, Athens, Greece photo"/ CC0 1.0 In 100 years we have gone from teaching Latin and Greek in high schools to teaching Remedial English in college. -Joseph Sobran Another sentence from the linked article above:" A recent meta-analysis found that while the average American undergraduate in 1960 had an IQ of 120, the figure has…
Merry Christmas: Peace on Earth and Good Will to all Men | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3fiJFCCqMg&t=358s From the Holy Bible (NIV), Matthew 22:36-40: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[ 40 All the Law…
Have You Heard of “Dry January”? | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
See you in February. Or not. I've run across a number of people who slowly increased their alcohol consumption over months or years, not realizing it was causing or would cause problems for them. Alcohol is dangerous, lethal at times. From a health standpoint, the generally accepted safe levels of consumption are: no more than…
Should We Convert U.S. Health Insurance Into True Insurance? | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
William M. Briggs thinks that would be a great idea. He starts with this explanation: Health Insurance should be, but isn’t, a bet you make that you hope you lose. It has become instead an inefficient form of socialized medicine, increasing costs. Here’s how. Here’s what insurance should be. You bet with an Insurer that…
Is Ozempic Banned in Europe??!! | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
In the video below, JP implies that it is. He's technically correct in that it is banned in some European countries according to a January 2024 article at HealthNews. Ozempic and Wegovy are brand names for the same drug: semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Wegovy is FDA-approved for treatment of certain folks with obesity whereas…
United Healthcare’s CEO Murdered In Cold Blood | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Bob Lefsetz is a music industry journalist blogger that I follow regularly although not reading every post. He lives in the Los Angeles area. He wrote recently about the apparent execution of United Healthcare's 50-year-old CEO in NYC: And we thought the revolution would arrive as a result of the red/blue divide. When in truth,…
Ultra-Processed Foods: Not So Bad After All? | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
"Free cheesecake covered berries image"/ CC0 1.0 We've heard or suspected for years that whole foods are healthier for us than processed and ultra-processed foods. But is it true? The British Medical Journal earlier this year published a study concluding that: ...a higher intake of ultra-processed foods was associated with slightly higher all cause mortality,…
What’s Really Happening in Gaza? | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Is this documentary the truth or propaganda? You decide. Just don't ignore this issue, which could lead to WW3. Most of the mainstream media coverage in the U.S. slants it in Israel's favor. This is the other side. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPE6vbKix6A
International Sanctions: What’s their Effect on Average Russians? | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Not much. "Eli From Russia" will fill you in. Truth or "Russian propaganda"? You decide. U.S. citizens can still visit Russia (at least until WW3 starts) but Eli warns that your Visa or Mastercard is worthless there, I guess due to sanctions. There are ways around that obstacle, including opening a Russian or Georgian bank…
Hospice Nurse Julie McFadden Explains Why She Doesn’t Fear Death | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Julie has a YouTube channel about hospice nursing, death, and dying. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrSqDEUKt8I But if you want to live as long and healthy as possible, consider the Mediterranean diet! Steve Parker, M.D.
That’s Just Great: Harmful Chemicals Contaminate Fruits and Vegetables | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
"Strawberry Food" by Suzy Hazelwood/ CC0 1.0 Fruits and veggies are good for us, right. We should eat more more of them, right? UK's Daily Mail published a worrisome article about pesticide residues (PFAS) on many fruits and veggies: strawberries, grapes, cherries, spinach, tomatoes, peaches/nectarines, etc. The tested foods were from UK supermarkets but I…
COVID-19: Metformin May Help Fight It | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
If memory serves, when I started my medical career we only had three classes of drugs for treating diabetes: insulin, sulfonylureas, and metformin. We have so many options now, that I have lost track. From Everyday Health earlier this year: Metformin, a decades-old generic drug for type 2 diabetes, may also help treat COVID-19, a new…
Anna Lee Explains How Koreans Stay Slim | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
.....South Koreans, specifically. Korea has one of the lowest overweight/obesity rates among OECD countries: 33.7%. Life expectancy at birth is 83.4 years, compared to 80.9 in the U.S., 82.2 in UK, 82 in Ireland, and 72.3 in Russia. Anna Lee in the video below postulates why the Korean numbers look so good. She makes a…
Covid-19: Moderna Vax Not as Safe as Pfizer | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
.....according to a report by Steve Kirsch based on data from Czech Republic. I had my choice of either of the products. I chose Pfizer because it was about a third of the "dose" compared to Moderna. I was much more concerned about adverse effects than efficacy. Official government record-level data obtained through a FOIA…
From TASS: Russia offers safe haven for people trying to escape Western liberal ideals | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Maybe I'll take'm up on it. Other than "nyet," the only Russian word I know is pronounced spy SEEB uh. Well, if I said "vodka" to a Russian, they'd probably get it although their pronunciation is a bit different. MOSCOW, August 19. /TASS/. Moscow will provide assistance to any foreigners who want to escape the…
My Nominee for Word of the Year 2024: Stochastic | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Around New Year's Day annually, you see articles or news reports on Word of the Year as chosen by various organizations. E.g., Merriam-Webster's WOTY for 2023 was "authentic." Runners up included "rizz" and "deadname." WOTY for 2022 was one I've enjoyed for several years: "gaslighting." I read "stochastic" at a blog w/in the last few…
Russia Refused to Help the British During the American Revolutionary War | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Larry Johnson has an inspiring post for true American patriots. (I'm sorry if that offends my British readers!) Larry informs us that Russia refused to join the British in their 18th century effort to retain their 13 colonies in the New World. If like me you didn't know that, click the link above for a…
COVID-19: FDA Rebuked by Appeals Court for Its Stand on Ivermectin | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Artist conception of the dreaded virus From The Tennessee Star: Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, Dr. Paul E. Marik and Dr. Robert L. Apter sued the FDA in June of 2022, asking the court to: “Hold unlawful and set aside any FDA actions directing or opining on whether ivermectin should be used for certain off-label purposes, including treatment…
Brink of War: U.S. Killing Civilians in Russia | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHNBXQ-JwbE&t=1842s More commentary by Larry Johnson: Imagine the reaction in the United States if Russia detonated cluster munitions over Miami Beach, killing and wounding more than one hundred, including children. The American people would demand a strong response. Well, that is exactly what is happening now in Russia....
Meta-Analysis Finds Ketogenic Diet Doesn’t Help Control High Blood Pressure | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Not bad From an April, 2024, Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases issue: Abstract Aims Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are major causes of mortality around the world. High blood pressure (BP) or hypertension is one of the most significant predisposing factors to CVDs. Ketogenic diets (KDs) have been the center of attention for their possible health benefits.…
New Drug Rezdiffra for Liver Disease | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Stages of liver damage. Healthy, fatty, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis DiabetesDaily informed me of a new drug available for treatment of a liver disease that affects "up to 20% of people with diabetes. But by no means is the disease limited to diabetics (er, "people with diabetes"). The disease is MASH: metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, something…
I Told You So: Mediterranean Diet Prevents Cardiovascular Disease | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Branzino, aka European Bass, live in Mediterranean waters Yet another epidemiologic study supports the contention that the Mediterranean diet reduces cardiovascular disease. The higher the adherence to the Medi diet, the less cardiovascular disease over the next 20 years. I scanned the report down to the Discussion section and, surprisingly, didn't catch their definition of…
Larry Johnson on Today’s Russia | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Lately I've been reading and watching Larry Johnson. For example: A large number of Americans still think that Russia is the Soviet Union, that the country is a crumbling wreck and the people are atheists and miserable. Boy, are they wrong. I received the following note this morning from a friend who exemplifies this mistaken…
Why Do Women Live Longer Than Men? | Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Jim Goad is one of my favorite living cultural commentators. On par with a young P. J. O'Rourke, who died in 2022 at age 74. Last year Goad wrote a thoughtful and thought-provoking article on why women outlive men. A sample: This disparity is not exclusive to the United States. In fact, it’s worse elsewhere.…