THE HEALTHIEST DIET
An international collaborational study sponsored by universities from theU.S.,Canada,GermanyandIsraeldetermined that the healthiest and most beneficial diet was a low-carbohydrate diet. The results were published recently in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers monitored 322 people of whom 85% strictly adhered to one of the three diet plans; either a low fat diet (recommended by mainstream medicine for years), or a low carb diet (like Dr. Atkins) or the Mediterranean diet (like the “SouthBeach” diet or Dr. Hoffman’s “salad & salmon diet”).
In many aspects the low-fat diet prescribed by most mainstream standard medical internists or cardiologists gave the least health benefits and the least weight loss. A-matter-of-fact, the standard low fat diet actually increased the fasting glucose levels by 12mg/dl.
On the other hand, the low-carb diet resulted in the most weight loss, and significant improvements in cardiac risk markers such as lowering overall cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
I have prescribed Dr. Hoffman’s “salad & salmon” diet to my patients for about twenty years. It is in my new patient packet along with a two page list of the healthiest, alkalizing vegetables and grains. I have continuously counseled to cut out refined flour and sugar; eliminate fruit juices, soda pop, ketchup, candy and other junk foods. As Dr. Atkins proved, it’s not the fat that’s the problem it’s the refined carbs. Good fat like olive oil is a mainstay of the Mediterranean diet. Also avocados, omega 3 rich flax or fish oil, and other good oils are essential for our health. Whole grains in moderation such as millet, quinoa, kasha and brown rice are important.
So generally follow the holistic, complimentary, integrative doctors who have for years been telling the public what current research is proving to be true. Individualized ideal diets based on metabolic profile and blood type or other factors can be discussed with a holistic oriented professional.
In a similar note, following the advice of holistic, integrative nutritionally oriented doctors would save a staggering $24 billion dollars in healthcare costs over the next 5 years. A recent study that included a systematic literature review and of the most rigorous scientific research available affirmed the nutritional supplements are a cost-effective way to improve overall health.
Some of the key findings included the use of calcium and vitamin D in the senior population (let alone strontium, boron, silica etc.). Potentially reducing 776,000 hospitalizations for hip-fracture, with a net cost-reduction of about $16 billion over 5 years. Another was intake of about 1800 mg of omega 3 fatty acids, reducing coronary heart disease (bypass, stents, angioplasty, 347,301 hospitalizations and related physician fees) saving about $3 billion over 5 years. (let alone l-carnitine, CoQ10, d-ribose, hawthorn berry etc.) One more- daily intake of 6-10 mg of lutein with zeaxanthine to help seniors avoid age related macular degeneration which would save about $3.6 billion over 5 years.
These are only a few examples sited by the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance (DSEA). Not mentioned here for example are the possible billions saved by the prevention of cancer utilizing selenium, pycnogenol, tumeric, amygdalin and a host of other well researched agents.
If health insurance companies, the federal government and the conventional medical establishment would recognize this fact, this country’s health crisis would be well on its way to being solved.