Graham
Please check out our website www.lowcarbdiabetic.co.uk We created and maintain this site without any help from anyone else. In doing so, we do not receive direct or indirect funding from anyone. We do not accept money or favours to manipulate the evidence in any way. Please visit our Low Carb food and recipe blog www.lowcarbdietsandrecipes.blogspot.com
Sunday, 8 May 2016
Saturday, 7 May 2016
Treorchy Male Voice Choir (Côr Meibion Treorci) - Myfanwy
I don't know why, but I have been in a listening to choir's kind of day today. Nothing on this earth sounds like a Welsh Male Voice choir, if this does not move you, check your pulse. I dedicate this post to my old nemesis, Welsh Dietitian and ex BDA member Chris Cashin. She done so much to motivate (inadvertently) me to keep promoting the low carb diet for diabetics. Eddie
National Anthem Of Russia, raising a glass to the Russian people.
Saturday night is music night on this blog. I have always loved this National Anthem. Whenever I hear it a lump comes to my throat, fitting music for a great nation. Do you ever wonder, how WW2 would have turned out, if Hitler hadn't been stupid enough to have taken on the Russians? I do. Eddie
A screen shot taken today at 3pm. This shows the top ten visitors by country over the last 24 hours. This week we have had many hundreds of page views from Russians, thank you.
Carbsane AKA Evelyn Kocur 0 Dr. Michael Eades 10
Kocur's raison d'être appears to be the rubbishing of everybody from A to Z in the low carb and Paleo community. Question her on her blog and you are banned, comment on her twitter account and you are blocked. As mentioned in my post yesterday, Kocur lost a great deal of weight by low carbing (as evidenced on her Jimmy Moore podcast), but she did not stay low carbing and the weight piled back on, and she returned to being heavily over weight, she has said this has been the case for most of her adult life.
Low carbing had failed her, therefore it was a complete crock, the promoters of low carb were liars, charlatans and snake oil salesman. Never mind, she decided to spend the rest of her clearly miserable life, together with a small cabal of other embittered failures, trashing the salvation of countless millions of people. It is my opinion she is a complete head-case, and I have steered well clear of her quagmire of a blog for some time. But then we received this anonymous comment two days ago.
"Looks like the low carb insulin hypothesis is about to be relegated to the dustbin of history Eddie. Garry Taubes's NuSi study backed by millions of dollars of cash has just disproved his and Atkins own theories. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! You called Carbsane a nutter but what she's been saying for years has just been validated by the NuSi study created by Taubes and Attia. Waiting for Graham to announce this result seeing as he denies been a cherry picker"
I stated yesterday I had not read the aforementioned study, in fact I had never even heard of it, until that anonymous comment came in to this blog. Clearly the comment had been posted by Carbsane or one of her hide in the shadows vultures. Maybe it was her most vocal and grovelling of sycophantic toadies Charles 'grizzly' Grashow.
Check out the great Dr. Michael Eades blog here, and you will see the negative comment was based on a short video, and Dr.Eades comprehensively destroys the assumptions made in the comment sent in to us and the video. How ironic the first person ever to be blocked from Michael's blog, yes you've guessed it, was Grizzly Grashow, Kocur's chief henchman
"So, you, my friend, are going to be the recipient of the award for being the first person I’ve ever blocked from my blog. I would hate to have the responsibility of exposing you to any information that would be useless" Posted by Michael in the comments section here.
Low carbing had failed her, therefore it was a complete crock, the promoters of low carb were liars, charlatans and snake oil salesman. Never mind, she decided to spend the rest of her clearly miserable life, together with a small cabal of other embittered failures, trashing the salvation of countless millions of people. It is my opinion she is a complete head-case, and I have steered well clear of her quagmire of a blog for some time. But then we received this anonymous comment two days ago.
"Looks like the low carb insulin hypothesis is about to be relegated to the dustbin of history Eddie. Garry Taubes's NuSi study backed by millions of dollars of cash has just disproved his and Atkins own theories. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! You called Carbsane a nutter but what she's been saying for years has just been validated by the NuSi study created by Taubes and Attia. Waiting for Graham to announce this result seeing as he denies been a cherry picker"
"So, you, my friend, are going to be the recipient of the award for being the first person I’ve ever blocked from my blog. I would hate to have the responsibility of exposing you to any information that would be useless" Posted by Michael in the comments section here.
The video the low carb and keto antis are so excited about, I am wondering did these two guys spend too much time in the bar before this interview. Because as Michael says, it makes no sense whatsoever, come to think of it, neither does Carbsane and co.
Eddie
Eddie
Radishes : not only a peppery flavour but more too
Pronounce it: rad-ish.
The root of a member of the mustard family, radishes have a peppery flavour and a crisp, crunchy texture. Among the most popular varieties are the small, cherry-sized common variety which has a red skin and white flesh (the French Breakfast radish is a variation on this type, and has an elongated shape with a deep pink skin that fades to white at the roots).
You can also find black radishes, popular in eastern Europe, which are more strongly flavoured, as well as large white mooli or diakon radishes, which are shaped like carrots. They are popular in Asian cookery and have a very mild flavour.
Radishes are rich in folic acid and potassium and are a good source of vitamin B6, magnesium, riboflavin, and calcium.
You can also find black radishes, popular in eastern Europe, which are more strongly flavoured, as well as large white mooli or diakon radishes, which are shaped like carrots. They are popular in Asian cookery and have a very mild flavour.
Radishes are rich in folic acid and potassium and are a good source of vitamin B6, magnesium, riboflavin, and calcium.
Availability:
All year round, though the British season runs from May to mid October. They're extremely easy to grow from seed, whether in an allotment or in a window box. Find out more about growing radishes at 'Garden Action' here.
Choose the best:
Go for firm-skinned radishes, with no blemishes. If they feel soft, they are likely to be spongy inside. Any greens still attached should look fresh and perky. The bigger the radish, the less crisp its texture, so avoid larger examples.
Prepare it:
To increase the crispness of radish, soak them in iced water for a couple of hours. Wash, then chop off the greens, if present, then slice off the root. Leave whole, slice or chop, as required.
Always prepare radishes just before using, as they loose their potency when cut. Mooli or daikon radishes can be sliced, diced or grated.
Store it:
In a perforated bag in the fridge for around 3-4 days. Always trim the leaves off before storing, as they'll draw moisture from the radish itself. You can keep the radish greens in the fridge, wrapped in moist kitchen paper then stowed in a perforated bag, for a couple of days.
Cook it:
Common red-skinned: raw in salads. Mooki or daikon: raw or stir-fried (3 minutes). Add radish greens to salads.
Alternatives:
Try cucumber.
The above facts from here
Crunchy green beans with radishes
Why not try this classic French way of preparing beans and radishes using just a few ingredients:
Serves 6
2g carb per serving
350g fine green beans, trimmed
1 bunch radishes, finely sliced into rounds
Bring a saucepan of water to the boil and cook the green beans for 4-5 mins until tender. Drain and toss with the radishes, drizzle over the oil and lemon juice and season with a little salt and black pepper.
350g fine green beans, trimmed
1 bunch radishes, finely sliced into rounds
Juice of ½ lemon
Method:
Method:
Bring a saucepan of water to the boil and cook the green beans for 4-5 mins until tender. Drain and toss with the radishes, drizzle over the oil and lemon juice and season with a little salt and black pepper.
Above recipe from here
So 'Yum' and with a bit of a crunch too !
All the best Jan
Friday, 6 May 2016
Statins for heart surgery raise risk of kidney injury, warn experts
Statins should not be given to heart surgery patients because they do not protect against arrhythmia and increase the risk of kidney injury, Oxford University has found.
A trial in which 1,922 people scheduled for heart surgery were given a daily dose of a statin in the eight days before the procedure and five days afterwards, or a placebo, has ruled out any clinical benefit from the drug.
Statins were thought to help prevent Atrial Fibrillation (AF), a heart rhythm disorder which can cause shortness of breath and palpitations and also raises the risk of stroke.
But the rates of AF after surgery were not significantly different between the two groups of patients - 21.1 per cent with statin vs. 20.5 per cent with placebo.
The levels of the protein troponin I in the blood, which indicates heart damage, were also not significantly different between the patients taking the statin and those taking the placebo.
As well as showing no benefits, short-term statin treatment in these patients caused an increase in the rate of acute kidney injury after surgery - 24.7 per cent with statin vs. 19.3 per cent with placebo.
British Heart Foundation Professor Barbara Casadei, who led the research at the University of Oxford and is a consultant cardiologist at the John Radcliffe Hospital, said: “Statins have been known to have rapid anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects for many years. It was important to establish whether such effects would translate into patient benefit in conditions accompanied by a strong inflammatory response, such as heart surgery.
“Although guidelines currently recommend statins at the time of heart surgery to reduce complications, the evidence was not very strong.
"The results of our large randomised placebo-controlled trial conclusively prove that there are no benefits to taking statins shortly before and after heart surgery to reduce postoperative complications but there is an adverse effect on kidney function."
Professor Peter Weissberg, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, which helped fund the research, said: “A clinical trial that shows that a drug is ineffective is as important as one that demonstrates benefit. Large, properly conducted clinical trials like this are vital for providing the robust evidence needed to show which treatments are safest and most effective and to inform clinical guidelines.
"This study clearly shows that statins should not be given to patients at the time of heart surgery in an attempt to reduce complications like AF. But the study does not negate the wealth of evidence showing that long-term statin treatment reduces the risk of future heart attacks and strokes.
“The BHF continues to fund research into reducing the complications from surgery and, with BHF support, Professor Casadei is finding better ways to manage AF. We urgently need better ways of preventing this dangerous heart rhythm disorder that can lead to strokes, and research is helping us to find them.”
The research was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Graham
A trial in which 1,922 people scheduled for heart surgery were given a daily dose of a statin in the eight days before the procedure and five days afterwards, or a placebo, has ruled out any clinical benefit from the drug.
Statins were thought to help prevent Atrial Fibrillation (AF), a heart rhythm disorder which can cause shortness of breath and palpitations and also raises the risk of stroke.
But the rates of AF after surgery were not significantly different between the two groups of patients - 21.1 per cent with statin vs. 20.5 per cent with placebo.
The levels of the protein troponin I in the blood, which indicates heart damage, were also not significantly different between the patients taking the statin and those taking the placebo.
As well as showing no benefits, short-term statin treatment in these patients caused an increase in the rate of acute kidney injury after surgery - 24.7 per cent with statin vs. 19.3 per cent with placebo.
British Heart Foundation Professor Barbara Casadei, who led the research at the University of Oxford and is a consultant cardiologist at the John Radcliffe Hospital, said: “Statins have been known to have rapid anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects for many years. It was important to establish whether such effects would translate into patient benefit in conditions accompanied by a strong inflammatory response, such as heart surgery.
“Although guidelines currently recommend statins at the time of heart surgery to reduce complications, the evidence was not very strong.
"The results of our large randomised placebo-controlled trial conclusively prove that there are no benefits to taking statins shortly before and after heart surgery to reduce postoperative complications but there is an adverse effect on kidney function."
Professor Peter Weissberg, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, which helped fund the research, said: “A clinical trial that shows that a drug is ineffective is as important as one that demonstrates benefit. Large, properly conducted clinical trials like this are vital for providing the robust evidence needed to show which treatments are safest and most effective and to inform clinical guidelines.
"This study clearly shows that statins should not be given to patients at the time of heart surgery in an attempt to reduce complications like AF. But the study does not negate the wealth of evidence showing that long-term statin treatment reduces the risk of future heart attacks and strokes.
“The BHF continues to fund research into reducing the complications from surgery and, with BHF support, Professor Casadei is finding better ways to manage AF. We urgently need better ways of preventing this dangerous heart rhythm disorder that can lead to strokes, and research is helping us to find them.”
The research was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Graham
Carbsane AKA Evelyn Kocur gets mentioned in dispatches.
Yesterday we received this anonymous (the negative posters always are) comment on the '20-stone mum lost half her body weight joins the low carbers' post.
"Looks like the low carb insulin hypothesis is about to be relegated to the dustbin of history Eddie. Garry Taubes's NuSi study backed by millions of dollars of cash has just disproved his and Atkins own theories. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! You called Carbsane a nutter but what she's been saying for years has just been validated by the NuSi study created by Taubes and Attia. Waiting for Graham to announce this result seeing as he denies been a cherry picker."
I have not read the study referred to, but I will. Clearly this person is a Carbsane fan. Some background on Carbsane, who is arguably the worlds leading expert on what does not work, but offers absolutely nothing of use to people looking to control their diabetes or get to a safe weight.
For those residing in the UK and have never heard of the Carbsane blog, run by a morbidly obese woman called Evelyn Kocur, let me bring you up to speed. She has spent years rubbishing lowcarb and paleo. Working with a small bunch of kneecap suckers, her main target is the American blogger Jimmy Moore. Evelyn had dedicated her life to stalking Jimmy 24/7. Day after day, week after week, she has spent a huge amount of time writing about Jimmy. To say she is obsessed is an understatement, check her out. Some time ago, she went onto Amazon giving the world the benefit of her acumen. The big problem for Evie is while others have lost weight, she stays obese and clearly very bitter.
She must know, she would have some credibility if she could get to a safe weight, but she can’t, and probably never will. The big question for me is, if she has all this knowledge, why can’t she get to a safe weight, let’s face it, loosing weight is hardly rocket science. It’s my opinion the problem for Evie is between her ears. So many times in life I have met a well educated, on first impression, impressive individual, but closer observation reveals there is not much going on up-stairs (and a long time MD agrees with me). She can talk the talk, but cannot walk the walk. But, all is not lost, a Doctor contacted Carbsane and offered her help. Check out this post from Dr. Bill Wilson, a small town family practice doctor, working in Northern Minnesota for more than 30 years, with a long standing interest in neuroscience.
"After spending a lot of time in the world of low carb and Paleo, I can’t imagine how I missed her. The “her” is an anonymous blogger who calls herself CarbSane. The other day I was preparing to write an Amazon review on Jimmy Moore’s excellent new book “Cholesterol Clarity—What the HDL is Wrong With My Numbers?” The review is still in the works but trust me, I will give the book five stars. I was perusing some of the other reviews when I came across the review written by CarbSane. She not only trashed the book, but also she managed to literally chew Jimmy up and spit him out! She then went on to trash many people who contributed to the book including Gary Taubes, Mark Sisson, Dr. Fred Pescatore, Dr. William Davis and a long list of other people who I respect. She rated the book 2 stars but then went on to say it really deserved a 1 star. Out of 36 reviews there were only three that weren’t 4 or 5 stars so CarbSane’s review really stuck out like a sore thumb.
I decided to do a little research on CarbSane. I visited her web site and read through some of her ranting and rambling blog posts. The pattern was the same—if someone from the low carb or Paleo world pokes their head out of a foxhole, she blasts them with both barrels. The purpose of this blog post isn’t to challenge CarbSane’s positions on diet and health because a long list of people smarter than me has already done so. What caught my attention was CarbSane herself.
I became fascinated with her because I immediately recognized that she fits the pattern of someone with a treatable disease and as a practicing physician with over 35 years of experience, this is what I do. I try to figure out what is wrong with people—in other words I diagnose them and then give them advice on how to fix the problem.
CarbSane, the good news is that there is hope for you. You have a treatable disease and I have a great deal of experience managing complex patients like yourself. In the past you tried various diets in an attempt to lose weight and things stalled out and you didn’t feel good or lose more weight. That’s because you don’t understand the disease that is destroying your health and quality of life. Contact me and I will guide your treatment protocol at no cost."
So, there you have it folks. Did the font of all dietary knowledge call the good Doctor, will we soon be seeing a slim-line Evie, does she want help? My money is on her making Dr. Bill Wilson a target for the Carbsane treatment. It is my opinion Kocur is one wave short of a shipwreck! If you have the time or suffer from insomnia, check her out on the Jimmy Moore podcast. She explains how the only time she lost a shed load of weight, was by low carbing, but alas she piled it back on, because she started using "cheats" and could not keep away from Lindt chocolates.
So many times along this low carb journey, I have heard people say it can't be done or it does not work. When what they mean is I can't do it.
Eddie
Link to the full Dr. Bill Wilson post here. Post edit. I checked the Bill Wilson link twice today and it worked. Since making this post it now appears to be broken or the entire post removed from Bill's blog. As I often say, the Lard works in mysterious ways.
Link to the Carbsane Jimmy Moore podcast here.
"Looks like the low carb insulin hypothesis is about to be relegated to the dustbin of history Eddie. Garry Taubes's NuSi study backed by millions of dollars of cash has just disproved his and Atkins own theories. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! You called Carbsane a nutter but what she's been saying for years has just been validated by the NuSi study created by Taubes and Attia. Waiting for Graham to announce this result seeing as he denies been a cherry picker."
For those residing in the UK and have never heard of the Carbsane blog, run by a morbidly obese woman called Evelyn Kocur, let me bring you up to speed. She has spent years rubbishing lowcarb and paleo. Working with a small bunch of kneecap suckers, her main target is the American blogger Jimmy Moore. Evelyn had dedicated her life to stalking Jimmy 24/7. Day after day, week after week, she has spent a huge amount of time writing about Jimmy. To say she is obsessed is an understatement, check her out. Some time ago, she went onto Amazon giving the world the benefit of her acumen. The big problem for Evie is while others have lost weight, she stays obese and clearly very bitter.
She must know, she would have some credibility if she could get to a safe weight, but she can’t, and probably never will. The big question for me is, if she has all this knowledge, why can’t she get to a safe weight, let’s face it, loosing weight is hardly rocket science. It’s my opinion the problem for Evie is between her ears. So many times in life I have met a well educated, on first impression, impressive individual, but closer observation reveals there is not much going on up-stairs (and a long time MD agrees with me). She can talk the talk, but cannot walk the walk. But, all is not lost, a Doctor contacted Carbsane and offered her help. Check out this post from Dr. Bill Wilson, a small town family practice doctor, working in Northern Minnesota for more than 30 years, with a long standing interest in neuroscience.
"After spending a lot of time in the world of low carb and Paleo, I can’t imagine how I missed her. The “her” is an anonymous blogger who calls herself CarbSane. The other day I was preparing to write an Amazon review on Jimmy Moore’s excellent new book “Cholesterol Clarity—What the HDL is Wrong With My Numbers?” The review is still in the works but trust me, I will give the book five stars. I was perusing some of the other reviews when I came across the review written by CarbSane. She not only trashed the book, but also she managed to literally chew Jimmy up and spit him out! She then went on to trash many people who contributed to the book including Gary Taubes, Mark Sisson, Dr. Fred Pescatore, Dr. William Davis and a long list of other people who I respect. She rated the book 2 stars but then went on to say it really deserved a 1 star. Out of 36 reviews there were only three that weren’t 4 or 5 stars so CarbSane’s review really stuck out like a sore thumb.
I decided to do a little research on CarbSane. I visited her web site and read through some of her ranting and rambling blog posts. The pattern was the same—if someone from the low carb or Paleo world pokes their head out of a foxhole, she blasts them with both barrels. The purpose of this blog post isn’t to challenge CarbSane’s positions on diet and health because a long list of people smarter than me has already done so. What caught my attention was CarbSane herself.
I became fascinated with her because I immediately recognized that she fits the pattern of someone with a treatable disease and as a practicing physician with over 35 years of experience, this is what I do. I try to figure out what is wrong with people—in other words I diagnose them and then give them advice on how to fix the problem.
CarbSane, the good news is that there is hope for you. You have a treatable disease and I have a great deal of experience managing complex patients like yourself. In the past you tried various diets in an attempt to lose weight and things stalled out and you didn’t feel good or lose more weight. That’s because you don’t understand the disease that is destroying your health and quality of life. Contact me and I will guide your treatment protocol at no cost."
So, there you have it folks. Did the font of all dietary knowledge call the good Doctor, will we soon be seeing a slim-line Evie, does she want help? My money is on her making Dr. Bill Wilson a target for the Carbsane treatment. It is my opinion Kocur is one wave short of a shipwreck! If you have the time or suffer from insomnia, check her out on the Jimmy Moore podcast. She explains how the only time she lost a shed load of weight, was by low carbing, but alas she piled it back on, because she started using "cheats" and could not keep away from Lindt chocolates.
So many times along this low carb journey, I have heard people say it can't be done or it does not work. When what they mean is I can't do it.
Eddie
Link to the full Dr. Bill Wilson post here. Post edit. I checked the Bill Wilson link twice today and it worked. Since making this post it now appears to be broken or the entire post removed from Bill's blog. As I often say, the Lard works in mysterious ways.
Link to the Carbsane Jimmy Moore podcast here.
Chocolate Almond Torte : Low Carb and Sugar-Free
"Brenda at 'Sugar-Free Mom' blog writes ... this cake is the cake of all cakes. It’s a perfect cake for when time is a bit rushed and you really want to make something special. It’s the perfect cake for any special occasion. Perfect for the holidays, birthdays, or just some friends coming over for the weekend.
Brenda is a woman on a mission to reduce and eliminate added, processed sugars in her families lives. She has been successfully maintaining a 50 pound weight loss for the last 8 years since her third child was born. Her experience is her own and she shares what she has learned."
Ingredients:
2 sticks butter, (1 cup) unsalted, cut into pieces
8 ounces 85% dark chocolate, chopped
6 large eggs, separated
3/4 cup Swerve sweetener
1 tsp chocolate liqid stevia
1/2 cup almond butter, no sugar added
8 ounces 85% dark chocolate, chopped
6 large eggs, separated
3/4 cup Swerve sweetener
1 tsp chocolate liqid stevia
1/2 cup almond butter, no sugar added
Carbohydrates: 5.4g per serving
Fiber: 2.3g
Net Carbs: 3.1g
For more details about this lovely low carb cake do go over to Brenda's blog and see her 'Optional topping ideas' and the full instructions here
Fiber: 2.3g
Net Carbs: 3.1g
For more details about this lovely low carb cake do go over to Brenda's blog and see her 'Optional topping ideas' and the full instructions here
Might also be nice for a Mother's Day celebration, which in the USA is May 8th.
All the best Jan
Thursday, 5 May 2016
End of Guidelines - a parody of End of the Line
End of Guidelines - a parody of the Traveling Wilburys classic song, End of the Line. Chronic disease state guidelines (blood pressure/lipids/glucose/bone density) do not provide clinicians with enough balanced information to do shared decision-making. This is a problem that needs to be fixed ASAP.
Graham
20-stone mum lost HALF her body weight joins the low carbers.
Some extracts from the story linked below.
"A grandmother who became so embarrassed by her size that she became a social recluse has lost HALF of her body weight after being determined to attend her goddaughter’s wedding.
Delpha Pope, 43, from Ashford, Kent reached a whopping 20 stone and dress size 30 after years of mindlessly munching the same size portions as her hubby.
Her typical diet consisted of a gourmet coffee and pastry for breakfast, calorie-laden pre-packaged sandwiches for lunch as well as lots of bread, biscuits, cake, and a carb-heavy dinners - like lasagne.
Now she avoids carbs, eats lots of vegetables including mushrooms, tomatoes and courgettes, has lean chicken and steak and has swapped mash for sweet potatoes."
Hat tip to this amazing Woman, what she has done takes real effort and dedication, not only does she look fantastic, if she stays on the plan, I am convinced she will put many active years on her life.
Read the full story here.
Eddie
Hat tip to this amazing Woman, what she has done takes real effort and dedication, not only does she look fantastic, if she stays on the plan, I am convinced she will put many active years on her life.
Read the full story here.
Eddie
Lamb stew with artichokes, cannellini beans and sunsoaked tomatoes
She is an author of cookbooks and long-time contributor to Sainsbury's magazine, which is where I saw this recipe idea. It uses cannellini beans, sunsoaked tomatoes and artichoke antipasto, what a great mix! This whole dish has a carb count of 14.3 g carb per serving, so if it suits your menu plans why not give it a try? Who said stews were only for the winter ...
Ingredients:
Serves Six
2 tbsp olive oil
900g boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 4cm cubes
1 large onion, sliced
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
125ml white wine
1 tbsp tomato purée
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
300ml hot vegetable stock
A sprig of fresh rosemary
400g tin cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
Half a 290g tub sunsoaked tomatoes, drained
280g jar artichoke antipasto, drained
2 tbsp parsley, chopped, to garnish
Method:
Serves Six
2 tbsp olive oil
900g boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 4cm cubes
1 large onion, sliced
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
125ml white wine
1 tbsp tomato purée
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
300ml hot vegetable stock
A sprig of fresh rosemary
400g tin cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
Half a 290g tub sunsoaked tomatoes, drained
280g jar artichoke antipasto, drained
2 tbsp parsley, chopped, to garnish
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 150°C/gas mark 2. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Brown the lamb in batches until each piece is well coloured. Remove the lamb from the pan as it is done and set aside.
2. Add the remaining oil to the frying pan and fry the onion for 3-4 minutes until beginning to caramelise. Add the garlic and continue to fry for a minute. Pour over the white wine and allow it to reduce by two-thirds, so the liquid has almost disappeared.
2. Add the remaining oil to the frying pan and fry the onion for 3-4 minutes until beginning to caramelise. Add the garlic and continue to fry for a minute. Pour over the white wine and allow it to reduce by two-thirds, so the liquid has almost disappeared.
3. Transfer the lamb, onions, garlic and reduced wine into a 2-litre casserole dish. Stir through the tomato purée, vinegar and hot stock. Add the rosemary sprig and season generously. Cover and cook in the oven for 2 hours.
4. Remove the lid and stir through the cannellini beans. Replace the lid and cook for another 15 minutes. Remove the stew from the oven and allow to cool completely. Discard the rosemary sprig.
5. When ready to serve, stir through the sun-soaked tomatoes and artichokes until they’re heated through and serve with the chopped parsley.
Each serving provides:
14.3g carbohydrate 3.2g fibre 30.2g protein
4. Remove the lid and stir through the cannellini beans. Replace the lid and cook for another 15 minutes. Remove the stew from the oven and allow to cool completely. Discard the rosemary sprig.
5. When ready to serve, stir through the sun-soaked tomatoes and artichokes until they’re heated through and serve with the chopped parsley.
Each serving provides:
14.3g carbohydrate 3.2g fibre 30.2g protein
choice of low carb berries and double (heavy) cream for dessert
Strawberries 6 grams. Blackberries 5.1 grams. Raspberries 4.6 grams.
Carbs per 100 grams.
Happy Eating
All the best Jan
Happy Eating
All the best Jan
Wednesday, 4 May 2016
Paediatricians have told their college to stop taking money from infant formula milk manufacturers
Paediatricians have told their college to stop taking money from infant formula milk manufacturers in a vote at the college’s annual general meeting (AGM).
Some 66 delegates at the AGM of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) voted in favour of a motion that urged it to “decline any commercial transactions or any other kind of funding or support” from all companies that market breast milk substitutes. Some 53 delegates voted against the motion.1
The motion is not binding, however, and in a statement college president Neena Modi said that the “implications of the vote” would be considered at the next council meeting in July. A spokesperson for the college said that it was too early to say what the next steps would be.
Modisaid, “Breastfeeding gives children the beststart to lifelong health. The RCPCH considers the promotion of formula over breastfeeding in healthy infantsto be unacceptable. The RCPCH also recognises the importance of the availability of safe alternatives to breast feeding and specialised products for preterm and sick infants.”
The motion, proposed by Charlotte Wright, professor of community child health at the University of Glasgow, stated that, while the college had progressively distanced itself from formula manufacturers over the years, it still derived income from trade stands at conferences.
Wright said that the details of any ban on the college receiving income from formula manufacturers would still have to be worked out. She said that the proposal was not a blanket ban on the college having commercial links with any organisation with tiesto breast milk manufacturers. For example, the college might eventually decide that it can no longer work with any organisation deriving more than 10 or 20% of its income from manufacturers.
“It’s the explicit engagement that’s the problem,” she said. A junior doctor told the AGM that he was horrified to see that Nestle had a stand at a conference. “A lot of people were moved by that,” she said.
“It’s the explicit engagement that’s the problem,” she said. A junior doctor told the AGM that he was horrified to see that Nestle had a stand at a conference. “A lot of people were moved by that,” she said.
“One of the college’s arguments is that it’s important for them to engage with companies because they make life saving milks for babies. That argument misses the distinction between genuine collaborative research and taking bribes,” she said.
Wright said that she hoped that the college’s council would accept the decision but it might decide to ballot all members. Wright and others proposing the motion offered to present their arguments to the council in July.
The motion highlighted the World Health Organisation and Unicef code on the marketing of breast milk substitutes, which stresses the need for health workers to be independent of promotional influences, such as sponsorship of professional associations.2
Patti Rundall, policy director of the campaign group Baby Milk Action, said that she was “thrilled” with the news of the vote.
“I hope the council will follow through and hear the message from members,” she said. “We need independent voices and we need the RCPCH to carry on doing what it has always done, which is speak out about what is bad for infant health. If it’s compromised it will be bad news for child health, not just in the UK but globally.”
Graham
Good Habits Linked to a Long Life (Backed by Science)
Meet Alina Petre who is a registered dietitian with an expertise in sport nutrition. She completed her nutrition undergrad in Canada, received her Master’s degree in the U.K. and currently calls the Netherlands home.
On the Authority Nutrition site she has recently written about 13 Habits Linked to a Long Life (Backed by Science) which may be of interest to you...
"Many people think life expectancy is largely determined by genetics.
However, it seems that genes play a much smaller role than originally believed.
Instead, environmental factors like diet and lifestyle are thought to be the key determinants.
Here are 13 things you can do to increase the chances of seeing your 100th birthday.
1. Avoid Overeating:
The link between calorie intake and longevity currently generates a lot of interest.
Bottom Line: Limiting your calories may help you live longer and protect against disease. However, more research is needed in humans.
2. Eat Some Nuts:
5. Exercise and Be Physically Active:
It should come as no surprise that staying physically active can keep you healthy and add years to your life. The minimum amount needed to reap the benefits, such as an additional 3 years of life, may be as little as 15 minutes per day.
Bottom Line: Exercising more than 150 minutes per week is best, but even small amounts of physical activity can benefit health and longevity.
6. Don’t Smoke:
Smoking is strongly linked to disease and early death.
Bottom Line: Putting out your cigarette can significantly prolong your life. It’s never too late to reap the benefits of quitting smoking.
8. Prioritize Your Happiness:
9. Avoid Chronic Stress and Anxiety:
Anxiety and stress may significantly decrease your lifespan.
Bottom Line: Finding ways to reduce your anxiety and stress levels should be seen as a long-term investment in your lifespan. Also, having an optimistic outlook on life can be beneficial.
10. Nurture Your Social Circle:
Researchers report that maintaining healthy social networks can help you live up to 50% longer.
Bottom Line: Nurturing close relationships may result in decreased stress levels, improved immunity and an extended lifespan.
11. Increase Your Conscientiousness:
Conscientiousness refers to a person’s ability to be self-disciplined, organized, efficient and goal-oriented.
Bottom Line: Being conscientious is associated with a longer lifespan and fewer health problems in old age.
A recent study reports that longevity is likely linked to regular sleeping patterns, such as going to bed and waking up around the same time each day.
Sleep duration also seems to be a factor, with both too little and too much sleep being harmful.
Bottom Line: Developing a sleep routine that includes 7–8 hours of sleep each night may help you live longer.
Take Home Message:
Longevity is partly determined by genetics. However, a large part of how long you live remains within your control.
If you want to reach old age, then make sure to give these tips a try."
We try and bring a variety of articles, studies etc. plus recent news/views and recipe ideas to this blog, we hope something for everyone to read and enjoy.
Please note, not all may be suitable for you.
If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.
All the best Jan
"Many people think life expectancy is largely determined by genetics.
However, it seems that genes play a much smaller role than originally believed.
Instead, environmental factors like diet and lifestyle are thought to be the key determinants.
Here are 13 things you can do to increase the chances of seeing your 100th birthday.
1. Avoid Overeating:
The link between calorie intake and longevity currently generates a lot of interest.
Bottom Line: Limiting your calories may help you live longer and protect against disease. However, more research is needed in humans.
2. Eat Some Nuts:
Nuts are nutritional powerhouses.
Bottom Line: Adding some nuts to your daily food intake may keep you healthy and help you live longer.
3. Use The Spice Turmeric:
When it comes to anti-aging properties, turmeric is undoubtedly the most popular spice. This is because it contains a potent bio-active compound called curcumin.
Bottom Line: Curcumin, the main bio-active compound in turmeric, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Some animal studies suggest that it can increase lifespan.
When it comes to anti-aging properties, turmeric is undoubtedly the most popular spice. This is because it contains a potent bio-active compound called curcumin.
Bottom Line: Curcumin, the main bio-active compound in turmeric, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Some animal studies suggest that it can increase lifespan.
4. Eat Plenty of Healthy Plant Foods:
Consuming a wide variety of plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains and beans, may decrease disease risk and promote longevity.
For example, many studies link the Mediterranean diet to a lower risk of premature death. It’s also been linked to a reduced risk of cancer, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, depression and brain deterioration.
Bottom Line: Eating plenty of plant foods is likely to help you live longer and remain free of various common diseases.
Consuming a wide variety of plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains and beans, may decrease disease risk and promote longevity.
For example, many studies link the Mediterranean diet to a lower risk of premature death. It’s also been linked to a reduced risk of cancer, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, depression and brain deterioration.
Bottom Line: Eating plenty of plant foods is likely to help you live longer and remain free of various common diseases.
5. Exercise and Be Physically Active:
It should come as no surprise that staying physically active can keep you healthy and add years to your life. The minimum amount needed to reap the benefits, such as an additional 3 years of life, may be as little as 15 minutes per day.
Bottom Line: Exercising more than 150 minutes per week is best, but even small amounts of physical activity can benefit health and longevity.
6. Don’t Smoke:
Smoking is strongly linked to disease and early death.
Bottom Line: Putting out your cigarette can significantly prolong your life. It’s never too late to reap the benefits of quitting smoking.
7. Keep Your Alcohol Intake Moderate:
Heavy alcohol consumption is linked to liver, heart and pancreatic disease, as well as an overall increased risk of early death.
However, moderate consumption is associated with a reduced likelihood of several diseases, as well as a 17–18% decrease in the risk of premature death.
Wine is thought to be particularly beneficial due to its high content of polyphenol antioxidants.
Bottom Line: If you drink alcohol, maintaining a moderate intake may help prevent disease and prolong your life. Wine may be particularly beneficial.
Heavy alcohol consumption is linked to liver, heart and pancreatic disease, as well as an overall increased risk of early death.
However, moderate consumption is associated with a reduced likelihood of several diseases, as well as a 17–18% decrease in the risk of premature death.
Wine is thought to be particularly beneficial due to its high content of polyphenol antioxidants.
Bottom Line: If you drink alcohol, maintaining a moderate intake may help prevent disease and prolong your life. Wine may be particularly beneficial.
8. Prioritize Your Happiness:
Feeling happy can significantly increase your longevity.
In fact, happier individuals had a 3.7% reduction in early death over a 5-year study period.
In fact, happier individuals had a 3.7% reduction in early death over a 5-year study period.
9. Avoid Chronic Stress and Anxiety:
Anxiety and stress may significantly decrease your lifespan.
Bottom Line: Finding ways to reduce your anxiety and stress levels should be seen as a long-term investment in your lifespan. Also, having an optimistic outlook on life can be beneficial.
10. Nurture Your Social Circle:
Researchers report that maintaining healthy social networks can help you live up to 50% longer.
Bottom Line: Nurturing close relationships may result in decreased stress levels, improved immunity and an extended lifespan.
11. Increase Your Conscientiousness:
Conscientiousness refers to a person’s ability to be self-disciplined, organized, efficient and goal-oriented.
Bottom Line: Being conscientious is associated with a longer lifespan and fewer health problems in old age.
12. Drink Coffee or Tea:
Both coffee and tea are linked to a decreased risk of chronic disease.
Bottom Line: Moderate consumption of tea and coffee may be beneficial for healthy aging and longevity.
Bottom Line: Moderate consumption of tea and coffee may be beneficial for healthy aging and longevity.
13. Develop a Good Sleeping Pattern:
Sleep is crucial for regulating cell function and helping your body heal.
A recent study reports that longevity is likely linked to regular sleeping patterns, such as going to bed and waking up around the same time each day.
Sleep duration also seems to be a factor, with both too little and too much sleep being harmful.
Bottom Line: Developing a sleep routine that includes 7–8 hours of sleep each night may help you live longer.
Take Home Message:
Longevity is partly determined by genetics. However, a large part of how long you live remains within your control.
If you want to reach old age, then make sure to give these tips a try."
Alina's full article with all information / research links is here
We try and bring a variety of articles, studies etc. plus recent news/views and recipe ideas to this blog, we hope something for everyone to read and enjoy.
Please note, not all may be suitable for you.
If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.
All the best Jan
Google handed NHS patients' files without permission: Up to 1.6million records - including names and medical history!
Up to 1.6 million patients have had their private medical files passed on to Google without their permission, it was revealed today
The internet giant was given the data by one of the largest NHS trusts to develop an app to monitor possible kidney failure.
The encrypted information includes the names and medical histories of every patient who had stayed in hospital overnight or attended A&E in the past five years.
None of the patients was told beforehand and the revelation has exposed the ease with which private companies can obtain highly sensitive medical information without consent.
The data given to the internet giant would include patients' complete medical histories, including whether they had been diagnosed with HIV, depression, suffered from drug or alcohol addiction, or had an abortion.
But neither Google nor the Royal Free could explain why the data of so many patients was needed for the software to be developed.
The internet giant was given the data by one of the largest NHS trusts to develop an app to monitor possible kidney failure.
The encrypted information includes the names and medical histories of every patient who had stayed in hospital overnight or attended A&E in the past five years.
None of the patients was told beforehand and the revelation has exposed the ease with which private companies can obtain highly sensitive medical information without consent.
The data given to the internet giant would include patients' complete medical histories, including whether they had been diagnosed with HIV, depression, suffered from drug or alcohol addiction, or had an abortion.
But neither Google nor the Royal Free could explain why the data of so many patients was needed for the software to be developed.
More on this latest story here.
Eddie
Tuesday, 3 May 2016
Dr David Unwin: Low carb GP practice finalist in BMJ awards this week
Taken from this weeks British Medical Journal: we are finalists in the diabetes team of the year category!
Beating obesity and diabetes
'The scale of the twin epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes is daunting. “Back in 2012 there was a tendency to see it as hopeless,” says David Unwin, senior partner at the Norwood Surgery in Southport. “I think we were a little demoralised. We were particularly concerned about younger patients, who we felt were at the greatest risk of the long term effects of diabetes. So we trialled the idea of a more collaborative approach, identifying patients’ personal health goals and linking them with a low carbohydrate diet.”
A pilot was launched in January 2013 and 68 patients volunteered to join it. The plan involved group work that included family members, underpinned by a positive, solution focused psychological model to improve motivation to adopt a low carbohydrate diet. The first results showed significant reductions in haemoglobin A1c, weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, with several patients coming off medication altogether. So the approach was broadened to the whole practice.
“What has really surprised us is how enthusiastic the patients have been, particularly in joining in with our regular group meetings which include interested family members,” Unwin says. “The other surprise was how well tolerated the low carb diet was. Three years later eight members of the team are on the diet with our patients.”
As a practice Norwood Surgery now spends £45 000 (€57 000; $64 000) a year less on drugs for diabetes than is average in the area. Obesity prevalence dropped from 9.4% to 7.5%, and blood glucose levels have been reduced by 10%.'
Fingers crossed for the ceremony on Thursday night please folks -you helped me start this!!
BMJ fianlists here: http://thebmjawards.bmj.com/64277
Graham
Beating obesity and diabetes
'The scale of the twin epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes is daunting. “Back in 2012 there was a tendency to see it as hopeless,” says David Unwin, senior partner at the Norwood Surgery in Southport. “I think we were a little demoralised. We were particularly concerned about younger patients, who we felt were at the greatest risk of the long term effects of diabetes. So we trialled the idea of a more collaborative approach, identifying patients’ personal health goals and linking them with a low carbohydrate diet.”
A pilot was launched in January 2013 and 68 patients volunteered to join it. The plan involved group work that included family members, underpinned by a positive, solution focused psychological model to improve motivation to adopt a low carbohydrate diet. The first results showed significant reductions in haemoglobin A1c, weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, with several patients coming off medication altogether. So the approach was broadened to the whole practice.
“What has really surprised us is how enthusiastic the patients have been, particularly in joining in with our regular group meetings which include interested family members,” Unwin says. “The other surprise was how well tolerated the low carb diet was. Three years later eight members of the team are on the diet with our patients.”
As a practice Norwood Surgery now spends £45 000 (€57 000; $64 000) a year less on drugs for diabetes than is average in the area. Obesity prevalence dropped from 9.4% to 7.5%, and blood glucose levels have been reduced by 10%.'
Fingers crossed for the ceremony on Thursday night please folks -you helped me start this!!
BMJ fianlists here: http://thebmjawards.bmj.com/64277
Graham
Thank you Kath.
"Lovely recipe - thank you Jan! I still marvel at how wonderful your website is! I must grab a tea or coffee with you, Eddie and Graham one day and shake your hand! What a wonderful, refreshing and delightful website this is! Thank you so much for the time you spend posting and researching and helping so many, Kath xxx"
The above came in as a comment today on the latest recipe post Jan has posted, obviously that sort of praise keeps us motivated. Of course I am sure not everyone would agree with Kath, especially the British Dietetic Association. Nor would the management of the self proclaimed "largest diabetes forum in Europe" diabetes.co.uk. The irony is we only started this blog, because we had all been banned from the aforementioned forum, and wanted a way of spreading the low carb good news to diabetics.
The greatest irony of all, is the fact that after the forum banned so many low carbers over the years, they have in recent times, been heavily promoting low carb, when the management could see some mileage in it for themselves. We call that forum, the forum of flog, because they make money from the members by selling products, and selling members information to big pharma companies for trials, as evidenced below.
"One of the ways the website makes money is by charging to put organisations such as pharmaceutical companies doing medical trials in touch with forum members who have diabetes."
Forum owner Mr. Arjun Panesar here.
Eddie
The above came in as a comment today on the latest recipe post Jan has posted, obviously that sort of praise keeps us motivated. Of course I am sure not everyone would agree with Kath, especially the British Dietetic Association. Nor would the management of the self proclaimed "largest diabetes forum in Europe" diabetes.co.uk. The irony is we only started this blog, because we had all been banned from the aforementioned forum, and wanted a way of spreading the low carb good news to diabetics.
So to conclude, thank you so much Kath for your kind words. Here's to getting to two million page views on this blog. Here's to many more great recipes and general interest posts (Jan's department) health related information and latest news stories (Graham's department) and general tomfoolery and winding up the spreaders of misinformation and exploiters (my department).
As you can see people from all over the world visit our blog.
A screen shot taken this afternoon of the last 24 hours.
Please note we only get data on the top ten countries.
Eddie
Forum owner Mr. Arjun Panesar here.
Eddie
Sweet and Salt-Cured Salmon with Scrambled Eggs and Chives
Sounds good to me, and looks good to, doesn't it ...
Ingredients
1 serving
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons butter
2 fl. oz. (50 ml) heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon chives, chopped
1–3 slices of cured salmon
Salt and pepper
Recipe instructions can be seen at Diet Doctor site here
The process of curing fish has been around for a significant amount of time as it has been used as a way to preserve fish from spoiling. The process usually involves an abundance of salt or sugar even sometimes both. A dry rub is mixed together using salt/sugar and an assortment of desired herbs. This is rubbed onto the surface of the salmon, which is then put aside for a number of hours or days. The salt/sugar "cooks" the fish by drawing a large amount of liquid out and replacing it with salt/sugar mixture. At the end of the process the result is cured salmon.
Monday, 2 May 2016
What really happens when you mix medications?
Stanford big data techno-optimist and internist Russ Altman shows us how the power of machine learning in drug development is helping us understand adverse medication effects.
Graham
Maybe I ought to get out more.
With the weather warming up any time soon, it's got to be out more and spend less time clicking that mouse. Time to get out on my favourite lake, or down on the South Coast fishing.
BTW Our youngest son Rob has just gone vegan, it could have been worse, much worse, he could have become a member of the Tory party. Please check out his fledgling blog here, nepotism is best kept in the family don't you think.
Eddie
Coronation Chicken : Just right for a Celebration
Details from Wikipedia state "Constance Spry, an English food writer and flower arranger, and Rosemary Hume, a chef, both principals of the Cordon Bleu Cookery School in London, are credited with the invention of coronation chicken. Preparing the food for the banquet of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, Spry proposed the recipe of cold chicken, curry cream sauce and dressing that would later become known as coronation chicken.
Coronation chicken may have been inspired by jubilee chicken, a dish prepared for the silver jubilee of George V in 1935, which mixed chicken with mayonnaise and curry. Additionally, for the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002, another celebratory dish was devised, also called Jubilee chicken."
Coronation chicken may have been inspired by jubilee chicken, a dish prepared for the silver jubilee of George V in 1935, which mixed chicken with mayonnaise and curry. Additionally, for the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002, another celebratory dish was devised, also called Jubilee chicken."
If you'd like to have your own special occasion featuring this dish these are the ingredients you will need ...
Serves Six
1 chicken stock cube
500 g (British) chicken breast fillet
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tbsp mild curry powder
1 tbsp tomato purée
0.5 tbsp cider vinegar
2 tbsp apricot jam
Zest and juice of ½ a washed, unwaxed lemon
100 ml (lighter) mayonnaise
100 ml 2% fat natural yogurt
60 g flaked almonds
2 tbsp washed and chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Fresh watercress leaves, washed, to garnish
Optional - Crusty white bread, to serve
Here is how to make the dish ...
Original recipe idea here
I wonder, may I offer you a glass of wine to go with this dish or would you prefer something else?
Serves Six
1 chicken stock cube
500 g (British) chicken breast fillet
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tbsp mild curry powder
1 tbsp tomato purée
0.5 tbsp cider vinegar
2 tbsp apricot jam
Zest and juice of ½ a washed, unwaxed lemon
100 ml (lighter) mayonnaise
100 ml 2% fat natural yogurt
60 g flaked almonds
2 tbsp washed and chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Fresh watercress leaves, washed, to garnish
Optional - Crusty white bread, to serve
Here is how to make the dish ...
1. Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Add the stock cube and stir to dissolve. Reduce to a simmer and poach the chicken breasts for 5-10 minutes (depending on the size of the fillets) until cooked through and no pink colour remains. Remove with a slotted spoon and allow to cool before shredding. Discard the stock.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a pan and cook the onion for about 10 minutes, until softened. Stir in the curry powder, tomato purée, cider vinegar and jam, and cook for a further 1-2 minutes. Remove from the heat and spoon into a large bowl.
3. Add the shredded chicken along with the lemon zest and juice, mayonnaise, yogurt, ⅔ of the flaked almonds and 1 tablespoon of the parsley and stir until well coated.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a pan and cook the onion for about 10 minutes, until softened. Stir in the curry powder, tomato purée, cider vinegar and jam, and cook for a further 1-2 minutes. Remove from the heat and spoon into a large bowl.
3. Add the shredded chicken along with the lemon zest and juice, mayonnaise, yogurt, ⅔ of the flaked almonds and 1 tablespoon of the parsley and stir until well coated.
4. To serve, place on a serving platter and garnish with the watercress and remaining almonds and parsley.
Optional - Serve with some crusty white bread.
Original recipe idea here
... we try and bring a variety of recipe ideas to this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.
All the best Jan
All the best Jan
Sunday, 1 May 2016
Dr. Rangan Chatterjee: Why Modern Medicine Needs to Change
I love general practice but I don't love the way general practice operates at the moment. Many of my patients feel frustrated by the short consultation times and feel as though they're "on the clock" from the minute they walk in. This results in them pre-filtering information that they deem relevant to the consultation, which doesn't help them or me.
GP satisfaction isn't any better. A recent study published in the Lancet warns that General Practice in England is reaching "saturation point", with job dissatisfaction and stress amongst GPs at their highest levels for over a decade. I believe that if you have unhappy doctors, you will have unhappy patients.
Do we need longer consultation times? Absolutely. But I believe that there is another key factor in improving patients' health outcomes as well as doctor satisfaction: medical education.
Getting to the root cause
A few years into my job as a GP, I realised that I was probably only helping around 25 per cent of the patients walking through my door. Sure, I could give them a drug to "suppress" their symptoms but was I getting to the root cause of the problem? No.
A few years into my job as a GP, I realised that I was probably only helping around 25 per cent of the patients walking through my door. Sure, I could give them a drug to "suppress" their symptoms but was I getting to the root cause of the problem? No.
One of the problems is that in medical school we are mostly taught a model of care suitable for acute problems, that is primarily pharmaceutical based. However, the health landscape in the UK has changed dramatically over the past few years. The vast majority of chronic problems that I see today - such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, gut problems, insomnia and headaches - are largely driven by lifestyle choices.
Take diabetes. In April 2016, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that total diabetes cases had had nearly quadrupled to 422 million in 2014 from 108 million in 1980, with nearly one in 11 adults worldwide affected by the disease - the majority of these are Type 2.
Type 2 diabetes, like many chronic diseases, is potentially preventable and is largely driven by our lifestyle and environment. So, why is the UK spending over £20 billion pounds every year on the direct and indirect costs of this condition?
We have known what needs to be done for many years now so why are we unable to stop this avalanche cascading forward with no sign of slowing?
I often chat with my colleagues about this and a recurrent theme pervades: We were not given enough training in nutrition, lifestyle or behaviour change. Good health occurs outside the doctor's surgery - not inside.
Fundamentally, chronic problems need a different approach to acute ones. The magic bullet intervention that works for acute illness does not work as well for chronic problems. These often need many small but positive changes that, when implemented together, can have a powerful synergistic effect.
Addressing the real issues
My frustration with the situation led me to seek out individual study in nutrition, lifestyle interventions and movement science. I also learnt a framework of how to put this all together and apply that knowledge in a safe and effective way. This has reignited my passion for my job. Most importantly, my patients are reaping the benefits.
My frustration with the situation led me to seek out individual study in nutrition, lifestyle interventions and movement science. I also learnt a framework of how to put this all together and apply that knowledge in a safe and effective way. This has reignited my passion for my job. Most importantly, my patients are reaping the benefits.
I am delighted to have had the opportunity to showcase the power of a different approach to medicine on the BBC One programme Doctor in the House. For a month at time, I lived alongside three very different families, observing them as they went to work, slept, grocery shopped, exercised and ate. This gave me the insight I needed to put a range of simple and effective changes into effect.
The success of these changes demonstrated that such varied conditions such as type 2 diabetes (both new and established), obesity, menopausal symptoms, eczema, and many more can all be substantially improved and even reversed using the power of nutrition and lifestyle. Yes, that's right, reversed.
The era of the generalist
I'm also passionate about promoting the value of the expert generalist. In one episode of Doctor in the House, I worked with a five-year-old boy who had three seemingly "different" conditions: abdominal pain causing time off school, severe eczema and gastro-oesophageal reflux. When we first met, he was taking three different kinds of medications from three different doctors.
I'm also passionate about promoting the value of the expert generalist. In one episode of Doctor in the House, I worked with a five-year-old boy who had three seemingly "different" conditions: abdominal pain causing time off school, severe eczema and gastro-oesophageal reflux. When we first met, he was taking three different kinds of medications from three different doctors.
I was the first doctor to put it all together for the parents and explain that the root cause of all three was the same. By addressing this one issue, all three conditions were almost fully reversed within a few weeks.
As a society, we have over-emphasised the role of the specialist and undervalued the role of the generalist. In order to tackle chronic disease effectively, we need to move from the era of the super specialist into the era of the super generalist.
I believe that there is a strong case to put nutrition and lifestyle at the heart of medical education so that together we can better serve our patients. It is time to change the trajectory of chronic disease that is already making the NHS as well as many other healthcare systems unsustainable.
The British Medical Journal is currently running a Too Much Medicine campaign, which I fully support. I believe it is time for modern medicine to acknowledge that we have lost our way somewhere - over-diagnosis, over-investigation, over-medicalisation and over-treatment. We need to get back to the root cause.
What we put on our plates and how we use our bodies are the most powerful tools we have. It is time to start using them to take back our health.
Graham
Taking Time To Say Thank You
The low carb team have been busy working hard posting a wide selection of articles, and will continue to do so.
We enjoy ... presenting articles, news items, thoughts, recipe ideas, some music and even a cartoon every now and then for all to read. It is a mix which we hope includes something for everyone to read and enjoy!
We firmly believe in the LCHF lifestyle.
We would like to to say a big thank you to ALL our readers, and those who do take time to stop and leave a thought or comment, you are appreciated.
Included here are just a few thank you's from the many different countries who use this blog, with some apologies, because we know there are many languages that do not appear here.
THANK YOU to all.
merci, danke, tak, terima kasih, xie xie, grazie, dziekuje, obrigado, spasibo, gracias, tack, tesekkür ederim, do jeh, Дякую, thank you.
Good Luck and Good Health To All
From Jan, Eddie and Graham - 'the low carb team'
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