Emailed12/22/2024
To My Patients,
Just back from our vacation.
This time it was a driving vacation, mainly through Southern France and San Sebastian in Spain. All courtesy our daughter, Laurie.
Some of the highlights (in addition to the great wines of Provence and Bourdeau) were the many thousands of flamingos at Camargue national park (at their "courting season"), the nighttime drone show in San Sebastian, Spain, and the 300-foot climb up the Sand Dune du Pilat on the coast, west of Bordeaux.
The office has been very busy, patients trying to get exams done before the end of the year.
Many patients have their insurance changed or modified at the beginning of the new year. Please make sure we have your updated insurance information when you come to the office or have a telehealth call.
A special request: Traffic is becoming increasingly heavier. Some patients are unavoidably late for their appointments, which may increase waiting time for on-time patients. I try to minimize waiting time. Please try to anticipate excess traffic; looking at Waze may be helpful. Thanks for thinking of this issue.
Interesting medical notes:
It's not only probiotics, it's also prebiotics. Our bodies are full of bugs, most of them in the gut. The constitute our Human Microbiome, made of trillions of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses. About 80% of the cells in our body are not human cells, they are part of the human microbiome. These microorganisms carry an enormous load of genetic material that affects our health, frequently more so than our own genetic makeup.
No wonder we must live in peace with our microbiome.
Prebiotics are live microorganisms that, when consumed in adequate amounts, keep our microbiome happy. They are present in fermented foods such as yogurt, Kefir, kimchi, miso and sauerkraut, and many others. They must remain alive when consumed to be beneficial. Keep them refrigerated to prolog their life. Cooking will destroy them.
Frequently, probiotic supplements must be used to support general good health, strengthen the immune system, or help with digestive problems (irritable bowel syndrome and others). They usually come in capsule form. Each capsule should contain at least 20 billion (yes, billions) organisms and should have several, different organisms; the more, the better.Please give us a call at 203-853-1919 if you need an appointment!
What about microplastics? We live in a world of plastics. Plastics production was 28 million metric tons in 1980, that's about 240 pounds a year per person, man, woman, and child! Production in 2019 was three times as high, and it continues to grow. About 40% of plastics are single-use plastic, used for packaging, food containers, cups and plates, and beverage straws.
In addition to pollution, there are health risks. Recent studies show that very small plastic particles, microparticles, accumulate in our bodies. They were found in the common plaques that develop in the coronary arteries, and are considered a significant risk for the development of coronary heart disease, which end in a heart attack.
Cookware that can shed consumable microplastics include nonstick cookware (coated with PTFE - polytetrafluoroethylene), plastic utensils and cutting boards, and plastic cookware and containers.
Foamed-plastic products also shred microplastic particles, especially processed with CFCs (chlorofluorocarbon). This includes foamed packing material, drinking cups and foamed plates.
What should you do, what should you watch for? The list is long, here are some important points:And the list goes on. It may not be possible to eliminate consumption of microplastics, but we must try to minimize our exposure to these dangerous particles.
- Cookware. Choose stainless steel, cast iron, ceramic or glass.
- Plastic tableware. Try to avoid single-use plastic such as knives, forks, plates, and cups. Use silverware and ceramic plates when possible.
- Heating cookware. Don't heat food in plastic containers, even if it states "microwave safe."
- Recycle Plastics. Recycle damaged, scratched plastic. They may shed microplastics.
- Fish. Prefer non-farmed fish; there likely contain fewer microplastics.
Need more detail? Email e at istaw@drstaw.com.
Until I see you again, stay well.
Sandy and I wish all of you and your families a great holiday season and a happy, healthy, and peaceful New Year.
Igal Staw, Ph.D., M.D.
www.drstaw.com
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