Mediterranean Diet, Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, and Ashwagandha

A few pearls for December:

Are you taking an ashwagandha supplement? Ashwagandha is an Indian herb from the Nepal region. It has been used by many patients for the treatment of mild anxiety and insomnia, and also for enhancement of cognitive and physical performance. Some studies say it may work.

Consumer Lab recently tested several Ashwagandha preparations, and found some of them not delivering the advertised amount of the product. They recommend the Pure Encapsulations preparation as the best one. Click here for an overview.

Are you on the Mediterranean Diet yet? A recent study done at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston inferred that sticking to the Mediterranean Diet increases your lifespan. This is not surprising; we already knew that with this Diet your weight decreases, cholesterol profile improves, and the risk of a heart attack is diminished. The essentials of the diet are: Lots of fruits and vegetables, legumes, fish (it’s the fatty ones), extra virgin olive oil, and unrefined grains. A glass of red wine is good, and dark chocolate is not bad. Meats and fat containing milk products are not part of this diet, and should be kept to a minimum. We have a good Mediterranean Diet summary in our office. You are welcome to it, just request it by email at istaw@drstaw.com, or call the office (make sure we have your email address).

Are you still drinking sugar-sweetened beverages? If you do – stop it.

Considered one of the most important studies published this year, this study, an analysis of studies on more than 170,000 people, shows that the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increases the risk of heart disease. This is more so among men and American populations. Water is the drink of champions!!!

Have a great holiday season and stay well.

See The Doctor And Save $$$ This Holiday Season

Are you uninsured or under-insured? Do you deny yourself of medical care because of financial constraints? The following is taken from a recent press release. It's OK to spread the word, perhaps other physicians will join.

Local Doctor Explains How Getting A Physical Before The New Year Makes You Money And Why He's Offering Office Visits For $75 Or Less

By Amy Tessler (Open Post)November 24, 2014 at 2:38pm 

Whether you’ve been too busy to get to the doctor for your annual physical or think you just can’t afford it, there’s no time like the present to go! Many insurance companies are currently offering a money incentive ($250-$500) to members who complete their physical examination before the end of the year.

Dr. Igal Staw, of Respiratory Associates P.C. in Fairfield, says, “This incentive is a benefit to both the insurance company and patients, because patients are more likely to take advantage of preventive services, and the insurance company then saves money on recurrent medical visits. It’s really a win-win.” Dr. Staw suggests checking to see if your company participates. If you haven't had your periodic medical evaluation yet, this is the time to do it. And if you’re worried about the cost of your office visit, don’t be.

From now until January 1^st, any patient who visits Dr. Igal Staw at his Fairfield office will receive a quality medical exam, and the cost for this initial visit will not exceed $75.  According to Dr. Staw, “I’ve seen too many patients over the last few years deny themselves healthcare due to high deductibles or lack of insurance.  We want to ensure everyone has truly affordable medical care tailored to their needs, especially at a time of year where budgets are really pushed to the max.” 

The office will also offer blood testing at deeply discounted rates as well as X-rays, MRI’s, and cardiac stress testing/monitoring at appreciable discounts. The $75 rate is scalable in cases of financial hardship, because “you can’t put a price on the gift of health.”  To make an appointment, please call 203-853-1919.

At David's garden

Igal Staw, M.D. is board certified in internal medicine and pulmonology. His practice, Respiratory Associates P.C. at 2000 Post Road, Suite 202 in Fairfield, focuses on Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Medicine, with an emphasis on prevention, lifestyle changes, and reduction of the risks that predispose you to the development of disease. 

Zeke Emanuel, Are You Serious?

The following is a letter to the editor I sent to the Westport News, which appeared on October 3, 2014.

Dr. Hezekiel Emanuel recently published a strong and lengthy, but controversial, article in The Atlantic, entitled Why I Hope to Die at 75,  an argument that society and families-and you-will be better off if nature takes its course swiftly and promptly.

Just a reminder: Dr. Emanuel, one of the architects of the Affordable Care Act (AKA Obamacare), holds many awards and respectable positions (including  Vice Provost for Global Initiatives and Chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania). His writings have many listening ears.

In the article, and interviews that followed, Dr. Emanuel further extends his opinion why life after 75 is not only for him, but also NOT for you.

Needless to say, the article generated a lot of criticism which justified in my opinion. This is concisely presented in a Forbes article of 9/24/2014, Should We Take Zeke Emanuel’s  Advice And Be Ready To Die At 75?

I’m not going through the back-and-forth arguments here, but suffice it to say that I strongly disagree with Dr. Emanuel. May be it’s OK for him to count down to the day of his death at 75, but it is not so for many others. The percentage of people over 75 who are independent, active and productive is impressively high, and increasing on a regular basis.

 Warren Buffet is 84, I guess he is now 9 years “overdue.” Winston Churchill was prime minister of the UK until the age of 80. Ben Gurion was prime minister of Israel until the age of 77 (and very active for years after that), President Reagan was in office until the age of 78 (“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” at age 77).

And the 75’s and over are important to their families!

Dr. Emanuel is 57 years old; it would be interesting to see what he has to say when he’s 74 and ready to “fold it in.”

So where does it leave me and others in this age group? Are we living on borrowed time? Are we wasting public resources just because we live?  I don’t think so!

I’m here to continue with my plans: Continue to foster relationships, family and friends, and continue – and expand – the effort to treat the under-served.

I am already treating many patients who have no insurance, or whose insurance does not meet their needs, regardless of their ability to pay, regardless of their age. I think that no one should be denied medical care, and I intend to continue with that cause.

An Apple (or more) a Day...

At Beardsley Cider Mill and Orchard today, our youngest grandchild. 

What a great day to be outdoors with your family!

More Health Pearls: Appetite control, Testosterone, Vitamin D

• Curb your appetite.  Almonds are a great snack, providing proteins, the right type of fats and, above all, a lot of antioxidants. Eating a few almonds as you become hungry between meals will help you curb your appetite and, in doing so, help you control your weight and provide excellent nutritional value. An ounce a day (or a little more) will help a lot.

• Men, are you taking testosterone? Beware of the low testosterone hype. Don’t take testosterone unless your need for it is evaluated, and then prescribed by a physician authorized to prescribe it (testosterone is a controlled drug). Taking testosterone unnecessarily, or taking too much of it, carries with it serious health risks such as premature heart attacks and prostate cancer.

• Vitamin D. Vitamn D, “the sunshine vitamin” plays an important role in a large variety of metabolic processes. It regulates the amount of calcium and phosphorous in the body, may improve balance and muscle strength in older adults. A low vitamin level is now considered a risk for increased heart disease and diabetes (especially in overweight people). It has a tendency to lower body inflammation, a desirable property. It’s important to make sure that your vitamin D level is not too low, even in the summer, when vitamin levels are higher. It’s a simple blood test; if your level is too low, it’s usually corrected with over-the-counter supplements.