‘Exercise reduces the risk of chronic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic illnesses, and of Alzheimer’s and cancer.’
SIBO
SMALL intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a not-too-well-known disease that is becoming more evident and more popular. The symptoms are gastrointestinal in nature: a sense of epigastric distress, some anorexia, bloating, diarrhea, and weakness. If left undiagnosed or untreated, it could result in serious complications, dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, and malnutrition. For SIBO, the following should be avoided: lactose dairy, milk, Splenda (sucralose), mannitol sorbitol, corn syrup, soy milk, and many other sweetened food items. Early medical consultation, diagnosis, and treatment are vital when these symptoms occur at any age.
Physician, RN shortage
As of May 2022, there were 1,073,616 physicians in active practice in the United States, a large number (117,987) in California, followed by New York (98,341) and Texas (69,123).
The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates the country will have a shortfall of nearly 140,000 physicians by 2033. The projected growth jumps up to 45 percent for advanced practice nurses, like nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists. This is reminiscent of the late 50s and early 60s when my wife and I came to Chicago on December 31, 1963 under the US Exchange Visitors Program for our medical internship and residency training, a program designed by the United States to fill in the vacuum (physician shortage) as thousands of American physicians were drafted in the military. A similar program might be in the offing for both physicians and nurses because roughly 96 million Americans now live in a designated Health Professional Shortage area (HPSA).
Physical activity
Physical activity, physical exercise, as tolerated, is good for the body, for man and his pets, and for other animals. Exercise reduces the risk of chronic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic illnesses, and of Alzheimer’s and cancer. New studies now show that “moderate-to-vigorous physical activity benefits people with a genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes.” The most active people lowered their risk by a whopping 74 percent, compared to the least active subjects in this 6.8 study of 59,325 participants, 40-69 years old (2006 – 2010, and 2013 -2015) and the more activity, the better, even among those with genetic predisposition to Type 2 diabetes. – British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Warning: Lectins!
Lectins, also known as anti-nutrient, is a protein that binds to some carbohydrates, like sugar and soft drinks, which I call “poisonous.” Lectins cannot be digested by our gut. Some lectins are considered deadly poisons, like Castor beans, which contain a potent lectin called “ricin.” Some lectins bind with the walls of the digestive system and cause gastrointestinal problems. It could aggravate leaky gut syndrome. One particular lectin called phytohemagglutinin can lead to diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pains. Ten common food items that contain significant amounts of lectins are (white bread made from wheat), raw kidney beans, eggplants, potato, barley, soybeans, wheat in general, tomato, peanuts, lima and navy beans. Lectin also interferes with the digestion, absorption, and utilization of essential minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc from the food we eat. When enough lectins pass into the bloodstream, they activate the immune system and have been linked to a major cause of autoimmune diseases. Washing these food items and boiling them reduce the lectin level. The amount of lectin we usually consume is lower than the toxic level. Individual resistance or tolerance differs from person to person, so it behooves us to be conscious of this warning and minimize our “lectin intake” by avoiding food items that contain lectin.
Pre- and probiotics
The role our complex personal microbiome (living gastrointestinal tract), teeming with over 100 trillion microbial cells (1000 species of bacteria), plays in our health and well-being and disease development, is mind-boggling. The good beneficial and harmful bacteria in our gut must be balanced to maintain good stable health. Disruption of the gut microbiota has been associated with inflammatory bowel syndrome, obesity, and other illnesses. While eating healthily and abstaining from tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs and not abusing antibiotics are essential in maintaining a healthy microbiome, the use of both prebiotic and probiotic supplements every day (not only one or the other) is most beneficial to our gut.
Fish from China
There are concerns about seafood imported from China, because some sources use anti-fungal agents, antibiotics, and other chemicals, to keep their seafood thriving, for export.
Some of the other alarming ingredients found in imported seafood include malachite green, fluoroquinolone, and nitrofuran, which the FDA stated “may increase antibiotic resistance to this critically important class of antibiotics.” We have a lot of sources of seafood in the United States. Pompano fish, for one, is safely grown in aquaculture in Florida. This buttery-tasty and expensive fish may be cheaper coming from China, but Pompano-lovers prefer ones farmed in the USA. A standard serving of 28 grams of Pompano contains 5.2 grams of protein, 1 gram of fish oil saturated fats, and 46 calories only. It also provides vitamin D3, vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, C, E, K, folic acid, calcium, potassium, iron, and a lot of amino acids. A healthy food item. Be well-informed always.
Diabetes T2: Reversible?
Diabetes T2 has a reputation of being an incurable metabolic disease, but recent clinical studies and experiences among some health-conscious diabetics have shown that with a healthy style, strict diet discipline, and effective weight control, diabetes could be ”reversed.” With that strategy, even those taking insulin who are overweight, could “cure” themselves to the point of no longer needing insulin, following a weight loss of 50 pounds or more, to maintain a normal weight, within a year. This strategy should be adopted under medical supervision. This is, of course, a great source of hope for the 37.3 million (10 percent) people in the United States with DMT2.
Let’s take full advantage of the great progress in medical science and technology to attain our potential maximal health and longevity.
***
Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, conferred by then Indiana Governor, later Senator, and then-presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, and Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Related websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
