‘The unsuspecting, gullible, misinformed, and ignorant segments of society are, unfortunately, the obvious targets of the unconscionable money-hungry entrepreneurs.’
PROTECTING the public from misinformation, fraud, and all forms of scams is one of the reasons I write this column. Inspiring people to live a healthy lifestyle has been my goal since I was at the Arellano (Public) High School, where I wrote my featured health column, Ultra-Facts, in the student paper, The Chronicler and Tambuli. I continued the same column in the Philippine Collegian at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. (My Ultra-Facts column logo was designed by my good high school buddy, Gus Figueroa, Jr., now a neurosurgeon in Cumberland, Maryland, USA).
We are currently bombarded with advertisements selling brain, heart, liver, and kidney supplements, cleansers, boosters, and countless other food supplements. Even the seemingly “healthy” commercials about fruits and vegetables in capsules are medically questionable, as far as the number of capsules (sufficient dose) needed a day to have any health benefit. Eating fresh vegetables, fruits, and nuts is better and less costly as part of a healthy lifestyle.
The unsuspecting, gullible, misinformed, and ignorant segments of society are, unfortunately, the obvious targets of the unconscionable money-hungry entrepreneurs. But more fall victim to the rampant commercial scams.
Since the trillion-dollar “food supplement” (which are actually drugs) industry is unregulated, the public is left unprotected, with their health and life in jeopardy, as they try to get healthier.
Review of the medical literature reveals liver, kidney, brain, and 99 percent of other “food supplements” are a scam, with no clinical evidence-based data to support their claims on TV, print, and social media about the benefits these supplements provide our organs or our body. There is also no research evidence about their safety and counter-effect with other medications, either.
Cancer warning
People who eat red meat, in general, have a greater risk of cancer compared to those who do not consume red meat. The risk for pancreatic, colon, liver, breast, and prostate cancer goes even higher for those who consume a lot of smoked meats or high-heat-grilled or high-heat pan-fried, and barbecued meats, especially with the black-charred surfaces. Super high temperatures release carcinogens, like heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS). During grilling, the juice from the meat that hits the charcoal is burnt, turns into carcinogens, and evaporates back into (and absorbed by) the meat.
Eating red meat, cooked with medium heat, with no black charred surfaces, once a week could lower this risk. Avoiding smoked meats will achieve the same. Boiling, steaming, and baking meats appear to be safer.
Processed foods (meats, veggies, etc.) also increase the risk for cancer. Raw fish, like sashimi/sushi, prime and hygienically prepared by experienced chefs, are very nutritious and healthy food items.
Slowing down aging
In man’s quest to live longer, scientists around the world are searching all avenues to extend longevity to the maximum possible, even beyond 100 for the majority of us. Diet is the major determinant of health, even greater than exercise, which is second in importance to health.
The Mediterranean Diet (modified by reducing the carbohydrate in it) is healthier, and together with an overall healthy lifestyle, could improve longevity. Recently, caloric restriction (quantity control) has also been associated with a longer lifespan by 0.6 years in 2 years compared to those who did not restrict their caloric intake.
There are around 200 million people around the world, 20.4 million in the United States, and around 4.7 million in the Philippines are taking Metformin for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Since Metformin was introduced for T2 Diabetes in 1957 in France, 1958 in the UK, and approved by the FDA in the United States in 1994, the drug appears to improve longevity in some people.
A first-line drug for T2 Diabetes, Metformin, a biguanide, has now been shown to slow age-related biologic processes. This drug inhibits mitochondrial complex I, which increases AMPK (adenosine monophosphate protein kinase), which enhances autophagy (“clean-up and recycling process to create energy and new building blocks”) and mitochondrial biogenesis (reproduction process). All this is postulated to increase longevity. Metformin also shows survival benefits for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.
Vitamin D overdose
Vitamin D3 is an excellent supplement to take for brain, bone, and muscle health, for boosting the immune system, and its anti-cancer effects in melanoma (skin cancer), colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and possibly other forms of malignancy.
The popularity of Vitamin D, which is an over-the-counter drug, has led to widespread use and abuse, which has led to overdose and toxicity, which has caused abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting, acute kidney failure, and even death.
In view of the extraordinarily high number of Vitamin D overdoses in the Balearic Islands, Spain, its Ministry of Health has recently issued a warning about the risk of consuming vitamin D without proper indication and medical supervision.
In the United States, there are about 4500 cases a year, uncommon; no stats found for the Philippines, where Vitamin D deficiency is about 49 percent in the general population.
The FDA and the Mayo Clinic recommend 600 IU for young adults and 800 IU for older adults, but the Endocrine Society recommends 1,500 IU to 2,000 IU, especially for those not exposed to the sun every day. A maximum of 4,000 IU is considered safe, but not necessary for the majority of us.
If taken more than the printed dose, any vitamin and mineral supplements could also cause overdose and toxicity, which can be life-threatening. Anything in excess is unsafe, even oxygen, love, or food.
