For more than 30 years, I've been practicing alternative medicine and giving my patients drug-free and surgery-free options for some of our most common health conditions from diabetes and heart disease to arthritis and weight problems.
Read on to see what I'm all about and to hear my take on what's going on in alternative medicine today.
— Julian Whitaker, MD
February 24th, 2010
Sen. John McCain has introduced a bill to give the FDA broader regulatory control over the manufacture, sale, and use of nutritional supplements.
The Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010 would require registration and extensive reporting by any business engaged in “manufacturing, packaging, holding, distributing, labeling, or licensing” of supplements. This includes everyone from large manufacturers to people who sell multilevel products out of their homes. Failure to comply would be a violation of the law.
This bill would also make it easier for the FDA to remove supplements from the market. A list of “Accepted Dietary Ingredients” would be prepared, and if a nutrient didn’t make the list, it would be banned. It would also be easier for the FDA to outlaw any supplement with even a suspicion of potential harm. Furthermore, there are no safeguards to protect against abuses of these extensive powers—a real concern with this bureaucracy, which is openly hostile towards nutritional supplements.
Quite a few individuals and organizations are jumping on this bandwagon. After all, isn’t it all about safety and protecting the public? Wrong. Supplements are among the safest of all consumer products. The American Association of Poison Control Centers in their 2008 annual report did not attribute even one death to a nutritional supplement. Compare this to the 100,000 deaths per year caused by prescription drugs. These guys should be going after pharmaceutical companies instead of the supplement industry.
Current laws are perfectly adequate to ensure supplement safety. Let’s not invite in more unnecessary government red tape. Contact your U.S. Senators and encourage urge them to oppose the Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010. To learn more and to email your Senators on this very important issue, visit anh-usa.org.
Tags: Alternative Medicine, Nutritional Supplements
Posted in Alternative Medicine, Medical Politics | No Comments »
February 13th, 2010
Valentine’s Day is synonymous with chocolate. Americans buy a billion dollars worth of candy for this holiday every year, and 75 percent of it is chocolate. Although this candy contains a lot of sugar, fat, and calories, it can also—in the case of high-quality dark chocolate—provide significant health benefits.
Cocoa liquor, the creamy paste of ground, roasted cacao beans used to make chocolate, is nature’s richest source of polyphenols, a class of phytonutrients with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. That’s why dark chocolate has one of the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacities (ORAC, a measure of antioxidant strength) of any food, including superstars such as spinach, blueberries, broccoli, and grapes. Moderate consumption of dark chocolate has been shown to enhance the health of the arteries, lower blood pressure, improve insulin sensitivity, and protect against heart disease and cancer.
Equally important—especially on Valentine’s Day—chocolate simply makes you feel good. I’m not just talking about this confection’s delicious taste and creamy, comforting “mouth-feel.” Cocoa contains theobromine, which relaxes the nervous system and increases alertness, as well as compounds that promote the release of endorphins, serotonin, phenylethylamine, and other neurotransmitters that boost mood and reduce stress. In fact, cocoa may actually stimulate the same receptors that are aroused by falling in love. No wonder chocolate and Valentine’s Day are inseparable.
For maximum health benefits, stick with dark chocolate, which contains more protective phytonutrients and less sugar, and eat it in moderation. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Posted in Diet, Foods That Heal, Wellness | No Comments »
February 5th, 2010
Are you tired and sluggish? Is your weight a constant struggle? Do you have problems with dry skin, cold hands and feet, depression, or constipation? Then you may well have hypothyroidism. Low thyroid function affects one in 10 Americans and up to one in five older women. Yet this very common condition often goes undiagnosed.
When it is diagnosed, most doctors write a prescription for Synthroid (levothyroxin). This, in my opinion, is bad medicine. Although the thyroid produces a number of hormones, Synthroid is a synthetic version of just one of them (T4). At Whitaker Wellness, we use only natural hormone replacement, and that includes natural thyroid, which contains the full spectrum of thyroid hormones. Although some people do well on Synthroid, most of my patients note dramatic improvements after switching to natural hormone replacement.
If you’re already using natural thyroid, I’m sure you’re aware that availability has been spotty for some time now. Prescriptions for popular brands such as Armour Thyroid, Nature-Throid, and Westhroid have been on backorder for months. Raw materials shortages may be part of the issue, but other factors are also involved. The FDA has declared that natural thyroid is an unapproved drug and, to distribute it, pharmaceutical companies must go through a lengthy and expensive new drug approval process.
This has nothing to do with the safety or efficacy of natural thyroid, which has been included in the U.S. Pharmacopeia—the official authority for prescription and over-the-counter drugs manufactured or sold in the United States—for more than a century. It’s simply another of the FDA’s attempts to put the kibosh on all forms of natural hormone replacement.
It appears that the shortage of natural thyroid is finally beginning to ease up and limited quantities are being released. If Armour, Nature-Throid, or Westhroid are not available in your pharmacy, contact a compounding pharmacy to see if they can formulate a similar product.
Tags: Diabetes, Fatigue, Natural Hormone Replacement
Posted in Fatigue, Natural Hormone Replacement, Weight Loss | 2 Comments »
January 27th, 2010
Recent research published in the respected medical journal The Lancet confirms what I’ve been saying for years: Natural treatments for diabetes are more effective than drugs.
This 10-year follow-up study revealed that high-risk adults following a program of lifestyle changes were able to reduce their risk of developing full-blown diabetes by 58 percent. In contrast, in a comparable group given the oral diabetes drug metformin, incidence of diabetes was reduced by 31 percent.
Though conventional medicine relies heavily on oral diabetes drugs, these medications are replete with serious side effects including cardiovascular problems such as heart attack and stroke as well as substantial weight gain. To find out that they aren’t even all that effective–on top of these risks–makes you question why such medications are ever prescribed. But that’s another story.
Here at the Whitaker Wellness Institute we focus on the following natural diabetes treatments to get blood sugar under control once and for all.
- Weight Loss: Hands down, losing weight is the best therapy for type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, there’s no magic bullet for weight loss. It requires diet changes, an exercise program, and determination.
- Diet: The most therapeutic diet for diabetes is a low-glycemic, Mediterranean-style menu with lots of vegetables and lean protein, such as fish and poultry; modest amounts of fruit (one serving per day); and healthful fats like olive oil. Stay away from sugar and starches—pasta, cereals, and other grain-based foods drive up blood sugar and increase appetite.
- Exercise: I recommend a brisk 10-minute walk after meals and several sessions of resistance exercise weekly. Walking and other forms of aerobic exercise lower blood sugar and burn calories, while resistance exercise such as weightlifting builds muscle and improves long-term insulin sensitivity.
- Nutritional Supplements: To guard against complications of the blood vessels, nerves, eyes, and kidneys, take a potent, antioxidant-rich daily multivitamin to replace the nutrients that are inevitably lost as a result of the diabetic condition. To lower blood sugar, take vanadyl sulfate 100 mg, alpha lipoic acid 600 mg, chromium 200 mcg, cinnamon 500–1,000 mg, and Gymnema sylvestre 400 mg daily. They may be taken individually or in combination formulas.
Tags: Diabetes, natural diabetes treatment
Posted in Diabetes, Diabetes Treatment | No Comments »
January 14th, 2010
A sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, and sneezing—the common cold is just no fun. Head to any supermarket or drug store and you’ll be overwhelmed by the vast number of products at your fingertips. But these over-the-counter remedies have their drawbacks—from treating symptoms you don’t have to being only marginally effective.
Though I know it sounds trite, prevention is always the best medicine. That’s why you should wash your hands regularly and/or use hand sanitizer often, get plenty of sleep, stay away from sick people, stay hydrated, and take a high-potency multivitamin and mineral supplement. After all, a good offense is the best defense.
But sometimes, you just can’t avoid getting sick. If you do, here are a few natural steps you can take to conquer the common cold.
- Boost Your Vitamin C Intake. At the first sign of a cold, take 500-1000 mg of vitamin C and continue doing so every hour that you are awake. Some gastrointestinal distress can occur with high doses so if you are sensitive, try taking smaller doses—500 mg every two hours for the first day and moving up to higher, more frequent doses on subsequent days.
- Try Echinacea. Echinacea extracts can be tricky because there are so many different brands and delivery systems. The important thing is to look for a standardized product and use as directed.
- Use Zinc Lozenges. If you think you are coming down with something, start sucking on zinc lozenges every two hours. They’ve been shown to reduce cold duration by an average of three days compared to placebo.
- Your Mom Was Right, Eat Chicken Soup. This folk remedy has more than word-of-mouth to support it. A landmark study published in the medical journal Chest demonstrated chicken soup’s symptom-fighting ability and other research has shown that chicken soup acts on white blood cells to prevent them from causing inflammation and congestion.
- Break a Fever With Cayenne Pepper. Despite its fiery taste, cayenne is a cooling herb with a long history of use as a fever reducer. Cayenne is a natural decongestant, which works much like cold and flu medications to restore free breathing. Add some to your chicken soup for added benefits or simply take a bite of hot pepper. This will quickly clear your airways and, as an added bonus, will provide a healthy dose of infection-fighting vitamin C.
- Drink Ginger Tea. Ginger tea boasts myriad health benefits from relieving nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea to boosting immune function due to its high zinc content. To make ginger tea at home, grind a one-inch slice of fresh ginger and squeeze the juice of half a lemon. Add to a cup of steaming hot water, along with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.
Let me know how these remedies work for you and if you have solutions of your own, I’d love to hear them. Email me at testimonials@whitakerwellness.com. Here’s wishing you and your family a healthy remainder of the cold season.
Tags: Alternative Medicine, colds, natural cold remedies
Posted in Alternative Medicine, Immune System, Vitamins | No Comments »
January 5th, 2010
According to a recent online post in the US News and World Report, 62 percent of American’s resolved to exercise more, 60 percent had a goal of eating better, and 46 percent wanted to lose weight in 2010. These aspirations are great but it’s no secret that most New Year’s resolutions are little more than memories by the time February rolls around—and some don’t even last that long.
Losing weight and getting in shape can be difficult, especially if you turn to starvation diets, insane workout regimens, or other drastic measures. But we’ve recently instituted a program at the Whitaker Wellness Institute that helps patients shed pounds, get their diabetes under control, lower blood pressure, and improve health overall. It’s a mini-fast coupled with exercise and it’s so easy, just about anyone can do it.
- When you wake up in the morning, drink a glass of water or a cup of coffee or tea. It’s okay to sweeten your AM beverage with a little low-calorie sweetener such as xylitol or stevia and to add a small amount of creamer but don’t drink or eat anything else.
- Next, get out and exercise moderately for 20-45 minutes. You can walk, cycle, or jog—anything aerobic.
- After your workout, continue on with your day but do not eat or drink anything other than water, coffee, or tea until lunchtime. (You may also take your nutritional supplements if they don’t upset your stomach.) You will probably have to try it to believe it but the combination of exercise and fasting actually blunts your appetite, and the caffeine in tea and coffee helps to put the brakes on hunger as well.
- Your mini-fast ends at lunch. You should eat sensibly for the rest of the day, focusing on lean protein sources such as turkey, chicken, fish, and eggs, and low-glycemic carbohydrates like beans and legumes, fiber-rich veggies, and a little fruit.
Skipping your morning meal not only cuts down on the calories you take in but adding exercise burns additional calories and helps kick-start fat burning in a process called ketosis.
In a recent study of obese individuals, participants who followed this mini-fast protocol for 12 weeks lost 16 pounds of fat (25 percent of their initial fat mass) plus three inches around the waist. The biggest losers were a man and woman who respectively lost an astonishing 44 and 31 pounds of fat! Additionally, the group’s fasting insulin fell by one-quarter, into the normal range.
Try the mini-fast/exercise combo yourself and let me know how it works for you. Don’t be surprised if you see improvements in all aspects of your health—from lower blood sugar readings and better blood pressure to improvements in energy, weight, and so much more. Good luck to you and here’s to starting 2010 off right.
Tags: Diabetes, Exercise, mini-fast, Weight Loss
Posted in Diabetes, Diet, Exercise, Weight Loss | No Comments »
December 23rd, 2009
Well, folks, the end of 2009 is upon us and the holidays are here. It’s time to celebrate with family and friends and take a moment to reflect on the last 12 months.
Surely you’ve enjoyed many blessings but there are likely a few things you’d like to change in 2010. Start by writing down your goals and sharing them with your loved ones. Making your resolutions public will give you more of an incentive to keep them.
Next, remember to keep your expectations realistic. Instead of trying to lose 20 pounds or a drop few pant or dress sizes, why not aim to shed one or two pounds per week? Seeing these small changes over short periods of time will help you stay on track.
Remember, the best gift of all over the holidays is the time you spend with your loved ones. Focus on the camaraderie of the season and be grateful for all that you have.
Here’s wishing you and your family a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year.
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December 8th, 2009
There are several reasons to take a potent multivitamin and mineral supplement. Research shows that shoring up your nutrient status can bolster the immune system, reducing incidence of colds, flu, and sick days taken from work. A good multi can also help stave off chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes. And new research shows that starting children on multivitamins early may prevent allergies down the line.
In the October issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, scientists reported the results of a study examining the correlation between allergies and multivitamin use in more than 2,400 8-year-old children. They found that the kids who began taking a multi before or at age 4 were less sensitive to food allergens. The children taking vitamins also had a decreased risk of developing allergic rhinitis (allergies). The researchers concluded that early use of multivitamin supplements had the potential to reduce risk of allergies in school-age children.
For more on this study, click here.
Parents and grandparents, this is one more reason to start your kids on vitamins early. But even if you or the children in your life didn’t get a jumpstart, there’s no time like the present. I believe that a potent daily multivitamin/mineral combination is the foundation for good health.
Don’t be fooled by those one-a-day multis out there. Most only offer the paltry RDAs (recommended daily allowances), and I don’t believe these amounts are adequate. Instead, look for a combination product that contains the following (or similar) daily dosages:
Vitamin A – 15,000-20,000 IU (mostly as beta-carotene)
Vitamin C – a minimum of 1,000 mg
Vitamin D – a minimum of 800 IU
Vitamin E – 400 IU
Vitamin B6 – 60-75 mg
Vitamin B12 – 150 mcg
Folic Acid – 400-800 mcg
Calcium – a minimum of 500 mg, preferably 1,000 mg
Zinc – 15-30 mg balanced with 1-2 mg of copper
Magnesium – 500 mg
Tags: allergies, kids, multivitamins
Posted in Allergies/Asthma, Alternative Medicine, Vitamins, Wellness | No Comments »
November 26th, 2009
Thanksgiving is upon us and with it comes the start of the holiday season. It’s been a rough year for many Americans and though times may be tough, do your best to focus on all of the blessings in your life. Know that the most valuable among these are your family, your friends, and your health.
As you gather with acquaintances new and old, remember that what makes these holidays most meaningful is not a tipsy head or a bloated stomach so be mindful of your “celebrating.”
Thanksgiving is a perfect time to take a moment to reflect on the year gone by, make some decisions about things (within your control) you’d like to change moving forward, and start preparing for the year ahead. You want to improve your health? Make a resolution now to start that new diet and exercise plan. Why wait until January 1? Do your personal relationships need attention? Write down your goals for making amends and get started today. The sooner, the better.
Finally, remember to take time out each and every day to recognize and be thankful for the many gifts you enjoy.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
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November 23rd, 2009
We all know fiber is good for us. It helps “move things along.” It aids in satiety, making you feel full longer. And the latest research suggests that getting plenty of fiber may not only stave off type 2 diabetes but also improve blood sugar levels in those already diagnosed with the disease.
Apples may come to mind when you’re thinking high-fiber foods. And with 5 grams in each medium-sized piece of fruit, they’re not a bad choice. (Don’t forget to eat the skin!) However, there are a number of other delicious and healthy high-fiber foods out there. Here’s a list of some of my favorites.
1 cup beans (12-15 grams, depending on variety)
1 medium-sized avocado (11.84 grams)
1 cup raspberries (8.34 grams)
1 cup soybeans (7.62 grams)
1 cup cooked kale (7.20 grams)
½ medium grapefruit (6.12 grams)
1 cup cooked sweet potato (5.94 grams)
Source: Common Sense Health Web site
While all of these foods contain appreciable amounts of fiber, my number one recommendation is freshly ground flax seed. In addition to providing 11 grams of fiber per quarter-cup, flax is also a great source of protective lignans and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. It has impressive cholesterol-lowering benefits as well.
A few years ago, Beverly M. had a cholesterol level of 307. She read about my recommendations for lowering cholesterol in my newsletter, Health & Healing, and began taking flax seed. Within six months, her cholesterol fell to 206. As she says, “It sure beats Pravachol [a statin drug] with all its side effects at over a hundred dollars a prescription.”
Just buy a cheap coffee grinder , and grind up ¼-cup of flax seeds a day. Mix in water and drink quickly (it thickens upon standing), or sprinkle on salads, soups, or other foods. You’re bound to notice the benefits soon after adopting this healthy practice.
Tags: Diabetes, fiber, Weight Loss
Posted in Diabetes, Diet, Prevention, Weight Loss, Wellness | No Comments »
