Q & A
This page as an open thread for reader questions, especially questions about personal health concerns.
I am putting this page up as a way to share knowledge — my knowledge with questioners, but also so that others with similar concerns can read the conversation, and readers with relevant knowledge can chip in with their own thoughts.
Please keep in mind that I can’t research questions in any depth, so my answers should be considered tentative, incomplete, and subject to later correction. Also, I am not a doctor, and nothing I say should be construed as a substitute for medical diagnosis and treatment. I am only sharing opinions about disease origins and general therapeutic strategies which may or may not be applicable in any given case.
To get the page started, I’ll put up a few questions from recent emails. Here is an index by disease, with clickable links:
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
- Bloating, acid reflux, anxiety, depression, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, fatigue
- Lupus
- Depression
And here are my answers.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
Paul,
Been following your work on the PHD before the publication of the book and commented on my CLL and the usefulness of Vitamin D once on your blog and you responded to keep an eye on my Vitamin K intake, which I do now.. Am fortunate in a way to have my form of CLL as it indolent which gives me the opportunity to experiment without the pressure of undergoing conventional treatment. The PHD, I think, is helpful in this regard.
Wonder if you could point anything out to me that may be useful. Anything at all. And I will be happy to share with you my results.
Surely you know of the helpfulness of green tea with CLL. You may not be familiar with research that points out that those with low levels of Vitamin D need treatment for CLL far sooner than those with elevated levels.
Feel strongly that your version of a ketogenic diet would be helpful but also feel I need some direction in this area. Do you have any suggestions?
Warmest Regards,
A
Hi A,
I remember your comment, thanks for writing back. I’m glad you’re enjoying our diet and wish you the best.
Thanks for the tips about green tea and vitamin D. Neither one surprises me.
Most likely CLL is caused by a viral infection. So enhancing viral immunity is probably a good idea. Good strategies may include: (1) low-protein dieting, which inhibits viral reproduction and can promote autophagy; (2) maintaining high vitamin D levels; and (3) intermittent fasting, which promotes autophagy.
Some food compounds have been reported to have antiviral effects. An example is green tea catechins, eg http://pmid.us/16137775, http://pmid.us/18313149, and http://pmid.us/18363746, and this could be why green tea is helpful against cancers, http://pmid.us/21595018, which are usually viral in origin.
I might search Pubmed for herbs and spices with antiviral effects, and use them abundantly in cooking, along with antiviral foods. Turmeric / curcumin is a good choice, this needs to be taken with black pepper to enter the body. See http://pmid.us/21299124, http://pmid.us/20434445, http://pmid.us/20026048.
Coconut oil / lauric acid also has some antiviral properties, so inducing ketosis with coconut oil could benefit you even aside from the ketosis. You could also try monolaurin supplements which may enter the body better and which some people have reported to help viral infections.
You might also try HDL-raising tactics as discussed in this series: HDL and Immunity, April 12; HDL: Higher is Good, But is Highest Best?, April 14; How to Raise HDL, April 20.
Another possible tactic is high-dose riboflavin with UV exposure on the eyes. This requires going outdoors at midday and not wearing glasses or contact lenses. Riboflavin+UV is toxic to blood-borne viruses, and the retina is a location where UV can reach circulating blood cells. Sun exposure will also help you optimize vitamin D.
That’s a few ideas, at some point I’ll do some research to come up with more and do a blog post. Do keep me posted on your results!
Best, Paul
Bloating, acid reflux, anxiety, depression, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, fatigue
Just came upon your website and had a question for you. I have had some health concerns for the last four years, bloating, acid reflux, anxiety, depression, hypoglycemia symptoms, female complaints (I am in my forties), thyroid antibodies at 333, weight gain around my middle and too tired to work out like I once did. I used to be fikiiled with energy and great health no depression or anxiety. My doctor thinks these symtoms are all from peri-menopause and wants to treat me with Zoloft.
Needless to say I have tried to avoid the Zoloft. I have tired every avenue out there to cure myself. Most recently the Primal type diet. When I eat no grains or dairy I get horrible hypoglycemia symptoms and don’t feel great like everyone else on a low carb diet. I feel weak and more anxious. Do you think your diet would be easier for me with the addition of rice and potatoes?
G
Hi G,
Yes, I do think our diet will be better for you. You should eat enough starches to avoid hypoglycemia.
The key thing for you is treating the infections which are consuming so much glucose and making you glucose-deficient if you don’t eat enough carbs. Whatever pathogen(s) this is, it seems to have infected your gut and caused the various gut problems; circulating pathogen-derived toxins and immune cytokines are probably responsible for the anxiety and depression. Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism may be either due to circulating toxins or a thyroid infection.
I would suspect some kind of protozoal or parasitic infection due to the hypoglycemia, but what I really recommend is getting your doctor to have a stool sample analyzed for pathogens. Metametrix has a good test. Once you know what pathogen to treat, and get on a better diet like ours, you should improve quickly.
Lupus
I am writing on behalf of my mother … We live in Dhaka Bangladesh …
Before her illness, my mom was 105 lbs, 5 feet tall and always 10ft tall in spirit…. When she was diagnosed with Lupus at the age of 30, we were all overwhelmed and out of our depths. My beautiful, athletic mother was in a wheelchair and given 6 months to live….
The doctors has advised her to eat literally nothing, minimum protein (1 small piece of chicken/fish, limited to 20g protein per day), only 2-3 types of vegetable and 2-3 fruits and of course lots of carbs to apparently compensate for her failing KIDNEY and LUPUS. She is on tons of medication, no food except the wrong foods (carbs) and in chronic pain. She currently weighs 139 lbs.
Please advise. — S
Hi S,
I believe lupus is a catch-all diagnosis for a variety of conditions which are probably caused by undiagnosed infections. In the US the infections are usually bacterial. I’ve known several people with diagnosed lupus who were cured by antibiotic treatments – in one case the problem was Lyme disease (Borrelia). I have no idea what the likely pathogens would be in Bangladesh. If she does better on low carb and coconut oil, that indicates bacteria; if she does better on high-carb, that indicates protozoa.
A healthy diet is very important. It is very bad advice to “eat literally nothing,” it is essential to be well nourished. Protein is necessary for healing and immune function, and 20 g/day is too little. Fasting is good, but it should be intermittent – not starvation! She needs healthy fats, more protein, and lots of micronutrients. Eggs, shellfish, seafood, bone broth soups, vegetable soups, and fermented vegetables may all be helpful. Coconut milk is probably good for her. You should basically follow the program in our book.
I would try to put her on a good diet, give her a little time for kidneys and other tissues to heal, and then try antimicrobial medicines. Usually, if they’re not working, then you don’t notice an effect. Any strong effect, good or bad, means they are working. Bad effects mean that pathogens are dying and releasing a lot of toxins as they disintegrate. If this occurs, detox aids (salt, water, and one of cholestyramine/charcoal/bentonite clay; also glutathione supports and vitamin C) will help.
Please stay in touch and let me know how things go.
Best, Paul
Depression
I’ve suffered from depression for decades. A few months ago, I decided to try the Dr. Kruse protocol for jumpstarting leptin sensitivity and 2 interesting things happened.
When I went very low carb – below 50 gm -. I had half-day periods where the depression suddenly lifted (something that has rarely happened otherwise). However, I also suffered from darker than normal periods.
I stopped the Dr. Kruse protocol after 6 weeks, and went back to regular paleo (approx. 200 – 300 gm. Carb/day). I’m now generally more depressed than usual, without the good periods.
These changes seem to indicate that I can have an influence on my depression with diet, but not sure what diet to try. Thoughts?
Hi Jersie,
I think your experience on very low carb is diagnostically telling.
I would interpret it this way:
- Your depression is caused by an interferon-gamma mediated immune response in the brain, probably caused by a viral or bacterial infection. This leads to tryptophan being directed away from serotonin and toward the kynurenine pathway. So you have a serotonin deficiency and kynurenine excess.
- A ketogenic diet is both therapeutic (promotes immunity against bacterial and viral infections) and mood-improving (clears kynurenine).
- However, you are at risk for hypoglycemia in the brain (especially if the infection is bacterial) and hypoglycemia causes irritability/anxiety and can aggravate depression.
So the very low-carb diet had mixed effects (ketosis, hypoglycemia).
What I would do is follow our ketogenic diet advice. Eat at least 50 g/day carbs from starches to get sufficient glucose, plus sufficient protein to reach 600 calories/day protein+carb, but add in large amounts of MCT oil or coconut oil. Also, do intermittent fasting – eat all the carbs within an 8-hour window; eat at least half the MCT oil in the 16-hour fasting window.
Once on a good diet, I might experiment with antibiotics to see if they relieve symptoms.
Please let me know how things go.
via this link:
Hi Paul,
Question about returned symptoms. Could you help me brainstorm which organ is failing me? or the root cause
Returned Symptoms are increased hair loss, increased pimples, and skipped period for the month. I have a history of skipped periods, but wondering if there is a root cause? and if hair loss and pimples are related symptoms?
Continuing Symptoms are bowel movements once a week.
It started raining so last time I got sun was probably 1-2 weeks ago. My diet is almost PHD (I’m eating excess carbs, excess PUFA from chx/salmon). Not taking any supplements (hoping to start in 1-2 weeks).
Also what causes pimples to be slow-healing and leave hyper-pigmentation marks??
Appreciate your help. And good luck on your interview with Underground Wellness!! Will tune in
Hi Monnyica,
It definitely sounds like you are hypothyroid. I wouldn’t care to guess what else is going on.
Hi Paul,
Hypothyroid was my initial guess, even though my Sept 2012 blood test showed normal results for FT4 and TSH. That was during my last bout of hair loss. (Just to be clear, by hair loss, I mean 30-50 strands per day on average)
FT4 1.1 (0.8 – 1.7)
TSH 1.2 (0.1 – 5.5)
Body Temp 98.1
I plan to ask for a FT3 and Antibodies test. Would you say that this is an unnecessary request?
Do you recommend that I also track my Basal Body Temp or unnecessary?
Hi Monnyica,
I think more tests is better. You have a puzzling situation so more information is desirable.
I personally wouldn’t know what to do with a basal temperature series, but maybe it can be helpful. You might google that to see if others recommend it.
Hi Monnyica,
I just wanted to tell you about my experience because I had all the same symptoms you describe above on and off until recently.
Although I’m not completely sure what ended up helping in the end (as there are so many factors involved) a couple of things seemed to contribute to getting my period back every month.
Both times that I have attempted a very low carb diet (like gaps etc for my tummy) my periods where thrown off. I would get one every other month. And because I was so low carb, I was eating A LOT of meat.
So PHD has helped me to feel safe increasing carbs and I follow the 15% protein approach. These things seem to have improved acne and periods. Perhaps this approach improved thyroid function even though, like you, my numbers were not bad.
I also starting taking B12 and this helped with the hair loss but I don’t know why. Don’t overdo the B12 if you decide to try it. I was told the injections were the best but, again, I found that they threw off my system so perhaps normal supplements would be ok. I don’t know what Paul thinks about injections vs. supplements in the case of B12. Some say we don’t absorb the B12 in supplement form.
I also suspect (even now) low stomach acid to an issue.
Hope you feel better soon!
Hi Amy M,
Thanks for sharing your experience! I have the opposite problem, I’m eating excess carbs, 4-5 cups White Rice and a large Potato per day (will start limiting my carbs though). I suspect low stomach acid for myself as well.
So far, google tells me I either have: Hypothyroid, PCOS, Zinc deficiency, Copper excess…
Hi all,
Anyone know if Rice Syrup is sweeter than Dextrose?
The ‘no grains’ element of the suggested diet regime interests me – as ‘wholemeal’ bread et al was considered healthy a period back. What should replace the daily bread? I do have the book! Highly interesting.
Hi John,
Whole plant foods — white rice and potatoes are good choices.
Or do you mean, how can you make sandwiches without bread?
Hello Paul and thank you.
As being hypothyroid for years, the ‘grains’ aspect seemed worth a look and a trial, i.e. cut down on same. As for potatoes and rice, I have looked at the Okinawa study with interest. I recall the sheer quantity of white rice consumed by a karate master (world class, Japanese) after workouts and his body was incredible. No BREAD. You are what you eat remains a truism. Thanks again for taking time to comment. Much appreciated (just waiting now on your recipe book!!?)
John
Thanks John! We want to make the cookbook a very good one so it needs some time to ferment in our minds, but we’ll get it out as soon as we can!
Paul, on cookbooks, it seems good to get the recipes out that you have then add revised/update cookbooks as you go. Cookbooks lend themselves well to Amazons CreateSpace and Kindle direct publishing options.
Hi Paul,
Do you have any advice/views on the treatment of h pylori…
I do not know if i have h pylori as yet, but i will ask to get tested the next time i see my Doc. I do have some symptoms, so i would not be surprised if i was infected.
Anyways, the standard treatment seems to be ‘triple therapy’ which consists on 2 type of antibiotics and either a PPI or an H2 antagonist.
I do not have any objections to taking the antibiotics. And they do seem to be the surest way to get rid of h pylori for good. And i would make sure i got plenty of fermented and probiotic foods/supps during and post treatment.
As for the PPI or H2 Blockers, i’m not so sure about, these seem to do more harm than good. And, maybe they are prescribed more for the treatment of ulcers and gerd than h pylori alone?
I would appreciate your thoughts.
I was thinking, that if i did test positive for h pylori, but without any ulcers, then i would just take the antibiotics.
Of course, if i was unlucky & i was shown to have ulcers, i guess i would need to take the PPI or H2 Blocker as well. Though i have not researched this at all.
Thanks You
You can kill two birds with one stone if you can get diagnosed via an endoscopy. They will take multiple biopsies of your stomach lining and check for any ulcers in the interim, thus you can avoid needless PPI’s after the triple therapy, should that be the case.
H.Pylori aim for neutral stomach acidity, I assume PPI’s help in that they spend less time in the mucus layer, thus making the antibiotics have greater coverage.
If there isn’t any H.Pylori, your next best step would be a Metametrix stool test. That would also detect H.Pylori, as a back-up, aswell as a chance of uncovering/clarifying the real pathogen or problem.
So i saw my Doctor today,
My main symptoms i’m trying to attack at the moment are,
– Waking during the night, maybe 3 to 4 times with a mild burning sensation in my throat. sometimes take some water to ‘cool’ it down.
– brown non-phlegmy saliva in the night/mornings only (saliva is clear during the day). I showed my Doc samples from 2 consecutive nights.
– lump in throat feeling, always trying to clear throat.
– started about 2 months a go, a that time my voice went a bit horse/croaky (horse voice has cleared up). I surmise some stomach juices hit my voice box.
The Doc inspected my throat & stomach, I think he was checking for a hiatal hernia.
Anyway, he has given me a prescription for Nexium 40 mg (a PPI). He didn’t actually tell me what it was or what it was for. I had to question him.
So he believes i have stomach fluids coming up in to my throat & even in to my mouth during the night. I agree with this.
I am going to trial the Nexium (1 per day) for up to 2 weeks & monitor my symptoms. The nexium may or may not help, but if it doesn’t, at least it will allow me to progress the consultation process with my Doctor.
He admitted (on asking), that of course it is an assumption that i high stomach acid, this is how medicine works (trial and error).
The prescription read to take in the mornings, which i queried, as i only have issues at night; he said i can take in the evening instead (which i will).
Anyway,
just thought i’d put this info up for Paul & others to comments on.
& maybe a comment from Paul on my h pylori query above as well.
Thank You all
Hi Darrin,
I’m sort of agnostic about H pylori treatment. H pylori is associated with negative outcomes but so too probably is antibiotic treatment of H pylori. If you can trace symptoms to H pylori then I’d probably treat it.
Long-term PPI use does tend to do more harm than good, but they will reduce damage to the esophagus. So it’s kind of moving a fire from one structure to another, but not putting it out. I think their biggest value is diagnostic. If PPIs relieve your throat issues, you can be confident they are due to acid reflux. But the key is to figure out and fix the underlying cause of the acid reflux, not stay on PPIs continuously.
I remember reading somewhere that acid reflux symptoms can be caused by the body producing too little stomach acid as opposed to too much, and in that case would be treated through diet or even taking a hydrochloric acid supplement. I don’t recall the mechanism involved, but I’m sure a web search would find plenty of reading material.
Hi Frank,
Yes, that’s right. SIBO can cause acid reflux and having proper stomach acid production will tend to sterilize the stomach and small intestine, curing the infection. This is a good example of why taking PPIs can make matters worse — suppressing stomach acid further makes microbial overgrowth even more likely.
Thanks Paul, Frank and Faisal,
On the PPI front, exactly my thoughts, i am going try it short term only as a diagnostic tool. & if the PPI does stop the reflux & allows me to sleep through the night that will be a welcome & much needed bonus.
The best outcome would be that the PPI works & i stop using after 2 to 4 weeks & the reflux does not return.
But, if it does return, i go in search of the cause (& not revert back to PPI’s).
As for low stomach acid, i read about that too. & i did give Betaine HCL a trial for a few weeks & it did not seem to help any.
Having said that, i still have not ruled that i could have low stomach acid.
I’ll update in the future as the diagnosis moves forward.
typo fix…”Having said that, i still have not ruled out that i could have low stomach acid.”
Hi Paul,
Regarding Organic Bacon, would it help to pour fat out of the skillet after frying it, before adding eggs into it? Would it really be a significant amount of Omega 6s if eaten 3 times a week?
What do you think of supplementing with FOS/Inulin, Especially on a Keto version?
One last question, Cocao Nibs contain a lot of Magnesium, can they be eaten daily, I see mostly Saturated Fats, not sure if the rest are Omega 6s.
Total Fat 12 g
Saturated Fat 7 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 0 mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 10 g
Dietary Fiber 9 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 4 g
Hi Paul, do you need to take liquid Silica supplement on the empty stomach or with food is ok?
Hi St,
I think with food is good.
St,
Everything contains omega 6. You’ll notice vast improvements simply by eliminating the industrial seed oils as well as grains. I wouldn’t over think it. Animal fats are primarily saturated and monounsaturated. Sure pork and chicken have more Omega 6 than ruminant meat and seafood, but when you are talking about pan fried bacon, the difference is negligible. Remember bacon doesn’t have much weight. You could have bacon every morning and still be under a pound per week of meat. Now 8 oz pork chops every night might be a different story. I personally drain the fat and coat my pan with a light layer of grass fed better. But I do that very little because i’m considered about the omega 6. I do it because with any fat at that temperature, you run the risk of damage and oxidation. That said, I have been known to drop sweet potato slices (softened via my steamer) into that broth. We gotta indulge every once in a while!
Cocoa nibs are cocoa beans – the starting point of coca, which is then made into chocolate. And dark chocolate is extremely healthy. In fact, Paul just hinted that he may be close to recommending it every day. Only about three percent of cocao’s fat is omega 6. And you’re going right for the bean, with no processing or added sugars! That’s an excellent snack choice.
If you want to take it to the next level on the omega 6 thing, before worrying about what type of meat and whether or not to drain fat, make sure you are eating very little nuts. Almonds contain close to four grams of Omega 6 per handful. Others contain much more. Plus nuts are very high in toxins and anti-nutrients – the very reasons why we avoid grains. I’m baffled by how many people switch to this lifestyle and think that they are okay, as well as how few authors warn of their risks.
Good luck. Sorry I can’t help you with your other questions.
Thanks Clark, that was an awesome reply. So I would think cocao nibs/chocolate can possible replace some of the magnesium supplementation. I think I will get chocolate instead of those nibs then :).
Since I have bacon daily, that is why it was a bit worrying for me. I eat a lot of coconut fat and lard, but for some reason bacon is still in mind mind as a borderline healthy/coutious.
Hi Paul, I’m wondering why you consider palm oil as an “optional” food supplement and why you only recomend using it weekly. Vitamin E is a difficult nutrient for PHD folks to include in the diet and 1tbsp only supplies a days worth of RDA of E.
Thanks,
Jonathan
Hi Jonathan,
Well, it’s a good question, but it’s not really clear how much vitamin E people need.
Supplementing might be good for people losing weight, but in general you shouldn’t need a lot on a low-PUFA diet like ours.
The RDA is a useful guideline, and maybe we should try to hit the RDA, but it’s not obvious that it’s necessary.
Dear Paul,
just reading your micro nutritions part.
i don’t like supplements and think about getting fresh kefir grains instead of supplements for k2 and fermented vegetables.
but the vitamin D part i believe its worth using supplements during winter/dark time of the year. in Germany i get 1000 units per pill. is it wise to take two pills daily then or is 1000 enough if i’m every day at least an hour out biking in the city…
Thank you!
Gregor
Hi Gregor,
Unfortunately in Germany in the winter it would take about 6 hours of sun on 50% of the body to obtain a full day’s D, about 4000 IU. So I think you probably need more than 1000 IU – 2500 would probably be about right. You can get yourself tested to be sure.
Hi Paul,
I’ve been thinking about and reading up on Vitamin A recently and wanted to get your input on a few thoughts/ questions…
1) If someone suspected that they might be deficient in Vitamin A (for example, not eating enough vit A rich foods for years, eating low-fat, etc) then would it be better for them to eat more than the recommended amount of liver per week? Or does that still somehow pose a threat for vit A toxicity? (I don’t really know how the body handles vit A intake, other than that it stores it in the liver and other organs– I don’t know how much, how often, etc)
2) My mom has had some problems with her eyes for the past few years and because of it, she’s not comfortable driving anymore (she’s only in her late 60s). She’s had her eyes checked several times and they have only said maybe its because she looks at her computer screen too much, etc… I think she could be deficient in vit A possibly so I told her to try to eat liver maybe once a week (she used to buy it a lot before I was born because she said it was cheap but she doesn’t eat it anymore for the most part) and she drinks skim milk (no fat, no vit A, right?) and Greek yogurt (which I think is also no fat). Other vit A- related foods I know that she eats are eggs, but she’s not a big eater and they only have eggs maybe every other day. She also started taking some zinc due to a viral thing she’s been fighting for the past few weeks, but I know the zinc might help with eyes also. Could my hypothesis of a Vitamin A deficiency be possible?
Thanks!
KH
Hi KH,
You can eat more liver, but don’t eat more than 1/3 lb beef or lamb liver — eat chicken liver for extra liver.
Vitamin A deficiency produces night blindness, so if her vision is especially bad at night then it could be vitamin A.
Other common problems include cataracts, glaucoma, diseases of angiogenesis (like macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy), and others, but generally these should be visible on an eye exam and they would have told her about the conditions.
B6, B12, and choline can reduce the risk of macular degeneration, so she might consider eating more egg yolks and supplementing B vitamins at least once a week.
Ok, thanks Paul. Just for clarification– the reason for switching over to chicken liver after you’ve had the maximum weekly beef or lamb liver is because chicken liver isn’t high in Copper, right? Are there other reasons?
And, yes, her night vision has been bad for a long time, so I’m guessing Vitamin A deficiency might be likely.
Hi KH,
Yes, copper is the problem.
Vitamin A sounds like a good candidate. I hope it works.
Howdy Paul, for those of us with cfs symptoms, what do you think about the efficacy of PQQ?
Looking forward to the book on tues!!!
Jonathan
Hi Jonathan,
It is effective which is a double edged sword, as it supports infectious microbes just as well as human mitochondria. I personally don’t take it.
Hi Paul,
Can’t wait for your book to be released, will there be any specifics about candida/fungal/yeast/gut flora issues in the new issue?
The reason I ask is because I want to increase my starch intake but I have some white coating on the back of my tongue. When I tried upping my carb intake with white potatoes, I became very gassy and I had some stomach pains. Currently I eat a decent amount of butternut squash as my starch intake without much problems.
I was thinking that maybe I should try white rice instead rather than potatoes. Sweet potatoes supposedly inhibit thyroid function, something that I want to avoid.
Should I start with a little bit of white rice daily and keep upping the amount till I get issues? I’m not sure how to go about this.
Thanks
Hi dynamik,
I think it’s worth a try. Starting small and seeing at what dose problems appear is a good method.
Here’s the ‘Candida Plan’ food list. It’s almost the same as PHD. Maybe cold potatoes are better? http://www.candidaplan.com/new/the_plan/yesnofoods.php
Some natural treatments from the Candida Library, <-which seems to work now (coconut oil, thyme, green tea, cinnamon, reservatrol, don't do too much)
http://www.candidalibrary.org/cand_lib/category.php?id=71
Yes, that’s a good diet; basically PHD with extra vegetables is our anti-Candida recommendation.
However, in entrenched cases it will take more than food, treatment may be necessary, eg anti-fungal drugs. However if you don’t have obvious symptoms, just go with food and probiotics/fermented vegetables.
The author of that plan doesn’t like antifungal drugs:
http://candidaplan.com/blog/513/the-paradoxal-effect-of-antifungal-drugs/
The problem of antibiotic resistance is universal, it doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t receive treatment. It means we need to be constantly developing new antimicrobial drugs. Here the main problem is with the FDA, which has too many regulatory hurdles to the development of antimicrobials.
Paul,
Would you consider Glutinous Rice Flour a safe starch and equivalent on a carb for carb basis as white rice?
thanks,
Evan
Hi Evan,
Yes, it’s just as good as white rice.
Dr. Jaminet,
One of my friends asked my to purchase Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s book “Eat to Live”. I was expecting the common saturated fat and fatty meats/dairy is linked to cancer and diseases. Sure enough it’s exactly what the book had implied. I stumbled upon something while previewing the book that asked whether 100 calories of broccoli or 100 calories of steak had more protein. Dr Furhman implies that his clients say steak, in which he claims its the opposite, broccoli. I find this statement very biased and obviously inaccurate, since he opposes all sources of meat. I am a huge advocate of the 65-15-20 and avoiding toxic foods, which Dr. Furhman also fails to understand since he mentions whole grains and legumes. Coconut oil and Palm Kernel Oil received a negative rap, which I found rather ridiculous. I would like to get your opinion on why so many nutritionists/doctors don’t know the truth behind toxicity, saturated fat, and healthy high fat diets, which humans should be eating. We need more nutrition experts like you who extensively research the literature for accurate information regarding nutrition. Can’t wait for the new book! Happy Holidays!
Hi Luke,
100 g of cooked broccoli has 35 calories and 2 g protein: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2357/2
100 g of sirloin steak has 243 calories and 27 g protein: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/beef-products/3793/2
So, per 100 calories, broccoli has 6 g protein and steak has 11 g protein.
Don’t know why Fuhrman would say broccoli has more protein.
Most nutritionists approach diet from a totally different direction, so they don’t worry too much about toxicity or nutrition, instead they look for eating patterns that appear healthy in specific populations. That is not an effective approach in my view.
Happy holidays!
100 calories of a fattier cut of meat may have less protein than broccoli. I think Fuhrman is good for pointing out the value of fruits and vegetables, but there’s other foods.
Hi Paul,
Do you have any thoughts on Blepharitis? (causes and specific treatment options?)
Thank you for your great work.
Judith
Hi Judith,
I associate chronic inflammation with chronic infections, 9 times out of 10 — maybe 99 out of 100 if you count autoimmunity or allergy induced by infections elsewhere in the body. It’s often associated with rosacea which I also think is generally infectious.
Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blepharitis) lists:
– Seborrheic (fungal)
– Staphylococcal (a bacteria)
– Parasitic
NAC which is broadly antimicrobial is worth supplementing.
I would also try an antifungal. Wikipedia notes: “Although anti-fungals like ketoconazole (Nizoral) are commonly prescribed for seborrhoeic dermatitis, dermatologists and optometrists usually do not prescribe anti-fungals for seborrhoeic blepharitis.” I don’t know why doctors are so reluctant to prescribe antifungals, but I think they are worth an experiment and may work.
Best, Paul
Hi Paul,
How much NAC do you recommend, how often per day and for what time course?
Thanks.
Hi Olga,
I don’t have a single recommendation. It should be taken fasted. Try a 500 mg dose and see how that works. There can be negative effects from high doses, NAC is mucolytic and can disturb the gut. Some people go up to 3 g per day.
A lot of pathogens seem to have glutathione-depleting strategies; HIV, HCV, Borrelia (the Lyme disease bacteria). This suggests that low levels favour their survival (or that intracellular oxidative stress stimulates replication, which seems to be the case with viruses).
It’s a sound defensive strategy to thwart the adaptive strategy of a pathogen that’s bothersome.
Hello Paul:
Thank you for this tremendous service you provide all of us with, I look forward to seeing a blog on children’s dose of your recommended supplement regime soon.
Challenging questions for you:
1) At the onset of catching a virus (cold, flu, etc.), do you recommend 1g of Acerola Vitamin C Powder every hour? I have read little research indicating it could cause kidney stones due to the high uric acid?
2) Your adult dose suggestion is to take 1 g of vitamin C/day; is 1 g of Acerola okay or do you call for absorbic acid only?
3) I had a partial lobectomy removed from my thyroid gland; my doctor told me I had an over-active thyroid and suggests I stay away from tyrosine and iodine. I work out. Tyrosine is an amino acid in my powder. Do I stay away from whey protein after weight lifting? And as for iodine, I thought iodine is a necessary nutrient for health. Do I completely avoid iodine?
4) In your book, you call for vitamin K2 supplementation. Why do you not warn for K2 and other supplements those who may not be suitable to consume some supplements, is it because EVERYONE needs to consume your suggested supplements?
5) Do you recommend pregnant women consume the same supplement regimen described in your book?
6) I recently a high amount of arsenic exist in rice NOT from Asia and California. Why do you not mention the type of rice we should eat in your book?
7)What is your suggestion for my mother who continues to have high ferritin levels? She is 63 years old.
Warm Regards,
Eddie Pena & Pena Family
Hi Eddie,
I think Acerola is fine for low doses, I’m not sure about a gram every hour. It could be fine but you might overdose on something else. Pure vitamin C would be fine at that dose, just stop if you start feeling queasy.
1 g of Acerola per day is OK.
You don’t really need whey protein, you can eat food instead. Just eat a meal that includes meat, fish, or eggs.
You have to judge iodine by how you feel. Do you become hyperthyroid after eating seafood or seaweed? If so you will react badly to iodine. If not, try low doses, like cutting one of the 225 mcg tablets into small pieces. If you don’t notice anything, take a small dose of iodine daily. But don’t become hyperthyroid.
I think K2 is safe and beneficial for almost everyone.
Yes, pretty much. Pregnant women need extra choline, and may need extra iron. I don’t believe there’s anything in our program that is excessive for pregnant women.
The arsenic in rice issue might be a good thing to mention in the book. I don’t think we did however. Just an oversight. I haven’t seen any white rice for sale that was grown in arsenic rich regions, however, so there’s not much risk to it.
Does your mother donate blood?
Best, Paul
Thank you for your email, Paul.
1) What is pure vitamin C, is it ascorbic acid?
2) When kids (age 3 & 6) are beginning to feel sick, do you suggest kids consume 500mg every hour and If so, which form, Acerola or ascorbic acid?
3) Prevention of illness (viruses) helps keep illnesses to a minimum. I am considering a supplement to help. At what dose would you suggest for kids (age 3 & 6) for the following supplement?:
Amt. per serving
Vitamin C (Acerola)… 60mg
vitamin D (cholecalciferol) 2500IU
Boneset Leaf Powder 200mg
Yarrow Root Powder 200mg
pepermint leaf powder 195 mg
european elder flower extract 160mg
dimethylglycine 150mg
oregano oil extract 50mg
propolis gum eep 50mg
olive leaf extract 25mg
other ingredients:Vcaps, cellulose capsule, water, cassava starch, maltodextrin
4) I hear from nutritionists and doctors that whey protein is essential to muscle recovery after weight training because our digestive tracts are very vascular and will not digest food effectively after weight training. For such studies that suggest the need for whey protein, why do you think the whey protein is unnecessary (my nodule was benign and my yearly check-ups continuously return normal with no thyroid issues–normal thyroid function). The partial lobectomy was performed about 5 years ago. My thyroid has been functioning fine since.
5) Under which circumstances would advise someone to NOT consume supplemental vitamin K?
Basmati rice and rice grown in California are less toxic. My mother does not donate blood however, I will tell her to do so.
Finally, at least for now, if my wife and kids want to send a post card expressing our gratitude for you and your wife, what PO Box or address can we use to send mail?
Warm Regards,
Eddie
Hi Eddie,
1. Yes.
2. Not necessarily. You have to be careful not to disturb their digestive tracts. So talk to them and make sure their tummies are feeling good.
3. I have no idea what some of those ingredients do as long-term supplements so I wouldn’t recommend that supplement.
4. We can digest food after exercise, including protein from food. Whey has a good mix of amino acids but so do fish, eggs, and many meats.
5. If they have clotting issues they should avoid K1, but I think K2 is desirable for just about everyone. However, in diseases with clotting risk people should consult their doctors.
Best, Paul
Thank you, Paul. I want to discuss two subjects for those like myself who wish not to get the flu shot; (A) How to prevent illness/viral infections during the flu season and (B)What strategies to use when one contracts the flu. My goal is to lessen the effects of flu or any other virus.
1) What are your thoughts about my preventive illness plan pertaining to children (ages 3 & 6):
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE METHOD
If showing signs of upper-repertory infection or any other viral infection, perform all of the following:
A) Supplement 500mg of pure vitamin C every day.
B) Eat according to the plan outlaid in your book.
C) Continue supplementation of 1,000 IU of vitamin D/d (according to Michael F. Holick, Ph.D., M.D.) along with vitamin K2 MK-7 of 90mcg/d.
D) Drink plenty water.
METHOD TO USE WHEN HAVE A FLU/COLD
A) Increase vitamin D to 4000 IU/d for one week along with vitamin K2 MK-7 of 90mcg/d.
B) Provide Tylenol to help bring fever down. (By the way, does Tylenol or Motrin interact with K2 supplement? Can you take K2 with Tylenol/Motrin/Tamiflu)?
C)Consume 500 mg every hour of pure vitamin C until loose stools develop. If loose stools, reduce dose to 200 mg every hour.
D)Follow the diet outlaid in your book.
E)Drink plenty water.
F)Pour about a little less than 1/2 CAP full of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide in one ear, turn head over and do the same for the other ear.
Other questions: What are your thoughts about children drinking royal matcha green tea? Would you give Manuka Honey a good strategy to use when you get flu or any other virus?
If you disagree with my personal plan, why? Please elaborate. And what techniques would you suggest instead.
Best Regards,
Eddie Pena
Hi Eddie,
All of it sounds good except the Tylenol for fever. I would tend to trust the body to do the right thing, and assume that a fever is beneficial.
Vitamin C may induce a queasy feeling before it induces loose stools. If it does then stop.
Not sure about the hydrogen peroxide, but as long as it doesn’t burn it should be OK.
Green tea and manuka honey or propolis should be fine.
Hi Paul,
I am a 6’2″ 195lb 21 year old who currently eats 2000 calories at 65/20/15. I calculated my BMR which is at 2100 calories and I am lightly active so I can add another 600-700 calories to 2100. So in theory my body needs 2800 calories. Since I get 700 daily glucose calories, 400 calories from carbs and 300 from protein, and 1300 from healthy fats, is it necessary for me to increase my calorie intake by 500 to fulfill my height, weight, age, and activity level needs? Thanks in advance for your response.
Hi Paul,
I don’t trust calculations. If you’re hungry, eat; if not, don’t eat.
That’s a fairly minimal carb and protein intake. You could stand to increase the carbs a bit.
Hi Paul,
I am a 6’2″ 195lb 21 year old who currently eats 2000 calories at 65/20/15. I calculated my BMR which is at 2100 calories and I am lightly active so I can add another 600-700 calories to 2100. So in theory my body needs 2800 calories. Since I get 700 daily glucose calories, 400 calories from carbs and 300 from protein, and 1300 from healthy fats, is it necessary for me to increase my calorie intake by 500 to fulfill my height, weight, age, and activity level needs? Thanks in advance for your response.
See above.
I have question for my daughter. She is a beautician that deals with lots of harsh chemicals, dyes, etc…. She is worried about long term health issues, as I. She works long hours and in a Mall! She tries to follow diet but it is very hard. Can you recommend a program for her. Helpful goods, supplements, detox methods, or just any helpful advice. She recently suffered a bleach burn through latex gloves…..
Thank you so very much in advance for any help
A.N.
Hi Arlene,
I don’t know how to protect against the chemicals, but for detox in the body the key thing is glutathione status. For that she can supplement NAC and vitamin C; also eat extra egg yolks for choline and other nutrients, and get sufficient protein.
Hi Paul! My PHD book arrives today! Can’t wait! Speaking of glutathione status, a couple of months ago I purchased a high quality whey powder with Proserum for the very purpose of raising my glutathione status. The recommendation came from Chris Kresser. I do have autoimmune status (celiac and a low suspicious positive test for Hashi’s), so I wanted everything possible to heal. The whey is expensive (grassfed, etc., etc.), so I would be happy not to continue spending the money for it in the future. In your opinion, is there value to a very high quality whey for folks who need their glutathione status improved? I do take daily 1,000 mg of NAC and 1 gram of C (Source Naturals powder from your supp site).
Thank you and congratulations on today’s release of your book!
Hi Paul,
What do you consider an excessive amount of eggs?
Also, have you heard of Rhodiola? If yes, do you know if it is effective for fatigue?
Hi Monnyica,
I would say that more than 7-8 eggs per day is excessive. 3 should be adequate for good nutrition, 5-6 per day in pregnancy or before conception might be a good idea.
I’m afraid I’m not familiar with Rhodiola.
Hi Doctor Jaminet,
I can’t seem to stop eating chocolate; I crave it constantly.
I’ve eaten as much as 4 oz on some days.
Are there any obvious reasons for this?
Many thanks,
Jackson
Hi Jackson,
Well, if it’s a specific appetite for micronutrients, you could be low in magnesium, copper, or zinc.
If it’s the sugar, then you could be low in carbs.
Or it could be that it’s a bit addictive. Exercise can help reduce cravings.
Go directly to http://www.chocoholic.com/ 🙂
In Seattle this evening. B & N already have new PHD on shelf. Beautiful!! Could have actually owned one B/4 11th, but with ten coming from Amazon, I can wait. Everyone is going to love the index!!
H Pylori update – I am now certain object in toilet was a worm. Have trIed to research duodenal worms, they are quite tiny. The one I had was 6″, at least. Any parasitologists out there?
Hey Paul,
What’s your take on supermarket meats versus grass fed and organic please? I get grass fed is much as I can but money is a little tight right now. Is grass fed/organic “necessary” or simply “better”?
Can I still enjoy supermarket fatty steak often, or do we really need to be going with lean cuts or chicken breast like so many others say, maybe adding some organic butter on top?
Contrary to what so many Paleo dieters/advocates say, I’m not aware that grain fed ruminate animals take on too much extra omega 6 in their muscle meat. I thought the real problem with omega 6 was in chicken/pork/farmed fish. And I thought I heard you say the same. The benefit in grass fed ruminate animals is simply more nutrients and no hormones or antibiotics, plus better for the animal and the environment. Correct me if I’m wrong please.
How about Lamb on a budget? Is it true that sheep almost have to be pastured – that they don’t hold up to the more aggressive agricultural methods? They might not be certified organic or grass fed, and they might get some grain, but aren’t they as close as you will get with supermarket meats, especially if imported? Shoulder is still very fatty, extremely tasty, and is often as cheap as conventional beef. I don’t hear writers recommending it enough.
Thanks!
I’m definitely steering clear of dairy and organ meats from conventionally raised animals. But do we even know that hormones/antibiotics are stored in muscle meat?
Hi Clark,
Well, I would strongly recommend grassfed for liver, kidney, and bones.
For steaks I don’t think it matters much. You are right, ruminants will have low omega-6 in muscle meats no matter what they’re fed.
Lamb is a great food. Highly recommended.
Here’s a
Oops, here’s a review of fatty acid profiles and antioxidant content in grass-fed and grain-fed beef:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2846864/
Hi Pauk & Shou-Ching…I am wondering if you have any recommendation/insight into the new Shingles vaccine. I did have chicken pox as a child (I am now 68), and I had a shingles episode about 12 years ago. I
Since it is a re-emergence of a nascent virus, I am not sure if any nutritional advice is relevant.
Hi David,
Unfortunately I don’t have much knowledge about vaccines, so can’t provide insight.
I do think circadian rhythm therapies and intermittent fasting are good ideas.
I would ask Tamara at Internal Balance. http://www.internalbalance.com She deals with these vaccine related questions on a daily/weekly basis.
Dear Paul:
I understand you cannot comment on the flu shot or anything pertaining to thereof so please allow me re-word my question.
(A) In conjuction with suggestions in your book, what sections of the below preventive illness plan do you agree or disagree with and why (pertaining to children ages 3 & 6)?:
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE METHOD
A) Supplement 500mg of pure vitamin C every day.
B) Eat according to the plan outlaid in your book.
C) Continue supplementation of 1,000 IU of vitamin D/d (according to Michael F. Holick, Ph.D., M.D.) along with vitamin K2 MK-7 of 90mcg/d.
D) Drink plenty water.
METHOD TO USE WHEN SICK
A) Increase vitamin D to 4000 IU/d for one week along with vitamin K2 MK-7 of 90mcg/d.
B) Provide Tylenol to help bring fever down. (By the way, does Tylenol or Motrin interact with K2 supplement? Can you take K2 with Tylenol/Motrin/Tamiflu)?
C)Consume 500 mg every hour of pure vitamin C until loose stools develop. If loose stools, reduce dose to 200 mg every hour.
D)Follow the diet outlaid in your book.
E)Drink plenty water.
F)Pour about a little less than 1/2 CAP full of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide in one ear, turn head over and do the same for the other ear.
Other questions: What are your thoughts about children drinking royal matcha green tea? Under what circumstances would you give Manuka Honey to children and adults?
Best Regards,
Eddie Pena
Hi Eddie,
I replied to this above, http://perfecthealthdiet.com/q-a/comment-page-44/#comment-104115
Paul, I note that above you say you trust the body to do the right thing with high fevers. We followed that method when we were kids, but now there’ a great urgency to bring down fevers instead of letting the body fight off invaders on its own. Do you think that has contributed to rampant infections in hospitals today?
This is a good questio, ERP…
Paul:
1) What is your response to the question?
2) Does Tylenol or Motrin interact with K2 supplement and can one take K2 with Tylenol/Motrin/Tamiflu?
3)Just to be clear, supplementation of 500mg of pure vitamin C every day for children is okay?
Hi Eddie,
I believe K2 will be safe with just about anything, and that 500 mg vitamin C is safe for children as long as it doesn’t cause digestive distress.
Thank you, Paul for your patience and willingness to answer my questions and the questions from hundreds of other people. I have much respect for you and your wife. Your book has inspired me to work on a book of my own. I will stay in touch.
-Ed
Hi e,
I don’t know if suppressing fevers is a major cause, but definitely hospital-acquired infections are a big problem.
I saw one study that found doctors and nurses should be washing their hands far more often than they do, as they transmit a lot of infections.
Paul:
The studies in your book which discourage high levels of vitamin D (50+ ng/ml) seem to be long-term persistent yearly levels remaining at 50+ ng/ml. Do you believe during the fall/winter season when viruses are more common, it is okay for one to keep 25OHD levels at around 50-60ng/ml TEMPORARILY until the fall/winter ends and when viruses are not so common (Spring and Summer)? If not, why?
Ed
Hi Eddie,
Well, it’s not clear that extra high vitamin D levels improve immunity, and supplementation in the winter can maintain high vitamin D levels so it’s not clear you need to build D up with extra sun exposure in the summer and early fall. So I’m not convinced that’s desirable. But there may not be much harm in it either.
1. What are your thoughts on varying carb in take with the seasons? Should more carbs be consumed in the spring and summer than in winter.
2. Should fruits be more limited in the winter?
3. Is there any connection with carb intake and circadian biology in terms of the varying lengths of the day in different seasons?
Hi Zack,
1. I don’t think it’s beneficial.
2. No.
3. There are connections between carb intake and circadian biology; we probably do best taking carbs later in the day, as they support evening/night rhythms. But I’m not aware that there is an interaction with length of the day.
hello paul-
So i’ve just heard from my doctor who said my glucouse hydrogen breath test was positive for SIBO. He’d like to put me on a 2 week course of antibiotics.
This presents a dilemma for me because I suspected I might also have candida, so theres a concern that the antibiotics would be harmful.
but at the same time i really tempted to just get rid of all the symptoms ive been having- wouldn’t it be nice if i feel 100% again in 2 weeks?
what i thought about doing was take a very heavy probiotic dose while taking the antibiotics to prevent any candida-related complications.
or i thought i might just start a course of natural antibiotics, like coconut oil, oregano, etc.
what do you think?
HI Tyler,
I don’t think the natural antibiotics are very effective. The antibiotics – probiotics combination has a better chance of working.
Still, you will have to fix whatever dietary or health issue caused the SIBO to develop in the first place, otherwise it may come back. Sometimes just better oral hygiene plus supporting stomach acid production with more salt and maybe betaine hydrochloride at meals can help prevent recurrence.
Another possibility is that the bacteria are in biofilms with Candida and you may have better luck attacking the fungi first.
Hi Paul, is the breath test, the best to test for SIBO?
As per your Wiki link, it seems it can be the main cause of Rosacea right?
Also what do you mean by Oral Hyigene? Getting rid of root canals? or just going to dental cleanings more often?
Paul:
I read radon gas can contribute to cancer; as you are already aware the risk is higher depending where one resides. How neccessary is it to conduct a test to measure levels and how frequent should such a test be conducted. How should tests that result positive for strong gas be remedied in one’s house?
Hi Eddie,
It’s not necessary to test at all. The key is to ventilate your basement by running a small hose from outdoors to the basement floor. That increases air pressure in the basement and prevents radon from diffusing into the basement in any quantity.
Thanks, Paul. Thinking back on your previous response:
“All of it sounds good except the Tylenol for fever. I would tend to trust the body to do the right thing, and assume that a fever is beneficial.”
Up until what degree temperature is a fever beneficial? And when the temperature gets high enough, at what temperature reading do you think it is okay to begin administering Tylenol or Motrin?
Thanks, Paul. Thinking back on your previous response:
“All of it sounds good except the Tylenol for fever. I would tend to trust the body to do the right thing, and assume that a fever is beneficial.”
1)Up until what degree temperature is a fever beneficial? And when the temperature gets high enough, at what temperature reading do you think it is okay to begin administering Tylenol or Motrin?
2)Is okay to allow children to drink Rooibos Tea and Green Matcha Tea when sick.
3)Why in your book you don’t mention a probiotic supplement and would you recommend a probiotic supplement for children?
Homeopaths throughout Europe and south America will let a child’s fever go to 103.5 for 3 days in a row, when homeopathic medicines are being prescribed. I there is no delirium, hallucinations or pneumonia, fevers are essential to good health. See Science of Homeopathy by Vithoulkas. A man, reportedly, went to 113 for 8 minutes and was discharged the same day!
fwiw i “saved my own life” a few years back breaking a fever with tylenol, and yes, i was having hallucinations, but i didnt have a thermometer so i cant say how high my temps were
Hi Eddie,
If you think a fever is dangerous, you should consult your doctor and follow his advice. It’s not something I can generalize about.
We don’t mention probiotics because we think that fermented foods, especially fermented vegetables, are superior sources of bacteria. So you should eat the fermented foods and skip the probiotics.
Thank you, Paul. I am not sick. Just general questions to be “armed” with knowledge for the future.
What do you know about Rooibos Tea and Green Matcha Tea? I hear tea in general has fluoride. Would you recommend tea for children and adults to consume on a daily basis and espeially when sick?
Normal black tea can neutralise toxins produced by bacteria: for example,
Black tea extract, thearubigin fraction, counteract the effects of botulinum neurotoxins in mice.
Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A, 1.5 nM) completely inhibited indirectly evoked twitches in in vitro mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations within 40 – 45 min. Black tea extract, thearubigin fraction (TRB), mixed with BoNT/A blocked the inhibitory effect of the toxin. The protective effect of TRB extended to botulinum neurotoxins types B and E (BoNT/B and BoNT/E) and tetanus toxin, but not to tetrodotoxin. TRB was also effective against oral toxicity of BoNT/A, B and E. Thus, TRB may be of potential benefit in protecting the paralytic actions of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), but its use is limited by mixing with the toxin.
Hi Paul, I’m looking forward to the arrival of the book, amazon just informed me it’s on the way!!
Do you have any thoughts on the importance of TH1/TH2 balance for immune health? If they are significant markers, is there actually proven methods to turn down one and turn up the other? Thanks!
Jonathan
Hi Jonathan,
We do need balanced immunity which can upregulate specific responses to meet specific pathogens.
So it’s not so much that you want to turn down one and turn up the other, as to support both. Basically everything in the book is advice on how to do that.
Hi Paul, I’m just counting the days til I receive your book. Alas, the long wait is almost over.
I would love your opinion about Body Temperature. I’ve always had low body temperature but never gave it much thought until reading some materials the other day about making your body Hot. I didn’t realize the implications of having Low body tempts such as a possible thyroid problem, etc. What would you say would be the best way to raise Body Heat.
Hi Isa,
It’s definitely desirable to have normal body temperature. Many biological reactions don’t work well with even slight temperature differences.
The key thing is to investigate causes and fix them. Low body temperature is usually hypothyroidism and that can occur due to nutrient deficiencies, toxins, or infections. Usually you need to start eliminating causes one by one, starting with iodine or selenium deficiencies.
Hi Paul, cool post! Long time reader, first time poster,
I’ve been meaning to ask about drinking coconut milk on a candida diet. I read conflicting thoughts on this- I thought it’s a great anti-fungal and is very nutritious, others say it has too much sugar for someone with candida ( but not for a regular person)
I hope this isn’t so, I find this really good whole organic coconuts with the hard shell removed- delicious just popping in a straw.
What’s the truth here? Is pure coconut milk/juice ok for one with candida? How much would be ok to drink a day?
Thanks!
This is my favorite blog by far!
I was actually just wondering the same thing, and also whether you really need extra virgin or virgin coconut oil as it tends to be too expensive. Will regular coconut oil be fine
Hi Douglas,
Coconut milk is OK, but (a) it’s only the mildest of antifungals — only partially digested monoglycerides and diglycerides have antifungal activity — and (b) the sugars and/or ketones made from its medium chain fatty acids can feed Candida. A better antifungal is extra virgin olive oil which has polyphenols with good antifungal activity. Many vegetables are antifungal including green leafy vegetables, and balsamic vinegar helps, so a salad with olive oil/balsamic vinegar dressing is a great antifungal meal.
Great tip. That’s why I subscribe to the q&a.
I guess cows would be in big trouble if they had candida. They would be generating lots of ketones from the grasses in their gut.
Hi Tam,
I think cows do suffer frequently from fungal infections. There are about a thousand papers in Pubmed on fungal infections in cows, but I haven’t read them, other than to see that fungal infections are a common cause of abortions in cows.
Douglas,
May be the conflicting thoughts are due to confusion over the coconut product in question.
ie. Paul’ answer regards Coconut Milk. Coconut Milk, Cream, Oil & Butter are made from the meat of the coconut (the white flesh).
Now, if you are sticking a straw in to a green coconut & drinking the liquid. Then you would be drinking Coconut Water.
Coconut Water is kind of a natural electrolytic (sports) drink; Sugar and Minerals.
Its main ingredient (after water) is sugar at about 2.6 grams/100 grams, followed by fiber (if unprocessed coconut water).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_water
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3115/2
So, Paul’ response may differ with regards to Coconut Water?
Paul,
I want to do the ketogenic diet, which I believe you said should be done from 1 to 2 days at a time. I am a little nervous about jumping into 12 tbs of coconut oil a day. I don’t regularly eat it
Also, I had a question about protein. I have a couple autoimmune diseases and also will be having surgery for endometriosis next month. I never quite understood it, but for all those who have it, it s excruciating. You mentioned keeping salmon to under a pound a week because of oxidation. My doctors suggested vegetarianism was effective in studies at controlling endo and said no red meat because of inflammatory effects. I eat very good meat from a farm down the road, but that did not seem to satisfy them.
On a day to day basis, which proteins are the best?
Thank you,
Amy
Hi Amy,
Try MCT oil instead at 4 tbsp per day, and reduced starches (200 calories per day) with no fructose sugar.
I think beef/lamb and seafood are best. The vegetarianism & no red meat advice I think is mistaken. None of these foods are automatically inflammatory. It is all context dependent. The beef actually helps to eliminate the underlying causes of inflammation, so you have to separate its short term and long term effects which are anti-inflammatory.
Dear paul,
I am 43 and have been following a paleo diet for 6 years, which has brought my weight down from 107 kilos to 85 with no feelings of deprivation. About 100 gms of carbs a day nearly all from fruit and veg.
Sadly, in the last 12 months i have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in 5 joints. Bilateral hip and knee, and right ankle. The ankle suffered trauma nearly 30 years ago nd has not been right since, but nevertheless i find it interesting that all these sites became symptomatic at the same time. Given the prevalnce statistics for oa, i am improbably unlucky and something else is going on.
Have you any insight into what is happening and whether i can address the situation with dietary changes? I have already eliminated nightshades. I do feel inflamed throughout my body, but RA is ruled out.
Hope you can help,
Robyn
Hi Robyn,
Osteoarthritis is probably mainly due to nutrient deficiencies — usually major electrolytes like calcium, magnesium, potassium; collagen and vitamin C; or vitamins A/D/K2.
Rheumatoid arthritis and idiopathic arthritis are probably usually due to infections.
I would try to add safe starches so you get a bit more carbs, which will support immune function and make sure you don’t have any glucose deficiency issues; and introduce bone broth soups for calcium and phosphorus, shellfish and seafood for various nutrients, tomatoes and potatoes for potassium, beef liver once a week and 3 egg yolks a day, and supplement D, K2, C, magnesium.
Then for possible infections, intermittent fasting and circadian rhythm therapies as described in our book.
If it persists, you might want to experiment with antibiotics. See the Road Back Foundation for doxycycline as a treatment for RA. In your case, since the problem developed on a low-carb diet, it may be more likely to be fungal, protozoal, or parasitic than bacterial. You may wish to get a stool test which might find a pathogen in the gut that is treatable.
Paul,
Mercola recommends eliminating pork from your diet due to dangerous pathogens that are found in 70% of pork according to a recent Consumer Reports study. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/12/eating-pork.aspx?e_cid=20121212_DNL_art_1 Would you concur? Is bacon any safer, that is my favorite pork option?
Hi SC,
See http://perfecthealthdiet.com/2012/02/the-trouble-with-pork-part-3-pathogens/ for our view on pork.
Paul, good stuff. Does the curing of bacon make it a safe pork from a pathogen standpoint?
Bacon is safer, it’s not guaranteed to be pathogen free.
I found a wheatfree millet bread with rice, would that be acceptable
Hi Beatrice,
We don’t consider millet to be a safe starch, so we would prefer a gluten-free bread made from rice flour, potato starch, and tapioca starch.
Thank you so much, got your new book yesterday, am reading my way through. You have made a significant difference in my diet with your last book, thank you so much.
Just wondering if you can think of any infections that cause high temps right off the top of your head? I am hypothyroid with 98.5-99.1 temps. I was told it could be my “normal” as I up my thyroid meds slowly or it could be my low iron. I have read about infections causing high temps as well? thanks!
Hi Carmen,
Fever is a common immune response to many infections. I’m not sure if anyone has documented which chronic infections can elevate body temperature. It’s an interesting question, but I’ve never seen it investigated.
Fever can improve cancer recovery rates, it’s definitely beneficial in many scenarios. For example: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1313773/Can-fever-cure-cancer-Jordan-baffled-doctors-leukaemia-vanished-new-evidence-suggests-remarkable-explanation-.html
Paul, i think your fonts in the comments should be in bold or at least not lighter. thank you
If somebody feels BETTER when eating lots of sugar and/or in ketosis, does that rule out the possibility of them having candida?I
I started a sugar free candida diet with anti-fungals for a month and felt terrible. As soon as I relapsed into my high sugar junk food old eating habits, I immediately felt much better
I thinking this means I DONT have candida- what do you think?
Hi Devon,
I don’t know. Fungal infections are usually slow to resolve and anti-fungals produce negative side effects. It could be that you feel better now because the fungal infection receded and you are no longer experiencing negative effects of the antifungals. Or there could be many other explanations. Maybe your diet wasn’t really antifungal at all. Maybe you don’t have Candida.
Low carb diets can make you feel poorly, and then restoration of sugar might make you feel better, even if there was no change in whatever infections you may have.
Dear Paul:
Interesting article about pork. I read Part I and Part III. There seems to suggest a strong correlation between the consumption of pork and pathogens like Hepatitis E. There is especially a concern that cooking, smoking, or curing will not suffice in killing off the pathogens which leads me to my question:
Does your findings and conclusions about the threat of pork consumption apply to organic pork without sodium nitrates one can find at a local health food store? And does the findings and conclusions about the threat of pork apply to pigs sold by a local rancher?
Hi Eddie,
Organically raised pigs can still contract infections. Most farmers have to purchase piglets and the virus is picked up at a young age.
Paul, this would not be a concern for bacon right because usually you cook it up to be crispy at least at 400F I would think?
Bacon is pretty safe, yes.
I’m currently in China and I’ve been buying Pork Belly at the local markets (its the pork belly they have hanging up on racks, I’m sure you know the one – I’m certain its cooked by roasting as the skin is always super crispy).
After reading the Pork articles I’ve decided to reduce my intake of Pork here for the time being. It’s a shame though… it’s delicious!
Kristopher
Save Your Bacon is an interesting, related article from the Fall 2012 Wise Tradition.
Some highlights …
Hi Paul,
Half way through the new book, much appreciated!
I make pancakes during the day with primary ingredients being rice flour, cream cheese, butter, and eggs. I use a waffle maker on medium-high settings (brown/toasty on both sides) and would like to know if you think the rice flour is being sufficiently cooked for most of the naturally occurring toxins to be eliminated?
Hi Kevin,
I think it should be OK.
Thank you, Paul. I have forwarded the link to your articles to my family members. I also understand chicken has been a concern as well due to the arsenic given in chicken feed. In your book, you write convential meat is okay including chicken. How is consuming convential chicken safe for those who can’t afford organic chicken? And the same is true for eggs?
I became allergic (at least I think so) to under cooked egg whites this year. I used to be able to have scrambled eggs with no stomach upset, but now if i have something with undercooked egg whites I get severe stomach pains. I have no problems with raw egg yolks or egg whites cooked in an oven at high temperatures. Based on my daily food log and journal I started experiencing these symptoms after consuming a smoothie with a raw egg white immediately after strenuous exercise. Do you think perhaps, I had increased intestinal permeability post workout and egg white proteins crosses the intestinal barrier creating an allergy? Do have any insight here? Thanks and sorry for the long post.
Hi Zack,
Strenuous exercise does increase intestinal permeability. Basically, elevated internal temperature is the problem. Suppversity discussed it: http://suppversity.blogspot.com/2012/11/shedding-some-light-on-the-leaky-gut.html. It’s possible that was a factor in your egg sensitivity.
Egg sensitivity usually goes away after a while, so you may need to avoid the whites for a while but you will probably tolerate them fine later.
Paul, do we need extra FOS supplementation?
I don’t think so.
Paul, I heard you say that sometime dextrose is the best glucose since it does not reach small intestine correct?
So when is that beneficial, when you have lets say SIBO overgrowth? or is taht specific pathogens?
My digestion seems to be screwed up, I get a cough after eating, but I do not feel any burning. Should I test for H.Pylori or SIBO?
So even in this case FOS would not be good?
When every other plant food is giving you problems, it’s worth trying dextrose.
@Wort – This probably doesn’t answer your question but I recently learned that H.Pylori is essential for the health of developing children but represents a health threat to people ‘over 50’ (where it can cause stomach ulcers) The reason wny it has become a health threat to older people is because age related lowering of hydrochloric acid allows an over growth of H. Pylori. The over grown of H Pylori can be by supplementing with hydrochloric acid, something some of us are already doing. Just my 2cents..
just speculating here, i wonder if that’s why the standard treatment to eradicate h pylori is a PPI along with two types of antibiotics.
The PPI’s job is to lower stomach acid allowing the h pylori to ‘come out of hiding’? leaving them vulnerable to the antibiotics…?
i should add that Faisal speculated this as well, above,
“H.Pylori aim for neutral stomach acidity, I assume PPI’s help in that they (h pylori) spend less time in the mucus layer, thus making the antibiotics have greater coverage.”
http://perfecthealthdiet.com/q-a/comment-page-44/#comment-102480
Darrin, that seems strange to me because you are required to be off PPIs for some weeks before you have a breath test for h.pylori – if it brought them out in the open there wouldn’t be a reason to go off them.
Thanks for the info Adam,
I will have to look in to that, as it may apply to me.
I am currently doing a short stint on a PPI as a test to see if it reduces/stops my night time reflux.
And i was also thinking of getting tested for h pylori in the future.
Hi Paul,
Some questions about fruit.
I read that you support eating moderate amounts of fruits. What is considered moderate (re: Banana, Kiwi, Orange, Persimmon)?
Also, is there a limitation on fruits simply because it contains fructose? Would you count Avocado more like a veggie than a fruit since it doesn’t really contain any fructose?
I also read that it is best to limit fruits to 2 servings per day, eaten at separate times. Would you agree with this?
Hi Monnyica,
I’d say 2-3 fruits per day is moderate. I think that’s a good amount. I eat about 2 per day.
Hi Paul, just to clarify…
Is it 2-3 fructose-fruits per day? or any fruit, even Avocado? I used to eat excess fruits, so trying to avoid doing that again.
And is eating 2 fruits in one sitting harmful?
Fructose fruits.
Hello dr.jaminet. I have been following your diet for the past two months, and have been eating a relatively high fat, relatively paleo diet for a few years.
I have just received my blood test results, and the doctor noticed that my LDL cholesterol has doubled since last year! Here are my blood test results for last year –
S Cholesterol- 4.1 nmol/L
S Triglycerides- 0.6 nmol/L
HDL cholesterol- 1.25 nmol/L
LDL cholesterol- 2.6 nmol/L
CHOL/HDLC – 3.3 nmol/L
And my blood test results from a few days ago –
S Cholesterol- 6.2 nmol/L
S Triglycerides- 0.5 nmol/L
HDL cholesterol- 1.5 nmol/L
LDL cholesterol- 4.5 nmol/L
CHOL/HDLC – 4.1 nmol/L
as you can see, my LDLC shot up from 2.6 to 4.5, though I have not gained weight and my triglicerides remain steady.
Should I be concerned about my LDL cholesterol? Is the the serumn cholesterol/LDL cholesterol ratio really a predictor for risk of heart disease?
My understanding is that women with higher serum cholesterol actually have lower mortality rates from both CHD and all causes; but does the same hold true for high LDL cholesterol? Are there studies showing that high LDL cholesterol does not increase CHD/all cause mortalities in women?
If so can you please provide references for these studies?
My doctor also told me that high LDL predisposes me to diabetes, is that true and is it scientifically supported?
P.S. I have also done dr.mercola’s nutritional typing test in the past, and I registered as a carb type, so perhaps I really don’t do well on high fat diets compared to the majority of the population?
What do you think?
Thanks for your time.
Hi Victoria,
Your LDL used to be too low and is now high — optimal is probably about 3.3-3.4.
We’ve done a series of posts on what causes LDL to go high when eating low carb. It is usually related to nutritional deficiencies (iodine, selenium, copper) or to hypothyroidism. Scroll back through our serum cholesterol category: http://perfecthealthdiet.com/category/biomarkers/hdlldlcholesterol/.
High LDL is often a symptom of metabolic syndrome which is basically prediabetes. It is not a cause of diabetes. I don’t think that’s the concern here. The bigger concern with unnecessarily high LDL is that it is inflammatory and may promote atherosclerosis. But the main thing is, you want to find and fix the underlying issue that is causing it, such as a nutritional deficiency or hypothyroidism, because those could cause problems in other ways.
thanks for the respose dr.jaminet. I have just finished reading Gary taubes book ‘good calories bad calories’, in which he describes the research of lipid metabolism specialist dr.Kraus who identified that there are two distinct categories of LDL – pattern A (which is harmless) and pattern B (which is atherogenic). Pattern B was associated with elevated triglicerides and a high carbohydrate/omega 6 diet. Because my triglicerides are low, and I am eating in accordance with your PHDiet; couldn’t we extrapolate from that that my LDL would be mostly pattern A (the safe kind)? And therefore, not be inflammatory or dangerous?
Gary Taubes also elucidated the classical risk factors in his book, based on the analysis of five major studies (framingham, Puerto Rico, Honolulu, Albany and Sanfrancisco)by biostatician Tavia Gordon. Basically, he found that Serumn cholesterol was not a predictor for CHD/all cause mortality and that LDL was only a ‘marginal risk factor’. On the other hand both Triglicerides and HDL were very strong predictors – the inconsistency of LDL as a predictor of CHD may be explained by Dr.Krauss work (as I discussed previously). LDL may only be a risk factor when it is accompanied by high triglicerides and low HDL (because it would then represent the atherogenic pattern B LDL).
So i’m not really sure whether to think that my LDL is a problem at all…what do you think?
Hi Victoria,
I think high LDL demonstrates some problem/imbalance in nutrition or thyroid function, possibly an infection. It’s good to trace the cause and eliminate it. Even if you don’t fear the high LDL itself, the problem that is raising LDL will cause other health defects too.
Hi Victoria,
One thing to consider about the large vs. small LDL size is that folks with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) tend to have large LDL, yet a 3x risk for heart disease, and so a case where large LDL does not appear protective. FH folks also have a high number of LDL particles (LDL-P), which is gaining more acceptance as a CVD predictor.
That said, your values don’t seem that far off from PHD recommendations and perhaps some minor changes can achieve optimal. Maybe just eat more carbs.
Malcolm Kendrick talks about this study: http://www.bmj.com/content/322/7293/1019
in his book. It looks at a family pedigree with FH over 2 centuries. It’s interesting that sometimes FH was a risk factor and at others it wasn’t, suggesting dietary, or environmental factors at play. I have FH and I try to eat the best scientifically proven diet possible ie. PHD at the moment:) As a result I have very low triglycerides and high HDL, and of course, very high LDL, which is likely larger particle based on the trgl and HDL. Statins make me feel awful, so I avoid them.
Hi Olga,
Thanks for sharing. Makes sense there are other factors at play as it seems ox-LDL, inflammation would be other things involved in CHD.
A data point from me is my trigs go down eating more carbs, less fat.
Thanks for that observation Mark, I wasn’t aware of that. I’m not sure if we can infer much from people with FH that could be applied to the general population. The reason being their high LDL is a symptom of their low count of LDL receptors, which implies that they are not able to utilize cholesterol normally. I think it is more likely their dysfunctional utilization of cholesterol, and not the high LDL count perse’ which may predispose to CHD. If you look at the population data, high LDL is only a marginal risk factor, and most likely not a risk factor at all when LDL is pattern A (the big fluffy variety).
Hi Victoria,
Also consider studies showing LDL size loses its predictive value when adjusted for LDL-P, suggesting its the number of particles and not the particle size that matter.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16765964
Paul, do we need cholesterol in our diet? My vegan friend say’s we don’t because our body makes enough cholesterol, so there is no health promoting reason to take in more. Is this the case in your opinion?
Hi SC,
No, it’s not the case. You will become lipid deficient without sufficient dietary lipids. I don’t know whether a high-fat cholesterol-free diet would be adequate, but certainly low-fat diets generate lipid deficiencies.
Also
“…not as long as the gallbladder gets regular signals to contract, coming in the form of cholecystokinin released by the upper small bowel in response to dietary fat. However, if the dietary fat intake is low, (under 30 grams per day) during rapid weight loss, the gallbladder doesn’t get the signal to empty itself, and this cholesterol can build up and increase the risk of gallstone formation.” — The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living
Thanks Paul, his total cholesterol is 139 now. It was 277 no statins just plant base diet. His blood pressure was 135/80 now its 106/74. Could lipid deficiency still be an issue. He eats vegan low fat. His father past away of a heart attack in his fifties, so he wants to get it right but thinks the vegan diet which he adopted after reading the China study is the best option.
Hi SC,
Yes, TC of 139 is lipid deficient. Optimal is 200 to 240.
Thanks Paul…we are taking different diet approaches but want the same outcome and share ideas from both sides. He plans to win me over and I plan to win him over. However, a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still…so very friendly discourse.
Hi SC. It is not necessarily the cholesterol which he would be missing out on, but the cofactors associated with cholesterol (i.e. fat soluble vitamins). YOu should also point three things about the china study out to your friend –
1: The china study is an epedemiological study and therefore cannot prove cause and effect.
The author claims to have proven that meat causes cancer by feeding lab rats amino acid isolates in large doses. Feeding rats amino acids by themselves has NOTHING to do with feeding rats real meat with all the cofactors intact. Attempts to reproduce the results by feeding rats meat have failed to elicit cancer.
2: analysists have determined that the data from the china study shows that carbohydrates were the most strongly associated with disease and death, not meat.
3: Analysists have also determined that the data from the china study shows that those with the highest fat diet live the longest in the china study.
Because the vegan diet is low fat, vegans generally have the highest mortality rates from brain, breast and reproductive cancers, as well as stroke, alzheimers and suicide.
The only totally lifelong vegan society in the world is the hindus of southern India. They have a lifespan of around thirty and suffer from severe nutritional deficiencies.
Also, studies show that having low cholesterol is associated with a shorter lifespan and a high risk of stroke and cancer (see the cholesterol myth)
Hey Marcus,
Interesting info, do you have any links to support your points. That would be helpful.
Thanks,
SC
Hi SC,
Sure, in fact dr.jaminet has a post on the china study on this website, see http://perfecthealthdiet.com/category/diets/the-china-study/
Another good write up on the china study comes from dr.mercola’s website – see http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/01/08/chris-masterjohn-criticism-of-the-china-study.aspx
But if you really want to have an indepth scientific look at the china study check out http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/cancer/the-china-study-vs-the-china-study/#more-4213
For a look at the myths and dangers of vegetarian diets in general see http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/vegetarian.html
And finally bear in mind that most studies on vegetarianism are comparing the health of vegetarians with the health of people on the SWD (standard western diet). While vegetarians have a lower risk of some diseases (i.e. CHD and some cancers) they have a higher risk of others (depression, osteoporiasis, brain breast and reproductive cancers, alzheimers, stroke, suicide etc.)
We already know that the SWD is a very unhealthy diet…the fact that vegetarians are just as unhealthy as people on the SWD is not a great endorsement for the healthfulness of the diet.
If you compare vegetarian’s health to the health of people on paleo-diets, you will see that it is far from the optimum human diet.
A qoute from this article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat#Health also sums up the problems with studies on the link between meat and cancer quite cogently –
“Most of the results which showed a correlation between red meat and colon cancer only showed a weak one. And the studies and results tended to have some fairly major problems and inconsistencies:
•Lack of agreement on the definition of red meat (including whether or not processed meats like hot dogs and bacon were thrown in with steaks and burgers)
•The studies that showed an effect for red meat failed to show a “dose-response” effect – in other words, if red meat was a problem, you’d think that the more you eat, the more likely the cancer. Not true – for example, in one study a little meat showed a relationship with cancer, but a lot of meat showed none.
•The cooking method was seldom taken into account, even though it’s known that high-temperature cooking of meat such as grilling and frying generates substances called heterocylic amines, which have been linked to cancer and diabetes.
•Most egregiously, factors which are known to correlate with eating red meat were often not taken into effect. People who eat a lot of red meat are more likely to be smokers, for example. They are also less likely to exercise, tend to eat less vegetables and fruits and tend to eat more sugar and refined carbohydrates. (Some studies have showed carbs to be related to colon cancer, others not.)
•Also, the meat in this studies was almost certainly not grass-fed, which might or might not make a difference.”
Thanks for the info Marcus. I’ll check it out.
SC
And health effects of meat are hard to generate in animals. There was a famous study of meats and bowel cancer in rats. Eating meat made no difference except for bacon, which protected against bowel cancer.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10050267
Full text: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2527479/
Interesting that chicken was the most fattening meat or fat added to the rats’ diet (figure 1)
This comment from the study was most interesting:
“A recent study by Pence and colleagues shows that well-cooked beef meat, containing a high heterocyclic amine content, can enhance colon carcinogenesis in rats, only when given during DMH initiation, and only in a low-fat diet context (tumor incidence ratio=1.5, p<0.05)"
interesting qualifier in that last one george “ONLY in low fat diet context”. In fact most studies which have shown harmful effects in meat are actually using LEAN meat. Another good example is that lean meat was shown to increase calcium excretion in urine. When the study was replicated using fatty meat, the fatty meat actually increased the absorption of calcium by 50%!
That is why vegans have a high risk of osteoperiosis – they lack the fat soluble vitamins A, D and K2 (and the fats needed to transport them).
Hi Paul, quick question:
On page 2025 (Kindle version), you state:
“For each pound of plant food consumed, approximately 40 calories of glucose may be consumed by the gut… so the net contribution of vegetables to the body’s glucose balance is virtually nil.”
Do you happen to have a source for this number (40 kcal per pound)? I did a quick preliminary search on Pubmed and Google Scholar with no luck.
Thanks.
Hi Sean,
I had a source at one time, but lost it, and couldn’t find it while doing the revision. I will keep an eye out for it and blog about it if I find more information.
Awesome. Looking forward to it.
Dear dr.jaminet.
I have bought your book and I was trying to look for some of the studies you had in your book on the website about CHD, but I can’t find them. The section that you provded on heart disease did not mention them either. Do you have any of those studies on your website? For example the four meta analyses you provided which show that there is no association between heart disease and saturated fat? Or your comments on the inuit/masai tribes having no CHD despite their high fat diets? What about the studies you cited in your book regarding insulin and hbac1 as increasing mortality rated from all causes including CHD? Thanks.
Hi Victoria,
All the sources cited in the book can be found on this page: http://perfecthealthdiet.com/notes/
Many of the papers cited are public access so if you follow the links you will find the complete studies.
Woah, it’s so wonderful that you provide all your citations for easy reference like that, thanks!
Hi Victoria,
Even Dr. Oz can’t ignore the evidence against cholesterol being the cause of heart disease. Check out this link to his show in which he interviews Drs. Sinatra and Bowden about their wonderful book, “Everything you know about cholesterol is wrong” Here’s the link:
http://www.dietdoctor.com/dr-oz-changes-his-mind-on-cholesterol
I hope it answers some of your questions. Cheers.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention Olga. I think it’s amazing that the word is finally getting out to the mainstream media vidicating cholesterol. I would not say that it answered any of my questions as I have already read Uffe Ravowski’s classic book ‘the cholesterol myth’ (Uffe Ravowski in the chairman of the cholesterol skeptics society and one of the first researchers to bring this issue to the public’s attention). I have also read Gary taubes book ‘good calories, bad calories’, which is a great read because it discusses an alternate theory to the lipid/cholesterol hypothesis, that being the ‘carbohydrate hypothesis’. I highly reccommend that book 🙂