Decoding food labels is a key to a healthier heart
By Sid Kirchheimer
Is it any wonder that only two in three Americans surveyed by ACNielsen said they “mostly” understood nutrition information labels on the food products they buy? For example:
“Fat-free”? Well, not exactly: This ballyhooed banner only means a product contains less than a half-gram of fat per serving—and perhaps more sugar and starch than its full-fat brethren.
“Zero trans fat”? The FDA lets manufacturers to assert this about food with less than a half-gram of this dangerous artery-clogging substance (and yet, we’re advised to avoid trans fats in our diet).
“Cholesterol-free”? That means the food contains less than 2 milligrams of cholesterol and 2 grams or less of saturated fat per serving. But don’t get too excited when you see it on a cereal box or can of vegetables: Only animal products such as meat, fish, poultry and dairy contain cholesterol.
So how can you eat heart-smart with the sometimes-puzzling food packaging?
Be serving-size savvy. “The most important thing to do is read the back of the package for the per-serving size,” advises Marisa Moore, R.D., an Atlanta-based dietician and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. All information—including calories—is based on the recommended single serving, which may be a lot smaller than your appetite. A can of soup may be two servings. A can of salmon may be three servings—a single serving is about two ounces, regardless of the size of the can. “If you eat more than the serving size, you need to multiply the calories, fat and other listings based on your portion,” says Moore.
Learn the lingo. As you learned from the list above, foods labeled “free” may come at a price (albeit a small one). So what does “low” mean? Based on FDA guidelines, low-fat means 3 grams or less per serving, low-cholesterol means 20 mg or less, and low-sodium means 140 mg or less. “Reduced” products typically have 25 percent less cholesterol, sodium and/or fat than the regular product; they may or may not also be low-cholesterol, low-sodium or low-fat. “Light” foods have up to half the fat or sodium, or one-third fewer calories but it (or “lite”) can refer to a lighter texture or flavor.
For heart health, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends 30 percent or less of the day’s total calories from fat, 8 to 10 percent of the day's total calories from saturated fat, less than 300 mg of dietary cholesterol a day and sodium intake limited to 2,400 mg a day (although those with hypertension and others at risk for it, such as those who are older and/or of African American descent, should limit sodium to less than 1,500 mg per day).
Feast on the right fats. The majority of fat calories should come from heart-healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, which can actually help you lose weight. “Good food sources of these healthy fats include fish such as salmon, herring, halibut and mackerel; almonds and walnuts; canola and olive oils; and avocado, which is a great substitute for cheese on a sandwich,” says Moore.
Make half of grains whole. Heart-healthy fiber, particularly soluble fiber, helps block cholesterol from entering your bloodstream; it also fills you up so you eat less. “With breads, you want at least three grams of fiber per slice, and cereals should have at least five grams per serving (usually one cup, not a bowl),” notes Moore. “For heart-healthier eating, at least half of your daily grains servings—three ounces a day for most people—should be foods that list whole grains as the first ingredient: whole-grain wheat or oats, for instance. In addition to the fiber they provide, whole grains are naturally high in antioxidants.” To bear a label declaring it to be “high-fiber,” a product must contain five grams or more per serving.
Be aware of the name game. You know that sugar adds calories. But it may be listed on food labels as high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, invert sugar, turbinado and other aliases. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends choosing from foods that don’t have added sugars as one of their first four listed ingredients.
Lettuce praise the salad bar. Salads are a great way to fill up on few calories—as long as you go easy on fat-filled dressings, cheese and sodium-filled condiments. “Easy ways to add fiber, nutrients and taste include adding beans and fruit slices, nuts instead of croutons, and having plenty of vegetables,” says Moore. At home, rinse off canned beans to remove excess sodium.
Recipe Redo
Some easy substitutions for heart-smarter eating:
Instead of:
Substitute:
Butter Soft,nonhydrogenated margarine
Whole milk Skim or 1%
Cream
2% evaporated milk
Eggs
2 egg whites
Oil for sautéing Water, broth or tomato juice
1 pound of ground beef ½ pound of extra lean beef, plus 14 ounces of lentils or beans
(REMEDYHealth/Life.com's MediZine, 5-17-2008)
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
CDC: Sleep lack linked to obesity, smoking
ATLANTA (UPI) -- People who got less than six hours of sleep are more likely to be obese, physically inactive, smokers and alcohol users, a U.S. government report said.
Charlotte Schoenborn -- a health statistician with the National Health Interview Survey of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- completed a study on sleep duration and its correlation to a variety of adverse health behaviors.
"Among adults 18 and older who sleep between seven to eight hours a night, only 18 percent were current cigarette smokers compared to over 30 percent of adults who slept less than six hours a night and that is a very large difference," Schoenborn said in a statement.
"One of the other very large differences was in obesity and there's a lot of interest now in the association between obesity and in that case -- 22 percent of U.S. adults who slept seven to eight hours were obese compared with a third of those who slept less than six hours.
"The whole health promotion climate now tells us that we know what we need to be doing -- we need to be not smoking, we need to be exercising, we need to be controlling our weight and limiting our alcohol use and all of these things contribute to a healthy lifestyle -- and all are linked to a less sleep," Schoenborn said.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
Charlotte Schoenborn -- a health statistician with the National Health Interview Survey of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- completed a study on sleep duration and its correlation to a variety of adverse health behaviors.
"Among adults 18 and older who sleep between seven to eight hours a night, only 18 percent were current cigarette smokers compared to over 30 percent of adults who slept less than six hours a night and that is a very large difference," Schoenborn said in a statement.
"One of the other very large differences was in obesity and there's a lot of interest now in the association between obesity and in that case -- 22 percent of U.S. adults who slept seven to eight hours were obese compared with a third of those who slept less than six hours.
"The whole health promotion climate now tells us that we know what we need to be doing -- we need to be not smoking, we need to be exercising, we need to be controlling our weight and limiting our alcohol use and all of these things contribute to a healthy lifestyle -- and all are linked to a less sleep," Schoenborn said.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
Monday, May 12, 2008
Can You Walk 10 Years off Your Age?
Forget the plastic surgery. Here's a simple, cheap way to get back your youth: Start walking.
People who regularly lace up their walking shoes and get moving may be as much as 10 years younger than their couch-potato peers. Still sitting down? Read on.
All About Aerobics
Your aerobic power declines as you age. So, over time, you simply don't have the same energy as you used to. But here's the good news: Research shows that regular aerobic exercise, such as walking, can boost your aerobic fitness so much that it's like being 10 years younger!
Take It to the Next Level
Now that you've got the goal of 10 extra years of good health as your motivation, we've got a few tips and tricks for improving your power walk:
Pick up the pace.
The right gait speed can help you live longer.
Take a step backwards.
Literally.
Count your steps. Not in your head, but with a pedometer.
Mix things up with a beach or trail walk.
Bring a furry friend.
You'll walk more -- and keep Fido fit, too!
How far do you have to walk to burn off that brownie?
Use this online tool to find out.
RealAge Benefit: Exercising regularly, expending at least 3,500 calories of energy a week, can make your RealAge 3.4 years younger.
References Published on 05/13/2008.
Maximal oxygen intake and independence in old age. Shephard, R. J., British Journal of Sports Medicine 2008 Apr 10.
Courtesy: RealAge.com
People who regularly lace up their walking shoes and get moving may be as much as 10 years younger than their couch-potato peers. Still sitting down? Read on.
All About Aerobics
Your aerobic power declines as you age. So, over time, you simply don't have the same energy as you used to. But here's the good news: Research shows that regular aerobic exercise, such as walking, can boost your aerobic fitness so much that it's like being 10 years younger!
Take It to the Next Level
Now that you've got the goal of 10 extra years of good health as your motivation, we've got a few tips and tricks for improving your power walk:
Pick up the pace.
The right gait speed can help you live longer.
Take a step backwards.
Literally.
Count your steps. Not in your head, but with a pedometer.
Mix things up with a beach or trail walk.
Bring a furry friend.
You'll walk more -- and keep Fido fit, too!
How far do you have to walk to burn off that brownie?
Use this online tool to find out.
RealAge Benefit: Exercising regularly, expending at least 3,500 calories of energy a week, can make your RealAge 3.4 years younger.
References Published on 05/13/2008.
Maximal oxygen intake and independence in old age. Shephard, R. J., British Journal of Sports Medicine 2008 Apr 10.
Courtesy: RealAge.com
Sunday, May 11, 2008
A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR YOU...
...who are Moms:
May this and all the days to come be abundant in Happiness, Joy, Good Health, Well-th, Peace, Harmony and Fulfillment for You!
With Love from Your Friend,
Jacques
May this and all the days to come be abundant in Happiness, Joy, Good Health, Well-th, Peace, Harmony and Fulfillment for You!
With Love from Your Friend,
Jacques
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Exercising & Eating
Hi guys!
While this Blog is to help enhance your overall Success...every once in a while, I sneak in an item of value in your Physical, Health, Emotional, Spiritual, Moral, Ethical, Psychological Success...in other words: vital components and balancing factors I incorporated in my "Total Human" intensive training...Enjoy and Succeed!
Your True Friend,
Jacques
--------------
When is the best time to work out: before or after a meal?
By Martica Heaner, M.A., M.Ed., for MSN Health & Fitness
Q. I try to walk 1.5 miles every day on my lunch hour. Is it better to walk before or after I eat?
A. It’s a good idea to eat or snack on something before a workout to provide a little bit of fuel. But if you’re only walking, and only for 1.5 miles, or a 30-minute walk, you probably don’t really need to specifically fuel yourself up for this level of activity, unless it’s been more than three or four hours since you last consumed any calories.
Some people worry that they shouldn’t eat before they exercise because they’ll interfere with their digestion and/or get cramps. There’s some truth to this—when you chow down, blood vessels in your digestive system expand, shuttling more oxygen to assist with the digestion and absorption of food. This shifts some blood away from other areas of your body. When you exercise, blood shifts to muscles to provide more oxygen and energy.
So if you’ve triggered both of those systems, which one is favored to get the increased blood flow?
It depends on how much you eat and how hard you exercise. Typically, the body’s energy needs are addressed first. So, especially if you are doing a vigorous workout, circulation to your working muscles increases and digestion slows down.
Whether you experience gastro-intestinal discomfort depends on what and how much you eat. If you eat a large feast or high-fiber foods, you may get cramps, especially if you are doing an activity that jostles that partially digested food around in your gut, like playing basketball or other activities that involve jumping.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't eat before intense workouts; you should just eat less, and eat (or drink) more easily-absorbed foods (such “bad carbs” or high-glycemic foods such as juice, pasta or sports drinks.) A 2002 Penn State University study gave regular runners who normally did not eat before they exercised 100 calorie snacks—either a banana, an energy bar or dried fruit (prunes). Then they ran three miles. No one got cramps and all reported feeling more energetic.
If you are doing a low-impact, and low-to-moderate intensity workout, like walking, you probably won’t have any problem eating beforehand, even if it’s a big meal.
But, if you are going to indulge, especially in a high-fat meal, it might be a better idea to walk or exercise beforehand. Think of your walk as a potential fat-blocker, and a way to help boost the ability of your body to handle the excess calorie load.
Several studies have found that exercising at various intensities helps metabolize fat in subsequent meals, some as late as the day after the workout. A 2002 study in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise had normal-weight women ride a bike and burn about 300 calories during the session. Thirty minutes after the session they were given a liquid high-fat meal. Researchers found that the exercise boosted their ability to oxidize, or burn some of the excess fat, and this was above and beyond what they might already expect to see from a post-exercise increase in metabolism.
If you want to bump your walk up to a jog before lunch, you might get an even greater effect. A 2001 study in the International Journal of Obesity suggests that higher-intensity exercise produces greater post-exercise increases in fat oxidation than a lower-intensity workout.
It’s well established that regular exercisers tend to be leaner, and the ability of daily workouts to regulate excess fat intake in this way may be one way that exercise can help reduce a positive fat balance, and ultimately weight gain.
More Related Advice from Martica on MSN Health & Fitness:
Can I Skip Cardio Workouts?
Eating Late in the Evening
Are Protein Shakes A Good Idea?
Find all articles by Martica.
Do you have a fitness or weight-loss question for Martica?
Send e-mail to experts@microsoft.com. Please include Ask Martica in the subject line.
Each of our experts responds to one question each week and the responses are posted on Mondays on MSN Health. We regret that we cannot provide a personalized response to every submission.
Martica is a Manhattan-based exercise physiologist and nutritionist and an award-winning fitness instructor. She has written for a variety of publications including Self, Health, Prevention, The New York Times and others. Martica is the author of seven books, including her latest, Cross-training for Dummies.
While this Blog is to help enhance your overall Success...every once in a while, I sneak in an item of value in your Physical, Health, Emotional, Spiritual, Moral, Ethical, Psychological Success...in other words: vital components and balancing factors I incorporated in my "Total Human" intensive training...Enjoy and Succeed!
Your True Friend,
Jacques
--------------
When is the best time to work out: before or after a meal?
By Martica Heaner, M.A., M.Ed., for MSN Health & Fitness
Q. I try to walk 1.5 miles every day on my lunch hour. Is it better to walk before or after I eat?
A. It’s a good idea to eat or snack on something before a workout to provide a little bit of fuel. But if you’re only walking, and only for 1.5 miles, or a 30-minute walk, you probably don’t really need to specifically fuel yourself up for this level of activity, unless it’s been more than three or four hours since you last consumed any calories.
Some people worry that they shouldn’t eat before they exercise because they’ll interfere with their digestion and/or get cramps. There’s some truth to this—when you chow down, blood vessels in your digestive system expand, shuttling more oxygen to assist with the digestion and absorption of food. This shifts some blood away from other areas of your body. When you exercise, blood shifts to muscles to provide more oxygen and energy.
So if you’ve triggered both of those systems, which one is favored to get the increased blood flow?
It depends on how much you eat and how hard you exercise. Typically, the body’s energy needs are addressed first. So, especially if you are doing a vigorous workout, circulation to your working muscles increases and digestion slows down.
Whether you experience gastro-intestinal discomfort depends on what and how much you eat. If you eat a large feast or high-fiber foods, you may get cramps, especially if you are doing an activity that jostles that partially digested food around in your gut, like playing basketball or other activities that involve jumping.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't eat before intense workouts; you should just eat less, and eat (or drink) more easily-absorbed foods (such “bad carbs” or high-glycemic foods such as juice, pasta or sports drinks.) A 2002 Penn State University study gave regular runners who normally did not eat before they exercised 100 calorie snacks—either a banana, an energy bar or dried fruit (prunes). Then they ran three miles. No one got cramps and all reported feeling more energetic.
If you are doing a low-impact, and low-to-moderate intensity workout, like walking, you probably won’t have any problem eating beforehand, even if it’s a big meal.
But, if you are going to indulge, especially in a high-fat meal, it might be a better idea to walk or exercise beforehand. Think of your walk as a potential fat-blocker, and a way to help boost the ability of your body to handle the excess calorie load.
Several studies have found that exercising at various intensities helps metabolize fat in subsequent meals, some as late as the day after the workout. A 2002 study in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise had normal-weight women ride a bike and burn about 300 calories during the session. Thirty minutes after the session they were given a liquid high-fat meal. Researchers found that the exercise boosted their ability to oxidize, or burn some of the excess fat, and this was above and beyond what they might already expect to see from a post-exercise increase in metabolism.
If you want to bump your walk up to a jog before lunch, you might get an even greater effect. A 2001 study in the International Journal of Obesity suggests that higher-intensity exercise produces greater post-exercise increases in fat oxidation than a lower-intensity workout.
It’s well established that regular exercisers tend to be leaner, and the ability of daily workouts to regulate excess fat intake in this way may be one way that exercise can help reduce a positive fat balance, and ultimately weight gain.
More Related Advice from Martica on MSN Health & Fitness:
Can I Skip Cardio Workouts?
Eating Late in the Evening
Are Protein Shakes A Good Idea?
Find all articles by Martica.
Do you have a fitness or weight-loss question for Martica?
Send e-mail to experts@microsoft.com. Please include Ask Martica in the subject line.
Each of our experts responds to one question each week and the responses are posted on Mondays on MSN Health. We regret that we cannot provide a personalized response to every submission.
Martica is a Manhattan-based exercise physiologist and nutritionist and an award-winning fitness instructor. She has written for a variety of publications including Self, Health, Prevention, The New York Times and others. Martica is the author of seven books, including her latest, Cross-training for Dummies.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
The Vitamin You Need to Prevent Prostate Cancer
The Vitamin You Need to Prevent Prostate Cancer
Increased intake of vitamin K2 may reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 35 percent, according to the results of European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).
The potential benefits of K2 were most pronounced for advanced prostate cancer. Vitamin K1 intake did not offer any prostate benefits.
The findings were based on data from more than 11,000 men taking part in the EPIC Heidelberg cohort. It adds to a small but ever-growing body of science supporting the potential health benefits of vitamin K for bone, blood, skin, and now prostate health.
Sources:
NutraIngredients.com April 9, 2008
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition April 2008; 87(4):985-92
What you don’t know about weight loss can hurt you…
Low-calorie or low-fat foods may not address your personal issues with weight management at all. In addition to being highly processed and nearly free of any vital nutrients, these types of foods often contain ingredients that may compromise your health.
Courtesy: Dr. Mercola.com
Increased intake of vitamin K2 may reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 35 percent, according to the results of European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).
The potential benefits of K2 were most pronounced for advanced prostate cancer. Vitamin K1 intake did not offer any prostate benefits.
The findings were based on data from more than 11,000 men taking part in the EPIC Heidelberg cohort. It adds to a small but ever-growing body of science supporting the potential health benefits of vitamin K for bone, blood, skin, and now prostate health.
Sources:
NutraIngredients.com April 9, 2008
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition April 2008; 87(4):985-92
What you don’t know about weight loss can hurt you…
Low-calorie or low-fat foods may not address your personal issues with weight management at all. In addition to being highly processed and nearly free of any vital nutrients, these types of foods often contain ingredients that may compromise your health.
Courtesy: Dr. Mercola.com
Thursday, May 1, 2008
What to Ask During Your First Visit to a New Doctor
Dear Jacques,
I hear you. You’re saying, “The question to ask these days, Doc, simply is ‘How expensive are you?’”
And while this is a real and valid concern, I encourage you to not allow cost to determine if a doctor is right for you or not. Honestly, you can’t afford to.
Instead, I encourage you to talk with the new doctor about your concerns, tell him/her how you have been treated for your condition in the past, and what medications you are taking. Then…
Ask him/her some or all of the following questions, depending upon your individual situation
Will you involve me in decisions about my treatment?
Would you work with me on therapies I’d like to try?
Are you open to therapies that are not strictly allopathic (conventional)?
What is your experience treating my condition?
How do you feel about preventive health care?
What do you think about vitamin supplementation?
How do you feel about a patient seeing other specialists?
How do you feel about your patients getting second opinions?
Do you explain therapies and tests you prescribe to your patients?
Do you explain why you prescribe them?
If you recommend that I take tests right away, will you explain why I should take them?
How much continuing medical education do you receive each year?
Are you available to your patients in cases of emergency?
Which hospital(s) are you affiliated with? Why?
On average, how much time do you spend with each patient?
This is a rather exhaustive list of questions and you’ll have to decide which make sense for you. But it is so important that you ask as many questions as possible so that you obtain the information you need to make a wise and informed health care choice.
You’ll also want to know…
During that first office visit, I also want you to get a gauge on this new doctor’s level of compassion. Does he/she look directly at you, touch you, examine you? Many doctors these days don’t. Does he/she smile and appear to be connecting with you and with your struggle? Tragically, many do not. Does he/she inspire you to take care of yourself? Sadly, many won’t.
I was fortunate enough, years ago, to come across the teachings of Dr. Francis Peabody who stated that one of the essential qualities of a clinician is an interest in humanity. He wrote in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) back in 1927, “The secret of care of the patient is caring for the patient.”
Those words have echoed in the back of my mind ever since I became a physician myself. And they had a lot to do with my creation of the “Top Docs” list that I’ve made available to subscribers of my printed newsletter. Here, in one concise report, I list the names and contact information for wonderful, gifted doctors from all over the country who use conventional, integrative, and alternative methods to heal. The feedback I’ve gotten from this report has been phenomenal, evidence of the fact that this is information that people want and badly need.
I know about 80% of the “top docs” personally and met many of them originally at medical conferences where they, like me, were studying to stay abreast of health care developments. While I know that there are many other great doctors out there, these are the men and women I know, the ones I recommend to my own family and friends.
Tough times call for smart health care choices
Now more than ever before, you have to be smart about your health.
Ask your doctor and other health care providers the questions you need to ask. If you feel rushed or are not satisfied with the answers you get or with other aspects of your visit, start your search over. Continue to look for a practitioner who you feel is willing and able to be your partner. You deserve it and you’re paying for it.
Make every office visit worth your time and money. Prepare a list of things you want to talk about with the doctor. Take a family member or friend who will listen with you and may catch some advice or counsel that you miss. Take notes during the visit. Do whatever you can to maximize the valuable, expensive time you spend with your doctor.
Do your best to keep better records than ever before. You may be able to save money on tests that were recently run if you can take previous test results with you.
Be your own advocate. Read material like Heart, Health & Nutrition so that you’re on top of your particular health concern and are able to discuss it and recommend your own treatment choices. As a practicing physician, I can tell you that an informed patient is the best patient. Also, take care of yourself so that your health worries and visits to the doctor are few and far between.
In a nutshell, I’ll tell you like I tell my own patients and my newsletter subscribers, nobody cares about your health more than you, so please do what you can to preserve it.
To your health,
Stephen Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C, F.A.C.N
P.S. This is just a sampling of the type of information I share each month with subscribers to Heart, Health & Nutrition. If you’re ready to take your health care more seriously, I invite you to join us today. We’re on a quest toward realizing the best health possible, and I hope you’ll join us for the ride.
Dr. Stephen Sinatra is a practicing cardiologist with an integrative approach to health and healing.
Dr. Sinatra is also the author of the monthly newsletter, Heart, Health & Nutrition, which includes his best advice on heart health, diet and nutrition, exercise, and much more.
Jacques' note: I join you in thanking Dr. Stephen Sinatra for this straight-forard, important contribution to health and wellness!
I hear you. You’re saying, “The question to ask these days, Doc, simply is ‘How expensive are you?’”
And while this is a real and valid concern, I encourage you to not allow cost to determine if a doctor is right for you or not. Honestly, you can’t afford to.
Instead, I encourage you to talk with the new doctor about your concerns, tell him/her how you have been treated for your condition in the past, and what medications you are taking. Then…
Ask him/her some or all of the following questions, depending upon your individual situation
Will you involve me in decisions about my treatment?
Would you work with me on therapies I’d like to try?
Are you open to therapies that are not strictly allopathic (conventional)?
What is your experience treating my condition?
How do you feel about preventive health care?
What do you think about vitamin supplementation?
How do you feel about a patient seeing other specialists?
How do you feel about your patients getting second opinions?
Do you explain therapies and tests you prescribe to your patients?
Do you explain why you prescribe them?
If you recommend that I take tests right away, will you explain why I should take them?
How much continuing medical education do you receive each year?
Are you available to your patients in cases of emergency?
Which hospital(s) are you affiliated with? Why?
On average, how much time do you spend with each patient?
This is a rather exhaustive list of questions and you’ll have to decide which make sense for you. But it is so important that you ask as many questions as possible so that you obtain the information you need to make a wise and informed health care choice.
You’ll also want to know…
During that first office visit, I also want you to get a gauge on this new doctor’s level of compassion. Does he/she look directly at you, touch you, examine you? Many doctors these days don’t. Does he/she smile and appear to be connecting with you and with your struggle? Tragically, many do not. Does he/she inspire you to take care of yourself? Sadly, many won’t.
I was fortunate enough, years ago, to come across the teachings of Dr. Francis Peabody who stated that one of the essential qualities of a clinician is an interest in humanity. He wrote in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) back in 1927, “The secret of care of the patient is caring for the patient.”
Those words have echoed in the back of my mind ever since I became a physician myself. And they had a lot to do with my creation of the “Top Docs” list that I’ve made available to subscribers of my printed newsletter. Here, in one concise report, I list the names and contact information for wonderful, gifted doctors from all over the country who use conventional, integrative, and alternative methods to heal. The feedback I’ve gotten from this report has been phenomenal, evidence of the fact that this is information that people want and badly need.
I know about 80% of the “top docs” personally and met many of them originally at medical conferences where they, like me, were studying to stay abreast of health care developments. While I know that there are many other great doctors out there, these are the men and women I know, the ones I recommend to my own family and friends.
Tough times call for smart health care choices
Now more than ever before, you have to be smart about your health.
Ask your doctor and other health care providers the questions you need to ask. If you feel rushed or are not satisfied with the answers you get or with other aspects of your visit, start your search over. Continue to look for a practitioner who you feel is willing and able to be your partner. You deserve it and you’re paying for it.
Make every office visit worth your time and money. Prepare a list of things you want to talk about with the doctor. Take a family member or friend who will listen with you and may catch some advice or counsel that you miss. Take notes during the visit. Do whatever you can to maximize the valuable, expensive time you spend with your doctor.
Do your best to keep better records than ever before. You may be able to save money on tests that were recently run if you can take previous test results with you.
Be your own advocate. Read material like Heart, Health & Nutrition so that you’re on top of your particular health concern and are able to discuss it and recommend your own treatment choices. As a practicing physician, I can tell you that an informed patient is the best patient. Also, take care of yourself so that your health worries and visits to the doctor are few and far between.
In a nutshell, I’ll tell you like I tell my own patients and my newsletter subscribers, nobody cares about your health more than you, so please do what you can to preserve it.
To your health,
Stephen Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C, F.A.C.N
P.S. This is just a sampling of the type of information I share each month with subscribers to Heart, Health & Nutrition. If you’re ready to take your health care more seriously, I invite you to join us today. We’re on a quest toward realizing the best health possible, and I hope you’ll join us for the ride.
Dr. Stephen Sinatra is a practicing cardiologist with an integrative approach to health and healing.
Dr. Sinatra is also the author of the monthly newsletter, Heart, Health & Nutrition, which includes his best advice on heart health, diet and nutrition, exercise, and much more.
Jacques' note: I join you in thanking Dr. Stephen Sinatra for this straight-forard, important contribution to health and wellness!
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