Consuming Sweetened Beverages Increase the Risk to Heart Failure!

In asking 42 400 men, 45–79 years of age from Sweden who were followed from
1998 through 2010 and asked “How many soft drinks or sweetened juice drinks do you drink
per day or per week?” (Fruit juice was not included in the definition of sweetened beverages)
During a follow-up time of 11.7 years, a total of 4113 heart failure events occurred.
There was a positive association between sweetened beverage consumption and risk
of heart failure after adjustment for other risk factors. Men who consumed two or more
servings of sweetened beverages per day had a statistically significant higher risk (23%)of
developing heart failure compared to men who were non-consumers (Sweetened beverages
includes artificial sweeteners it looks like to me in this study).

The relationship between sweetened beverage consumption and risk of heart failure in men.” Heart. 2015 Dec;101(24):1961-5. 51337 Dr Susanna C Larsson, Unit of Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, Stockholm 17177, Sweden; Susanna.Larsson@ki.se

Be and Stay Well,

Kirk

You can call me for "brief" medical questions 8-9 a.m. PST Monday thru Friday

916-489-4400        KwikerMedical.com        StayingHealthyToday.com

"Sign-Up for Kirk's "Healthy Living Tips" Here!

 

"Whole" Carbohydrates with Fiber Show Benefit in Successful Aging

Whole carbohydrates with fiber (not processed) show benefit in successful aging (i.e. eat your grain in a bowl). It really is that simple. Carbs are "bad" when you take the fiber off and add sugar and oil (baked and confectionery foods)!

In studying 1,609 adults aged 49 years and older who were free of cancer, coronary artery disease, and stroke at baseline who were followed for 10 years the dietary glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL), and carbohydrate intake were not significantly associated with successful aging. The highest versus lowest quartile of total fiber intake had greater odds of aging successfully than suboptimal aging. Those who remained consistently below the median in consumption of fiber from breads/cereal and fruit compared with the rest of cohort were less likely to age successfully. Consumption of dietary fiber from breads/cereals and fruits independently influenced the likelihood of aging successfully over 10 years. These findings suggest that increasing intake of fiber-rich foods could be a successful strategy in reaching old age disease free and fully functional.

 “Association Between Carbohydrate Nutrition and Successful Aging Over 10 Years.” J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2016 Jun 1. pii: glw091. [Epub ahead of print] 51318 Bamini Gopinath, BTech, PhD Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, and The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales 2145, Australia. Email: bamini.gopinath@sydney.edu.au
 

Be and Stay Well,

Kirk

You can call me for "brief" medical questions 8-9 a.m. PST Monday thru Friday

916-489-4400        KwikerMedical.com        StayingHealthyToday.com

"Sign-Up for Kirk's "Healthy Living Tips" Here!

 

IV Vitamin C in the Treatment of Acute Sepsis...A Paradigm Shift That Will Save Lives!

I just recently did a podcast with Dr. Ramesh Natarajan (and YouTube) on his work with Dr. Alpha Fowler and colleagues from Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care, on their pioneering work on the use of intravenous Vitamin C between 3.5 - 15 grams IV in 3-4 divided doses which resulted in a rapid reductions in multiple organ injury (SOFA) scores an a significant reduction in pro-inflammatory biomarkers C-reactive protein and procalcitonin indicating a reduction in systemic inflammation. 

Sepsis is a massive acute "autoimmune response" from an infection in which the immune system attacks one's internal organs, resulting in their failure and death from vascular collapse. Low plasma vitamin C levels increase the risk to sepsis. 41% percent of hospitalized patients are deficient in vitamin C and 19% have scurvy (classic vitamin C deficiency).

Sepsis costs 20 billion dollars a year in the U.S. to treat. A day treatment in the hospital can cost $18,000-20,000. A single dose of intravenous vitamin C may cost $50.00.

Vitamin C may work in reducing sepsis incidence and prevent death by:

  • Vitamin C is required for normal endothelial function.
  • Vitamin C can reduce endothelial permeability in sepsis.
  • Vitamin C reduces leukocyte plugging of microvessels.
  • Critical pro-inflammatory proteins are attenuated by vitamin C .
  • Vitamin C stabilizes immune function in sepsis.
  • Vitamin C may relieve hypotension associated with sepsis.
  • Vitamin C preserves lung barrier function and improves alveolar fluid clearance in sepsis.
  • Vitamin C normalized the coagulopathy of sepsis.
  • Vitamin C is anti-infective and has profound bacteriostatic effects.

Ascorbate-dependent vasopressor synthesis: a rationale for vitamin C administration in severe sepsis and septic shock?Crit Care. 2015 Nov 27;19:418. 51301 (5/2016) Ramesh Natarajan, Ph.D. Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine Virginia Commonwealth University Box 980050, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA ramesh.natarajan@vcuhealth.org

Expert Interview by Kirk Hamilton PA-C with Alpha A. Fowler, III, MD Sepsis in the Hospital and High Dose Intravenous Ascorbic Acid

Phase I safety trial of intravenous ascorbic acid in patients with severe sepsis.” J Transl Med. 2014;12:32. 50917 (8/2015) Alpha A Fowler, III, MD, Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980050, Richmond, VA 23298-0050, USA, (804) 828-9071/ (804) 828-2578 (FAX) afowler@mcvh-vcu.edu

“Intravenous Vitamin C – Integrative Therapies” a first-time conference sponsored by the University of Kansas Medical Center, September 30 – October 1, 2016. (See Dr. Drisko interview). Dr. Ramesh Natarajan will be speaking at this conference.

Be and Stay Well,

Kirk

You can call me for "brief" medical questions 8-9 a.m. PST Monday thru Friday

916-489-4400        KwikerMedical.com        StayingHealthyToday.com

"Sign-Up for Kirk's "Healthy Living Tips" Here!

 

NAC (N-acetylcysteine) Helps Reduce Tobacco Cravings!

SUMMARY: N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) may have benefit in treating tobacco use disorder (TUD) by reducing cravings and smoking reward. In a 12-week double blind randomized
controlled trial of NAC at 3 g/day versus placebo, NAC treatment significantly reduced
the daily number of cigarettes used (-10.9) and CO (exhaled) (-10.4 ppm). 47.1%
of those treated with NAC were able to quit smoking. NAC treatment significantly
reduced the Hamilton Depression Rating Scalescore in patients with tobacco use disorder.

“N-acetylcysteine for therapy-resistant tobacco use disorder: a pilot study.” Redox Rep. 2015 Sep;20(5):215-22. 51328Dr. Michael Maies, IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine Deakin University, PO Box 281, Geelong 3220, VIC, Australia dr.michaelmaes@hotmail.com.

Be and Stay Well,

Kirk

You can call me for "brief" medical questions 8-9 a.m. PST Monday thru Friday

916-489-4400        KwikerMedical.com        StayingHealthyToday.com

"Sign-Up for Kirk's "Healthy Living Tips" Here!

Safe, Rapid and Healthy Weight Loss...Start Today!

If you are interested in safe, rapid weight loss watch this video by Thomas Tadlock
regarding the SmoothieSHRED Challenge. He is a fitness expert who has worked with thousands of clients, including many celebrities, to have them lose weight, sculpt their bodies, and get more fit in a short period of time. No gimmicks. Just results. Check out his bio and join the FREE SmoothieShred Challenge! (Watch program video)

More about signing-up!

Listen to inspiring podcast with Dr. Goldner Here! (This approach saved her life/talks about this program at end of video)!

Be and Stay Well,

Kirk

You can call me for "brief" medical questions 8-9 a.m. PST Monday thru Friday
916-489-4400        KwikerMedical.com        StayingHealthyToday.com

"Sign-Up for Kirk's "Healthy Living Tips" Here!

 

Goodbye Lupus! Hello Green Smoothies! How a Medical Doctor Cured Herself with SuperMarket Foods!

Reversing Lupus Naturally with Supermarket Foods (Podcast 46:10 min)
Kirk's overview of his interview with Dr. Brooke Goldner (Youtube 5:08 min)

Starting June 13, 2016 - Take Dr. Goldner's FREE "28 Day SmoothieSHRED Challenge"!!! (VeganMedicalDoctor.com and SkypePsychiatrist.com)

All I can say is about my interview with Dr. Goldner is wow! Dr. Goldner is so passionate, alive and committed to helping people and her personal story of self-healing is so inspirational and educational! A must listen to this interview for you and your loved ones.

Dr. Brooke Goldner, a board certified psychiatrist, shares her self-healing from a life-threatening autoimmune illness, Lupus Erythematosus, which caused serious kidney damage and after 11 years of medical treatments with high dose steroids and chemotherapy, used nutrition alone, with her husband's help, to have a complete recovery requiring no medications for 10 years.

Dr. Goldner's energy, compassion, knowledge and clarity of living her life's purpose is infectious and inspiring in this podcast. The use of mostly raw foods, along with nutrient dense, concentrated green smoothies, designed to enhance cellular metabolism, result in case, after case of reversal of serious disease and the recovery of vibrant health.

I highly recommend listening to this inspiring podcast with simple and practical, whole food, plant-based approaches to self-healing. Her personal story of how she got Lupus, the lifestyle she had been raised with providing foods that can cause many of the devastating diseases of Western Society, including Lupus, and then the dramatic changes in her diet and lifestyle with subsequent disease disappearance within four months, will give hope to many with painful and exhausting chronic diseases.

Dr. Brooke Goldner (Dr. G.) is a psychiatrist, best-selling author, the founder of VeganMedicalDoctor.com, SkypePsychiatrist.com, creator of the Hyper-nourishing Healing Protocol for Lupus Recovery, and is the author of “Goodbye Lupus” and “Green Smoothie Recipes to Kickstart Your Health and Healing.”

Go to SmoothieSHRED.com for Dr. Goldner's FREE "28 Day Smoothie Shred Challenge" starting June 13, 2016.

You may see Dr. G's consulting programs here or contact Dr. G at DrG@VeganMedicalDoctor.com

Be and Stay Well,

Kirk

You can call me for "brief" medical questions 8-9 a.m. PST Monday thru Friday
916-489-4400        KwikerMedical.com        StayingHealthyToday.com

"Sign-Up for Kirk's "Healthy Living Tips" Here!

Fiber Helps You Age! Easy on the No Grain Approach!

In a total of 1,609 adults aged 49 years and older who were free of cancer, coronary artery disease, and stroke who were followed for 10 years thedietary glycemic index, glycemic load and carbohydrate intake were NOT significantly associated with successful aging. However, participants in the highest versus lowest quartile of total fiber intake had greater odds of aging successfully. Those who remained consistently below the median in consumption of fiber from breads/cereal and fruit compared with the rest of cohort were less likely to age successfully. Increasing the intake of fiber-rich foods could be a successful strategy in reaching old age disease free and fully functional. "Association Between Carbohydrate Nutrition and Successful Aging Over 10 Years." J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2016 Jun 1. pii: glw091. [Epub ahead of print]. Dr. Bamini Gopinath, Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, and The Westmead Institute for Medical Research and bamini.gopinath@sydney.edu.au

KIRK'S CONCLUSION: The simplest and most important rule in nutrition is eat whole, unprocessed foods. The rule for carbohydrates is that simple - eat the carbohydrate in its whole state and none of the fiber will be removed, you will get a slower release of blood sugar, and you will get full easier. Or, as I tell my patients frequently, "Eat your grain in a bowl". If you take any grain and put it into a bread, cracker, chip, etc. it is usually not a whole grain (meaning it has less fiber) and it usually has sugar and oil added to it. As long as you are not allergic eat whole grains, beans, lentils, peas, yams, sweet potatoes, whole fruits!

Be and Stay Well,

Kirk

You can call me for "brief" medical questions 8-9 a.m. PST Monday thru Friday
916-489-4400        KwikerMedical.com        StayingHealthyToday.com

"Sign-Up for Kirk's "Healthy Living Tips" Here!

Sepsis, Cancer, Acute Illness and Intravenous Vitamin C - A First-Time Medical Conference!

Two days ago I interviewed Dr. Jeanne Drisko, MD from University of Kansas Medical Center and Director of their Integrative Medicine Department on their upcoming, first-ever, conference on the use of"Intravenous Vitamin C" in cancer, sepsis and acute illness. I have provided the speaker schedule and their probable topics below, along with peer review scientific references on their work with vitamin C, cancer, sepsis and acute illness. (Listen to my previous ALL my podcasts with Dr. Drisko on Intravenous Vitamin C and Cancer).

What makes this conference unique, aside from it being the first-ever conference focused strictly on intravenous vitamin C and acute illness, is that it also includes research on intravenous vitamin C's role in reducing the severity of sepsis in the intensive care unit. A medical problem that results in organ failure and death. This is the work of Dr. Alpha Fowler head of the pulmonary medicine division at Virginia Commonwealth University, and critical care specialist who has studied sepsis for 2 decades (see my Expert Interview with Dr. Fowler on his study of sepsis and vitamin C). I believe his work is the "100th" monkey of vitamin C research. What I mean by this even though, as you will see below, there is ample scientific evidence that intravenous vitamin C has some benefit as an adjunctive cancer therapy, Dr. Fowler and colleagues research will show that intravenous vitamin C has benefits in severe, life threatening, in-hospital illness and I believe intravenous vitamin C's use in other conditions will be more easily studied and benefits confirm. I have always believed that intravenous nutrients, vitamin C included, will have their most powerful benefit when given IV for acute illness like sepsis, viral infections, pneumonias, poisonings, insect and animal bits, hepatitis, severe burns, trauma, etc. Some day the work of Dr. Frederick Klenner, MD from the 1940s to 70s will be confirmed for many severe illnesses.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Mark Levine from the National Institutes of Health on many aspects of the use of high dose intravenous vitamin C in acute illness and especially cancer. This is not fringe, alternative medicine. This is cutting edge, progressive, science-based "real medicine."

Listen to my podcast with Dr. Drisko (Here). Share it with people you love, or your health care provider. This is powerful, well researched medicine, using a very cheap, non-patentable compound (vitamin C) that given intravenously could save thousands, if not millions of lives, and reduce human suffering significantly and medical expenditures.

Kirk’s YouTube overview of his interview with Jeanne Drisko, MD (7:23)
"Intravenous Vitamin C - Integrative Therapies" a first-time conference sponsored by the University of Kansas Medical Center Department of Integrative Medicine and the University of Kansas Medical Center Continuing Education and Professional Development will be held on September 30 - October 1, 2016. (See Conference Flyer). You can register online at www.KUMC.edu/VitaminC .

This conference will focus on the science and clinical use of intravenous vitamin C as an adjunctive cancer treatment along with chemo and radiation therapies, and discuss research on its safe and beneficial use in treating and preventive sepsis in the ICU setting.

The following is the list of speakers over the two day conference and medical references supporting their topic of discussion and their work.

Friday, September 30, 2016

Qi Chen, Ph.D. (8:30 a.m. ) High-dose parenteral ascorbate enchanced chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer and reduced toxicity of chemotherapy. Science Translational Medicine. 2014, 6, 222ra18.” “Pharmacologic doses of ascorbate act as a pro-oxidant and decrease growth of aggressive tumor xenografts in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2008; 105 (32): 11105-9.

Lewis Cantley, M.D. (9:30 a.m.)Vitamin C selectively kills KRAS and BRAF mutant colorectal cancer cells by targeting GAPDH.” Science. 2015 Dec 11;350(6266):1391-6.

Daniel Monti, M.D. (11:00 a.m.) Synergistic effects of ascorbate and sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma: New insights into ascorbate cytotoxicity.” Free Radic Biol Med. 2016 Jun;95:308-22.” Phase I evaluation of intravenous ascorbic acid in combination with gemcitabine and erlotinib in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.” PLoS One. 2012;7(1):e29794.”

Luncheon Panel Discussion: Lewis Cantley, Keynote Speaker Mark Levine, Qi Chen, Dan Monti – Moderator Jeanne Drisko

Mark Levine, M.D. (1:00 p.m. Keynote Speaker) - “Synergistic effects of ascorbate and sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma: New insights into ascorbate cytotoxicity.Free Radic Biol Med. 2016 Jun;95:308-22.; “Low Red Blood Cell Vitamin C Concentrations Induce Red Blood Cell Fragility: A Link to Diabetes Via Glucose, Glucose Transporters, and Dehydroascorbic Acid.EBioMedicine. 2015 Oct 3;2(11):1735-50.; Vitamin C: the known, the unknown, and Goldilocks. Oral Dis. 2016 Jan 25. doi: 10.1111/odi.12446. [Epub ahead of print]; “Antitumor effect of pharmacologic ascorbate in the B16 murine melanoma model.” Free Radic Biol Med. 2015 Oct;87:193-203.; “High-dose ascorbate with low-dose amphotericin B attenuates severity of disease in a model of the reappearance of candidemia during sepsis in the mouse.”  Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2015 Aug  1;309(3):R223-34.“High-dose parenteral ascorbate enhanced chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer and reduced toxicity of chemotherapy.Sci Transl Med. 2014 Feb 5;6(222):222ra18; “The human sodium-dependent ascorbic acid transporters SLC23A1 and SLC23A2 do not mediate ascorbic acid release in the proximal renal epithelial cell.Physiol Rep. 2013 Nov;1(6):e00136; “Parenteral ascorbate as a cancer therapeutic: a reassessment based on pharmacokinetics.Antioxid Redox Signal. 2013 Dec 10;19(17):2141-56; “Standard-dose vs high-dose multivitamin supplements for HIV.” JAMA. 2013 Feb 13;309(6):545-6.; “Pharmacological ascorbate with gemcitabine for the control of metastatic and node-positive pancreatic cancer (PACMAN): results from a phase I clinical trial. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2013 Mar;71(3):765-75.; “Ascorbic acid kills Epstein-Barr virus positive Burkitt lymphoma cells and Epstein-Barr virus transformed B-cells in vitro, but not in vivo.Leuk Lymphoma. 2013 May;54(5):1069-78.;”Vitamin C in mouse and human red blood cells: an HPLC assay.Anal Biochem. 2012 Jul 15;426(2):109-17.; “Vitamin C: a concentration-function approach yields pharmacology and therapeutic discoveries.Adv Nutr. 2011 Mar;2(2):78-88.; “Phase I evaluation of intravenous ascorbic acid in combination with gemcitabine and erlotinib in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.PLoS One. 2012;7(1):e29794.; “Pharmacologic ascorbate synergizes with gemcitabine in preclinical models of pancreatic cancer.Free Radic Biol Med. 2011 Jun 1;50(11):1610-9.; “Vitamin C: intravenous use by complementary and alternative medicine practitioners and adverse effects. PLoS One. 2010 Jul 7;5(7):e11414. “Pharmacological ascorbic acid suppresses syngeneic tumor growth and metastases in hormone-refractory prostate cancer.In Vivo. 2010 May-Jun;24(3):249-55.

Jeanne Drisko, M.D. (2:30 p.m. – Topic: " 'Clinical Pearls' and practical application of administering intravenous vitamin C in the clinical setting.High-dose parenteral ascorbate enhanced chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer and reduced toxicity of chemotherapy.Sci Transl Med. 2014 Feb 5;6(222):222ra18.; “Pharmacological ascorbate induces cytotoxicity in prostate cancer cells through ATP depletion and induction of autophagy.Anticancer Drugs. 2012 Apr;23(4):437-44. (Listen to ALL my other podcasts with Dr. Drisko on Intravenous Vitamin C and Cancer)

Alpha Fowler, M.D. (3:30 p.m. -– Topic: Use of Vitamin C in Sepsis) Phase I safety trial of intravenous ascorbic acid in patients with severe sepsis J Transl Med. 2014; 12: 32. (Expert Interview with Dr. Fowler)

Ramesh Nataragan, Ph.D. (4:30 p.m. - Topic: How Vitamin C Works in the Septic Patient):Ascorbate-dependent vasopressor synthesis: a rationale for vitamin C administration in severe sepsis and septic shock?” Crit Care. 2015 Nov 27;19:418.

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Joseph Cullen, M.D. (8:30 a.m.)Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer with Pharmacological Ascorbate.” Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2015;16(9):759-70. 51302

Gary Buettner, Ph.D. (9:30 am.)Ascorbic acid: chemistry, biology and the treatment of cancer.” Biochim Biophys Acta (2012) 1826(2):443–57.

John Hoffer, M.D. (10:30 a.m.)A simple method for plasma total vitamin C analysis suitable for routine clinical laboratory useNutr J. 2015; 15: 40. “High-Dose Vitamin C Promotes Regression of Multiple Pulmonary Metastases Originating from Hepatocellular CarcinomaYonsei Med J. 2015 September 1; 56(5): 1449–1452. “High-Dose Intravenous Vitamin C Combined with Cytotoxic chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Phase I-II Clinical Trial”  PLoS One. 2015; 10(4): e0120228. “Is There a Role for Oral or Intravenous Ascorbate (Vitamin C) in Treating Patients With Cancer? A Systematic Review,” Oncologist. 2015 February; 20(2): 210–223.

Be and Stay Well,

Kirk

You may call Kirk Hamilton PA-C Monday thru Friday 8-9 a.m. PST at 916-489-4400 for brief medical questions at Health Associates Medical Group. (for information about Health Associates go to KwikerMedical.com and StayingHealthyToday.com)

Sign up for Kirk's "Healthy Living Tips" Here!

 

Heart Disease Reversal and Much More with the Ornish Lifestyle Program

I was researching the Ornish Program online because I am going to make a visit this
thursday to the Dr. Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease at UCLA Health in
Los Angeles.

The Ornish Program differs from the one you have heard me talk about, and I visited
last year, the heart reversal program of Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn (Prevent and Reverse
Heart Disease
), in that it has 3 other aspects besides just a low fat, mainly plant-based
diet approach (though Dr. Ornish includes fish oil and some non-fat dairy foods) and
those are exercise, stress management, and love and support.

Take a few minutes to watch Dr. Ornish review each one of these aspects of his
program because this approach has not only been scientifically proven to reverse
heart disease, like Dr. Esselstyn's, but also to increase telomeres (longevity) and benefits
prostate cancer, reduce cancer risk by changing your genes within months, creates
successful weight loss and can reverse diabetes, high blood pressure and depression.

Look on the side bar and click on each of the aspects of the program to watch the video.
   
    The Proven Program
   
    The Research (my favorite :-)!)
   
    Nutrition
  
    Fitness
   
    Stress Management
   
    Love & Support
   
 
That's right! One comprehensive lifestyle pattern, cures or improves multiple diseases.

Each video is only 3-4 minutes and done very well. You need to know this is possible.

Share with a loved one.

Be and Stay Well,

Kirk

You can call me for "brief" medical questions 8-9 a.m. PST Monday thru Friday
916-489-4400KwikerMedical.com   StayingHealthyToday.com 

 

Blueberries for Your Blood Pressure...How Simple is That!

Forty-eight postmenopausal women with pre- and stage 1-hypertension who consumed 22 grams of freeze-dried blueberry powder or 22 g of a control powder after 8 weeks systolic and diastolic blood pressures and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity were significantly lower, and nitric oxide levels significantly higher than at baseline levels in the blueberry powder, whereas there were no changes in the control group. Blueberry’s benefit may be from increasing nitric oxide production.

Daily blueberry consumption improves blood pressure and arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women with pre- and stage 1-hypertension: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.” J Acad Nutr Diet. 2015 Mar;115(3):369-77. 51294 Bahram H. Arjmandi, PhD, RD, Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences, College of Human Sciences, Florida State University, 412 Sandels Bldg, Tallahassee, FL 32306. barjmandi@fsu.edu

Kirk's Comment: How simple is this! Eating less than a 1/4 cup of blueberry powder daily(I don't know how many blueberries that is?) reduced blood pressure, the stiffness in the arteries, and increased the most important and protective chemical to our blood vessels nitric oxide. For men and women this can mean lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of heart disease because nitric oxide is protective of that precious single layer of our inner arteries called the "endothelium". If you're a "lucky" guy eating blueberries daily might help with your erections because the Viagra-type drugs work by keeping more nitric oxide around in that "small artery" you know where!....Eat your blue berries...everyone! Not just post-menopausal women. Also, the anthocyanins in dark berries protect our eyes against macular degeneration, the number one cause of vision loss in the elderly!....And they taste good!

You may call Kirk Hamilton PA-C Monday thru Friday 8-9 a.m. PST at 916-489-4400 for brief medical questions at Health Associates Medical Group. (KwikerMedical.com) To listen to more of Kirk's podcasts go to StayingHealthyToday.com and you can sign up for Kirk's Free Health Letter HERE.