America’s (Plant-Based) Healthy “Heart Doc” – An Interview With Cardiologist Joel Kahn, MD

Kirk's video overview of Dr. Kahn's interview (4:10 min)
Joel Kahn, MD is a plant-based cardiologist born in Detroit, Michigan. He went to the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor as an undergraduate and for medical school. He did his internal medicine training in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and his cardiology training in Dallas, Texas at Parkland Memorial Hospital for 3 years and then in Kansas City where he did extensive training in angioplasty and stent placement. In 1990 he came back to Michigan and has been
practicing there ever since in interventional and preventive cardiology...(continued below case studies and cardiologist's interviews...)

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Patient Case Studies of Heart, Stroke, Peripheral Vascular Disease and Diabetes Reversal with Whole Food Plant-Based Approach.

Reversal of Angina, Diabetes, Obesity and Food Addiction Following Dr. Esselstyn’s Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Lifestyle Program – An Interview with Patricia Slimbarski

Reversal of Carotid Artery and Peripheral Vascular Disease Following Dr. Esselstyn’s Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease “Lifestyle” Program – An Interview with Jim McNamara

“A Case of Reversing Heart Disease in the Heart of Texas” - An Interview with Ken Stone

Other Physician Interviews on Heart/Vascular Disease Reversal

How to Create a Successful Plant-Based, Diet-Driven, Heart Disease Reversal Program in a Cardiology Setting - An Interview with Kim Williams, MD, Past President, American College of Cardiology

How Do You Create A Successful Heart Disease Reversal Program That Anyone Can Do? – An Interview With Surgeon Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr. MD

A Heart Surgeon’s Experience Living and Using A Whole Food Plant-Based Diet – An Interview with Staton Awtrey, MD

Creating A Successful Cardiac Wellness Program at a University Medical Center Using A Whole-Food Plant-Based Diet – An Interview with Cardiologis, Robert Ostfeld, MD

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(continued from above...)
Dr. Kahn became a vegetarian along with his girlfriend (now his wife) after visiting the University of Michigan cafeteria in 1977 because the food "looked" so bad.

When he finished his training in 1990 and went back to Ann Arbor Dean Ornish, MD had just completed his "Lifestyle Heart Trial"  which showed you can reverse heart disease by a plant-based diet. For years after he practiced both traditional cardiology and incorporatedplant-based diets and nutrition.

In his practice he takes an hour for an initial office visit and shows books and studies by Doctors Ornish and Esselstyn to his patients. He shares with his patients Dr. Ornish's findings that angina attacks went away in 91% of subjects in the 3 weeks following his program. The documentary film"Forks Over Knives" (2011) is a must watch for his new patients and heused to write a prescription for patients to see it. The "China Study" and "Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease" are also recommended reading. He recommends his patients go to PlantricianProject.Org to find plant-based physicians and resources(Plantrician Quick Start Guide).

He recommends to some patients when trying to get started to sign up for a vegan meal delivery service such as 22 Days Nutrition, Veestro and Plant Pure Nation and resources at Forks Over Knives.

He also started a plant-based support group at a local hospital that meets for plant-based potlucks and lectures that has grown to 2000 members in the Detroit area.

He uses advanced prognostic and diagnostic technology and biochemical assessment along with his plant-based approach in his cardiology practice which includes nutrition, inflammatory and genetic markers, and he personalizes his cardiac care in addition to his vegan diet recommendations. He uses nutritional supplements along with advance testing for endothelial function, arterial stiffness and carotid atherosclerosis.

He will use almost any modality that reverses heart disease. He personally uses and encourages a plant-based diet generally low in added oils.  He "meets" people where they are with their nutrition knowledge and beliefs.

Dr. Vogel, his mentor, studied the Mediterranean Diet and found fruit, vegetables, whole grains and fish to be "artery friendly." Olive oil can caused some deterioration in artery function but the data from studies is mixed. Olive oil plus red wine is artery "neutral." He personally eats a very low oil diet. With obesity and diabetes he keeps oils low in his patients. He is not supportive of the use ofcoconut oil. He measures RBCs fatty acids in some patients.  Vegan and non-vegans are low in omega 3 fatty acids frequently.

He encourages two tablespoons of ground flaxseed and eating walnuts and green leafy vegetables for omega-3 fats.

Non-vegans are low in omega-3 fatty acids as well.

He recommends vitamin B12 for vegans.

He uses CoQ10 for all his statin using patients. CoQ10 is protective in statin patients against side effects including muscle pain and cognition issues induced by statins. Sometime he uses low dose statins every other day or every 3rd day.

He has seen CoQ10 havedramatic benefit in congestive heart failure patients.

He encourages stress management which can lower cholesterol. Natural cholesterol lowering can be achieved sometimes with turmeric, policosanol, niacin and red yeast rice.

Vitamin K2, gotu kola and aged garlic extract have been show to reverse heart disease.

He measures TMAO in meat eaters to see if it is elevated. He finds it elevated in fish and fish oil users as well.

Carotid artery disease is low in vegans who consume small amounts of oil.

Dr. Joel Kahn eats...
In the morning chia pudding with blue berries and spices (lots). His uses a NutriBullet but does not over blend. He still "chews" his food because it may help make nitric oxide. He brings his lunch every day in a glass container. He eats bean bowls, fruit or leftovers from his restaurant. He doesn't use many food bars. Hasn’t found a vegan one he likes.

He owns a full service restaurant and bar, The GreenSpace Cafe. His restaurant has 35 entrees. It is doing well (GreenSpace facebook).

He closes by saying veganism is "macho." Erectile dysfunction and maintaining sexual health is enhanced on a vegan diet because of maintaining blood flow and enhancing erections. It’s "manly" to care for the environment and animals.

He has eaten vegan all over the world and looks forward to the challenge offinding side dishes. He finds vegan restaurants around the world with the HappyCow.com App.

He believes a 70-80% reduction in hearts disease and diabetes could be achieved with a plant-based diet change on a global level.

Joel Kahn, MD, Director of the Kahn Center for Cardiac Longevity, Author of The Whole Heart Solution and Dead Execs Don't Get Bonuses, Owner, GreenSpace Café, (GreenSpace Facebook) 4050 West Maple Road, Suite 108, Bloomfield Township, MI 48301 Office 248-731-7412

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!

Creating A Successful Cardiac Wellness Program at a University Medical Center - An Interview with Robert Ostfeld, MD

Robert Ostfeld, M.D., MSc., is a cardiologist and founder and director of the Cardiac Wellness Program at Montefiore,The University Hospital for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY.  He suggests to all his patients the benefits of a whole food, plant-based diet not just for cardiovascular risk reduction or treatment, but also for general health and chronic disease prevention and reversal. He has an initial 40 minute office visit with the patient who can come from his regular cardiology practice or by referral. He gives out several multiple page handouts on diet with some recipes at this initial visit. Patients may be followed-up in 1-3 months. All his patients are encouraged to take his free 4 hour, once a month-or-so, Saturday workshop, where he speaks on heart disease, a registered dietician goes over plant-based diet basics, and they share a plant-based meal with those who come. (LISTEN TO DR. OSTFELD'S INTERVIEW HERE 48:19 mm:ss) (Watch Kirk's Video Overview Here 3:33 mm:ss)

Dr. Ostfeld's plant-based diet includes whole grains, vegetables, legumes/beans, fruits, vegetables and some avocado, nuts and seeds, but no added oils. He recommends a vitamin B12 supplement 500 mcg of methylcobalamin, but no other supplements. He uses no fish oil. He does use statins on occasion. The two drugs he has most concerns about when he puts people on a whole-food plant-based diet are Coumadin (vitamin K blocker) and insulin. He advises the patient to tell their physician they are going on a plant-based diet taking one or two of these medications so the vitamin K dose can be adjusted to the increase in green leafy vegetables consumed on the diet, and, the insulin dose can be reduced since the patients blood sugar can drop dramatically on a plant-based diet, avoiding a "drug-diet" induced fainting or coma.

Dr. Ostfeld has been well received by his fellow cardiovascular physicians and has been able to work with the heart surgeons at Montefiore to get plant-based meals on the menu in the hospital so this menu is available for heart surgery patients. The cafeteria at Montefiore (the hospital at Albert Einstein School of Medicine) serves excellent plant-based dishes. A usual eating day for Dr. Ostfeld is a large bowl of oatmeal with fruit, oat milk and ground flax seed, chia or hempseed. Lunch is usually two large spinach salads with avocado as a "dressing." Dinner is a wonderful plant-based dish made by his partner who loves to cook.

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Patient Case Studies of Heart, Stroke, Peripheral Vascular Disease and Diabetes Reversal with Whole Food Plant-Based Approach.

Reversal of Angina, Diabetes, Obesity and Food Addiction Following Dr. Esselstyn’s Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Lifestyle Program – An Interview with Patricia Slimbarski

Reversal of Carotid Artery and Peripheral Vascular Disease Following Dr. Esselstyn’s Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease “Lifestyle” Program – An Interview with Jim McNamara

“A Case of Reversing Heart Disease in the Heart of Texas” - An Interview with Ken Stone

Other Physician Interviews on Heart/Vascular Disease Reversal

How to Create a Successful Plant-Based, Diet-Driven, Heart Disease Reversal Program in a Cardiology Setting - An Interview with Kim Williams, MD, Past President, American College of Cardiology

How Do You Create A Successful Heart Disease Reversal Program That Anyone Can Do? – An Interview With Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr. MD

A Heart Surgeon’s Experience Living and Using A Whole Food Plant-Based Diet – An Interview with Staton Awtrey, MD

Robert Ostfeld, M.D., MSc. Director, Cardiac Wellness Program at Montefiore Hospital, Associate Professor of  Clinical Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore, Greene Medical Arts Pavilion, 3400 Bainbridge Avenue, Bronx, NY 10467-2404, Cardiac Wellness Program, 718-920-5197; Phone: (718) 920-5949 Fax: (718) 231-6257

"A Whole-Food Plant-Based Diet Reversed Angina without Medications or Procedures." Case Rep Cardiol. 2015;2015:978906.

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!

Are Those Who Cook and Shop for Their Family in Control of the "Cardiac Events" for Their Entire Family?

Might seem harsh, but that is the statement made by my last interviewee, Dr. Kim Williams, Immediate Past President of the American College of Cardiology (49,000 plus cardiologists). Read Dr. William's entire quote below as he made closing comments in an interview I did with him on diet and heart disease reversal and prevention.  If you just read the first three paragraphs below you will know this esteemed cardiologist's strong belief that heart disease is an almost completely food borne illness and we know how to eat to eliminate heart, and related vascular diseases, right now!

Dr. Kim William’s Closing Interview Thoughts and Message…

“If I had to get one message across to folks about “not letting their culture hold your heart hostage” it really would be to get the understanding, particularly if you are in control of your family’s diet, if I could get all of the people in the room to recognize that they are in control of the cardiac events for their entire family when they make shopping and cooking decisions. If we could just get that into the mind of the American people we could turn this thing around completely.”…”I didn’t get a lot of push back when I said it publicly at the beginning of my ACC (American College of Cardiology) Presidency…Wouldn’t it be great if we could eliminate our specialty (cardiology) in a couple of generations.”

Dr. Williams feels that a whole-food, plant-based diet could eliminate 99% of heart disease. Almost all heart disease is food borne. Heart disease is reversible and plaque regression is in the literature. This is not his opinion, it is proven in the literature.

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How to Create a Successful, Plant-Based, Diet-Driven, Heart Disease Reversal Program in a Cardiology Setting (50:26 mm:ss)

Kirk’s video overview of his interview with Dr. Kim Williams (5:37 mm:ss)

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Dr. Williams is a Chicago native, and expert in nuclear cardiology, and has been Chief of the Division of Cardiology at RUSH Medical College since 2013.

Dr. Williams was introduced to the potential benefit of plant-based nutrition when fellow cardiologist, Dr. Tazwell Banks, MD, told him in the 1980s that he put his patients on plant-based nutrition after their heart attacks (following Dr. Dean Ornish’s research on plant-based diets reversing heart disease) and Dr. Tazwell’s patients who followed the Ornish approach had no further events.

When Dr. William’s own lipids started going up in his 40s he followed the Portfolio Diet (vegan, plant sterols, nuts, fiber rich foods) by Dr. Jenkins (1, 2) and he dropped his LDL cholesterol in six weeks from 170 to 90. He has been a vegan for more than a decade.

Dr. Williams has been significantly influenced by Drs. Ornish and Esselstyn showing plaque regression with plant-based diets. Both diets have shown regression, the Esselstyn approach is probably faster. This is his opinion, not proven in head-to-head studies. Dr. Essesltyn’s no added fat, whole-food plant-based diet, is for rapid plaque regression in his opinion. He has been on both Drs. Dean Ornish and Caldwell Esselstyn programs.

The Mediterranean Diets, Lyon Heart Study and PREDIMED…might have a 30-40% reduction in cardiovascular events. But there is still significant residual risk. He believes those populations would do significantly better on a vegan diet.

Epidemiologically heart attacks and strokes occur less in plant-based eaters. There is sound data on plant-based nutrition reducing blood pressure.

He believes statins have benefits. They have saved lots of money (and lives). Especially after a heart attack. High dose statins can regress plaque 30-40%. Intermediate dose statins can stabilize plaque.

He notes when patients are on high dose statins cardiovascular disease events are much less. When his patients are placed on a vegan diet his patients have no further cardiovascular events.
 
He would like to see heart disease research and outcomes comparing the SAD (Standard American Diet) diet, semi-vegetarian diet, pescetarian diet, lacto-ovo and vegan diets.

How Does He Get Patients Started?

You have to meet people where they are. Understand their culture and health literacy.

Highly educated people understand risk and can go to Esselstyn’s or Ornish’s websites and start their program with information from books and other educational material.

In other patients with less health literacy he just tries to transition them by replacing their regular foods with animal-free alternatives. Animal-free meats are not the lowest in fat or sodium, but they do lower blood pressure. (INTERMAP Study, glutamic acid lowers blood pressure when you eat vegetable protein). While he recommends alternative meat sources, but he doesn’t recommend fast food alternatives like fast food veggie burgers. He encourages eating more texturized vegetable protein to help with the transition to a full vegan diet.

His new patients visits are 40 minutes, his follow-up visits are 20 minutes usually, but he frequently sees a new patient for an hour and 10 minutes. He schedules himself an empty 2 hours after his clinic time for overflow so he can do more lifestyle counseling. He reads his nuclear scans at night.

He uses his computer with patients in the office visit to look up nutritional resources that help the patient understand some nutritional concept.

This approach is not practical for busy practitioners seeing 40-50 patients per day to do nutritional counseling. In that case he recommends…

– Having a group visit concept
– Finding a plant-based allied health care practitioner to help with incorporating a plant based diet into the patient’s lifestyle – RDs
– At RUSH (cardiology) they are going to use educational movies on plant-based nutrition in their waiting rooms.

With plant-based nutrition use in cardiology procedures will go away. You don’t do follow-up procedures with stable patients. So there is a financial risk. One must see more patients in the community in this type of practice.

Future of Medicine and Cardiology Care…

“Volume of Care Delivered” to “Value of Care Delivered” will occur over the next few years. Quality metrics and alternative payment models such as:

The physician will be allotted a certain amount of money to take care of a certain number of patients for office visits, hospitalizations and procedures. Payment for these services will come out of the pool of money allotted to your practice. But if plant-based nutrition reduces office visits, procedures, testing and hospitalizations you will save money and make more money.

Comments on Supplements…

Fish oils reduce triglycerides, but do not reduce cardiovascular events or arrhythmias. He only uses fish oil in severe hypertriglyceridemia – the product must be free of PCBs, cholesterol and mercury. To lower triglycerides eliminate animal foods, fried foods and certain starches.

Saturated fat intake is associated with mortality – death (new research, JAMA Internal Medicine). Trans fats increase the risk of death greater than saturated fat. Saturated fat increases mortality (death). Monounsaturated fats reduced mortality and polyunsaturated fats reduce mortality even more!

Dr. George Abela, Chief of Cardiology at Michigan State, has shown electron micrographs of cholesterol crystals post-mortem and in a test tube. When cold or when cholesterol concentrations are high, “spikes” in the cholesterol can puncture the plaque and trigger a heart attack. The two things that stop the crystallization of cholesterol in the artery…..are alcohol and statins.

Cholesterol is not the only culprit with animal food intake that increases heart disease risk – elevated IGF1, TMAO, phosphorous, cholesterol, saturated fat, etc..

Dietary Supplements

Fish Oil – Uses sometimes for elevated triglycerides.
Garlic – Arthritis and blood pressure improvement.
CoQ10 – CoQ10 does not affect statins beneficial effects on cholesterol lowering and CVD events. It helps prevent muscle pain from statins in some patients. It is reasonable to use.
Vitamin B12 – Animals don’t make B12. Animals eat dirty vegetables. B12 is made by bacteria in the soil. He recommends taking vitamin B12. Most veggie meats have vitamin B12.

He doesn’t believe in supplementing with vitamins. They have failed in studies. Some might even be harmful.

Lower fat in diet and increased fiber will lower HDL. This DOES NOT increase CVDrisk. He uses falling HDL levels to motivate people to exercise more.

They now have some vegetarian options for patients in their hospital (RUSH Medical Center).

He recommends the “Happy Cow App” to help patients find vegetarian restaurants locally and around the world.

There was one vegan cardiologist when he came to RUSH Medical College and now there are four vegan cardiologists.

He wants to get more information on plant-based nutrition into the membership of the American College of Cardiology as the Immediate Past President.

It upsets him greatly that so many cardiologists needlessly die of heart attacks.

Patient Case Studies of Heart, Stroke, Peripheral Vascular Disease and Diabetes Reversal with Whole Food Plant-Based Approach.

Reversal of Angina, Diabetes, Obesity and Food Addiction Following Dr. Esselstyn’s Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Lifestyle Program – An Interview with Patricia Slimbarski

Reversal of Carotid Artery and Peripheral Vascular Disease Following Dr. Esselstyn’s Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease “Lifestyle” Program – An Interview with Jim McNamara

“A Case of Reversing Heart Disease in the Heart of Texas” – An Interview with Ken Stone

Other Physician Interviews on Heart/Vascular Disease Reversal

How Do You Create A Successful Heart Disease Reversal Program That Anyone Can Do? – An Interview With Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr. MD

A Heart Surgeon’s Experience Living and Using A Whole Food Plant-Based Diet – An Interview with Staton Awtrey, MD

Kim Allan Williams, Sr., M.D., Immediate Past President, American College of Cardiology, James B. Herrick Professor, Chief, Division of Cardiology, Rush University Medical Center 1717 W. Congress Parkway, Suite 303 Kellogg, Chicago, IL60612 312-942-2998; / 312-942-5829 (FAX) Kim_A_Williams@rush.edu

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!

Physician Farmer Grows the "Plants" He Prescribes To Treat Patients

Great article! Physician-farmer grows the "plants" he prescribes to patients. One of his "ah ha" moments when his dad, who was given one month to live from pancreatic cancer, switched to a macrobiotic diet and lived another 18 months with excellent quality of life. He eventually sold his assets and medical practice and started Ethos Health where he has a farm and medical practice dedicated to giving people the experience and knowledge of natural plant foods healing many chronic diseases. A great story! Well worth the read! The closer we eat unprocessed food that comes from the ground, the better our health will be.

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!

"Be Berry" to Prevent Parkinson's Diseases

Berry consumption is shown to be protective against Parkinson's disease in both men and women (apples are protective only in men) probably do to their flavonoid content. Obviously, you want to reduce your exposure to pesticides, but it's just not in the fields with farm workers, it's pesticides in the home. We can't avoid all pesticides but we can eat berries daily and consistently. Watch this short, great video by Dr. Greger on the subject! "Berries vs Pesticides in Parkinson's Disease"

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!

Natural Menopause Without Hormones - An Interview with Christine Horner, MD

While we use biodentical (same chemical structure as in your body) hormones many times in our patients for hormonal symptoms during menopause, there are cultures who live traditional lifestyles that don't have significant hormonal symptoms and this transition is made very well without hormone replacement. No matter what you decide with your health care practitioner regarding the use of hormones or not (male or female) - if you don't do lifestyle basics FIRST, and continue to do them, you will not have nearly the benefit from your hormones, supplements or herbs than if you do the basics first and continue to do them which are: eat an unprocessed, whole food diet - mostly plants; exercise daily; do some type of stress reduction daily; live in a clean environment as possible; be in a good relationship (s); and have a daily sense of purpose.

How To Get Through Menopause Naturally and Without Hormones (28:49 min)
Kirk’s video overview of his interview with Dr. Horner ( 2:41 min)
Dr. Christine Horner shares her beliefs and research that very seldom do females have to use hormones to reduces or eliminate menopausal symptoms. These symptoms come from a totality of body imbalances and she notes that traditional Asian (didn't have a word for hot flashes) and Indian cultures (Ayurvedic medicine) didn't have adverse symptoms during menopause and after.

With "Westernization" of diet and lifestyles comes menopausal symptoms. Dr. Horner is very supportive and a believer in the Ayurvedic approach to menopause and health in general -  Key lifestyle components that need to be balanced are:

- Sleep - getting to bed before 10 o'clock is critically important for reduction in menopausal symptoms and general stress
- Stress - Do stress reduction techniques, meditation, etc.
- Relationships - Having good ones are very important for menopausal symptoms, especially for libido and sexuality
- Exercise - Daily
- Diet - Whole food diet with lots of unprocessed plant foods
- Fats - Healthy fats from flaxseed, flaxseed oil, olive oil, and omega-7s from sea buckthorn
- Flaxseed use for the lignans which have anti-cancer properties
- Fiber from whole plant foods
- Whole grains - uses more quinoa and millet
- Sugar and processed carbohydrates avoidance
- Hydrated - staying hydrated, drinking water

Aside from a generally good lifestyle for these menopausal problems some supplements that may help in addition to lifestyle change include:

Cognition - omega-3 fatty acids (flax oil or flax seed, flax lignins)
Hot flashes - flaxseed, black cohosh, Maca (cruciferous family), Vitex (Chaste Tree Berry) and Dong quai, stay hydrated drink water
Libido - good relationship, not being fatigue, ashwagandha, Maca, ginseng
Vaginal dryness - use topical coconut oil or Calendula, or oral Maca, Black cohosh, flaxseed, hydration, Sea Buckthorn (omega 7s)

Key Point - If the diet isn't unprocessed, rich in whole plant foods (fruits, vegetables, "long carbohydrates," nuts, seeds, whole grains) and controls blood sugar by eating unprocessed carbohydrates and no added sugars, then the herbs and supplements won't work nearly as well.

Reason for Hormone Replacement

• After surgical menopause for a two or so year period

Dr. Horner recommends Nancy Lonsdorf, MD, an Ayurvedic medical doctor, specializing in women's health issues in Fairfield, Iowa who is skilled in helping women transition through menopause without hormones. Dr. Lonsdorf is the author of The Ageless Woman: Natural Health and Beauty After Forty with Maharishi Ayurveda (MCD Century, May 2004), and its hardback version, A Woman’s Best Medicine for Menopause: Your Personal Guide to Radiant Good Health Using Maharishi Ayurveda (McGraw-Hill, June 2002.) She is also co-author of a best-selling Ayurvedic health guide for women entitled A Woman’s Best Medicine: Health, Happiness and Long Life through Maharishi Ayurveda,(Tarcher/Putnam 1995).

__________

Dr. Christine Horner is a board certified plastic surgeon, expert in natural health, and best-selling author of the award-winning book, Waking the Warrior Goddess: Dr. Christine Horner's Program to Protect Against and Fight Breast Cancer and her new book released in March, 2016 Radiant Health, Ageless Beauty: Dr. Christine Horner’s 30-Day Program to Extraordinary Health, Beauty, and Longevity is written from the culmination of more than twenty years of research and personal experiences, and her lifelong passion and commitment to health and beauty. It blends the ancient wisdom from Ayurveda with the latest evidence-based, non-pharmaceutical and non-surgical approaches to help you dramatically improve your health, beauty, and longevity. Dr. Horner says, “No matter what you were dealt in the genetic lottery—and no matter what your age or current physical condition—you can enjoy a long life of radiant health and ageless beauty. And it can be simple, fun, and adventurous.” You can order Radiant Health, Ageless Beauty at www.drchristinehorner.com and on Amazon.

Dr. Horner has extensive educational material on wellness, natural medicine and breast cancer prevention and treatment on her website. You can also schedule individual consultations with Dr. Horner on her website.

Previous Staying Healthy Today Interviews with Dr. Christine Horner

February, 28, 2016 - Radiant Health and Ageless Beauty – An Interview with Christine Horner, MD on Her Newest Book and 30 – Day Program to Extraordinary Health, Beauty, and Longevity

February 12, 2012 - Breast Cancer Prevention and Reversal – Is It Possible and What You Can Do? - An Interview with Christine Horner, MD

"Radiant Health, Ageless Beauty: Dr. Christine Horner’s 30-Day Program to Extraordinary Health, Beauty, and Longevity"
 

Contents

Laying Down the Scalpel for the Secrets to Radiant Health
The Theories of How and Why We Age
Collecting the Gems—A Metaphor

CHAPTER 1: Ayurveda: Rediscovering an Ancient System of Health and Longevity
CHAPTER 2: All You Need Is Love: The Extraordinary Power of Love and Relationships
CHAPTER 3: Stress Busting: Subduing Stress with Grace
CHAPTER 4: Foods for Health: Nourishing Your Body for Extraordinary Beauty and Longevity
CHAPTER 5: Filling the Gaps: Key Nutritional Supplements for Healthy Aging
CHAPTER 6: Medicinal Movement: An Elixir for Life
CHAPTER 7: Ambrosias of the Night: The Healing Tonic of Sleep
CHAPTER 8: Detoxification: Removing the Blocks to Your Healing Intelligence
CHAPTER 9: Leaning Into Longevity: Why Keeping Your Weight Ideal Is So Important
CHAPTER 10: Good Vibrations: The Electrical Body and Energy Medicine
CHAPTER 11: Spiritual Healing: Surrendering to and Receiving the Infinite Power
CHAPTER 12: Youthful Glowing Skin: The Reward of Inner Radiant Health and Outer Care
CHAPTER 13: Putting It All Together: Dr. Horner’s 30-Day Program for Radiant Health and Ageless Beauty

Appendices
1. Natural Help for Menopausal Symptoms
2. Natural Help for Healthy Bones
3. Natural Help for a Healthy Heart
4. Natural Help for Diabetes
5. Natural Help for Healthy Breasts

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!

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How To Avoid Prostate Surgery and Biopsies - Treating Prostate Cancer as a Chronic Illness - An Interview with Mark Scholz, MD

Preventing and Curing Prostate Cancer (and Avoiding Unnecessary Biopsies and Prostatectomies - An Interview with Mark Scholz, MD (Podcast, 30:10 min)
Kirk's video overview of his interview with Dr. Scholz (3:00 min)
Mark Scholz is a medical oncologist, and medical director of Prostate Oncology Specialists (ProstateOncology.com) who has focused for more than two decades on treating only prostate cancer with the least invasive medical therapies, and, an emphasis on preserving the male’s quality of life, anatomy, and practicing active surveillance or "Watchful Waiting" when appropriate.

"Prostate Cancer as A Chronic Disease"

Prostate cancer is being diagnosed earlier with smaller cancers that can be treated more easily or just "watched" with periodic testing such as PSA levels, digital rectal exams, prostate MRIs (multi-parametric T2) or skilled usage of color doppler ultrasound. Frequently treatment is not necessary for a prostate cancer just observation. Also, with increased life expectancy more people will be living with prostate cancer longer and at a greater age. At Prostate Oncology Specialists they have 45 prostate cancer patients over the age of 90!  

"Survival Rates for Prostate Cancer"

According to the most recent data from the American Cancer Society (survival rates), when including all stages of prostate cancer:

    The 5-year relative survival rate is almost 100%
    The 10-year relative survival rate is 98%
    The 15-year relative survival rate is 95%

"Prostatectomy a Thing (Procedure) of the Past"

Total prostatectomies (prostate removed by surgery) is something that very rarely, if ever, needs to be done. You should definitely consider a second opinion if prostate surgery is recommended. One of 200 people die from the surgery, not to mention the potential side effects which include a reduction in penis size, acrooked penis, ejaculating urination, incontinence and the need to continually wear diapers (I know a bit graphic but once the damage is done, it's done).

Radiation now is much more targeted and safer than in the past coming within millimeters of the target area which minimizes side effects.

"Avoiding Unnecessary Biopsies and Getting an Accurate One"

The PSA as a screening tool for prostate cancer is not the problem.  It is important and valuable to get a PSA done at least annually. Getting an "unguided" 12 core ("12 stabs") biopsy because of a high PSA level is a BIG problem!...and is bad and archaic medicine!
 
There are more than 1 million biopsies done in the United States annually. Many are not needed and/or they are not performed in a "guided" fashion which causes more human sufferings (blind stabs at the prostate = unguided core samples), medical consequences and less accurate biopsiedspecimens.

"DON'T DO A BIOPSY IF IT IS NOT GUIDED ("Targeted") BY ONE OF THREE TECHNIQUES"

1) With skilled operators using color doppler ultrasound it is effective at getting a good tissue sample with minimal "stabs" at the prostate. (Color doppler should only used if the doctors are doing several color doppler ultrasounds per day like the physicians at Prostate Oncology Specialist.

2) An "in bore" biopsy using a Multi-Parametric Prostate MRI (doing the biopsy while getting the MRI).

3) A prostate MRI with fusion images with regular ultrasound. The prostate MRI images are "fused" into the ultrasound machine so a targeted biopsy can be done.

***These targeted biopsies not only should be more accurate in getting into the cancerous tissue, but there should be LESS OF THEM DONE, like 2 or 3 samples. Not 6 samples and definitely not 12 samples.
 
***BEFORE YOU HAVE A GUIDED BIOSPY MAKE SURE YOU ASK THE PHYSICIAN WHO IS DOING THE BIOSPY HOW MANY SAMPLES THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE AND MAKE THEM STICK TO IT. SOME FACILITIES OR PHYSICIANS UNNECESSARILY DO 12 SAMPLES OR MORE BECAUSE THEY ARE USED TO DOING THAT MANY, OR, FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES. ALSO PHYSICIANS CAN CHARGE FOR EACH BIOSPY. ONLY 2-4 SHOULD BE NEEDED FOR A TARGETED (GUIDED BIOSPY)!!! MAKE SURE YOU ASK THE PHYSICIAN DOING THE TARGETED BIOPSY HOW MANY "STABS" HE IS GOING TO TAKE AT YOUR PROSTATE!

"Screening for Prostate Cancer"

A PSA should be routinely (annually) done at any age, and if elevated it should be repeated, then if still elevated taking into consideration the precautions mentioned below ("Getting an Accurate PSA Level"), a prostate MRI or skilled color doppler ultrasound should be done first for clarification if there is a lesion...not a biopsy first just because of an elevated PSA.

"Getting an Accurate PSA Level"

One should refrain from having sex the day before getting a PSA and avoid long bicycle rides the day before, especially on a road bike which can push up into the prostate area. A digital rectal (DRE) exam should be done annually to feel for the size and irregularities of the prostate and it is probably better to draw the PSA BEFORE receiving a DRE, but at DRE is less likely to cause an artificial increase in the PSA. If one has a prostatitis that has been treated it would be a good idea to wait 1-2 months after the treatment to check the PSA. It is always smart to repeat an elevated PSA with the above precautions before taking action.

"Prostate Volume and Elevated PSA Levels"

An MRI or color doppler ulstrasound can measure the volume of the prostate. So if you have an elevated PSA (above 4), and you have no suspicious lesions on the prostate from an MRI or ultrasound, then because both prostate cancer tissue and normal prostate tissue can elevate PSA levels, the PSA should be higher than normal. For example a 100 cc volume (BIG!) prostate with no lesion(s) will have a "normal" PSA around 10, even though the normal upper limit for PSAs is 4. If there is no cancer you divide the prostate volume (100 cc) by 10 and that gives you an estimate 10, a "ballpark" of what the PSA should be. Again if there is no cancer found by MRI or color doppler ultrasound then divide the volume CC/10 = approximate PSA.  Both color doppler ultrasound and the prostate MRI will provide the volume of the prostate.

"Prostate MRI - Revolutionizing Prostate Cancer Assessment"

The prostate MRI has been around for several years but is coming into its own and will become the standard for evaluating the prostate for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. But the MRI still has to be done at a skilled MRI center. It is covered by traditional medical insurance most of the time, but if not its costs is $800-900 which many men are willing to pay to avoid a biopsy. It takes about 45-60 minutes and if someone is claustrophobic they can take a sedative. There are no rectal probes with the prostate MRI.

The correct terminology is - "3 Tesla (3T), Multi-parametric MRI of the prostate". The "multi-parametric" stands for: 1) Use of a contrast media (need IV) 2) Diffusion weight at imaging and 3) T-2.  So if a doctor writes a prescription for this it is a "3T Multi-parametric MRI of the prostate".

A list of prostate MRI centers that have been used by Prostate Oncology Associates patients can be found at PCRI.org.

"Diet and Prostate Cancer"

Dr. Scholz speaks of past experiences where the macrobiotic diet or vegan diets reduced PSA levels and nodules in some of his prostate cancer patients. Dr. Scholz agrees with the studies by Dr. Dean Ornish showing PSA levels being lowered in prostate cancer patients with a vegetarian diet and encourages its use in prostate cancer patients if patients are willing. (Scroll down and click on prostate cancer for 4 studies on a vegetarian diet and prostate cancer).

"Immunotherapy is for Real!"

Dr.Scholz is excited about immune therapies for prostate cancer that are currently emerging. He believes they will revolutionize prostate cancer treatment and they are not just hype.

Past Interviews/Podcasts with Mark Scholz, MD
Prostate Cancer and the “Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers: No more unnecessary biopsies, radical treatment, or loss of sexual potency.” - An Interview with Mark Scholz MD (2010) (25:39 min)
Prostate Cancer Treated as A Chronic Disease – One Oncologist’s Approach - An Interview With Mark Scholz M.D.(2009)  (34:47 min)

Prostate Oncology Specialists take self-referrals or you can be referred by your doctor. Go to ProstateOncology.com.

Prostate Oncology Specialists, Inc, 4676 Admiralty Way, Suite 101, Marina del Rey, CA 90292 310.827.7707 ph, 310.574.4002 fax

General Inquires: mail@prostateoncology.com
Clinical Trials Inquires: sabrina@prostateoncology.com
Media Inquires: (This contact information is for press and media use only.)
Kaili Shewmaker kaili@prostateoncology.com

DIRECTIONS
We are located 5 miles away from LAX on the corner of Lincoln Blvd and Mindanao Avenue at Admiralty Way.

HOURS OF OPERATION: M-F 8:30am-12pm, 1:30pm-5pm.

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!

Reversing Heart Disease - It's Doable By Diet...It's Up To You! - An Interview with Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr, MD

Kirk’s video overview of his interview with Dr. Esselstyn (4:43)
How Do You Create A Successful Heart Disease Reversal Program That Anyone Can Do? (40:59 minutes)
Heart disease is a proven reversible disease by a whole food, low-fat, plant-based diet that uses no added oils and avoids nuts during the reversal phase of the diet. The proof is Cleveland Clinic's Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn's 30 plus years of work showing this dietary pattern not just prevents but reverses heart disease.

In Dr. Esselstyn's small study of 24 coronary artery disease patients back in the early 1980s in which 18 stayed with the program for 12 years (6 left the study at its begining), 17 of the 18 had no further cardiac events in 12 year followup period while 1 subject did who went off the diet protocol (but eventually returned).  Updating a 12 -Year Experience With Arrest and Reversal Therapy for Coronary Heart Disease (An Overdue Requiem for Palliative Cardiology) Esselstyn CB Jr. The Am J of Cardiology 1999 August 1; 84:339-34

Dr. Esselstyn then did a larger study of 198 individuals with established cardiovascular disease who had come to his one day intensive 5 1/2 hour workshop where Dr. Esselstyn explains what causes injury to the arterial wall (endothelium) which causes diseases of the heart and other blood vessels and how a strict plant-based diet can protect this "precious" single cell layer thick endothelium by increasing nitric oxide and reversing cardiovascular disease. Out of 198 people who took his workshop, 177 (89%) completed the study (stayed on the strict plant-based diet) for 3.7 years. In the 21 (11%) who went off the diet 62% had a significant cardiovascular event in 3.7 years being on the program. In those who stayed on thediet (177 subjects) only "1 person" or .6% had a cardiovascular event (stroke).This is with no side effects and at minimal cost and resources (handouts and 2 books!). A Way to Prevent CAD? The Journal of Family Practice. July 2014 Vol 63, No 7 page 257

In my audio interview (podcast) Dr. Esselstyn discusses his reasons why he doesn't advocate the addition of "free" oils to his diet plan; comments on the use of olive oil and the Mediterranean diet. While it has some positive health aspects (Mediterranean diet) it has never been shown to REVERSE established cardiovascular disease; he recommends milled flax seed or chia seeds (plant Omega-3 fatty acids) but very limited nuts if any; he shares his view on the minimal use of dietary supplements (vitamin B12 and possible some vitamin D); the big picture that the #1 killer in the world of men and women (cardiovascular disease) is a "food borne illness" that need not exist and can be reversed; and with cardiovascular disease reversal many of the other devastating chronic diseases of our time costing billions of health care dollars and suffering would be wiped out as well with the application of this type of plant-based dietary pattern (diabetes, obesity, hypertension, stroke, etc.); and his belief that preventing or reversing cardiovascular disease is a significant component of preventing neurologic decline as well (vascular dementia, Alzheimer's disease, etc.)

I strongly encourage you to share this interview with anyone (i.e. your loved ones, doctor - take the article to him/her A Way to Prevent CAD?), especially if they have significant heart or blood vessel disease. Whether someone chooses to follow this simple plan is up to then, but personally I feel once you know that heart disease is reversible it should be shared and people can make up their own mind. Unfortunately, in those who choose not to act once they see the evidence, we all have to pay for it with higher insurance premiums and taxing of our health care system. Personally, I think it's my "patriotic duty" to try and be as healthy as I can to reduce the unnecessary burden of preventable diseases costing on our government and society billions of dollars.

The great news is you can do this if you want. And the cost is less than $40.00 if you just got Dr. Esselstyn's book, "Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease" and "The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook" (Ann and Jane Esselstyn)

LISTEN TO THESE PODCASTS (BELOW) - IF THESE PEOPLE CAN REVERSE THERE SEVERE DISEASE SO CAN YOU!

Interviews with Real Cases of Real People Who Reversed Their "Life Threatening" Heart Disease (and Carotid and Femoral Atherosclerosis and Diabetes) by Following Dr. Esselstyn's Diet Program.

"Reversal of Angina, Diabetes, Obesity and Food Addiction Following Dr. Esselstyn’s Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Lifestyle Program" – An Interview with Patricia Slimbarski

Carotid Artery and Peripheral Vascular Disease Following Dr. Esselstyn’s Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease “Lifestyle” Program" – An Interview with Jim McNamara

“A Case of Reversing Heart Disease in the Heart of Texas” - An Interview with Ken Stone

"A Heart Surgeon’s Experience Living and Using A Whole Food Plant-Based Diet" – An Interview with Staton Awtrey, MD

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!

Do You Want to Know How to Diagnose and Treat Your Food Sensitivities? Come Watch This!

Watch My Short Video of this Important Talk!

On July 21, 2016 at 6:30 pm at Health Associates Medical Group come learn how to discover and control your food sensitivities with my talk "One Person's Health Food Is Another Persons "Poison"! How to Diagnose and Treat Your Food Sensitivities"!

You will learn how to:
- Keep and take a diet history
- Do different types of elimination diets
- Learn how to add back foods
- Learn how digestion and gut health can cure or cause food sensitivities
- What supplements can help reduce food sensitivities
- Learn how your allergic load can effect how you react to food
- Understand that food sensitivities can come and go
and much more.....

This one talk, if taken to heart and practice, could save you thousands of dollars in doctor visits and much suffering.

This talk is 1 of 4 talks in "Kirk's 28 Day Healthy Living Program and Lecture Series" starting July 7 for four consecutive weeks.

Sign-Up for the 1 month series here!  

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!