A Physician's Advice
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
TTIIPPSS,, MMYYTTHHSS,, AANNDD TTRRIICCKKSS A Physician’s Advice Health information to liberate us from “Snake Oil” Brighton Publishing LLC 435 N. Harris Drive Mesa, AZ 85203 HEALTH TIPS, MYTHS, AND TRICKS A Physician’s Advice Health information to liberate us from “Snake Oil” Morton E. Tavel, MD Brighton Publishing LLC 435 N. Harris Drive Mesa, AZ 85203 www.BrightonPublishing.com ISBN13: 978-1-62183-340-6 ISBN 10: 1-62183-340-2 Printed in the United States of America Copyright © 2015 First Edition Cover Design: Tom Rodriguez All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Health Tips, Myths, And Tricks ~ Morton E. Tavel, M.D. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ................................................................ I TIPS CHAPTER 1: AIDS TO LOSING WEIGHT: SOME EFFECTIVE, SOME USELESS, SOME DANGEROUS ..................................... 1 CHAPTER 2: EAT A GOOD BREAKFAST: WAS MOTHER RIGHT OR WRONG? ................................................................ 10 CHAPTER 3: TRANS FAT CONSUMPTION AND HEALTH. ... .................................................................................................... 13 CHAPTER 4: COFFEE AND HEALTH: GOOD, BAD, OR INDIFFERENT? ........................................................................ 18 CHAPTER 5: GREEN TEA: POSSIBLE HEALTH BENEFITS. .................................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER 6: CHOCOLATE: IS IT REALLY GOOD FOR WHAT AILS YOU? NOW IT MAY EVEN HELP THE BRAIN FUNCTION .................................................................................................... 22 CHAPTER 7: SOME FOODS TO AVOID. ............................. 26 CHAPTER 8: DO CRANBERRIES DESERVE TOP BILLING OVER TURKEY AT THANKSGIVING? ..................................... 30 CHAPTER 9: FISH CONSUMPTION: SOME SAFETY ISSUES. .................................................................................................... 33 Health Tips, Myths, And Tricks ~ Morton E. Tavel, M.D. CHAPTER 10: SHELLFISH: NUTRITION AND HEALTH. ...... ................................................................................................... 35 CHAPTER 11: SOME FOODS ARE BETTER THAN YOU MAY THINK. ....................................................................................... 39 CHAPTER 12: OLIVE OIL AND HEALTH. .......................... 47 CHAPTER 13: SODIUM: ITS DANGER AND SNEAKY WAYS IT ENTERS OUR DIETS. ............................................................... 49 CHAPTER 14: MORE ABOUT SALT: HIDDEN KILLER IN RESTAURANT AND PROCESSED FOODS. ............................ 54 CHAPTER 15: POTASSIUM: A GREAT DIETARY CONSTITUENT. ........................................................................ 57 CHAPTER 16: HYPERTENSION (High Blood Pressure) AND THE DASH DIET. ...................................................................... 63 CHAPTER 17: RED MEAT: SHOULD YOU CURTAIL IT? ..... ................................................................................................... 67 CHAPTER 18: RED WINE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE: “THE FRENCH PARADOX.” ................................................... 71 CHAPTER 19: ARSENIC IN FOOD: WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS? ............................................................................. 73 CHAPTER 20: WHAT TO DO ABOUT A COLD. .................. 79 CHAPTER 21: DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS: SOME GOOD, SOME USELESS, AND SOME DANGEROUS. ......................... 84 CHAPTER 22: ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS—ANY WORTH? ................................................................................................... 89 CHAPTER 23: WHY JUNK FOOD IS “DOUBLE TROUBLE” ........................................................................93 CHAPTER 24: CIGARETTE SMOKE INHALATION: HOW BAD IS IT? .......................................................................................... 97 CHAPTER 25: ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES (E-CIGARETTES): GOOD, BAD, OR INDIFFERENT? ......................................... 102 Health Tips, Myths, And Tricks ~ Morton E. Tavel, M.D. CHAPTER 26: A FEW TIPS ABOUT PAIN-KILLERS. ....... 106 CHAPTER 27: HEARTBURN: SOME IMPORTANT FACTS AND SUGGESTIONS........................................................................ 109 CHAPTER 28: CAN WE PREVENT PREMATURE AGING OF THE SKIN WITH SUNSCREEN? ............................................. 111 CHAPTER 29: SLEEP NICE OR PAY THE PRICE! ........... 114 CHAPTER 30: BACK PAIN: A COMMON PROBLEM OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD AND OVER-TREATED. ......................... 121 CHAPTER 31: THE MANY BENEFITS OF REGULAR EXERCISE................................................................................ 126 CHAPTER 32: NASAL ALLERGIES: A FEW TIPS ............. 131 MYTHS CHAPTER 33: BELIEF IN CONSPIRACY THEORIES ABOUT HEALTH. .................................................................................. 139 CHAPTER 34: SOME IRRATIONAL FEARS NEVER DIE. ...... ......................................................................................... 141 CHAPTER 35: ENERGY DRINKS: WHAT’S ALL THE HYPE ABOUT? ................................................................................... 145 CHAPTER 36: THE FORTIFIED FOOD MYTH. ................ 148 CHAPTER 37: GENETICALLY MODIFIED (GM) FOODS AND MASS HYSTERIA: THE FACTS. ............................................. 152 CHAPTER 38: SHOULD YOU CONSIDER BUYING AND CONSUMING ORGANIC FOODS? ........................................ 159 CHAPTER 39: GLUTEN-FREE DIETS: A MISTAKE FOR MOST FOLKS. .................................................................................... 162 CHAPTER 40: BOTTLED WATER: ANOTHER GREAT—AND COSTLY—MYTH! .................................................................... 165 Health Tips, Myths, And Tricks ~ Morton E. Tavel, M.D. CHAPTER 41: MYTHS ABOUT HARD AND SOFT WATER .... ................................................................................................. 171 CHAPTER 42: Wifi: MYTHICAL AND UNFOUNDED FEARS ................................................................................................. 174 CHAPTER 43: HAND DRYING: PAPER TOWELS OR BLOWER? ................................................................................ 176 CHAPTER 44: PROBIOTICS AND HEALTH: A MIXED BAG— FACTS AND MYTHS. .............................................................. 179 CHAPTER 45: RAW MILK: BUYERS BEWARE! ................ 185 CHAPTER 46: RADIATION OF FOODS: SAFE OR UNSAFE? ................................................................................................. 188 CHAPTER 47: ALLERGIES: MYTHS EXPOSED. .............. 190 CHAPTER 48: RAPIDITY OF WEIGHT LOSS AND LONG TERM SUCCESS: ANOTHER MYTH DESTROYED? ............ 198 CHAPTER 49: COMMERCIAL AIR TRAVEL: HOW SAFE IS IT? ................................................................................................. 201 CHAPTER 50: THE POLYGRAPH (“LIE DETECTOR”) TEST: ITSELF THE BIGGEST LIE. ................................................... 204 CHAPTER 51: STRETCHING BEFORE EXERCISE: ANOTHER MYTH. ...................................................................................... 215 CHAPTER 52: MEDICAL TESTS AND YEARLY CHECKUPS: ARE THEY REALLY NECESSARY? ........................................ 218 TRICKS CHAPTER 53: FALSE CURES: DON’T BE A SUCKER! ......... ................................................................................................. 223 CHAPTER 54: SNAKE OIL RISES AGAIN—THE ANATOMY OF A TYPICAL SCAM. .................................................................. 227 Health Tips, Myths, And Tricks ~ Morton E. Tavel, M.D. CHAPTER 55: THE USE OF PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES AS SHILLS TO PROMOTE USELESS PRODUCTS, A.K.A. “SNAKE OIL.” ........................................................................................ 233 CHAPTER 56: MORE ABOUT DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS: SELDOM INDICATED AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. ..... .................................................................................................. 239 CHAPTER 57: ALKALINE WATER: ANOTHER SCAM DESIGNED TO TAKE YOUR MONEY. .................................. 247 CHAPTER 58: HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE TO PREVENT AGING: ANOTHER SNAKE OIL. ............................................ 250 CHAPTER 59: SCAMS PRESENTED BY THE “LEGITIMATE” DRUG COMPANIES. .............................................................. 255 CHAPTER 60: BEWARE OF THE MEDIA HEALTH “AUTHORITIES.” ................................................................... 259 CHAPTER 61: “DETOXIFYING” THE BODY OF UNWANTED SUBSTANCES: ANOTHER BLATANT SCAM. ........................ 265 CHAPTER 62: STANDARD MEDICAL CARE OR CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT? ............................................ 269 ABOUT THE AUTHOR: ........................................................ 281 Health Tips, Myths, And Tricks ~ Morton E. Tavel, M.D. Health Tips, Myths, And Tricks ~ Morton E. Tavel, M.D. Introduction his book consists of three parts: 1. The first section: Tips, is about health TT and wellness that can be incorporated into one’s daily life, that hopefully will create a healthier and longer physical outlook, less waste of money, and maybe even lower body weight (if you are one of those many with excess fat storage). 2. The second section: Myths, are common misconceptions about almost anything regarding our physical makeup and how we relate