Category Archives: Uncategorized

December 8, 2010 · 2:12 AM

Daily Log for Ketogenic and Low-Carb Mediterranean Diets

Followers of my Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet or Low-Carb Mediterranean Diet may appreciate a Daily Log I’ve put together and published as a one-page PDF.  You actually track seven days of eating on a standard sheet of printer paper.

No wine for him until he's 21!

Daily logs aren’t essential, but may help dieters keep track of the major components of the programs.  For instance, you simply check off when you’ve had your olive oil, vegetables, nuts, fish, wine (or alternative), and supplements.  It also has slots for blood sugar levels.

As long as you have a printer, ink, paper, and electricity, the Daily Log PDF is free.  

I’m trying to make this as easy as possible.  What else can I do for you?

Steve Parker, M.D.

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November 27, 2010 · 9:12 PM

Are Airport Body Scans Safe?

The Happy Hospitalist has a timely post about the safety of the infamous airport x-ray scanners.

Steve Parker, M.D.

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November 16, 2010 · 5:17 AM

Paleo Diet Revival Story

I had written recently of my ignorance regarding the modern version of the Paleolithic diet and lifestyle, thinking that Loren Cordain devised it around year 2000.  Then I found a medical journal article from 1988 outlining it, co-written by S. Boyd Eaton, M.D. 

Mat Lalonde, Ph.D., in an interview with Jimmy Moore instead suggested that Cordain would credit S. Boyd Eaton, M.D., with the trend.

The Paleolithic Prescription: A Program of Diet and Exercise and a Design for Living was published in 1988 by Harper & Row (New York).  The authors are S. Boyd Eaton, M. Shostak, and M. Konner. 

Eaton and Konner are also the authors of “Paleolithic nutrition: A consideration of its nature and current implications.”  in New England Journal of Medicine, 312 (1985): 283-289.

If you have evidence that the “modern paleo” diet goes back further than this, please leave a comment.

Steve Parker, M.D.

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September 10, 2010 · 2:00 AM

Had a Stroke? Statin Drug May Prevent Next One

When taken by properly selected patients, statin drugs prevent strokes.  The American Heart Association’s published stroke treatment guidelines specify which stroke patients benefit from ongoing statin usage.  Find the details at my last Self/NutritionData Heart Health Blog post.

Steve Parker, M.D. 

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August 19, 2010 · 11:17 PM

Salmonella Is IN the Eggs

The American Council for Science and Health published a brief report on the current massive commercial egg recall in the U.S.  Read it for the CDC’s tips on avoiding Salmonella infection.

I had thought the Salmonella germs were simply on the surface of the eggs.  Not so, according to ACSH: the hens’ ovaries are contaminated, so the germ ends up in the egg white, yolk, and shell.

Steve Parker, M.D.

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August 2, 2010 · 10:25 AM

Is Your Diet Deficient in Micronutrients?

Laura Dolson at her Low Carb Diets Blog today reports on a recent study that compared micronutrient levels in three diets: Atkins, Zone, and LEARN.  Visit her post for the surprising and worrisome results of this study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

[In a nutshell, “micronutrients” are important vitamins and minerals present in small amounts in our food.]

Monica Reinagel has also reviewed the study.  I respect both of their opinions.

Steve Parker, M.D., author of The Advanced Mediterranean Diet

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June 29, 2010 · 8:51 AM

“Health on the Net Foundation” Survey

The Health on the Net Foundation is asking people to tell them how they use the Internet for health/disease information. If you’re willing to participate in their 10-15 minute survey, click on the the following logo:

Survey 2010

You know there’s much misleading information on the Internet regarding health, and most everything else. I appreciate the Health on the Net Foundation for attempting to certify reliable health information resources, such as this website.

Steve Parker, M.D.

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June 20, 2010 · 2:00 AM

Let Freedom Ring!

Arizona’s Constitution of 1912 has always held that “the right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself or the state shall not be impaired.”

Arizona’s governor a few months ago signed into law a bill restoring Arizonans’ freedom to carry firearms discreetly without a permit.  Previously, we had to ask the state for written permission, but could carry a handgun openly.  The “open carry” option sometimes scared hoplophobes.  And some of us didn’t want the bad guys to know we were armed.

Remember: When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.

Steve Parker, M.D.

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June 2, 2010 · 2:00 AM

Using Hemoglobin A1c to Diagnose Diabetes

In July, 2009, an expert committee composed partially of representatives from the American Diabetes Association proposed that hemoglobin A1c be used as a diagnostic test for diabetes in non-pregnant adults and children. 

The expert committee proposed that diabetes is present when hemoglobin A1c is 6.5% or greater.  The test should be repeated for confirmation unless the individual has clear symptoms of diabetes.

The committee also recommended that the term “prediabetes” be phased out.  They indicated that a person with hemoglobin A1c of at least 6% but less that 6.5% is at risk (high risk?) of developing diabetes, yet they don’t want to give that condition a name (such as prediabetes). 

In December, 2009, the American Diabetes Association established a hemoglobin A1c criterion for the diagnosis of diabetes: 6.5% or higher.  Diagnosis of prediabetes involves hemoglobin A1c between 5.7 and 6.4%.  These numbers don’t apply to pregnant women. 

Previously established  blood sugar criteria can also be used to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes.

This step is a major change in the diagnosis of diabetes.   

Steve Parker, M.D.

Reference:  International Expert Committee.  International Expert Committee report on the role of the A1c assay in the diagnosis of diabetes.  Diabetes Care, 32 (2009): 1-8.

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May 25, 2010 · 2:07 PM

What Are Physicians Doing Now That Will Look Ridiculous 50 Years Later?

For potential candidates, keep track of Paul Maher’s (Skeptic’s) Health Journal Club blog.

Not Paul Maher, M.D.

I had an elderly patient who had been given radiation therapy for tonsillitis as a girl.  This was maybe 60 years ago.  I had never even heard of such therapy.  Much later in life, she developed thyroid cancer.  Did the radiation exposure cause her thyroid cancer?  Hard to prove, but I wouldn’t be surprised.

Did you know that schizophrenia was once treated with brain surgery and insulin shock (physician-induced hypglycemia)? 

Not any more.

Have you heard of Gardasil, available for a couple years as a vaccine given to adolescent girls and young women to prevent cervical cancer?  I bet you’ve heard of it if you live in Texas because Governor Rick Perry mandated its administration to public school girls.  [He was over-ruled.]  If memory serves me well, Perry’s wife was on the payroll of the company that makes the vaccine. 

Dr. Maher (M.D, M.P.H) examines the data on Gardasil in a May 24, 2010 post. 

Steve Parker, M.D.

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