Happy Holidays!

This Holiday ENewsletter will incorporate parts of what I wanted to put in November's ENews, but research and demanding clinical 'duties' did not allow me the time to write a November issue.  This means that "this stuff better be good", right?  Well, I think that I will live up to your expectations with this Holiday Issue!   

Food is a large part of the Holidays and family gatherings.  I think that you will enjoy the articles on the benefits of olive oil.  You might even want to incorporate some olive oil in your Holiday meal planning.

Staying healthy is always a problem during the 'cold and flu season'. I Hope that I have given you some valuable pointers without totally destroying your memories of Santa Claus.

I also brought you something unique in the area of improving your own immune response to the world around you.  Seldom do we really have control over our body chemistry response.  The last article shows you one effective way to improve your health.

Finally, Eileen brings us 2 great recipes this month.  I have personally sampled both (on many occasions) and they are guaranteed to please!

I would like to thank each of you for taking the time to read my monthly newsletters.  I try to bring you good information each month that you are unlikely to find anywhere else.  I also cite references for you.  In a conversation with others, it's always nice to be able to reference published Journal articles if questions (or disagreements) arise.

Enjoy this ENewsletter and feel free to share this with others.

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday!

Dr. Frisch

We are What we Eat

For, at least the last decade, we have been hearing how poor the American diet is.  Experts told us that if we only ate 'better' and exercised more, we could end obesity, reduce our risk for diabetes and disease, and live longer.  The benchmark that we were all to be measured against was the Mediterranean Diet.  The Mediterranean region includes Italy, Greece, Sicily and Northern Africa.  This region of the world has consistently shown lower rates of heart disease and cancer when compared to the rest of the world.  Their success was largely attributed to a diet of fruits, vegetables, and fish.  

Most Americans do not live on the Ocean, except the coasts, and we do not live in a temperate climate like Italy or Greece.  To eat like they do seemed unattainable.  New research, however has shown that fruits, vegetables and fish may not be the key to their success with lower episodes of heart disease and cancer.  A study published in November of this year¹ revealed that olive oil may be the real key to their success.

Olives contain an oil rich in compounds called phenols.  It has been suggested that these phenols are the reason for lower cancer and disease rates with this group of people.  This most recent study tested the impact that ingesting phenols has on the oxidation (damage) of DNA and cancer rates.

Three olive oils, each containing either low, medium or high phenol content were administered to 182 healthy males in Northern, Central and Southern Europe.  The initial baseline readings showed that Northern and Central Europeans had higher oxidation of DNA/RNA than did Southern Europeans with their normal diet.  After 2 weeks of testing using the varying olive oils, it was found that males from all regions had an overall drop of 13% in DNA breakdown.  This study determined that no matter what a person's regional diet was initially, olive oil (all concentrations) reduced DNA/RNA oxidative breakdown.  

If you are not yet consuming olive oil on a regular basis, it may be time to start.  This study did not investigate topics of exercise, dietary changes or even drug use.  It merely investigated the benefits of one thing...OLIVE OIL!  If you do nothing else to slow your body's natural breakdown and stay healthier, longer, please incorporate olive oil into your meal planning several times a week.  Your body will thank you!

1.Machowetz, A., Poulsen, H., et al. (2006) Effect of olive oil on biomarkers of oxidative DNA stress in Northern and Southern Europeans. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. Nov 16.

Now What Did We Do?

After the just showing you how the Mediterranean Diet, rich in olive oil, keeps people younger and healthier, I would like to show how easily something good can change!

A 2006 study¹ found that changes have occurred in the traditional Mediterranean diets of southern Europe  since 1961.  The differences are described as high as a 30-fold change.  That is a considerable alteration in food intake.

In the 1960's, olive oils, fruits and vegetables made up a large portion of the diets found in Italy, Spain, France, Greece and Northern Africa.  Over the past 40 years, however, something unique has occurred.  Northern Europe, especially, has adapted to a more American (Western) diet.

The Western diet is high in carbohydrates, meats and dairy products.  This does increase levels of obesity, heart disease and cancer rates.  Why did this occur?  I suggest that one reason is cost.  The Western diet is not only more filling, but cheaper to produce.  Fruits, vegetables and fish are more expensive to produce and catch.

I think that issues of storage, refrigeration and preservation of food has also contributed to a change in eating patterns throughout Europe.  Americans can 'feed the world', but is the world ready for all that it entails?  

The changes in eating patterns has expanded past Europe as well.  In the 1960's Australia had a similar diet to that of the Mediterranean countries².  By the 1990's, consumption of wheat, olive oil, vegetables, fruit and fish had dropped dramatically in Australia.  Consumption of potato, meats, milk and vegetable oils, however, had increased.  Australia no longer has a Mediterranean diet and their incidence of cancer, heart disease and other maladies is now more in step with that of America.  

In fact, of the 15 major commodities studied, (cereals, wheat, rice, corn, potato, pulses, olive oil, vegetable oils, vegetables, fruits, wine, meats, animal fats, milk products and seafood) it appears that Australia and much of Europe is moving away from their own traditional dietary patterns that for decades, made them some of the healthiest people on the planet.

1. Garcia-Closas, R., Berenguer, A., Gonzalez, C. (2006) Changes in food supply in Mediterranean countries from 1961 to 2001. Public Health Nutrition. Feb; 9(1): 53-60.

2. Noah, A., Truswell, S. (2003) Commodities consumed in Italy, Greece, and other Mediterranean countries compared with Australia in 1960's and 1990's. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 12 (1): 23-9.

Are Drugs The Answer?

Now that we have dug ourselves a hole in the nutrition area, what are we to do?  Well, recent studies have shown that drug therapy may not always be the set in stone once a clinical disease like Coronary Artery Disease is present¹.

There has always been a debate of whether or not cholesterol-lowering drugs are the best defense once heart disease is detected and lipid levels are high.  Most doctors stress the need to take cholesterol-lowering drugs to maintain LDL, HDL and Triglyceride levels in the acceptable range.  The problem is that many of the drugs have side-effects that include liver and kidney stress and body aches with fatigue.  The benefits of remaining on the drugs has always been stressed as more important than the side-effects that the drugs may create.  What a dilemma. 

Medicine, however, seems to be taking another look at the use of 'statins'.  Statin drugs lower LDL (bad cholesterol) by interrupting formation of cholesterol in the circulating bloodstream.

Statins include:

• Lipitor (Atorvastatin)

• Lescol (Fluvastatin)

• Mevacor (Loavastatin)

• Provachol (Provastatin)

• Crestor (Resuvastatin Calcium)

• Zocor (Simvastatin)

Statin drugs are statistically significant in lowering coronary events (heart attacks), which is classified as a relative risk reduction (RRR) because other types of treatments may be incorporated.  Absolute risk reduction (ARR), however, is a little different in that baseline evaluations are used.

This recent research showed that statin therapy was of great benefit when coronary artery disease is present, but stable and LDL levels were high.

This research did show, however, that when coronary artery disease was present and stable, with low LDL levels, cholesterol treatment was nearly twice as effective if Niacin and Gemfibrozil (Lopid) were used instead of statins.

I like the fact that medicine continues to evaluate the need for medications with progressive, degenerative conditions.  Now if they would follow the all of the advice of this study and incorporate the Mediterranean diet as well (Yes, it talked about it too!) some real changes may occur!

1. Rembold, CM. (2006) To statin or to non-statin in coronary disease-considering absolute risk is the answer. Atherosclerosis. Oct 23.

Let's Visit Santa!

Well, maybe not after you read this! (Just kidding)

Holidays aren't just for remembering the past year and celebrating with family and friends.  After all, this is the cold and flu season as well.  Each of us needs to do our part in staying healthy.  This means that we need to take some precautions when we are around others.

Some of the more common places to catch a cold or the flu are malls, churches and sporting events.  Just think of all of the surfaces and people that you come in contact with in just these three areas.  How do you avoid getting sick with such heavy exposure.

Wash your hands.  I can't stress this strongly enough.  Why do you think that your medical people aren't sick and missing work at the same pace as society as a whole?  That's right!  They are constantly washing their hands during the day.

Use anti-bacterial wipes.  They are effective at stopping bacteria and viruses and they are easy to use.  If you can't wash your hands before eating, use an anti-bacterial wipe.

Avoid touching you eyes mouth and nose.  When you have been in a public place with a lot of exposure to others and you touch you nose, mouth or eyes, you are bringing bacteria and viruses near your mucous membranes and 'Eureka' the the bugs found a way in! 

Cold viruses are delivered by CONTACT and TOUCH.  Shaking hands with someone who is sick and not washing is a sure way to get a bug.  So is drinking from a communal cup.  Contact spreads colds.

Influenza is spread by AIRBORNE METHODS!  Coughing, sneezing and even simple breathing can transmit the flu virus to others.  I would suggest leaving the room when an obviously sick person is present or you'll have to take your chances.

Now, back to Santa Claus.  When you see Santa in the mall, think "Big, Red, Bacteria Culture".  I know that it takes the fun out of sitting on Santa's lap and telling him what you want for Christmas, but when every other child in the mall has been there before yours have, they will be fighting off a multitude of bugs.  If the Santa urge takes over (Children will yell loudly when denied!) you may have to give in.  If you do, remember, wash the little ones hands and face after the Santa experience and before letting him or her eat or drink.  This should lessen the risk of new house guests for the next 10 days or so!

Santa is not alone!  The Today Show did a feature on Cosmetic Counters and bacteria in October of this year.  They found various human bacteria in over 1/2 of the demo cosmetics, including lipsticks, brushes, glosses and eye shadows.  Staph and Strep were common.  Viruses were suggested, but not tested.  Even the brushes of the professional artists were loaded with bacteria.

Be smart and stay healthy this Holiday Season!

The Troublesome Poinsettia

When we think of Christmas, one of the most common visions includes a Poinsettia.  This plant has been associated with the Christmas Holiday since being brought to this country from Mexico in 1825, by our Ambassador to that country.

The Poinsettia has actually been associated with Christianity and Christmas in Mexico for centuries.  The legend has it that a small boy, being very poor, had nothing to offer for a Christmas present to Christ, in church, on Christmas Eve, so he brought a handful of weeds.  Once in the church those weeds began to change from a green color to a brilliant red.  The Christmas plant took off from there.

The poinsettia is actually a tree and they can grow up to 16 feet tall.  The red 'leaves' are actually leaves and not flowers.  The flower is the small yellowish seeds between the leaves. The rumors of the Poinsettia being poisonous are false.  You may get diarrhea from eating Poinsettia leaves, but it won't kill you.  

Since they are a tree, Poinsettias can have certain properties associated with all trees, like sap (resin) and bark.  For this reason, people who have sensitivity to rubber or latex may have problems when they are exposed to Poinsettias as well.  This came as a surprise to even the medical profession!

A paper published in July of 2006 by the South Medical Journal discussed the case of a women who had been admitted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for a rash thought to result from contact with a Poinsettia plant.  She had previously suffered allergic reactions to latex products.  The work up appeared normal, but when a friend brought her a Poinsettia in the Hospital, the rash flared severely.  Treatment with anti-histamines and removal of the plant stabilized the patient.

Latex cross-over allergies are fairly common and simply moving the plant to a different room may make all the difference in being reactive or non-reactive this Holiday Season.  The allergy appears to be contact-based, rather than airborne, so the more distance between the sufferer and the plant means less exposure and less symptoms.

How many places can someone become exposed, suffer painful symptoms and never associate the relationship?

• Malls

• Grocery Stores

• Church

• Reception and Waiting Rooms

• Family and Friends Homes

If you do have latex allergies, I hope that this article helps to explain some possible weird Christmas Holiday symptoms that you may have experienced over the years.  If not, please enjoy the beauty of this Christmas tree!

Remember,

Poinsettias are not poisonous, but Mistletoe is!

Eileen's Corner

"I wish that I could take credit for this pie, but I can't.  This pie recipe was  featured in Dear Abby's column years ago and it has been reprinted many times.  It really is a gem!  "

Sing This Holiday

Christmas is a Holiday filled with wonderful music.  Religious Hymns and Chorals have always been some of my favorites. But, who doesn't like Frosty the Snowman and Jingle Bells.  Even if someone is not a good singer, the Holidays make you want to sing out loud.  This is good because research has now shown that the simple act of singing has wonderful health benefits. 

A study published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine (Dec 2004) found that choir singing improved both emotional brain states and immune competence in those people tested.  This means that brain function and immune function of the body improved with singing! 

The subjects were tested against a control group of 'choir singers' who only listened to the same music, but did not actually sing.  Saliva samples (cortisol, IG-A) were obtained and brain function testing was performed after each session and then 60 minutes later.

The control group, which only listened to music, but did not sing, did not have an increase of immune response or improved brain function on testing.

The actual test group had an increase in immune response chemicals, a decrease in stress chemicals and improved brain response on emotional testing.

A different, but similar study performed the same year at the University of Sidney also found that test subjects who sang had better coping skills on testing than did subjects that only listened to music while exercising.  They were unable to re-produce the increased immunity markers in this study because they did not take saliva samples.

Both of these studies re-enforce what many active singers report; singing makes them feel better.  The emotional coping skills and stress testing support this claim.  The chemical markers of improved immunity are an objective body response that is not under conscious control.  This means that the body strengthens itself by the simple expression of singing! 

The cold and flu season is upon us! 

The Holidays are here! 

Stress levels are up and the year's end  is near!

Sing to your hearts content!

Let your voices be heard!

Meet 2007 both healthy and assured!

Have a wonderful Christmas Season with your friends and family.  I will bring you a fresh Enews in January!

Take Care,

Dr. Frisch

BONUS RECIPE

Monkey Bread

Merry Christmas!