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Do Docs & Nurses Take Supplements?

From eNewsletter 1/7/2019

DID YOU KNOW that nurses and physicians who responded to a recent Medscape poll on thoughts surrounding vitamins and mineral supplements were more likely to take the supplements than recommend them?

When asked whether they recommend vitamins and/or mineral supplements to patients, 24% of physicians and 31% of nurses said they always or frequently do. Answering how often they recommend other non-vitamin and mineral dietary supplements, 15% of physicians and 19% of nurses said they always or frequently do.

But when asked how often they take dietary supplements (vitamins, minerals, or other supplements) the numbers were higher: 71% of nurses said they regularly take them compared with 31% of physicians.

A family medicine physician commented, "I have been taking 15 supplement pills about 5x week for 40 years. I take ZERO pharm drugs. Normal blood pressure, healthy cholesterol, lipid and liver panels and no ED.  Better to take my 15 pills than to take the 15 drugs most of my patients take."

A nurse practitioner responded when the poll questions were posed, "Our first duty to patients is to discuss lifestyle measures which affect heath (ie, diet, exercise, stress management, sleep, connections, etc). That said, many of our patients' diets (and our own) are far from ideal. And, as several have pointed out, our modern food supply is often depleted of important nutrients due to the manner in which our food is grown and stored. Also, there are some disease processes which can benefit from specific dietary supplements."

As we have said for years, allopathic practitioners have their reasons why they do not impart their own lifestyle choices onto their patients. Some of it has to do with not being reimbursed for discussing or recommending dietary supplements.

What is indisputable is that many take supplements, and believe in them wholeheartedly.

Get Ready for the Faux Meat Craze

Bonnie & Steve: If not already, you will soon be bombarded with new companies creating myriad ways to mimic animal protein. Our message is simple. Ask us first, or wait until we evaluate them.

We are not discounting some of these methods, including lab-grown protein. We just need to be patient and get all the details, as well as monitor how it is being tolerated by early adopters.

Here's three examples of why you need to be wary.

Impossible Foods, maker of the Impossible Burger

This product has received a lot of media attention because it looks like a beef burger and "bleeds" like a rare beef burger. If you look at the ingredients however, you need to be wary.

Ingredients: Wheat Protein, Potato Protein, Heme (iron which gives the liquid the "bleed" look), Coconut Oil, Soy Oil, Konjac and Xanthan Gum.

COMMENT: This product contains a cornucopia of potential reactors/allergens/GI disturbers.

Good Catch Foods, makers of faux seafood products.

Ingredients: water, Good Catch™ 6-Plant Protein Blend (Pea Protein Isolate, Soy Protein Concentrate, Chickpea Flour, Lentil Protein, Faba Protein, Navy Bean Flour), Algal Oil, Sea Salt, Sunflower Oil, Seaweed Powder (Seaweed, Salt), Citric Acid, Onion Powder, Yeats Extract (Yeast, Salt), Garlic Powder, Soy Lecithin. Contains Soy

COMMENT: Pea protein isolate and yeast extract are hidden MSG ingredients. Conventional soy protein is never recommended because of the heavy xenoestrogenic pesticide residue. Omega-3 DHA in the form of algal oil we do not recommend. Many people react to one or more beans so eating this consistently can be problematic for some.

Just Egg, faux liquid eggs

Ingredients: Water, Mung Bean Protein Isolate, Expeller-Pressed Canola Oil, Contains less than 2% of Calcium Citrate, Enzyme, Gellan Gum, Natural Carrot Extractives (color), Natural Flavors, Natural Turmeric Extractives (color), Onion Puree, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Sugar, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Preservatives (Nisin, Potassium Sorbate).

COMMENT: Once again, isolates and extractives are MSG derivatives. Also, phates and bates can be reactive for many who have sulfur dioxide issues.

Conclusion

Lab grown meat has not yet been approved for human consumption, but we're very close to this introduction into the food supply.

Please do not think just because these products are animal flesh-free that they are healthful. We've had to dispel myths with other categories of foods, starting with fat-free, then sugar-free, gluten-free, and now animal free.

We're getting close to some good meat-less foods, but we're not quite there yet.

Blood Sugar, PCOS Disorders Update

Steve: Numerous first-of-their-kind findings reveal that blood sugar disorders are more than just sugar-induced...This article is reserved for NCI Well Connect Members. You can get this article by signing up here.


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