Chronic Disease – Prevention

The Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis are Known! It Can be Treated Cured and Prevented

Millions of people around the world are needlessly suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and many other chronic diseases which can be prevented, treated, and often reversed with diet and lifestyle medicine. This has been thoroughly established, researched and proven beyond doubt at this point. Why then, in almost forty years of suffering with rheumatoid arthritis have I never been made aware of this treatment option by any of my ‘health care’ practitioners?

Whether a patient has rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes or any other chronic disease, the first thing any physician should do is to explain the overwhelming benefits of a whole food plant-based diet and other health promoting lifestyle changes. Read more . . .

The Health Benefits of Iodine and the Health Risks of Iodine

29-10-18 by Brian Darby

The health benefits of dietary iodine are not so much ‘benefits’ as they are essential requirements for optimal health. Without sufficient dietary iodine many of our body’s systems and functions (particularly the thyroid) will operate below par, and a prolonged deficiency will cause disease.

Dietary iodine in the correct amount is essential for good health and recovery from chronic disease, but I’m suggesting that supplementary iodine (except in rare cases such as pregnancy and under medical supervision) is potentially very dangerous and is unnecessary.

Instead, whether we eat a standard UK (SUK) diet or standard American (SAD) diet (or a whole food plant-based diet), we need to make a conscious effort to eat some iodine-containing foods such as; potatoes, dark leafy greens, or small amounts of dulse (my favourite). Read more . . .

How to Eat Healthy on a Budget – Whole Food Plant-Based

06-10-18 by Brian Darby

It’s very economical to purchase a wide range of fresh and dried whole plant foods in bulk, which can then be made into a huge variety of delicious, nutrient dense, health promoting meals. Where the cost of each meal will be significantly less than the cost of a typical junk food ‘meal’. The value for money is high, the nutrient content is high, there’s a much greater variety of meals available, meals can be prepared in advance and in quantity, and I would argue that the flavours and textures of the meals created are far more enjoyable than those provided by fast/junk foods. Read more . . .

Are Vitamin A Supplements Safe? Do Vegans Need Vitamin A Supplements?

25-09-18 by Brian Darby

No, in my opinion vitamin A supplements are not safe. And again no, in my opinion whole food plant-based vegans do not need vitamin A supplements. This is a rare example of a straightforward answer to a nutritional question :-)

Vitamin A (retinol and other retinoids) is a fat soluble vitamin and can accumulate in the body, particularly in the liver, and can reach toxic levels if obtained from a supplement or if too much preformed vitamin A is obtained from animal sources such as liver and cod liver oil for example. Curiously, the most toxic concentrated source of preformed vitamin A is polar bear liver! :-) Read more . . .

Best Source of Omega-3 ALA EPA DHA – 2018

16-08-18 by Brian Darby

Fish, fish oil, flax, algae oil; which is the best source of omega-3 fatty acids? Should we rely on natural sources or take a supplement?

There are two essential fatty acid groups; linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3). The essential alpha-linolenic acid (from plant sources) can be restructured in the body to produce the longer chained EPA and DHA fatty acids, EPA and DHA can also be obtained directly from algae and from animal sources, primarily fish.

Ground flax seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, walnuts and leafy greens are the best sources of alpha-linolenic acid and currently, algae derived omega-3 supplements appear to provide the safest source of EPA and DHA (if not rancid). Read more . . .