Barbara’s Wheat Belly makeover
After only 5 weeks of following the Wheat Belly lifestyle, Barbara’s appearance–and health–have changed so much that she is practically unrecognizable. “I have a long, long, long way to go, but this is a before and after of 5 weeks following my new forever life plan. I am taking some of the medications you have described as those that make it difficult to lose, so my progress is slow, but every 1/2 pound DOWN is a step in the right direction. “Here is a before and after 5 week pic that definitely shows that Dr. Davis sure does know what he is talking about. I am no longer suffering from the...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - August 23, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Success Stories autoimmune fibromyalgiag gluten grains Inflammation psoriasis Weight Loss Source Type: blogs

Jane did NOT lose weight, but lost inflammation
Jane’s experience highlights an important aspect of the Wheat Belly lifestyle: “I may have not weight but certainly lost inches!” Despite no change in weight, there has been an obvious change in Jane’s appearance. In addition to the lost inches she describes, she has also undergone an obvious change in facial appearance. Jane’s experience highlights an essential feature of the Wheat Belly wheat- and grain-free lifestyle: more than weight loss, it is a lifestyle that has the potential to powerfully reverse inflammation. But it’s not magical: it is simply a consequence of removing the in...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - August 22, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Success Stories gluten grains Inflammation Weight Loss Source Type: blogs

Once More with Feeling - Amgen Again Settles Allegations of Misbranding, But Why Bother?
DiscussionIn the case of Amgen, the large 2012 settlement for misbranding resulted in the only guilty plea made and the largest fine paid by the company.  From my informal perusal of legal settlements made by drug, biotechnology and device companies, misbranding seems to be one of the more frequent allegations, and often the only one resulting in admissions of guilt.  It may be that it is easier to prove misbranding than other charges, and companies may admit to misbranding in settlements because the charge is not well understood by the general public and hence may carry less of a stigma than other charges, for e...
Source: Health Care Renewal - August 20, 2015 Category: Health Management Tags: Amgen bribery deception kickbacks legal settlements marketing Source Type: blogs

Amgen Pays $71 Million to States For Off-Label Allegations In Violation of Consumer Protection Laws
  Earlier this week, Amgen Inc. agreed to pay $71 million to 48 states to settle allegations that it violated state consumer protection laws by promoting its anemia drug Aranesp and plaque psoriasis drug Enbrel off-label. Amgen pleaded guilty in 2012 to a federal criminal charge related to similar off-label allegations related to Aranesp, paying $762 million, then the “single largest criminal and civil False Claims Act settlement involving a biotechnology company in U.S. history,” stated DOJ.  Aranesp is used to treat certain types of anemia by stimulating bone marrow to produce red blood cells.  En...
Source: Policy and Medicine - August 20, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Thomas Sullivan Source Type: blogs

Nature’s Medicine Cabinet
More than 70 percent of new drugs approved within the past 30 years originated from trees, sea creatures and other organisms that produce substances they need to survive. Since ancient times, people have been searching the Earth for natural products to use—from poison dart frog venom for hunting to herbs for healing wounds. Today, scientists are modifying them in the laboratory for our medicinal use. Here’s a peek at some of the products in nature’s medicine cabinet. A protein called draculin found in the saliva of vampire bats is in the last phases of clinical testing as a clot-buster for stroke patients. Vampire b...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - August 14, 2015 Category: Research Authors: Srivalli Subbaramaiah Tags: Chemistry and Biochemistry Pharmacology Cool Creatures Diseases Medicines Natural Products Source Type: blogs

The OTHER 99%: It’s not just about celiac disease
I want to take this issue head on, since popular “wisdom” is that problems with consumption of wheat and related grains begin and end with celiac disease. The Wheat Lobby, for instance, frequently argues that, if you do not have celiac disease, you have no business avoiding wheat and related grains. Defenders of wheat, such as those cited in this New York Times article, argue that celiac disease affects 1% of the human population, but that the other 99% of people not only can consume wheat with impunity, but can actually do so and obtain health benefits due to fiber and B vitamin content. They say that eliminat...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - August 13, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Lifestyle ataxia autoimmune diabetes gluten grains Inflammation iron neuropathy skin rash Source Type: blogs

There’s more to wheat than celiac disease
I want to take this issue head on, since popular “wisdom” is that problems with consumption of wheat and related grains begins and ends with celiac disease. The Wheat Lobby, for instance, frequently argues that, if you do not have celiac disease, you have no business avoiding wheat and related grains. Defenders of wheat, such as those cited in this New York Times article, argue that celiac disease affects 1% of the human population, but that the other 99% of people not only can consume wheat with impunity, but can actually do so and obtain health benefits due to fiber and B vitamin content. They say that elimin...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - August 13, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Lifestyle ataxia autoimmune celiac glutten neuropathy Source Type: blogs

Stefanie’s allergic and autoimmune conditions improved and, oh yes, she’s down 105 pounds
Stefanie shared her wonderful Wheat Belly experience: “I’ve been following the Wheat Belly lifestyle for a little over a year (July 25, 2014) due to sudden onset of severe allergies. I’m down for a grand total of 105 pounds lost since March, 2014. I managed to stop all my allergy meds and feel incredibly better. I still have some autoimmune issues that have improved but aren’t as bad as they were. (I have a mild case of psoriasis.) “My neurological issues aren’t related to diet but are due to a traumatic brain injury I sustained 18 years ago. However, I did notice the symptoms were jus...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - August 9, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Success Stories allergies autoimmune grains psoriasis Weight Loss Source Type: blogs

The nasty business of wheat re-exposure
Steve’s wife, Jenny, shared these photos of her husband feeling well off all wheat and grains, then after a wheat exposure: “Went to a party last night. Thought he could have pizza since he’s looked so good for so long. This is him before and after.” Of course, Steve will survive after enduring some misery and perhaps embarrassment. But the whole business of re-exposure to wheat and related grains can be quite nasty. Among the most common wheat/grain re-exposure reactions are: Abdominal distress–bloating, diarrhea, discomfort, even severe acute pain Joint pain–in fingers and wrists, as ...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - August 9, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Lifestyle diarrhea gluten grain Inflammation joint pain re-exposure reactions skin rash Source Type: blogs

For your health, generalists have great lasting value
First, we must address semantics.  This post – Generalists vs. Specialists – stimulated these thoughts.  Often in organized medicine we (especially internists and family physicians) emphasize that internists (whether inpatient or outpatient focused), family physicians, pediatricians, general surgeons, etc. are specialists, while we reserve the term sub-specialists for cardiologists, or vascular surgeons, or gastroenterologists.  For the sake of consistency with common usage, I will refer to generalists and specialists rather than specialists and sub-specialists. The essay’s point (as I interpret it) fo...
Source: DB's Medical Rants - July 6, 2015 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: rcentor Tags: Medical Rants Source Type: blogs

Kerry’s one-year Wheat Belly success
Kerry shared her wonderful 12-month results following the Wheat Belly lifestyle: “The first photo was taken 12 months ago, the second was taken today. I decided to go gluten-free/paleo at the end of January, 2015 without much change. I discovered Wheat Belly end of March, 2015 and this is the result. Down 13 kg (nearly 29 lbs) and off all medications. Still have a way to go with my weight but I’m happy. “I stopped statins, reflux, and osteoporosis meds. I have my doctor on my side– unusual here in Australia. My cholesterol was a bit high, but when I told her that I had given up wheat and grains, sh...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - June 20, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Success Stories acid reflux cholesterol gluten grains osteoporosis psoriasis statins Weight Loss Source Type: blogs

Wheat and grains make you sick
Jennifer shared her “before” and “after” photos after just 3 weeks of following the Wheat Belly lifestyle: “I am 30. I have been dealing with health issues my whole life. About a month ago, I had to go to the ER for severe abdominal pain and nausea. I still don’t know all that is going on, but I do know the Wheat Belly diet is helping me to get better (docs haven’t been helpful thus far). “This is a pic of me before Wheat Belly on the left and 3 weeks after starting the diet. I have followed your Facebook and seen all the ‘before’ and ‘afters’ and wan...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - June 13, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Success Stories abdominal pain gluten grains nausea Source Type: blogs

My Wheat Belly turning point
Many of you know that the Wheat Belly concepts got their start when I was trying to help patients in my cardiology practice obtain better control over risk for coronary disease. An exceptionally common combination of abnormalities in people with heart attacks, survivors of sudden cardiac death, those who have undergone stent implantation or bypass surgery, or have high coronary calcium scores (an early quantifier of coronary atherosclerotic plaque): large quantities of small LDL particles and high blood sugars (high fasting glucose and/or hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c, reflecting long-term blood sugar fluctuations). Because wheat...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - June 11, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Success Stories cholesterol gluten grains lipids lipoproteins ulcerative colitis Weight Loss Source Type: blogs

Sarah: “Only” down 26 pounds
Sarah shared her Wheat Belly experience with us: “I removed wheat 9/2014, all grains 11/2014. While I’m only down 26 lbs, I feel a lot better, migraines are next to nothing, and my clothes are getting looser and looser. I do notice some facial changes, too. “I still have a ways to go weight-wise, but I’m happy so far.” Doesn’t she look terrific? And freed of awful migraine headaches. I am continually impressed and delighted at just how powerful the elimination of all wheat and grains can be. While the Wheat Belly strategy is indeed a form of reducing carbohydrates, it is so much MORE t...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - June 1, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Success Stories gluten grains headache migraine Weight Loss Source Type: blogs

The Myths of Indoor Tanning
With May being Skin Cancer Awareness Month and in tandem with our event next week, The Hazards and Allure of Indoor Tanning Beds on College Campuses we are running a series on skin cancer. Be sure to check back daily for posts on skin cancer including how you prevent and detect it. Enjoy! A healthy glow. A base tan. Safer than the sun. I’ve heard these myths from indoor tanning proponents for years. The reality is there is not a single ounce of scientific merit to validate these fallacies. This Skin Cancer Awareness month, let’s put an end to the myths and get the facts straight. The U.S. Department of Health and Human...
Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - May 15, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: dw at disruptivewomen.net Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs