Prevent CANCER with DIET! And how that's related to my new Fellowship program :D

Dr. Weil writes, "A healthy diet can help the body in its efforts to heal itself, and in some cases, particular foods can lessen the risks of serious illness. To help reduce your risk of some types of cancer, try the following:

1. Avoid polyunsaturated vegetable oils, margarine, vegetable shortening, all partially hydrogenated oils and all foods that might contain trans-fatty acids (such as deep-fried foods).
2. Minimize or eliminate consumption of foods with added sugar.
3. Increase omega-3 fatty acid intake by eating more cold-water oily fish, freshly ground flaxseed and walnuts.
4. Reduce consumption of animal foods and try replacing them with plant-based proteins such as whole soy products.
5. Use hormone-free, organically produced products whenever possible.
6. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
7. Eat shiitake, enokidake, maitake and oyster mushrooms frequently.
8. Drink green tea daily."

These guidelines are fundamental and obvious to those attempting to prevent cancer through good diet. So what about the rest of the population who doesn't see these tidbits as useful pieces of advice? (You know who you are...) Why do so few people heed the advice of doctors, public health officials and other health care professionals?? 

The answer is multi-factorial and ranges from cultural norms (nobody wants to be the one not eating cake at a birthday party) to lack of provider (healthcare provider) guidance on how to go about achieving true health to the feeling of being overwhelmed with the task of change. 

The fellowship I just began (Integrative Medicine at Stamford Hospital's Tully Health Center) aims to change ALL of these obstacles by providing comprehensive, holistic and thorough patient care. The Center offers intensive nutrition counseling by a PHYSICIAN (Dr. Joseph Feuerstein, who is well-known in the Stamford community as the "Diet Guru"); stress reduction through Jon Kabat-Zin's Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program, a Mindfulness-Based Stress EATING program and hypnosis; and comprehensive natural pain management through acupuncture, trigger point injections and hypnosis. 

These three components target the obstacles that lay before people attempting to improve their dietary habits and have proven to be extremely effective over the last 2-3 years since the Center opened. I am extremely proud and honored to be able to work with such an amazing group of caregivers and cannot wait to get my learn on some more! Just in case you're wondering, I plan to bring my skills back to Houston to help as many people as possible control their weight, improve their life and their sense of well-being...in whatever form I can.

Thanks for reading and Happy Monday!

Dr. M :D