Dr. Mark's Blog - All Comments

re: TIDBITS: Find Your Inner Calm

mkhairi — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:23:56 GMT

Thank you for the information Dr.

My huge problem is to find my inner support. I need to be able to suppport myself to stay in healthy weight. I was doing great in 20/20 with a lot of support around me. Now I'm unable to do it alone.

re: Changing Your Thinking About Metabolism and Weight Gain

ecruickshank — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:00:16 GMT

This answered a lot of questions I have had over the last few years. Thank you.

re: Flax Seed Oil versus Fish Oil

Dr. Mark — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:52:33 GMT

Hello, Joe.

You bring up an interesting point. As a huge propenent of fish oil, I am the first one to tell you that it is the fountain of youth.

However, in 2005 there were a series of studies done that examined patients with previous arrhythmias to evaluate the possible effectiveness of fish oil supplementation. The researchers did find that fish oil actually reduced the incidence of arrhythmias and thought that it may be a great way to treat this condition long term.

One group however of individuals with ventricular tachycardia actually had more incidences of arrhythmias than the group taking the placebo. The scientists were unclear of why this might be, none the less it demonstrated lack of replicability among the studies, weakening their evidence towards fish oil being 100% safe for individuals with arrhythmias.

It is unclear whether fish oil might predispose one who might ultimately develip arrhythmias to get them sooner, but what is clear is there is evidence to support fish oil may aggravate symptoms of those who have a pre-existing arrhythmia condition.

In most cases a daily dose of fish oil can be heart healthy. However, those with arrhythmias or a family history of arrhythmias should check with their primary physician prior to taking fish oil.

It looks like Joe that your mother's physician is being extremely precautious due to the conflicting data out there in regards to fish oil and their effects on arrhythmias. Excellent patient care.

I hope this helps. Let me know if anything else comes up.

re: Flax Seed Oil versus Fish Oil

joebenn — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 14:43:16 GMT

Hey Dr. D - I am a 20/20 alumni getting back on the staright and narrow. Really enjoy your blog.

Hey my mother and law has Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia - www.healthline.com/.../paroxysmal-atrial-tachycardia - and her doctor has told her that fish oil can induce rapid heart rates and so she avoids it.

Any advice in that situation?

Thanks,

Joe Bennett

re: Flax Seed Oil versus Fish Oil

Dr. Mark — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:19:30 GMT

Absolutely there are benefits to having flax seed in the diet. I encourage many of our vegetarian clients to use flax seed oil, because even though it is a less efficient source of omega 3s (there is an extra conversion step to get it to EPA), it still promotes heart health. Taka a look at my fellow blogger and dietitian, Chelsey Bobcek's blog on Flax seed oil so you can see there are still some benefits and worth your time: communities.2020lifestyles.com/.../what-is-a-vegetarian-to-do.aspx

re: Flax Seed Oil versus Fish Oil

ElIadn — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:02:40 GMT

Hmmm, is there any benefit to flax seed oil at all? Several years ago, I replaced butter on my air-popped popcorn with flax seed oil. I've been telling myself that this was both a good-tasting, as well as healthy, move. Have I been deluding myself as to there being any health benefits?

Thanks.

re: Changing Your Thinking About Metabolism and Weight Gain

With This Diet I Was Able to Lose T h i r t y P o u n d s in Under a Month — Wed, 06 May 2009 08:25:24 GMT

Hi, nice post. I have been thinking about this issue,so thanks for blogging. I'll probably be coming back to your blog. Keep up great writing

re: Stevia vs. Aspartame

Erica — Tue, 05 May 2009 05:31:53 GMT

Natural or Artificial - aren't we just trying to stay away from either?

re: What You've Heard Is True

How I Lost Thirty Pounds in Thirty Days — Mon, 04 May 2009 04:27:18 GMT

Hi, nice post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for writing. I'll definitely be subscribing to your blog.

re: The Metabolism Myth

How I Lost Thirty Pounds in Thirty Days — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:16:08 GMT

Great post! Just wanted to let you know you have a new subscriber- me!

re: NEAT Makes a Difference

Dr. Mark — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:16:55 GMT

Anytime Melody! 15 to 20 miles a week is anywhere from an extra 1500 to 2000 calories burned per week. Nice job and keep on moving life long!

re: NEAT Makes a Difference

melodyrowe07 — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 06:42:45 GMT

Hi Dr. Mark. Thanks for this great reminder. I finished the 20/20 progam in December and I've continued to keep up my NEAT. I keep a great health log, and one of the things I closely monitor is the amount of steps I walk every day. I also try to keep it manageable, so that I can keep it within my time contraints. It is great to note that every week I walk between 15 and 20 miles. Thanks for keeping us moving!

re: The Metabolism Myth

Ed Sproull — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:00:14 GMT

Before Linda and I entered the 20/20 we started a very simple routine; eat dinner together and then take the dogs for an evening walk of about 1.5 miles. We started in early September (2007) when the weather was still pretty nice out. We were both ready for a change and had gotten familiar with the program and started planning our meals better and removing risky foods from our diet. Having dinner scheduled at a certain time was important as it made us more conscious about when and what we were eating. But most of all we feel the after dinner walk was key! We did this for the month before we started the program and we both lost about 10+ lbs.

We now have an acronym for Sitting After Dinner…. SAD.