Published December 17, 2010

Is this the cheapest way for diabetics to prevent kidney disease?

If you have type-2 diabetes, your risk of developing kidney disease is much higher than the average person. But an inexpensive vitamin may be all you need to prevent the problem.

A research team found that you can protect yourself with high doses of vitamin B1, thiamine. In their study, they gave participants 300 mg daily (100 mg, three times daily). To determine how well the nutrient works, they measured how much microalbuminuria (albumin) the patients lost during the three-month study. Diabetics develop kidney disease when they begin to lose molecules of this protein.

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Published December 16, 2010

Feeling terrible? Blame your thyroid test

I’ve told my patients and readers for years to ignore the results of thyroid blood tests. They are not an accurate way to diagnose thyroid deficiency. Unfortunately, most doctors don’t understand this. So you may need thyroid hormone, but your doctor won’t give it to you because your blood test says you’re in the “reference range.” If this happens to you, you’re not alone.

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Published December 15, 2010

Stop gum and heart disease with bacteria

Inflammation in your gums is a serious condition. It leads to tooth loss. And it can cause heart and vascular disease. Finding inexpensive ways to prevent tooth loss is imperative. Your dentist will tell you to brush and floss your teeth. But there’s even more you can do that’s both easy and tasty.

Researchers recently conducted a controlled but unblended study on 50 participants. They gave the group a probiotic milk and followed them for eight weeks, and compared them to a control group.

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