DrCarney.com Blog

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. One out of every two men and one out of every three women will be diagnosed with cancer sometime during their lifetime. Fascinating research demonstrates how milk protein (casein) raises our levels of a powerful cancer-promoting growth hormone called Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1, (IGF-1) which has been...

The prevalence of food allergies, asthma, hay fever, and eczema seem to be increasing every year around the world, even doubling, tripling, and quadrupling. Why the increase? No one knows for sure, yet reducing the amount of meat in the diet may decrease the risk of allergic diseases. A recent study in Poland conducted on...

A common question for those of us who eat a whole-food, plant-based diet is "Where do you get your protein from?" This question is based on the fear that animal-free diets won't meet our daily protein recommendations. This fear is based on misconceptions and myths rather than facts.

Most people are perplexed when they find out that plants contain more than enough protein to meet our daily needs. Dr. John McDougall's article, "When Friends Ask: Where do You Get Your Protein?" points out that "protein deficiency is really a food deficiency." He reinforces his position by saying: "How many cases of the so-called 'protein deficiency state,' kwashiorkor, have you seen? I have never seen a case, even though I have known thousands of people on a plant-food based diet. Sixty percent of people alive today and most of the people who have lived in the past have obtained their protein from plant foods. They have lived successfully; avoiding all the diseases common in our society. Even today plant sources provide 65% of the world supply of the protein we eat. The picture one often sees of 'protein deficient' children in famine areas of Asia or Africa is actually one of starvation and is more accurately described as 'calorie deficiency.' When these children come under medical supervision, they are nourished back to health with their local diets of corn, wheat, rice, and/or beans."

If we were to say the words "calcium," "protein" or "iron" what images or words would that bring to your mind? If you were to answer milk, eggs, and beef, you're not alone. Most of us are not aware that we have fallen for the clever marketing strategies used by big food industries. This blog...

We're sure you will agree that colon polyps aren't exactly a popular topic of conversation. However, because they increase our risk of colon cancer (and over 35% of those eating the typical American diet have polyps) it's important for us to discuss them. Notice in the above graph from Dr. T. Colin Campbell's China Study,...

Scrambled, fried, hard boiled, or poached - there's a way to prepare eggs to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. I'm sure many people have fond memories of eating bacon and eggs for breakfast with their families on weekend mornings. Eggs are heavily advertised as being an excellent source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants...

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." These are wise words spoken by Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician, that is "considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine." The Hippocratic Oath which is named after Hippocrates, outlines medical ethics for doctors and is still used today. Part of the oath reads: "I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone."

Sadly though, "medical care and errors" has become the third leading cause of death in the U.S. It is estimated that over 400,000 deaths per year are associated with medical error. Examples of this include infections in hospitals, unnecessary surgery, hospital errors, adverse reactions and interactions to prescription drugs, administration of the wrong drug to the wrong patient, and wrong diagnosis. The good news is that we can avoid many of these unnecessary treatments contributing to these statistics when we eat a health-supporting diet.

The statistics are distressing. Heart disease is our nation's leading cause of death for both men and women, resulting in a heart attack every 34 seconds. Eighty-one million Americans suffer from cardiovascular disease killing one out of every three people or 831,000 each year.

Will you be next? You may not have any symptoms of heart disease, or have been told that your cholesterol is within the "normal" range, yet these measures are not an accurate means of assessing your risk for heart disease. The majority of heart attacks occur in patients whose cholesterol is between "the normal range" of 150-200. In order to be truly protected, we should strive to maintain a total cholesterol level below 150. Heart disease is very rare in those with cholesterol levels this low. 

Low-carb, high-protein diets such as the Paleo or Zone diet, have become very popular, especially among many fitness-minded groups such as CrossFit. To their credit, low-carb diets such as the Paleo diet eschews dairy, refined foods, and added sugars/salts, although they severely limit complex carbohydrates which are the primary component of a whole-food, Starch-Smart® diet. Supporters of low-carb diets obtain the majority of their calories from animal protein and fat. No other diet has generated as much emotion or controversy as these low-carb diets have.  (Information regarding whole grains can be seen here.)

If you are a woman, what steps are you taking to prevent from being diagnosed with breast cancer? As Dr. John McDougall points out in the two-minute video below, most women believe that the best way to protect themselves is through early detection practices such as examining their breasts monthly along with keeping their yearly...

Colon cancer, is the second most deadly cancer. Approximately 180,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States and Europe. Dr. John McDougall says that colon cancer "is a disease primarily of people consuming a diet high in meats (including poultry and fish), dairy products, and fats; and low in fruits and vegetables."...

Dr. John McDougall has stated numerous times that he's "not trying to win a popularity contest" or be "politically correct." His passion for seeking and presenting valuable truths is highly commended. We applaud his boldness and dedication for exposing hidden practices in the health care industry. For example, in his September 2005 Newsletter, he recommends...