DrCarney.com Blog

The World Health Organization, (WHO) attributes over 3 million deaths per year to "inadequate fruit and vegetable intake - a risk factor almost as deadly as tobacco use or unsafe sex." Why haven't you heard this from most family physicians? You'll be surprised to find out that less than 25% of medical schools offer a single course dedicated for nutrition and some graduating physicians have had no formal nutritional training at all. Out of thousands of clinical instruction hours, some may receive as little as three hours.

At dinner time, when you're holding an arm full of vegetables, do you ever wonder which cooking method is best so that you preserve the most nutrients? This is a frequently asked question. Thanks to a study conducted by a group of food scientists, we now have some answers. The study was entitled: Influence of...

The Standard American Diet (SAD) is deficient in whole plant foods. I encourage my patients to greatly increase their consumption of vegetables and fruits many of which are delicious without being cooked. Some patients believe that they NEED to eat only raw foods in order to be healthy. This is simply not true. Raw foods are good but unfortunately many raw foodists have been found to be deficient in several nutrients, such as lycopene. In fact studies show that cooked tomatoes contain four times the amount of lycopene than raw tomatoes.Additionally, a study conducted on three different types of diets showed that even though the raw food group consumed significantly more servings of plant foods, their blood beta carotene levels were equal to those that ate the typical Western diet.

We all know that George should eat his broccoli. But, do we know how he should eat his broccoli? Deep fried? Not quite. Boiled? Maybe. Raw? Possibly. There are studies on this all important subject and our favorite go to guy for such important Nutrition facts, Dr. Michael Greger has once again provided an answer. When...

A whole-food, nutrient-dense, Starch-Smart® Diet should consist of both raw and cooked plant foods. A portion of our daily diet should come from raw plant foods. This can easily be done by eating a large salad each day and several servings of raw fruit. Eating a nutritious diet consisting of both cooked and raw plant food...

Earaches and ear infections are one of the most common reasons why parents bring their children to the doctor's office. In most cases, those children who develop an ear infection will develop subsequent infections. My heart's desire is to prevent these children from suffering repeatedly. This requires first relieving their current earache or ear infection...

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness and vision loss, so it's no surprise that cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries performed today. There are several factors associated with the development of cataracts, including what type of diet we eat. Dr. Michael Greger's video clip points to a study that concluded, "Vegetarians and...

The beneficial anti-inflammatory properties of a Starch-Smart® Diet come from the avoidance of inflammatory foods such as animal products, as well as the inclusion of micronutrient-rich, whole plant foods. Plant foods are a rich source of phytochemicals, which support our endothelial cells that line the inside of our entire vascular system. These cells play an important...

Lisa's daughter was almost two when she began to have recurrent ear infections. She went to see two Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Doctors that suggested that her daughter have tubes surgically inserted into both ears. Lisa wasn't comfortable with this recommendation, so she began to search the Internet for alternative treatments. She discovered Dr. Joel...

Ear infections (otitis media) in children are one of the most common reasons to be seen by a doctor. It's hard on any parent to watch their child struggle with ear pain. However, most ear infections, whether viral or bacterial in nature, typically clear up on their own, without the use of antibiotics. Over treating every...

Preparing ahead of time can make or break our healthy plant-based lifestyle. The KISS principle (Keep It Simple Sweetheart and Keep It Starch-Smart) is still rule number one. Easy food preparation is the key to success. I would like to share some ideas we have found that might work for you. Lindsay Nixon, the Happy...

Ok, so you've made the transition to a healthier, whole-food, plant-based diet, and you have been doing really well preparing your own meals at home. But ... You've just been asked to go out to eat with your friends at a restaurant. Now what? Don't lose hope. Watch this short video clip from the PCRM's...