DrCarney.com Blog

The Barnard Medical Center has opened its doors this month in Washington, D.C., offering integrated nutrition and medicine at all visits. As a health care center dedicated to plant-based disease prevention and recovery, Barnard Medical shines a spotlight on the lifestyle-induced illnesses that plague our nation. Yet as a full-service medical facility, Barnard Medical treats...

Many health-conscious Americans take a daily vitamin or herbal supplement in an attempt to improve their general health and wellbeing. After all, what harm can they do -- right? While health benefits from taking supplements are many times over-exaggerated, some supplements don't even contain what they list on the label and others contain ingredients that...

Cholesterol is a naturally occurring, waxy substance primarily synthesized by the liver. Cholesterol is necessary to form cell membranes, to produce hormones like testosterone and estrogen, to transform sunlight into Vitamin D which helps build our bones and strengthens our immune system, and to synthesize bile acids which aid in the digestion of fat. Cholesterol...

Physicans like myself who follow the wise words of Hippocrates: "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" — witness amazing transformations in the lives of our patients when disease-promoting foods are removed from their diets and their bodies are instead nourished with the finest ingredients. When animal products, refined oils/sugars and processed...

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a painful, chronic digestive disorder affecting millions of Americans every year. GERD occurs when the muscular valve between the esophagus and stomach is weakened or fails to close properly, which causes the contents in the stomach (including stomach acid) to travel up the esophagus. Constant irritation of the delicate lining...

We know fiber is "good" for us, but what does it actually do? Fiber plays many roles in our health. For one, it stabilizes our blood sugar which helps stabilize our energy and moods. Easier trips to the bathroom also come courtesy of fiber bulking up body waste. But did you know that fiber binds to by-products...

Hemorrhoids — although more than 75% of Americans are affected at some point in their lives, hemorrhoids aren't exactly a topic that everyone enjoys discussing. If you're looking for relief, you'll be glad to know that eating a diet rich in fiber can help prevent, treat, and stop the progression of this bothersome condition. A hemorrhoid...

Half of the adults living in America who consume the rich Western diet have permanently stretched the diaphragm that separates the abdominal cavity from the thoracic cavity. Many patients are unaware that they have stretched their diaphragm; some experience symtoms when others do not. This condition is commonly seen in adults over the age of...

If you are familiar with the work of Dr. Michael Greger, you know how passionate he is about digging through complicated scientific research linking diet and disease. My blogs and articles feature many videos from his website, NutritionFacts.org. Dr. Greger's most recent endeavor has been his book, entitled "How Not to Die." Inside, he demonstrates...

"The single biggest disqualifier is obesity," says the general in charge of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. Ten percent of eligible young people ages 17-24 applying to fight for our country are too obese or otherwise unfit to join the military. In an interview with CNN, Maj. General Allen Batschelet points out that while there...

Infertility affects between 10-15% of couples who are trying to conceive, of which 30-60% of cases can be attributable to male infertility. Improving dietary factors for both men and women has been shown to increase the changes of conception.  For example, Dr. Fuhrman says that, "Certain micronutrients are thought to contribute to male reproductive fitness....

Do you know of someone that needs a good reason to switch to a whole-food, Starch-Smart® diet? If so, you may want to share the two videos below with them featuring Dr. Michael Greger. This information may motivate your bacon-loving friends to reconsider their disease promoting diets! A review by the Mayo Clinic describes how...