Creating a Healthy Holiday Season OHR #419

Here is some new published data on new FDA approved drugs for cancer care.

Clinical Trial Evidence Supporting US Food and Drug Administration Approval of Novel Cancer Therapies Between 2000 and 2016 (JAMA, November 10, 2020)

There were 92 new FDA-approved cancer drug therapies between 2000 and 2016. Astonishingly (44 of 100 the FDA gave approval without supporting randomized control studies and the median increase in survival was only on average two months. The cost? Don’t even ask. You won’t believe it.  Why does the U.S. spend the highest on healthcare of any country in the world (and rank 29^th in longevity)? Look at the cost of cancer drugs.

Cancer is a mega big business. They don’t personalize care. Personalized care means you don’t get the same exact treatment as the person with the same cancer in the bed next to you. It’s mostly one size fits all.  Could that be why the success rate of Stage III and IV cancer is dismal? And as you can see the new drugs aren’t well tested and prolong life only two months!

You have a choice when looking for cancer treatment.

Personalized treatment can get you a better outcome.

Check it out before committing to a therapy that can devastate your immune system.

We can help.

Have a great week.

Dr. David I Minkoff, MD

The Holiday Season & Diets

It is that time of year where we are all tempted to eat and drink the foods we have tried to stay away from.  Whether it be for personal reasons, health reasons, training for a triathlon, etc., you may be following a particular diet or have certain diet restrictions.  We’re all human, so it is normal for us to have a difficult time sticking to our diet during the holidays.  The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way.  All it takes is a little bit of planning.  Take a moment and think of all the improvements to your health that you have attained so far and remember how hard you worked to get there.  Be proud of yourself for getting to where you are.  There is no reason to undo everything you have accomplished and go back to where you were several months prior.

Tips to stay on your diet for the holidays:

1. Plan your meals every morning for the whole day

By planning each of your meals and treats for the day, it will help you stay on track and not eat or drink something you shouldn’t

2. If you are going to a holiday party, eat before you go and/or bring a dish that you want to eat

There are lots of parties that happen this time of year and most of them offer food and drink that are not “healthy”.  By eating before you go, you won’t be tempted by the food and drink choices at the party.  If you don’t want to be the only person not eating at the party, bring a food and/or drink item with you, so that you can join in with everyone without feeling left out.  This includes treats like Keto bombs if you follow a Keto diet and if you must have an alcoholic beverage, stick to a glass of red wine.  It is the best of all options out there.

3. Restaurants serve protein and vegetables

There is always the possibility that you will meet up with friends and family at a restaurant or if you are on a road trip, you will have to stop somewhere to eat.  The healthiest thing on any menu is protein like chicken and steak, and vegetables.  This may seem kind of boring but it’s a lot healthier than a greasy cheeseburger and fries.  You don’t want the bloating and tired feeling you would get if you chose those instead!  You can always carry a little travel size bottle filled with Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), that you can pour over your chicken and vegetables.  Stay away from any dressings the restaurants offer as they are full of calories and carbs that you do not want or need.

4. WE’RE ALL HUMAN – HAVE FUN

Remember we are all human and only live once.  If you happen to eat or drink something that is not recommended on your diet, enjoy it and then start back on it.  Do not punish yourself or feel sorry for yourself.  We all deserve to enjoy life and no matter what you choose to do – stick to your diet or not, the choice is yours.  Tomorrow is another day.

All of us at LifeWorks Wellness Center would like to wish you all a Happy Holiday!   We’ll see you in the New Year!

Let’s Get Healthy!