Dr Oz

Dr. Oz’s show on January 28, 2010 ended with the following summary of doctor’s orders from Dr. Oz:

1. Pay Attention to Pain – it could be a sign of cancer!

2.  Use Moisturizer with Retinol – this will keep your skin young and replace the estrogen you lack during midlife puberty.

3.  Use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb – use this for 30 minutes every day, and it will help keep the winter blues at bay.

Dr. Oz gave 5 fantastic tips for beating the winter blues:

1. Peppermint Oil -helps with sadness and depression, and because of the menthol in it, it is a great energy booster.  If you have never tried putting on a few dabs or taking a couple of whiffs before a workout… it is amazing!

2. Florescent Light – especially in the Northern states, where it gets dark very early, these lights can work wonders.  Florescent lights are very bright and so they change the melatonin in your brain and keep away the winter blues.

3. Chili Peppers – the capsaicin found in chili peppers boosts energy, enhances circulation and will pick you up from your mid afternoon slump.

4. Ginger Tea – not only will this warm you up and taste great, it helps you with your weight so that you don’t put on extra pounds in the winter (like most of us tend to do!).

5. Ginkgo Biloba – helps if you have difficulty concentrating.  Ginkgo Biloba also makes you more alert and cognizant of what is going on around you.  You can either take Ginkgo Biloba Time Release Tablets or mix 4 drops of Ginkgo Biloba Organic Liquid Extract into a small glass of water (it actually tastes quite good)!

Are you over 40?  Is your skin and hair changing?  Dr. Oz calls this a woman’s midlife puberty or second puberty.  So how does Dr. Oz suggest women can regain control from their hormones during this midlife puberty (similar to menopause)?

Midlife Puberty Skin Changes:

Patty from Stamford was the helper and filled a syringe with water (like a baster), and then slowly deposited the water along the edge of a sponge (one of those sponges that are small, but grow when you put them in a cup of water).  What happened as Patty exposed the edge of the sponge to water is that it puffed out and became more “spongy” – this is what estrogen does for our skin.  Collagen is naturally thickened and made more elastic by estrogen.  So as the estrogen levels go down during midlife puberty, your skin becomes more dry, thin and wrinkled.  Have no fear though, Dr. Oz says that using a moisturizer with retinol in it is a fabulous substitute for estrogen’s role in youthful looking skin!

Midlife Puberty Hair Changes:

As your estrogen levels drop during midlife puberty, your hair goes through changes too.  You lose hair from on your head, and start growing hair in other places (beard, chin, breasts, etc.).  Dr. Oz recommends using menoxidyl, a medication originally used for blood pressure, to thicken your hair and to grow hair where you have already begun balding… it is absolutely amazing, better than any other product, safe and can be purchased over the counter.  What about the new hair growing in other places?  Dr. Oz suggests using laser hair removal or waxing to remove the unwanted hairs.

My jaw dropped when I saw the video of Terri and Ed three years ago, and then saw what they look like today – MASSIVE change!!!  Terri and Ed lost a combined total of 251 pounds together as a couple.  What were their weight loss secrets?

1. Learn the Magic of the Microwave – Terri and Ed steam fresh veggies and warm up prepared chicken breast in the microwave and serve it over a little whole wheat pasta… looked great!

2. The Rule of 3’s – Terri and Ed’s secret three ingredients are olive oil, minced garlic and lowfat parmesan.  They use these three ingredients on everything from salmon to asparagus to add flavor without bad fat and calories.

3. Keep Motivated – Whenever Ed was feeling unmotivated to workout, he would pickup a 10 pound weight and feel how heavy it was.  Now imagine carrying around that weight with you all the time… and if you are trying to lose 50 pounds, imagine multiplying that by 5 AND carrying it around all the time… you will quickly be re-motivated to drop that weight!  Also, don’t save your old “fat” clothes… this is a huge crutch… get rid of it and commit to staying healthy and not yo-yo’ing back to your old fatter self… Love it!!!

Cancer is the disease that we all fear the most.  Dr. Oz said that 30% of all cancer cases are signaled by pain first.  Want some more scary statistics?  Did you know that 1 in 3 women will get cancer at some point during their life… and men have an even higher risk (50%) of getting cancer.  So what pain symptoms should we watch out for to identify cancer early?

Lung Cancer – 160,000 people a year die from lung cancer.  Dr. Ilana Cass, an Oncologist, said that 20% of American adults smoke, but even nonsmokers are at risk of getting lung cancer.  In fact, 1/3 of people who have lung cancer and don’t smoke are women… so women should pay special attention to these early signs of lung cancer:

1. Painful Breathing
2. Coughing Up Blood

The reason you experience difficulty or pain when you breathe is because the cancer grows around your airways, making it hard to move lungs in the air.  Dr. Oz’s helper said that the cancerous lung felt kind of like thick gristle on a steak.  If you have these symptoms for more than 2 weeks, seek medical attention.

Colon Cancer – You are in the high risk category for colon cancer if you are over 50, have a family history of colon cancer and / or have inflammatory bowel disease.  If you fall into any of these categories, schedule a colonoscopy!  The pains associated with colon cancer are:

1. Painful Constipation
2. Belly Abdominal Cramps
3. Painful Gas

The pain caused by colon cancer can be very severe, because a mass (the cancerous tumor) is obstructing the colon.  You may also notice blood in your stool and your stool may be thinner (like a pencil).

Ovarian Cancer – You have a 90% chance of surviving if you catch ovarian cancer early, this is huge!!!  So definitely keep an eye out for any of the following pain symptoms:

1. Painful Bloating
2. Pelvic and Abdominal Pain
2. Can’t Empty Your Bladder

Dr. Cass said that it is a similar feeling to having a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection), where you have pain when you urinate, and you feel like you have to go again right after you pee – it is a sense of pressure or a feeling like you aren’t completely emptying your bladder.  Also, look for blood in your urine.

Brain Cancer – Dr. Oz gave a powerful demonstration on brain cancer using a grapefruit.  Your skull is like the thick skin of the grapefruit (it is there to protect and pad your brain), and the pink juicy fruit is like your soft and delicate brain tissue.  If you cut a grapefruit in half, you will see that the grapefruit fits snuggly and perfectly inside of the grapefruit skin.  If you try to squeeze a small red ball (like a cancerous tumor) into the fruit of the grapefruit (like your brain), your brain has to herniate to make room for the tumor, liquids start to come out and drain, and tissue begins to die.  The pain symptoms of brain cancer are:

1. Chronic Morning Headaches
2. Nausea and Vomiting
3. Loss of Sensation in Limbs

So how do you know if your headache is brain cancer?  According to Dr. Ilana Cass, if you are having a throbbing headache, it usually is not cancer.  Look for the triad of nausea, vomiting and early morning headaches (or headaches that wake you up in the middle of the night).

Multiple Myeloma – (or Bone Cancer) occurs when white blood cells are going to place that they shouldn’t be going to (like the bone and bone marrow).  11,000 people in the US have multiple myeloma.  In addition to frequent infections, look for these pain symptoms:

1. Bone Pain
2. Unexplained Fractures
3. Excessive Fatigue

Dr. Oz had Dr. Jennifer Ashton, author of The Body Scoop for Girls: A Straight-Talk Guide to a Healthy, Beautiful You, on his show to discuss what our daughters want to know about sex but are too scared or embarrassed to ask.  It has been a while since I have been a teenager (ok… a LONG while…) but I was totally shocked at what the teenagers on Dr. Oz’s show were revealing.  Most of them said they knew 11 year old girls having regular sex and girls as young as 10 having oral sex.  They all knew stories of teens taking sexual or nude photos, explicit videos and even naked photos on a cell phone which then got spread around their communities.  At least they all seemed to know that if there is a nude photo or video of them out there, it would get into the wrong hands, and potentially even colleges would see it.  The group of teenage girls all agreed that they were more worried about the risk of getting pregnant than of catching a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Dr. Ashton said that 15% of the time a condom leaks or breaks, which I was shocked to hear, because condoms are always promoted as 99.99% safe.  So everyone out there who is sexually active and does not want a baby should definitely use alternative protection (like birth control pills), though this still doesn’t help with respect to STD’s.

So what did the girls ask about sex, that they were too scared to ask their moms?

Question: Can a doctor tell if you are sexually active or have had sex before?

Answer: The hymen is a thin band of tissue that gets stretched when you have sex.  It is like going to the store and trying on a new turtleneck versus a turtleneck that has been tried on a few times by other people (it is less tight around you neck).  However, everyone is a bit different, so even a doctor cannot tell for sure if you have had sex and are sexually active.

Question: Can you get pregnant from anal sex?

Answer: All you need is one sperm to get pregnant, and if you are having anal sex, the penis is very close to the vaginal opening and a sperm can easily get in even if you are careful.  Also, anal sex is very dangerous because it creates microscopic tears in your anus and thus puts you at a higher risk for infections and diseases.

Question: Do you feel there is a double standard for girls and guys regarding sex?

Answer: Dr. Oz, as well as some of the parents and teenage daughters, discussed the double standard that exists regarding sex.  Everyone agreed that parents are more worried and concerned about their daughters having sex than if their sons are sexually active.  One thing that wasn’t discussed was what can be done to get rid of this double standard.  I would love to hear your opinion on this topic (please comment below!!!)

Question: How do you know the right time to have sex?

Answer: I was pleasantly surprised to see a teenage girl ask this… I wonder if she was told to ask this question!  Dr. Ashton agreed that it shows a lot of maturity to even ask a question like this.  Ashton said that you should make the decision of when it is right to have sex after having conversations with your parents and doctors.  Having sex is an adult activity, so if you should only begin to have sex when you are ready to take on adult-like responsibilities.

Question: How can you make it less awkward to have the sex talk with your daughter?

Answer: Talk to friends and doctors and begin the sex dialogue before you think it is necessary.  We make our kids embarrassed often by showing our own embarrassment.  Dr. Ashton suggested that talking when in the car and driving somewhere can be a great time for parents, because they can grip tightly on the wheel.  You should take advantage of any moment that seems right.  And don’t feel that you have to have the “whole” sex talk in one shot; you can have lots of mini talks.  The more you talk about it, the less awkward it will feel.

Question: When should you begin talking about sex with your daughter?

Answer: You should work backwards to figure out a good timeline.  African American girls get their period at age 11 on average; whereas Caucasian girls get their period at age 12 on average.  At the same time as their period, they start to get breasts, hormones, pubic hair and generally go through puberty.  So around the age of 8 you should start talking about anatomy using the correct words (penis, vagina, etc.).  From 8 – 11 years old you should begin discussing the basics of sex.  Age 11 and over you should really kick it up a notch with the sex conversations so that your teenager is comfortable to talk to you about anything.

Now, on to a quick sex quiz… what is FICTION and what is FACT:

Sex Quiz Question #1:  Any disease you can get from intercourse, you can also get from having oral sex and anal sex. Fact or Fiction?

Sex Quiz Question #2:  Herpes is a sexually transmitted infection. Fact or Fiction?

Sex Quiz Question #3: Chlamydia  is easily treatable. Fact or Fiction?

Sex Quiz Answer #1: FACT – Any STD (genital warts, HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis) that you can get from sex, you can also get from oral sex and anal sex.  Dr. Ashton said instead of getting genital warts like you do from regular sex, you get warts in your throat if you have oral sex from someone who has the disease.  If that doesn’t gross you out enough to be extremely careful and get tested first, I don’t know what will!

Sex Quiz Answer #2: FACT – Herpes is a sexually transmitted infection that 1 in 5 adults has and there is absolutely no cure, just treatments for herpes.  So if you get herpes, you are stuck with it for life.

Sex Quiz Answer #3: Chlamydia is easy to treat with antibiotics, but if you don’t have any symptoms (which happens sometimes with chlamydia) then the chlamydia can actually create so much scar tissue that you become infertile.

Did you know that 1 in 3 high school students are now having sex.  Even more scary than that statistic is the fact that teenagers are now have anal sex when they become bored with regular sex.  In fact, 1 in 10 heterosexual teenagers have experimented with anal sex, which is extremely risky and highly increases your chances of getting an infection or disease.  One reason that teens are becoming “bored” so quickly is because they are beginning their relationships with hook-ups and going straight to being physical.  So please take the time to talk to your daughters and make sure they are educated and aware of the risks and consequences.

Dr. Oz always says we need to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night (I know that I need at least 8 or else I am a mess the next day!).  I felt so badly for Dr. Oz’s guests: Brian and Jennifer.  Both Brian and Jennifer snore, but Brian snores so loudly that Jennifer sometimes has to ask him to sleep downstairs so she can get some sleep too… hence the funny nickname “sleep alligator” that Jennifer gave to Brian.  When Brian snores, he sounds like he is gasping for air and he often wakes up in the middle of the night and feels like he cannot breathe.

Dr. Oz took Jennifer and Brian to the truth tube, and said that between their heavy weights, their neck sizes (over 17″ means you almost definitely have sleep apnea, though Dr. Oz prefers your neck size to be under 15″), plus some other tell tale signs (night urination, memory loss and headaches) made them both the classic examples of people with sleep apnea.

Even though Dr. Oz was sure that they had sleep apnea, he had them both use a Watermark Medical Home Sleeping Test to determine how bad their sleep apnea was.  Brian’s sleep apnea was so severe that he suffocates 67 times an hour… that is more than once a minute… can you imagine?  Dr. Oz said that this is going to slowly kill him.  Jennifer’s sleep apnea was not nearly as severe, but she still was diagnosed with sleep apnea.

Carol Ash, an expert on sleep disorders, gave this 3 step program:

1. Sleep Reality Check – do you have difficulty sleeping?  do you wake up often?  Don’t forget that “a sleepy brain is a poor brain” … I could not agree more with that!

2.  Make Lifestyle Changes – if you lose 10% of your body weight, your sleep apnea improves by 1/3… this is significant!  It is amazing to me how the underlying answer for so many different medical problems is to lead a healthy lifestyle with healthy foods and exercise.

3.  Pick the Right Treatment – CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is a machine that you wear around your head when you sleep and it forces air into your system to make sure you don’t stop breathing at night.  My father actually has this machine and it makes all the difference to both him (and my mother who used to be tortured by his snoring).  Did you know that having a snoring partner is the number one reason people don’t get enough good quality sleep?  For less severe cases of sleep apnea, there is a dental appliance that pulls your jaw forward so that there is more space and you can breathe more easily.

Jennifer and Brian are going to be treated at Midwest Sleep Diagnostics… can’t wait to see follow-ups on how their lives improve!

Dr. Oz’s segment on the effectiveness and dangers of diet pills was very interesting and a must watch for anyone considering taking over the counter or prescription diet drugs.  Dr. Oz had a guest who took Ephedra (Ephedrine Alkaloids) when it was readily available as an over the counter herbal remedy.  Since then (on February 9, 2004), the FDA prohibited the sale of Ephedra because of its dangers.  The FDA does not strongly regulate herbal remedies, and people all to often think that if it is herbal, then it is safe.    Unfortunately for Dr. Oz’s guest, the Ephedra permanently altered the chemical balance of her brain and she is now bi-polar, which will be a lifelong mental condition she will have to deal with.  Dr. Oz said that Ephedra is essentially an amphetamine and is similar to taking speed, which explains the guest’s hallucinations and inability to sleep after just a few days of taking the drug.  You should not even try these types of diet pills for a few days, because they can permanently alter you for the rest of your life in just a short period of time (days… not even weeks or months!).

What about Bitter Orange?  It sounds very herbal and innocent.  It claims to increase your energy and reduce your appetite… but is it really worth the side effects of increasing your blood pressure?  You can even have a stroke from taking Bitter Orange Diet Supplements!!!

How about Hoodia?  Hoodia is sold in every form imaginable – solid, pills, liquid, even lollipops!  This was originally used in Africa by their leaders, but now more has been sold in the US than ever was used or produced in Africa.  Hoodia basically works by increasing the energy in your brain, so the hypothalamus sends messages that you do not need any more energy so you don’t need to eat.  It is dangerous to alter how your brain works though.  Living a healthy lifestyle with healthy foods and exercise is the best way to go.

The only effective diet pills are those you get from your doctor and are by prescription only.  To be eligible, you need a BMI (Body Mass Index) over 30.  This does not come without side effects though – you can get high blood pressure, heart palpitations, increased risk of heart attack and stroke and you may not be able to sleep well at night.  Furthermore, when you stop taking the diet pills, you will gain the weight back unless you have changed your lifestyle.  Notice a trend?  There is no easy shortcut… healthy foods and exercise is the only answer!

There is one (and only one) over the counter diet pill that is approved by the FDA called Oristat.  Oristat works by altering how your body absorbs fat by coating your intestinal system so that you cannot absorb fat and gain weight.  However, if you eat too much fat, your bile will be oily and you will have to run to the bathroom a lot.

Dr. Oz recommends drinking coffee as a diet supplement, because it is a more natural way to aid weight loss.  Drink two cups of coffee (black coffee only – so forget the cream and sugar) if you want to boost your metabolism as part of a weight loss plan.  But no matter what, eating healthy foods and exercise is crucial!

Dr. Oz gave some great advice for early detection of Alzheimer’s and new ways to treat Alzheimer’s.

Is it hard for you to find words when you are trying to express yourself?  Do you misplace things often?  If so, these may be early signs of Alzheimer’s Disease.  Here is a quick memory test.  Look at this list of words briefly, step away for a few moments, and try to recall the list of words:

- House
- Professor
- Pasta
- Teddy Bear
- Nun
- Cigar
- Beach
- Palm Tree

If you were able to remember and recall 6-8 of the words then you are a memory master (Excellent!).  If you could only remember 4-6 of the words, then your memory needs some work.  If you can only recall 1-4 of the words, then your memory is a big concern.

Here are Dr. Oz’s tips to help fight off Alzheimer’s Disease and to slow it down:

1. Exercise every day, especially aerobics is helpful.  Dr. Oz loves dancing!
2. Work out your mind – jigsaw puzzles and crossword puzzles are great.
3. Eat a green, healthy diet (similar to a heart healthy diet).

Dr. Oz even gave a list of foods that may help people with Alzheimer’s Disease or those who have a high risk of developing it: olive oil, vitamin b12, and folic acid all make the list, and the top food to limit Alzheimer’s Disease is curry!  This is why it is far less common in India.  In fact, studies have even shown that people who eat 2 servings of curry a week perform better on memory tests.

Certaing foods are “Major Agers”, meaning that they age us faster.  Here is Dr. Oz’s list of 5 foods to eliminate to keep yourself looking young:

1. Simple Sugars
2. Syrups
3. Enriched Bleached Flours
4. Trans Fats
5. Saturated Fats

For example, when you are reading the list of ingredients at the grocery store, you should avoid things like: sugar dextrose, corn syrup, bleached flour, and partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (which is a trans fat).