For some time, I have been urging Diabetes UK to take account of the work of Dr David Unwin, the Southport GP, who has been extremely successful in treating those with T2D. As a result, he has achieved national and international recognition. In 2016, Dr Unwin was selected as NHS Innovator of the Year. Within […]
Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) Two years ago, the results of SPRINT were announced in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) (1). In this trial, the blood pressure (BP) medication is adjusted to achieve a target systolic BP of 120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). The investigation continued for 8 years and the
I have lost count of the number of people I have met who are convinced that they should be concerned about the cholesterol level in their blood. If it is considered to be “too high” then they are at serious risk of suffering from heart disease. Hence action has to be taken that will lower
It is about forty years since the dietary guidelines were introduced in USA. Most other countries followed suit. Here in the UK, the report by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA) on “Diet and Cardiovascular Disease” in 1984 focussed on fat (1). It recommended that total fat and saturated fat (SFA) should
274. The Shaky Foundations of the Healthy Eating Recommendations Read More »
The full title of this book by Dr James DINicolantonio is “The Salt Fix: Why the Experts Got it All Wrong and How Eating More Might Save Your Life”, which has just been published (1). I have been convinced for some time that the advice to reduce the intake of salt (sodium) was not based
When the dietary guidelines were devised in the 1970s/1980s one of the most important studies used to justify them was the investigation conducted in North Karelia, which is a province in Finland. Population studies were conducted between 1972 and 1992 to monitor blood cholesterol (TC), blood pressure (BP), height, weight and the incidence of smoking.
265. More Doubts About “Healthy Eating” Official Advice Read More »
When the dietary guidelines were first introduced about 40 years, one of the key recommendations was the population intake of sodium should be reduced. Effectively sodium was identified as a “baddy” and that efforts should be made to keep the amount consumed as low as possible. This remains the official position here in the UK
260. More Doubts about the Advice to Reduce Sodium (Salt) Read More »
The latest issue of the Health Survey for England provides data on the use of prescribed medicines by people living in the community, which therefore relate to the general population and not just those within the healthcare system. The results are based on information supplied by the individuals themselves rather than the agencies responsible for
I have just received a mail shot from the Stroke Association which points out that research into stroke is currently woefully underfunded. In order to maintain its current commitment to stroke research and support further ground-breaking research projects in the future I am asked to donate £100. It continues: “Tragically, approximately 50,000 people in the
136. Stroke Association. Digging beneath the Surface Read More »
In my last post (Blog 51) I explained how the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has been re-evaluating the evidence on the relationship between salt and health. This was initiated because of growing doubts about the current recommendations to reduce the intake of salt and emerging concerns that a low salt intake may actually be damaging