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Tucson, AZ – January 3, 2024 – Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Diet has been recognized as a Best Diet for 2024 by U.S. News & World Report.

Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Diet ranked 8th in Best Overall Diets.

The Anti-Inflammatory Diet is not a diet in the popular sense – it is not intended as a weight-loss, nor is the Anti-Inflammatory Diet an eating plan to stay on for a limited period of time. Rather, it is a way of selecting and preparing anti-inflammatory foods based on scientific knowledge of how they can help your body maintain optimum health. Along with influencing inflammation, this natural anti-inflammatory diet will provide steady energy and ample vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids dietary fiber, and protective phytonutrients.

Now in its 14th year, the annual Best Diets rankings assist those looking to make an informed decision on following a diet that will best assist them in achieving their health goals. This year’s rankings examine 30 diets across 11 categories.

“Choosing a diet can be tough. Each person has unique health considerations and goals, and there are many diets out there to choose from — and it’s hard to know which ones will actually work best for you,” said Gretel Schueller, managing editor of health at U.S. News. “That’s why U.S. News does the legwork for its users, gathering input from nationally recognized medical and nutrition experts to determine which diets rise to the top for nutritional completeness, ease of following and promoting a healthy lifestyle for the long term.”

The rankings follow a comprehensive methodology devised by U.S. News in partnership with The Harris Poll, which factors in evaluations from 43 expert panelists — including medical doctors, registered dietitian nutritionists, nutritional epidemiologists and academic weight-loss researchers.

Those looking to choose a diet that’s right for them should consult a medical professional as part of their decision making process.

For more information on the U.S. News Best Diets, explore Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #BestDiets.

About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate, Careers and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

You may also enjoy my Guide To Popular Diets.

 

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Restaurant brand remains dedicated to evolving culinary standards beginning with the elimination of seed oils from all cooking

PHOENIX, November 30, 2023– True Food Kitchen, the award-winning, chef-led, seasonally-driven restaurant brand, announces today the brand’s unwavering commitment to delivering the highest ingredient standards–beginning with eliminating seed oils from their cooking.

Founded 15 years ago by Dr. Andrew Weil on the idea that great tasting and nutritious food and thoughtfully crafted beverages can serve as the foundation for a life well lived, True Food Kitchen serves craveable, consciously sourced, chef-inspired dishes across its 45 restaurants nationwide.

“We’ve learned a lot about the health risks of oils extracted from seeds (corn, sunflower, safflower, canola, peanut, etc.). Especially when heated, they promote inflammation and increase risks of certain health concerns,” said True Food Kitchen’s Co-Founder, Dr. Andrew Weil. “Oils derived from fruits, such as olives and avocados, are much better for cooking and I recommend them as replacements for seed oils in the kitchen. I am proud True Food Kitchen continues to evolve their approach as we learn more.”

As part of their ongoing menu innovation, the True Food culinary and sourcing teams will continue to evolve ingredient standards with plans for additional updates to their menu offerings in the first quarter of 2024, and throughout the year.

“We’re proud to be a leader in the industry with our full transition to cooking exclusively with olive and avocado oils.  We know how important moving away from processed seed oils is for our guests.  This is just one piece of our updated ingredient standards, and we look forward to sharing more in early 2024.” said John Williams, CEO of True Food Kitchen. “Cooking amazing food starts with using the best ingredients possible.  We are on a mission to make it easier for more people to eat more real food, and so we are focused on using whole or minimally processed ingredients in everything that we make.”

In addition to ingredient updates, True Food Kitchen launched three major menu rollouts this quarter—a completely revamped brunch, a brand-new happy hour program, and a festive new menu to celebrate the holidays. The brand will continue to focus on new opportunities and dishes to delight guests while upholding their ingredient and sourcing standards. For more information about True Food Kitchen’s menu and restaurants, please visit  www.truefoodkitchen.com.

About True Food Kitchen
Founded in Phoenix in 2008, True Food Kitchen is a restaurant and lifestyle brand inspired by the philosophy that food should make you feel better, not worse, and that great-tasting food and thoughtfully crafted beverages can serve as the foundation for a life well-lived. The brand is driven by a passionate collective of accomplished chefs, visionary restaurateurs, and a renowned doctor of integrative medicine who believe delicious dining and conscious nutrition can go hand-in-hand without sacrificing flavor, creativity or indulgence. True Food Kitchen emphasizes wholesome, simple ingredients with thoughtful preparations to highlight the natural health benefits and flavors of each ingredient. From nutrient-dense staples and carefully sourced proteins to little-known superfoods, True Food Kitchen is committed to sourcing the most responsible, creative, and freshest in-season ingredients. The brand has 45 restaurants in 17 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

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We have long known that the process of inflammation is vital to healing from infection or after an injury. The heat, tenderness, swelling, and redness surrounding a wound show us that the body is marshaling its healing response. However, inflammation can escape its local, temporary boundaries and persist throughout the body. Such chronic inflammation is not only unhealthy, it can be quite dangerous, leading to disease and even shortening our lives.

Whole-body, chronic, inappropriate inflammation can result from eating processed food, not getting sufficient exercise, experiencing ongoing stress, and being exposed to toxins – all of which are common in the modern world. Scientists had long suspected that purposeless, persistent inflammation accelerates aging, leading to faster onset of such age-related diseases as Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers, and ultimately to shortened lifespan. In 2014, a team from Newcastle University published a paper in the journal Nature Communications that described in detail how inflammation causes cells to undergo more rapid senescence – the deterioration of function leading to cell death, and, ultimately, death of the organism.

Before we go further, I would emphasize that in even the most exquisite control of inflammation cannot stop or reverse aging. There’s no way to do either, despite what many questionable anti-aging websites and healthcare practitioners may claim.

The researchers demonstrated this by studying mice in which a gene that normally modulates the inflammatory response was “switched off” so that the mice were prevented from creating inflammation-calming enzymes. The genetically altered mice were compared to normal mice that retained their ability to produce the enzymes.

The result? The researchers reported that the inflammation-prone mice underwent all aspects of normal aging twice as quickly as their non-genetically altered counterparts. The lack of key enzymes literally made them old before their time.

The researchers also found that giving the genetically altered mice ibuprofen helped restore their ability to age at a normal rate. This simple, cheap anti-inflammatory drug was able to “reverse the progression of cell senescence and restore the ability of tissues to regenerate,” said one of the researchers. (As proof of concept, ibuprofen was an effective research tool, but I don’t recommend that humans take it [delete] except for specific medical reasons, as it can be taxing – and ultimately toxic – to the liver and cause serious internal bleeding. It can also contribute to the development of high blood pressure.)

Since that 2014 paper, many other studies have confirmed the link between chronic inflammation and aging. The connection is strong enough that some have started using the term “inflamm-aging” to refer to the process of accelerated aging caused by chronic inflammation.

As human beings age, we – like those altered mice – begin to lose our ability to moderate the inflammatory response. That makes an excellent case for making lifestyle choices that reduce excessive or inappropriate inflammation.

How do we do that? I developed my Anti-Inflammatory Diet for this very purpose. The regimen excludes processed foods and emphasizes:

Whole fruits and vegetables (RFH- something odd in the formatting here. GN)Asian mushrooms such as shiitake, enoki and maitakeOmega-3 rich fish, and fish oil supplements (RFH- check this link – it’s showing the ginger page when I click it. Maybe it should be: https://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/health-centers/aging-gracefully/fish-oil-for-healthy-aging/ GN)Spices, especially turmericand gingerGreen tea

Moderate daily exercise – at least 30 minutes a day, at least five days per week – appears to confer anti-inflammatory effects, as do stress-reduction techniques such as meditation and conscious breathing.

The cellular damage wrought by inflammation is likely just one of many metabolic factors that combine to create the changes we group under the label “aging.” Much more research must be done before we can claim to thoroughly understand the process. What we do know is that following an anti-inflammatory lifestyle appears to be one of the best ways to increase the likelihood of arriving at a relatively vigorous, healthy old age.

Watch this video for more information: How to Eat The Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Sources
Teissier T, Boulanger E, Cox LS. Interconnections between Inflammageing and Immunosenescence during Ageing. Cells. 2022 Jan 21;11(3):359. doi: 10.3390/cells11030359. PMID: 35159168; PMCID: PMC8834134. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35159...

Jurk D, Wilson C, Passos JF, Oakley F, Correia-Melo C, Greaves L, Saretzki G, Fox C, Lawless C, Anderson R, Hewitt G, Pender SL, Fullard N, Nelson G, Mann J, van de Sluis B, Mann DA, von Zglinicki T. Chronic inflammation induces telomere dysfunction and accelerates ageing in mice. Nat Commun. 2014 Jun 24;2:4172. doi: 10.1038/ncomms5172. PMID: 24960204; PMCID: PMC4090717.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih/24960204/

eatingwell/article/8044829/inflammation-and-high-blood-pressure/#:~:text=as%20it%20can.%22-,The%20Bottom%20Line,active%20can%20move%20the%20needle.

Related Resources:
Want to learn more? Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging is the premier website for strategies to optimize healthy aging via an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle.

Originally Published July 2014. Updated November 2023.

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What is low back pain?

“Low back pain” which can be acute or chronic, is literally pain or discomfort of the lower lumbar region of the back. Acute back pain usually follows some kind of injury, often related to everyday activities such as housework, gardening, a sports-related injury or an automobile accident. Back pain that lasts for more than three months is classified as chronic.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms are often described as painful muscle aches or spasms but can include shooting or stabbing pain, limited flexibility and range of motion, or an inability to stand straight.

What are the causes?

Most cases of low back pain are due to inflammation and irritation of nerves following strain or injury to the muscles and ligaments of the spine. In some cases, however, low back pain can be due to serious conditions, such as cancer or structural problems of the spine, which can cause nerve damage. Occasionally, lower back pain is due to a “slipped disk” (also called a herniated disk), in which one of the disks of cartilage that separates the vertebrae in the spine bulges out of place and presses on nerves. Often, a disk “slips” as a result of twisting while lifting, but the initial cause may not be identifiable.

Simple preventive steps can help eliminate recurring back pain resulting from improper body mechanics or from other causes of back problems that don’t stem from structural injuries. Performing exercises that tone the back and maintaining proper posture are especially helpful. In addition, anyone with a tendency to develop back pain should learn to lift objects properly:

Bend your knees and squat to pick up an objectKeep your back straightHold the object close to your bodyAvoid twisting

Choosing ergonomic furniture and tools at home and at work can also help avoid strains on the back.

What is the conventional treatment?

Back pain that involves changes in bowel or bladder function should be evaluated by a physician, but most acute back pain will resolve on its own within two weeks without medical intervention. Whether lower back pain is acute or chronic, most cases are initially treated with over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce discomfort and with anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation. Sometimes, prescription drugs may be recommended for pain relief and to allow quality sleep. Cold and hot compresses may help reduce pain and inflammation and allow greater mobility in some cases, although they have not been proven to reliably resolve low back injury. Reduced activity and bed rest is recommended for only 1-2 days at most, and patients are generally advised to resume their normal activities as soon as possible. Massage therapy can be very useful in cases of acute muscle spasm causing back pain and for addressing problems with flexibility. Exercise may be the most reliable way to speed recovery and strengthen back and abdominal muscles. Physical therapy may be recommended for more severe strains. In the most serious cases that don’t respond to other forms of treatment, and that involve compromised structures in the spine or serious musculoskeletal injuries, surgery may be recommended to relieve pain and help restore normal function.

What therapies does Dr. Weil recommend for chronic low back pain?

Read one or both books on back pain by Dr. John Sarno, a physician and professor of rehabilitation medicine at New York University. Dr. Sarno believes that most chronic back pain stems from a condition he calls tension myositis syndrome (TMS). Myositis means muscle inflammation. According to Sarno, TMS is a combination of muscle spasm and inflammation stemming from an unbalanced pattern of nerve signaling to nearby muscles and interference with their blood supply. Dr. Sarno explains his theory in his books Healing Back Pain: the Mind-Body Connection (Warner Books, 1991) and Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain (Warner Books, 1998). The treatment he recommends is aimed at changing patterns of thinking, feeling and handling stress, all of which have contributed to the pain. You might also consider the following approaches:

Practice a relaxation technique daily: Options include mindfulness meditation (proven to ease chronic back pain), breath work, guided imagery, biofeedback, progressive muscle relaxation and hypnotherapy.Try therapeutic yoga : The stretches can reduce muscle tension, strengthen the back and promote flexibility.Bodywork: Both the Alexander Technique and the Feldenkrais Method can change habits of posture and movement that contribute to back pain. You could also try Bonnie Prudden Myotherapy, which uses manual pressure to release muscle tension.Electrical stimulation: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) delivers low level electrical pulses to the lower back (you can get a portable device for home use). Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) works the same way but delivers the pulses via needles inserted into the back rather than electrodes used with TENS.Exercise: Both aerobic and strength training exercises can help. Aerobic exercise includes walking, swimming or cycling, all of which can help strengthen the back. Aerobic exercise also burns calories and helps you lose any excess weight that may contribute to your back problem. In addition, perform strength training exercises at least twice a week to tone and firm the abdominal, leg and buttock muscles that help to support the back. Seek out proper instruction before embarking on a strength training program; using either free weights or weight machines improperly can defeat the purpose. Make sure you incorporate some stretching or yoga for flexibility. Chiropractic care : Dr. Weil believes that chiropractic care may be of benefit in the treatment of back and neck pain. Many chiropractors use a kind of manipulation called “dynamic thrust”: a low speed, high force movement often accompanied by a popping or cracking sound. Others use a low-force, high-speed method, known as the Activator method (incorporating a tension spring and plunger tool) that may be a better choice for older patients, as their more limited flexibility might be challenged by dynamic thrust. Acupuncture : Studies in the U.S. indicate that acupuncture can help to relieve several kinds of pain, including low back pain.Massage: Therapeutic massage can provide long lasting results, and bodywork can help patients receive the maximum benefits from chiropractic adjustment. Deep tissue work, such as structural integration or Rolfing, can often effectively address structural problems that contribute to chronic low back pain. To find a qualified massage therapist visit the website of the American Massage Therapy Association.

Originally published March 2010. Updated October 2023. 

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What is cystic fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetically caused, chronic, progressive disease of the body’s mucous glands. It affects many systems in the body but primarily interferes with the normal functioning of the respiratory and digestive systems. The thick mucus characteristic of CF accumulates in the intestines and lungs and can lead to malnutrition, poor growth, chronic respiratory infections, and breathing problems. Patients can also develop many other medical concerns. The course of the disease varies greatly from patient to patient.

What are the symptoms?
Most CF problems are caused by the production of mucus that is thick and sticky, rather than watery. Symptoms include frequent coughing that brings up thick sputum, or phlegm, frequent bouts of bronchitis and pneumonia, which can lead to inflammation and permanent lung damage. Other symptoms include salty tasting skin, dehydration, infertility (mostly in men); chronic diarrhea or bulky, foul-smelling, and greasy stools; a significant appetite but poor weight gain and growth (this is called “failure to thrive” and is due to the chronic malnutrition that results from an inability to absorb enough nutrients from food); stomach pain and discomfort caused by too much gas in the intestines. CF is also associated with the following medical problems:

Sinusitis. Swollen sinuses that become blocked with mucus can become infected.Bronchiectasis. Here, the bronchial tubes that carry air to the lungs become stretched out and weak, forming pockets where mucus collects and provides a breeding ground for bacteria, which can cause repeated lung infections. Untreated, bronchiectasis can lead to serious illness, including respiratory failure.Pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas.Episodes of intestinal blockage, especially in newborns.Nasal polyps, which may require surgery.Clubbing; that is, widening and rounding of the tips of the fingers and toes that develops because the lungs are not moving enough oxygen into the bloodstream.Collapsed lung, also called pneumothorax.Rectal prolapse. As a result of frequent coughing or problems passing stools, rectal tissue can protrude through the anus.Liver disease due to inflammation or blocked bile ducts.Diabetes.Gallstones.Low bone density due to vitamin D deficiency.

What are the causes?
A defect in a gene called the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene causes CF. Normally, the CFTR gene makes a protein that controls the movement of chloride, salt and water in and out of the cells in the body. This mechanism is critical for the normal secretion of all bodily fluids. Because of the defect, the CFTR gene doesn’t work properly leading to the formation of thick, sticky mucus and the very salty sweat that are the main features of CF. Everyone inherits two CFTR genes, one from each parent. Children who inherit an abnormal CFTR gene from each parent will have CF. Children who inherit a single abnormal CFTR gene from one parent will not develop CF but will be carriers, capable of passing the abnormality to their own children. About 12 million Americans carry the defective CF gene but many don’t know it.

What is the conventional treatment of cystic fibrosis?
While there is no cure for CF, improvements in the management of respiratory disease and malnutrition have allowed CF patients to survive into their early 30s and even 40s. Much of today’s medical care still focuses on improved breathing through the use of inhaled bronchodilators as well as better antibiotics for management of chronic infections. In a few cases, single- and double-lung or heart-and-lung transplants have proved successful. More recently, the FDA approval of pharmacologic therapies that help correct the function of the most common variant of the CF gene have shifted the predicted lifespan of CF patients into their 40s and 50s. The production of problematic mucus is altered by directly modulating the activity of the gene, and clinically improves lung function while decreasing both rates of infections and hospitalizations.

Non-pharmacologic treatment for the lungs involves breathing exercises or techniques such as chest physical therapy to dislodge and remove the thick mucus. A device called a chest vest can help remove mucus via high frequency chest wall oscillations. Devices called OPEP, for oscillatory positive expiratory pressure, can help patients breathe by creating airflow vibrations that help break mucus loose from airway walls and generating pressure during exhalation to help keep the airways open. Treatment may also include nebulized (put into a form that can be inhaled) drugs such as steroids, bronchodilators, antibiotics and agents that break up mucus. Proper nutrition is emphasized because the disease so often leads to chronic malnutrition.

Cystic fibrosis patients require specialized treatment available at more than 110 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-accredited care centers throughout the United States. Patients are typically cared for by a team that includes a physician nurse, respiratory therapist, dietitian, physical therapist, social worker and in some cases a psychologist all of whom specialize in CF treatment.

What therapies does Dr. Weil recommend for cystic fibrosis?
The most important treatment – conventional or alternative – is nutrition, because the lung disease characteristic of CF progresses more slowly among children who are growing well. Many health care providers and parents are so focused on increasing the weight of children with CF that they allow patients to eat caloric-dense fast food and junk food. Instead, the following strategy is preferable:

Decrease omega-6 fatty acids (most refined vegetable oils, such as safflower, sunflower, corn and sesame found in many snack foods). Check labels. Replace these oils with monounsaturated fats such as extra virgin olive oil, expeller-pressed canola oil or grape seed oil.Decrease saturated fats (red meat, dairy and coconut oil) and replace with soy-based foods and nuts (such as walnuts, cashews and almonds).Increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids (wild Alaskan salmon, sardines, freshly ground flaxseeds, walnuts).Decrease consumption of refined and processed foods, especially products sweetened with high fructose corn syrup.Emphasize carbohydrate foods on the low and mid levels of the glycemic index (chewy, grainy breads, beans, sweet potatoes, etc.).

Exercise is an important element in CF management, especially activities that emphasize breath work. Martial arts are often an ideal choice. Young CF patients should take a good multivitamin as well as antioxidants to support lung and liver health (use half the adult dose for children under 12). Probiotics, products containing “friendly” bacteria, can help lessen both lung and digestive problems. Seek products that contain lactobacillus GG.

Originally posted May 2008. Updated October 2023. 

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What is prostate cancer?

The prostate gland is found only in males. It is about the size of a walnut and sits just below the bladder in front of the rectum. The urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder) runs through the prostate. The role of the prostate gland is to manufacture a fluid that is part of the semen (the fluid that contains sperm).
Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths among men. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 288,300 new cases will be diagnosed in 2023. The risk of developing prostate cancer increases significantly after the age of 65.

Prostate cancer is typically a slow-growing cancer. Many patients with prostate cancer live much longer than five years after diagnosis. In fact, almost 90 percent of men with prostate cancer live at least five years, and 63 percent survive more than 10 years. If the cancer is detected before it has spread to other organs, the five-year relative survival rate is 100 percent. However, if the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, the five-year survival rate drops to 31 percent.

What are the causes of prostate cancer?

Scientists have estimated that lifestyle factors account for about 75 percent of advanced prostate cancer cases, and of all the environmental variables, diet appears to be the most influential. Like breast cancer, prostate cancer is particularly sensitive to factors that influence hormone levels.

Concern that vasectomy may increase the risk of prostate cancer stems from the conflicting results of a number of studies. The studies that started the controversy were published in 1993, and reported that men who underwent vasectomy had a very small – 1.5 percent – increase in risk. Another large study compared 753 men with prostate cancer to 703 men who didn’t have the disease. After adjusting for age, race (African Americans have twice the risk of whites) and family history of the disease, they found that among those with prostate cancer 39.4 had vasectomies compared with 37.7 percent of those who didn’t have cancer. Such a small difference suggests that there is likely no direct association between vasectomy and prostate cancer. In addition, more recent results from large prospective cohort studies do not support associations of vasectomy with either prostate cancer incidence or prostate cancer mortality.

Who is likely to get it?

The older you are, the more likely you are to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Although only 1 in 10,000 under age 40 will be diagnosed, the rate shoots up to 1 in 38 for ages 40 to 59, and 1 in 14 for ages 60 to 69. The majority of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men older than 65.

Ethnicity and heredity are important factors, as well. African American men are 61% more likely to develop prostate cancer compared with Caucasian men and are about 2.5 times as likely to die from prostate cancer. Men with a father, brother or son with a history of prostate cancer are two times as likely to develop prostate cancer themselves, and men with two or more relatives with the disease are nearly four times as likely to get prostate cancer. The risk is even greater if the affected family members were diagnosed at a young age, and the highest cancer risk seen is in men whose family members developed prostate cancer before age 60.

Although genetics unquestionably have some influence, diet and lifestyle also play a role. A healthy diet might help decrease the chances of developing prostate cancer, reduce the likelihood of recurrence, or aid in slowing the cancer’s growth.

What are the symptoms?

Frequent urges to urinate, especially at night;Difficulty starting urination or holding it back;Weak or interrupted urinary flow;Painful or burning urination;Erectile dysfunction;Painful ejaculation;Blood in urine or semen; orRecurrent, persistent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs.

Are there prostate cancer screening tests available?

Although checking PSA levels is not an ideal screening test, many cases of prostate cancer are discovered during routine blood work that reveals an elevated PSA level. In addition, a digital rectal exam can help detect physical irregularities in the prostate that signal the possibility of cancer. In both cases, physicians will recommend a biopsy to complete the diagnosis.

The Biopsy

During a biopsy, needles are inserted through the rectum into the prostate to take tiny specimens of tissue. The biopsy procedure may cause some discomfort or pain, but the procedure is short, and can usually be done as an outpatient.

Gleason Grading and Gleason Scores

Cancer cells have a distinct appearance, and the degree to which they vary from normal cells is what determines the cancer grade. “Low-grade” tumor cells appear much like normal cells, and “high-grade” tumor cells look markedly different.

The Gleason grading system accounts for the differing patterns that prostate tumor cells may take in their changed appearance from normal cells. “1” characterizes cells that are very nearly normal, and “5” represents cells that do not appear at all like normal prostate cells. Most prostate cancers contain cells that are different grades. After examining the cells, the pathologist looking at the biopsy sample gives a Gleason grade to the most typically occurring pattern, and a second Gleason grade to the next most common pattern The two grades are summed together and the Gleason score is found.

The Gleason score usually predicts the aggressiveness of the disease and how it will progress. The higher the Gleason score, the less the cells behave like normal cells, and the more likely the cancer is to spread. Currently the lowest score assigned to a tumor pattern is grade 3. Grades below 3 indicate normal to near normal cells. When adding the two most prevalent grades of cells a Gleason score of “6” is considered low grade cancer, “7” is intermediate grade, and a score of “8” to “10” is classified as high-grade cancer.

 

Staging the Disease

Staging classifies the extent of prostate cancer. Localized prostate cancer is found only in the prostate. Locally advanced prostate cancer is when the majority of the cancer is confined within the prostate, but some has started to enter into nearby tissues. In metastatic disease, the prostate cancer is developing outside the prostate and nearby tissues, and possibly to more distant organs.

Many tests can be used to detect the stage of disease. Locally advanced prostate cancer is generally diagnosed through CT scans, MRIs, or X-rays, or through more specific tests, like bone scans.

Metastatic disease can also be found through these imaging studies, and many times can be found in the lymph nodes, as cancers that move to more distant organs generally move through the lymph system. Lymph nodes can be removed in a biopsy or surgery and looked at more closely for the presence of cancer cells.

What is the conventional treatment of prostate cancer?

There is no one correct, conventional treatment for prostate cancer. The options to be considered will depend on the grade and stage of the disease, as well as the age of the patient. In some cases, the best treatment is to do nothing, as the disease may not ever progress outside of the prostate. Consultation with a urologist, a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist will give the best assessment of the available treatments and likely outcomes.

What therapies does Dr. Weil recommend for prostate cancer?

Recommended Lifestyle Changes

Exercise. Regular aerobic exercise is associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer.Have regular screenings for prostate cancer. Digital rectal exams can help provide early detection of problems with the prostate gland. Additionally, the PSA test measures a marker of prostate cancer in the blood. The test is not considered conclusive and the usefulness of checking PSA levels to detect cancer or monitor changes in the prostate should be discussed with a physician.

Nutrition and Supplements

Take a multivitamin that includes vitamin D and antioxidants, especially selenium.Eat little to no red meat and saturated fat. Diets high in red meat and saturated fat have been correlated with an increased risk for prostate cancer.Eat less dairy. A recent study linked high calcium intake from dairy products to prostate cancer. If you supplement with calcium, or a product that contains calcium, keep your total intake of calcium below 700 mg a day from all sources.Eat more vegetables, especially tomatoes and tomato sauce. Lycopene, a carotenoid found in tomatoes and watermelon, has been linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer. Men who ate tomato sauce four times a week had 40 percent lower risk of prostate cancer than men who ate tomato sauce rarely or never in one recent study.Include soy foods regularly. Soy foods contain genistein, an isoflavone that helps normalize hormone levels and seems to be linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer.Eat more fish. Including fish in your diet at least once a week is associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer.Eat more fiber. Fiber helps in the elimination of hormones such as testosterone which influence changes in the prostate.Make green tea your beverage of choice. An antioxidant compound in green tea called EGCG kills prostate cancer cells in the test tube. Another compound in green tea blocks the actions of an enzyme that promotes prostate cancer.

How can prostate cancer be prevented?

Results of a study published in the May 27, 2004, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine showed that the routine blood test used for prostate cancer screening misses about 15 percent of all cases, some of which are aggressive enough to be life-threatening. The test looks for a protein (prostate specific antigen, known as PSA) released by prostate cells when cancer is present and as the prostate enlarges. Until results of the study were published, a PSA count under four was believed to indicate that a man was disease-free with reasonable reliability; the higher the PSA count, the more likely the presence of cancer. At present, however, the only reliable way to confirm or rule out cancer is with a biopsy.

Since the study demonstrated that some men with a PSA of “four” or lower may still have cancer, physicians have considered what to recommend. To be safe, some specialists have argued in favor of performing biopsies in all men with a PSA above 2.5; others think there already are too many biopsies being performed, too much unreliable testing and needless treatment of prostate cancers that might never become life-threatening. While prostate cancer can be very aggressive, most tumors grow slowly and the risk of death is low – only three percent. What we need is a better test to distinguish between slow growing tumors that may not require treatment and fast-growing cancer that demands an aggressive approach.

Several methods have been suggested and developed to improve the screening methods for prostate cancer and thus reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies. Adjusting the expected results for the age of the patient and size of the prostate as well as measuring PSA changes over time is a more commonplace strategy. Specialized MRI technology now available in some imaging centers allows a more detailed view of the prostate before considering biopsy. Such studies also aid in targeting the biopsy, if needed, to more accurately sample the area of concern in the gland. In addition, there are now genetic studies for prostatic fluids and for tissues taken at biopsy that can help distinguish the presence of aggressive sub-types. Still, decisions on how to best handle early prostate cancer will remain clouded until more definitive screening tests are developed and perfected.

In the meantime, make sure that you and your doctor are aware of your personal risks. The incidence of prostate cancer increases with age; the disease occurs most frequently among African-American men, those with a family history of the disease, and those whose diets are high in animal fat.

To reduce your risk, follow the supplement and lifestyle recommendations listed above.

Originally posted May 2007. Updated October 2023. 

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Dr. Weil’s newest project, The Mystery Deck, draws from the healing power of nature.  The Mystery Deck is an oracle or divination card deck that can help you develop your intuition and use it to guide you in making better decisions and attain greater wellness. The natural world, with its animals, plants, minerals, and energy, embodies all the patterns of life. Learning about these universal symbols is a way of learning more about yourself.

An interview with Dr. Weil:

What led you to create this oracle deck? 

I’ve been struck by the rapidly growing popularity of divination decks. Many, like Tarot cards, use astrological and other esoteric images. I wanted to create a deck grounded in science and aligned with the philosophy of Integrative Medicine, which regards nature as the source of healing. It was very satisfying to do this with my friends and colleagues, Dr. Ann Marie Chiasson and Sachia Kron. We think you will have fun working with our cards.

Why did you call it  The Mystery Deck ?

The literal meaning of mystery is “hidden,” in reference to secret or protected teachings and rites. In choosing the word to name our deck, we mean to call attention to the deeper symbolism of the natural world in order to use it for personal growth. 

How do oracle cards work?  Are they really effective ?

There are many ways to consult an oracle, even just opening a book and randomly putting one’s finger on a sentence to get an answer to a question. We find that these cards with their nature symbolism are particularly useful.

The principle behind drawing cards to understand patterns in your life is synchronicity, thetendency of similar events to happen together in time, independent of cause and effect. Carl Jung emphasized its importance in his psychoanalytic work. Synchronicity assumes that the pattern revealed in a random selection of cards corresponds to that in your present circumstances and is often easier to interpret. The key is to ask a question prior to pulling a card.

Does using this deck help you personally?

Yes, I find it reinforces what I think is going on much of the time. Sometimes it makes me aware of aspects of an issue or problem that I have not considered. Many who use these cards report similar effects to me. 

The Mystery Deck, the latest publication from Andrew Weil, M.D., is now available at themysterydeck.com.

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Are synthetic fabrics harmful to my family’s health? Are there safer, natural options?

When early humans first felt the need to put on clothing, they worked with what they had. The earliest garments were created from animal skins and furs or from simple fabrics made of banana leaves or tree bark. Later, with the cultivation of cotton and flax (for linen), those fibers were used for clothing. Fabrics and designs became more sophisticated over time, with natural materials being the only ones available until relatively recently. In 1938, when DuPont released the first totally synthetic material – nylon – that all changed. The result has been a century of increasingly convenient, but also steadily more toxic, material in our clothing, furniture, and home goods. It’s not a bad time to take stock of how far we’ve come and whether it is time to change course.

The appeal of synthetic garments is clear – they resist stains, don’t lose their shape, don’t wrinkle, and are not vulnerable to moths – so it’s no surprise that nearly 70 percent of clothing today is made of synthetics, such as elastane, nylon, and acrylic. If you have sensitive skin, you may already know about textile dermatitis, a rash that may be caused by fabrics themselves or one of the many chemicals used in their manufacture. Those chemicals help protect clothes from stains and wrinkles, but they can be extremely irritating to the skin. (Infant skin is especially delicate, which is why baby clothing is often made from pure cotton.)

Synthetic garments also require fossil fuels to manufacture them, and they create pollutants downstream (literally). Nylon and other synthetic materials eventually enter the world’s waters as microplastics, which interfere with photosynthesis in plants and are ingested by marine life. They make their way into us when we eat seafood contaminated with them.

One 2021 study of microplastics assessed seven species of fish from Lake Ontario and Lake Superior; researchers reported finding the highest concentration of them and other synthetic microparticles ever identified in bony fish. Although the health hazards of ingesting microplastics in the fish we eat are not yet completely understood, it’s a risk I would rather avoid.

Synthetic fabrics also find their way into our homes in other ways. Most carpets these days are made of nylon or polyester, and much upholstery is now synthetic. Both furniture and carpet go through a period of “off-gassing,” during which they release potentially toxic fumes into the air we breathe.

So, what do we do? For starters, make it a point to look for natural fabrics when shopping for clothes or rugs. Yes, it can be difficult, but more and more designers and producers are working with organic or sustainable fabrics, and it’s worth the effort. Wool or cotton rugs, especially those without dyes or added chemicals to resist stains, are healthier choices underfoot. In clothing, your plant-based choices are no longer limited to cotton and linen – here are some alternatives that are starting to show up in garments that are healthier for you as well as for the planet:

Hemp
Industrial hemp has been grown for thousands of years and is known for its natural resistance to pests and weeds, its short growing cycle, and the cost-effectiveness of production. Although it is not the same as cannabis, it’s a close enough cousin to have caused confusion, which effectively resulted in a ban on the cultivation and distribution of hemp in the United States in 1937. With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, U.S. farmers may now grow industrial hemp, and it’s widely available in garments manufactured elsewhere. Clothes made from hemp are lightweight and breathable and are as easy on the skin as they are on the environment.

Kapok
Fibers of the fast-growing kapok tree are excellent for making garments that are lightweight, soft, and water-resistant. The fibers are short, making them difficult to spin into fabric, so clothes made from kapok are often blended with cotton. Kapok has excellent insulating properties and is extremely buoyant, making it useful in lifejackets and other flotation devices. It is highly flammable so it’s not a good choice for upholstery yet. Researchers are looking into strategies to make kapok more flame-resistant.

Cotton
There’s a reason baby clothes are so often made of 100 percent cotton – it’s soft and gentle on the skin and rarely causes any kind of irritation or rash. When grown and produced organically, cotton is also relatively easy on the environment. Cotton, however, is more typically produced using methods that reduce its benefits – it requires a lot of water to grow, plants are often doused in pesticides, and fabrics may be bleached with chlorine before being dyed. If you’re shopping for cotton clothes or bedding, look for 100 percent organic products or a cotton-kapok blend.

Flax/Linen
Linen is made from fibers of the flax plant, and it’s one of the oldest (if not the oldest) source of fabrics in history. It requires far less water to grow than cotton, so it’s considered more sustainable. Linen clothing is lightweight, breathable, and quick to dry. It also wrinkles easily and is more expensive than cotton. It does make for lovely tablecloths and other home linens.

A Word About Regenerated Cellulose
Often found under the brand names Tencel or Cupro, regenerated cellulose (also called modal, or lyocell) is not a naturally occurring material but a hybrid of natural and synthetic fabrics. Tencel is made from wood pulp (from sustainably harvested beech, birch, eucalyptus, and spruce trees); Cupro is a byproduct of cotton production. The resulting materials are soft, wrinkle resistant, and breathable, and they make soft and comfortable bedsheets – but keep in mind that they are not natural fabrics. Cupro isn’t manufactured in the United States because the process doesn’t meet our air and water protection standards. Companies that produce these materials are not the manufacturers of the end product garments, so it’s not clear what chemicals or dyes may be present in the finished product. Use with caution.

See also: Natural Fibers for Your Home

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Sources
Zheng X, Liu X, Zhang L, Wang Z, Yuan Y, Li J, Li Y, Huang H, Cao X, Fan Z. Toxicity mechanism of Nylon microplastics on Microcystis aeruginosa through three pathways: Photosynthesis, oxidative stress and energy metabolism. J Hazard Mater. 2022 Mar 15;426:128094. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.128094. Epub 2021 Dec 17. PMID: 34952496. sciencedirect/science/article/abs/pii/S0304389421030636

Munno, K., Helm, P.A., Rochman, C., George, T., Jackson, D.A. (2022). Microplastic contamination in Great Lakes fish. Conservation Biology, 36, e13794. doi/10.1111/cobi.13794  conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley/doi/full/1...

Ahmed ATMF, Islam MZ, Mahmud MS, Sarker ME, Islam MR. Hemp as a potential raw material toward a sustainable world: A review. Heliyon. 2022 Jan 13;8(1):e08753. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08753. PMID: 35146149; PMCID: PMC8819531. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih/35146149/

Jiang XL, Tang RC. Phosphorylation of Kapok Fiber with Phytic Acid for Enhanced Flame Retardancy. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Nov 29;23(23):14950. doi: 10.3390/ijms232314950. PMID: 36499278; PMCID: PMC9737048. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih/36499278/

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What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure – hypertension – refers to blood pushing against the walls of the arteries with chronically elevated force. Blood pressure that rises above normal levels and remains high can lead to serious health problems including heart attack, heart failure, stroke and kidney failure.

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The top number, known as the systolic pressure, represents the pressure within the arteries when the heart contracts while pumping blood. The bottom number, diastolic pressure, represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats and fills with blood.

Normal blood pressure is defined as less than 120 over less than 80. A person whose blood pressure runs between 120-129 over less than 80 is said to have elevated blood pressure, a classification that is used to further encourage taking preventive diet and lifestyle measures. Stage 1 hypertension is diagnosed for those with systolic numbers between 130 and 139 OR diastolic numbers between 80 and 89. Systolic numbers that are 140 or over OR diastolic at 90 or over is considered Stage 2 hypertension, which is a serious risk factor for stroke and other cardiovascular events.

Blood pressure changes repeatedly throughout the day; it is lowest during sleep and increases upon waking. It also goes up when a person is excited, nervous or physically active.

Hypertension is the most common risk factor for cardiovascular disease in the U.S., affecting one in three adults, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Untreated hypertension can lead to arterial damage, which in turn can result in impaired blood flow to vital organs, potentially leading to heart attack, kidney failure, stroke, eye damage or aneurysm. Fortunately, once identified, hypertension often can be controlled to some degree with changes in diet and lifestyle.

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?

Hypertension is often called a “silent killer” because even when severe, it often has no obvious symptoms. Some patients report headaches, dizzy spells, or nosebleeds, but these symptoms usually don’t occur unless there has been a rapid, acute change in blood pressure, or until blood pressure has reached dangerous levels.

What are the causes of high blood pressure?

The risk of developing high blood pressure increases with age as arterial walls lose their elasticity. There can be many contributing factors, yet doctors often cannot identify an exact cause for high blood pressure, in which case the person is said to have “essential hypertension.” Potential contributing factors include but are not limited to:

By chronically activating the sympathetic nervous system, stress can cause the arteries to maintain a more rigid tone.Excessive salt consumption: The sodium in salt can cause excess water retention, which expands blood volume and ultimately increases blood pressure.A diet low in calcium, magnesium and potassium. These micronutrients help regulate the muscular structures of arterial walls and imbalances can influence arterial tone.Insulin resistance: This condition can increase blood pressure by various mechanisms including increased systemic inflammation and sodium retention as a result of kidney damage.Excessive alcohol intake, defined as drinking in excess of two drinks daily for men under age 65, or in excess of one drink daily for women or men over age 65.Being overweight. The heart has to work harder to maintain circulation through excess adipose tissue.Some prescription drugs, including steroids, birth control pills, decongestants, NSAIDS and diet pills can raise blood pressure. Some over-the-counter medicines, such as those containing licorice root, ephedra, guaraná, kola nut, yerba maté, ginseng and yohimbe, may also raise blood pressure.

Some health problems including chronic kidney disease, thyroid disease and sleep apnea may also cause blood pressure to rise.

According to the NHLBI, high blood pressure is more common, occurs at an earlier age, and is likely to be more severe among African Americans than in Caucasians or Hispanic Americans. Even young children can develop high blood pressure, but these cases often go undiagnosed. A CDC study estimates that 1 in 25 youth ages 12 to 19 have hypertension, and 1 in 10 has elevated blood pressure. The principal cause is the ongoing epidemic of childhood obesity. It’s estimated that up to 30 percent of overweight and obese children have high blood pressure and that the problem is likely to worsen as the epidemic continues.

In some cases, blood pressure temporarily increases when it’s taken in the doctor’s office. This is due to a patient’s anxiety and is probably a conditioned response to seeing a doctor (“white coat hypertension”) and, perhaps, to what physicians have told patients about the dangers of hypertension during previous visits. The best way to determine whether the elevated readings obtained in the doctor’s office are solely the result of white coat hypertension is to check your blood pressure at home with a well-calibrated blood pressure monitor (they are widely available). If you decide to do this, check your blood pressure at least twice a day, at random times, and keep a log of your results to share with your doctor.

How is high blood pressure diagnosed?

Most people are familiar with blood pressure testing, which is performed using an inflatable arm cuff and a pressure-measuring gauge. As mentioned earlier, if your blood pressure is in the range of 120-129 mg Hg over less than 80 mmHg, a diagnosis of “elevated blood pressure” is considered. Blood pressure readings that range from 130-139 mmHg systolic OR 80-89 mmHg diastolic signal stage 1 hypertension. More severe hypertension – stage 2 – is defined as a reading of 140 mmHg or higher or a diastolic reading of 90 mmHg or higher. Unless your blood pressure is extremely high, or you are having symptoms related to high blood pressure, your physician will probably ask you to return in a few days or weeks for a repeated set of blood pressure measurements before instituting therapy. A diagnosis of high blood pressure should not be based on a single high reading.

Several medical organizations, including the American Heart Association, recommend that anyone who has high blood pressure invest in a home monitor to perform regular blood pressure checks on their own and monitor response to treatment. This was proposed because only one-third of the 72 million Americans who have high blood pressure have it under adequate control. Frequent monitoring at home also provides doctors with documentation of your blood pressure outside the office and the effectiveness of prescribed medication, as well as the impact of lifestyle measures such as weight loss, exercise, and limiting salt intake.

What is the conventional treatment?

Conventional treatment usually begins with recommendations to lose weight, get regular exercise, and to quit smoking. Even a 10 percent weight loss can sometimes bring high blood pressure under control. Limiting intake of caffeine (in coffee, tea, sodas, and energy drinks) and alcohol can also help.

Medication usually is prescribed if blood pressure readings consistently exceed 140/90 (or 130/80 for diabetics or those with kidney disease), despite lifestyle changes. But even when drugs are prescribed, physicians usually recommend adhering to a low-salt diet that includes lots of vegetables and fruit, exercise, and stress reduction techniques, all of which can help keep the required dosage of medication to a minimum.

There are a number of different types of drugs used to treat high blood pressure. Here’s a rundown and brief descriptions of how each type works:

Diuretics: Help the kidneys to flush excess water and salt from the body.Beta blockers: Help the heart beat more slowly and less forcefully, and also relax arterial walls, together resulting in less pressure within blood vessels.ACE inhibitors: ACE stands for angiotensin-converting-enzyme. This class of drugs inhibits production of the hormone angiotensin II, which normally causes blood vessels to narrow, thereby increasing the pressure inside.Angiotensin II receptor blockers: Protect blood vessels from the hormone angiotensin II so that the blood vessels can relax and widen.Calcium channel blockers: Prevent calcium from entering the muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels, allowing both to relax.Alpha blockers: Reduce nerve impulses that tighten blood vessels allowing blood to flow more freely.Alpha-beta blockers: Reduce nerve impulses and slow heartbeat.Nervous system inhibitors: Increase nerve impulses from the brain to relax and widen blood vessels.Vasodilators: Relax muscles in blood vessel walls.

Conventional physicians are also likely to recommend the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), developed at the NHLBI based on a large-scale study that identified the foods that affect blood pressure. It emphasizes generous amounts of fruits and vegetables and low-fat or fat-free dairy products that provide adequate calcium. The diet is also relatively low in fat and sodium. DASH researchers have shown that diets rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium, and low in sodium (2,400 mg or less), play an important role in blood pressure control.

In addition to checking your blood pressure, a physician may recommend a urinalysis, an electrocardiogram (ECG) to evaluate the electrical activity of your heart and perhaps other tests for signs of heart disease.

What therapies does Dr. Weil recommend for those with high blood pressure?

To lower blood pressure naturally, Dr. Weil recommends the lifestyle measures and nutritional supplements described below. If those changes don’t help, he recommends you seek guidance from your physician about prescribing one or more of the conventional medications described above. Here are Dr. Weil’s tips on how to lower your blood pressure.

Limit caffeine intake.Limit alcohol intake.Avoid processed foods.These are the biggest sources of sodium in today’s diet.Maintain optimal weight.Even losing a small amount of weight can lower blood pressure.Meditation, yoga, breathing exercises and biofeedback can help lower blood pressure. Practice the 4-7-8 breathing techniqueDon’t smoke.As little as 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, such as walking, can help lower blood pressure.Check your medicines.Discuss your current medications and their risks of increasing blood pressure with your doctor.Nutrition and Supplements For High Blood Pressure

Dr. Weil recommends the DASH diet and the nutritional measures listed below:

Eat eight to 10 servings of vegetables and fruit per day.Limit animal proteinto six ounces per day.Limit salt intake.If you are salt sensitive or have a family history or hypertension, reducing salt to about one teaspoon a day may help control your blood pressure.Use garlic. It has a modest effect on blood pressure, potentially helping to relax blood vessels.Consume four to five servings of nuts, seeds and dry beans per week. This is equivalent to two tablespoons of nuts or seeds, or 1/2 cup cooked dried beans.Eat plenty of fish.Include at least three servings of fish a week, emphasizing cold-water fish such as wild Alaskan salmon and sardines, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Take fish-oil supplements if you cannot get enough omega-3-rich foods.Take calcium and magnesium.Inadequate intake of both of these minerals has been associated with high blood pressure. Women should get between 1,000 and 1,200 mg of calcium a day from all sources, while men need no more than 500-600 mg daily from all sources and probably do not need to supplement.Take vitamin C.This antioxidant vitamin has been shown to lower blood pressure in people with mild to moderate hypertension.

Source
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cdc.gov/bloodpressure/youth.htm

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6179...

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grassrootshealth.net/blog/daily-magne...

Originally  Posted August 2006. Updated November 2022. 

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C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance produced by the liver that increases in the presence of inflammation in the body. An elevated C-reactive protein level is identified with blood tests and is considered a non-specific “marker” for disease. It can signal flare-ups of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and vasculitis. Data from a large number of studies suggest that over time, chronic low-level inflammation in the body can contribute to many serious, age-related diseases including heart disease, some forms of cancer, and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. In addition, recently published results from the long-term ARIC study (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) suggest that inflammation alone – regardless of cholesterol levels – is a predictor of heart disease.

What are the symptoms of elevated C-reactive protein?

Elevated CRP levels have no outward, noticeable symptoms.

What is the significance of elevated C-reactive protein?

Elevated CRP can signal many different conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, infection, and autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease.

What are the causes of elevated C-reactive protein?

The chronic inflammation behind an elevated CRP level may be influenced by genetics, a sedentary lifestyle, too much stress, and exposure to environmental toxins such as secondhand tobacco smoke. Diet has a huge impact, particularly eating habits that include a lot of refined, processed and manufactured foods.

How is elevated C-reactive protein diagnosed?

There are two tests for CRP. One can detect a non-specific elevation of CRP that occurs with general inflammatory changes in the body. The other test, hs-CRP, is a measure of inflammation in blood vessels. This is the test utilized to help evaluate heart disease risk.

In quantifying cardiac risk, physicians look at a very narrow range of C-reactive protein levels, from zero to 3.0 and above. This requires a special test called high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), which may be able to reveal inflammation at the micro-vascular level. If this test shows that CRP is less than 1.0 mg per liter of blood, the risk of heart disease is considered low; if it is between 1.0 and 3.0, the risk is average; and if it is above 3.0, the risk is deemed high.

In 2020, the Journal of the American Heart Association (AHA) published results from the long-term ARIC study that reported specifically on hs-CRP as a predictor of heart disease risk. In that report, 9,748 individuals without heart disease at the start of the study, with a median hs-CRP of 2.4, were followed for many years (between 12.8 and 19.5). Initially, their risk of cardiovascular disease was predicted based on lipid (cholesterol) scores.  Over the course of the study, there were 1,574 cardiovascular events (heart attacks and strokes, some fatal). Those whose hs-CRP was equal to or above 2.4 at the start of the study, indicating inflammation, were more likely to have experienced a cardiac event than those whose score was below 2.4. The incidence of these events was the same in those whose lipid profiles indicated a low risk as those who were deemed high risk. Researchers concluded that inflammation alone, independent of lipid profiles, is a risk factor for cardiac events.

The Mayo Clinic suggests that hs-CRP testing is most useful for evaluating patients with an intermediate risk of heart disease, meaning a 10-20 percent risk of having a heart attack in the next 10 years. Those already known to be at higher risk wouldn’t benefit from the test. While the Mayo Clinic doesn’t advise routine hs-CRP testing in patients who are low risk for heart disease, some physicians, including Dr. Weil, believe that all adults should have an hs-CRP test whenever their cholesterol is tested.

People who have certain arthritic or autoimmune conditions tend to have elevated C-reactive protein levels because inflammation underlies these disorders. Arthritis may push test results far beyond the range used to assess heart disease risk. In most of these people, CRP levels tend to be above 100 mg/L. The hs-CRP test isn’t used for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, or other autoimmune conditions. Instead, doctors evaluate inflammation with a test that measures levels in excess of 10 mg/L. When checking CRP for arthritic and autoimmune disorders, a level of 10 mg/L or lower is considered “normal.”

Because an hs-CRP test isn’t useful to assess cardiovascular risk among people with inflammatory diseases, these patients have to rely on other established risk factors, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, whether or not they smoke, carry excess weight, and are at increased risk of diabetes. In addition to advising the adoption of  proven measures for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, including exercise, keeping weight under control, practicing stress reduction techniques, and getting adequate sleep, Dr. Weil recommends that people with chronic inflammatory disorders make an effort to reduce inflammation and their risk of heart disease by following an anti-inflammatory diet.

What is the conventional treatment of elevated C-reactive protein?

Conventional physicians may prescribe the same drugs (statins) used to lower LDL cholesterol to address elevated levels of CRP. In addition, they will typically recommend exercise and weight loss where appropriate, since both can help lower CRP levels. In general, conventional physicians recommend the same lifestyle changes shown to reduce heart disease – diet, exercise, not smoking, drinking less alcohol, following a heart-healthy diet – to lower elevated C-reactive protein levels.

What therapies does Dr. Weil recommend for elevated C-reactive protein?

Dr. Weil recommends an anti-inflammatory diet that includes two to three servings of fish such as salmon or sardines per week. If you don’t eat fish, he suggests taking fish oil supplements. He also recommends taking anti-inflammatory herbs including ginger and turmeric and following your doctor’s recommendations for heart health. That means quitting smoking, watching your diet (particularly avoid foods with a lot of flour and sugar), and getting regular exercise: research indicates that as fitness levels decline, C-reactive protein levels go up.

Sources
Quispe R, Michos ED, Martin SS, Puri R, Toth PP, Al Suwaidi J, Banach M, Virani SS, Blumenthal RS, Jones SR, Elshazly MB. “High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Discordance With Atherogenic Lipid Measures and Incidence of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Primary Prevention: The ARIC Study.” J Am Heart Assoc. 2020 Feb 4;9(3):e013600. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.119.013600. Epub 2020 Jan 30. PMID: 32013698; PMCID: PMC7033866. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32013...
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Reviewed by Benjamin S. Gonzalez, M.D., May, 2016. Updated August 2022. 

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