Track Your Plaque and non-commercialism

29. April 2007 William Davis (6)
If you're a Track Your Plaque Member or viewer, you may know that we have resisted outside commercial involvement. We do not run advertising on the site, we do not allow drug companies to post ads, we do not covertly sponsor supplements. We do this to main the unbiased content of the site.

We've seen too many sites be tempted by the money offered by a drug company only to see content gradually drift towards providing nothing more than cleverly concealed drug advertising. I personally find this deceptive and disgusting. Ads are ads and everyone knows it. But when you subvert content, secretly driven by a commercial agenda, that I find abhorrent.

That said, however, I do wonder if we need the participation of some outside commercial interests to help our members. In other words, many (over half) of the questions and conversations we have with people is about what supplement to take, or what medication to take. While we cannot offer direct medical advice online (nor should we) because of legal and ethical restrictions, I wonder if could facilitate access to products.

Many people struggle, for instance, with trusted sources for l-arginine, vitamin D, fish oil. Other people struggle with finding a heart scan center because of the changing landscape of the CT scanning industry. Could we somehow provide a clear-cut segment of the website that clearly demarcates what is commercial and non-Track Your Plaque-originated, yet at least provides a starting place for more info?

Ideally, we would have personally tried and investigated everything there is out there applicable to the program. But that's simply impossible at this stage.

I feel strongly that we will never run conventional ads on the site. Nor will we ever permit any outside commercial interest to dictate what and how we say something. The internet world is full of places like that. Look at WebMD. I find the site embarassing in the degree of commercial bias there. We will NEVER sell out like that, regardless of the temptation. People with heart disease are all conducting a war with the commercial forces working to profit from them--hospitals, cardiologists, drug companies, medical device companies (yes, even they advertise to the public, e.g., implantable defibrillators--no kidding). Genuine, honest, unbiased information is sorely needed and not from some kook who either knows nothing about real people with real disease, or has a hidden agenda like selling you chelation.

I'd welcome any feedback either through this Blog or through the contact@cureality.com.
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Comments (6) -

  • Warren

    4/29/2007 6:02:00 PM |

    I agree with the need for some sort of unbiased but brand/manufacturer-oriented guidance.  I guess my question would be, if this content is not based on your specific experience, what criteria would you apply to determine how to assure some level of credibility?  With advertising, the criteria is generally willingness to pay the price of the advertising.  If you want to maintain higher standards than that, won't it require someone with either understanding or technical expertise or direct experience to assess whether the producer is credible and trustworthy?

    As it stands, I am looking for someone whose opinion I can trust regarding which supplement suppliers to turn to.  I have been impressed and surprised by the degree of your willingness to tell it the way you see it, including naming names of product manufacturers that you have found to supply products that seem to work for your patient population.  I hope you'll keep that up no matter what.  And I'm interested in how this idea develops.

  • Dr. Davis

    4/29/2007 8:31:00 PM |

    Thanks for the helpful thoughts.

    I wonder if a user comment method would work. In other words, say a product manufacturer makes a claim and sells their product to you (Track Your Plaque would not sell it), there will be comments from people who have tried the product and their supplier before.

    Such a system would not be as certain as providing our own stamp of endorsement (which we could still do, of course), but it would encourage an open conversation. Hopefully, any undesirable products would be rapidly identified as such.

    My concern is that, with hundreds or thousands of products out there, we end up saying "We've never tried it" all too often.

  • Eugene

    5/1/2007 3:38:00 AM |

    Dr. Davis for as much time and effort that is put in the TYP program, why not i'am sure the snake oil salesman would not want his product under the gun like people on this progran would do, frank discussions on supplements is not a bad thing as a example i'am the person who asked you about PGX fiber, its called WellBeX and is marketed by Natural Factors, one more example would be i use a insulin mimetic R-alpha lipoic acid with biotin (also a very good antioxidant) i can buy the brand name Insulow or i can use a different brand (Glucophase),for less money that does the same thing, being a type 2 i test all of the time and sometimes go days eating the same thing at the same time i know that i can get between 10 and 12 points with either one.  i know their are a lot of supplements but we only talk about a few, and like i said before why not, my biggest concern on buying supplements are they selling what they say they are selling or is it different item that will not work, or is made up with a different material than is is advertized. why not get some add revenue, their are good products out their, Upsher-Smith Slo Niacin, Endurance's Endur-acin SR both are good nicotinic Acid products, Insulow makes a good product, one more example would be the Vitamin Shoppe sells a  good Vitamin D softgel under their store brand this is a good product, but they also sell under their store brand a no flush Niacin in their heart supplement area , this product is worthless for the TYP program, I would say start with the products, that we know, and expand a little at a time, also how about Direct access testing for blood work, i use Lab Corp to get my NMR lipoprofile i'am sure that their are others full speed ahead, I think increased revenue could have some good outcomes
    Eugene

  • Dr. Davis

    5/1/2007 11:54:00 AM |

    Great thoughts.

    I think, if and when we proceed with such a process, that we:

    1) Have some sort of checklist for approval of quality, price, availability, purity, etc. and provide our stamp of approval.

    2) Convey our comments in addition to info provided by the manufacturer or distributor.

    3) Permit all the Track Your Plaque participants to leave their own comments, much like Amazon does with books.

  • Anonymous

    5/4/2007 3:42:00 AM |

    A record holder in plaque reduction has now been acheived.  What brand of supplements was the member using? What brand of fish oil? This is when a recommendation would be welcomed!!

  • Dr. Davis

    5/4/2007 11:36:00 PM |

    Nothing magical: He used Sam's Club fish oil.

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Mediterranean diet vs. American Heart Association Diet

Mediterranean diet vs. American Heart Association Diet

18. June 2007 William Davis (4)
In 1994, the Lyon Heart Study demonstrated a 50-70% reduction in coronary events in participants who followed a diet rich in vegetables, olive oil, fish, nuts, red wine, and enjoyed meals as a family activity. Various other studies have documented similar phenomena with less metabolic syndrome, better lipid patterns, less obesity with the Mediterranean lifestyle.

There are two fundamental differences between the Mediterranean diet and the diet advocated by the American Heart Association (AHA) for people with heart disease: the Mediterranean diet uses olive oil more liberally, such that fat calories can reach 40% of total; and, unlike the AHA diet, processed foods are not a part of the Mediterranean diet. Greeks, for instance, are far less likely to eat Count Chocula cereal for breakfast, or snack on Healthy Choice Premium Caramel Swirl Sandwich (ice cream sandwiches) or Malt-O-Meal Honey Nut Scooters. All three of these foods on listed on the AHA Heart-Check Mark heart-healthy program.

In other words, remove all the processed foods, and the AHA diet pretty closely resembles the Mediterranean diet. There are differences but they tend to be relatively small. If the only major difference is the presence of processed foods, wouldn't you therefore expect the AHA to embrace the Mediterranean diet?

Here's what their official stand on the Mediterranean diet states:

Does a Mediterranean-style diet follow American Heart Association dietary recommendations?

Mediterranean-style diets are often close to our dietary recommendations, but they don’t follow them exactly. In general, the diets of Mediterranean peoples contain a relatively high percentage of calories from fat. This is thought to contribute to the increasing obesity in these countries, which is becoming a concern.



The AHA is actually lukewarm towards the diet that was the first to show a dramatic decrease in heart attack and death. Why?

The answer is obvious, once cast in this light. To wholeheartedly endorse the Mediterranean diet might be seen as an indirect rejection of American processed foods. You know, the foods that have caused an extraordinary and unprecedented epidemic of obesity in the U.S., the foods that are manufactured by ConAgra, General Mills, Kelloggs--all also major financial contributors to the AHA, according to the AHA Annual Report.

I tell my patients: If you want heart disease, follow the American Heart Association diet. In my view, it is a diet founded on politics and money, not on health. How else could Cocoa Puffs be regarded as heart healthy?
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Comments (4) -

  • DietKing2

    6/18/2007 1:25:00 PM |

    Hey Doc, leave my Count Chocula and Cocoa Puffs alone, man! Well, at least you didn't go after my beloved Cocoa Pebbles! (This is what I was raised on...wonder why I'm addicted to sugar??)
    I'm just kiddin ya, you know that. It just annoys me when you bring these things to light-the AHA witholding support of a diet (or lifestyle perhaps?) that is obviously so much better than their program. This is a group of supposedly intelligent professionals who you would think would want what's best for the American people as a whole.
    Enjoyed reading this post, but I still wish they'd invent 'Mediterranean Cocoa Pebbles' or something. LOL
    Adam

  • Anonymous

    6/30/2008 12:11:00 AM |

    Uh huh. Now I see what has been going on when my husband has been in the hospital for a 4 in 1 heart procedure (aortic valve replacement, one bypass, MAZE {?} procedure and restructuring of a portion of a heart chamber). I invariably raised my eyebrows at his food tray, but finally flipped out when a breakfast tray had french toast with syrup, Frosted Flakes and apple juice, in addition to eggs, sausage and milk. My husband loved every bit of it because he rarely gets that type of food at home. In fact, Frosted Flakes and their kin are strictly banned in this house since we're both fighting a tendency toward high blood sugar.
    Then there was the hospital version of chicken fried steak, with gravy yet. Pork chop another day, with gravy of course. Plenty of gravy on potatoes and butter for rice and rolls. A turkey sandwich on white bread for an evening snack, with a hefty packet of mayo. Smuckers peanut butter. And on and on I could go.
    I wanted to run through the hospital kitchens screaming, "Are you people nuts? Or are you trying to assure repeat visits?"
    Incidently, this was the "regular" hospital diet which my husband's heart surgeon allows during his patient's recovery period.
    Another week or two of this at home and then he's supposed to buckle down and eat right. Oooookay. But Frosted Flakes are still banned.

  • Anavar

    5/18/2010 11:56:31 AM |

    No diet is necessary if you just change white carbs for whole grains and bad fat for good fat. And weight will be gone for sure. And of course exercise must be included too. No diet is as successful as this.

  • buy jeans

    11/3/2010 7:33:19 PM |

    In other words, remove all the processed foods, and the AHA diet pretty closely resembles the Mediterranean diet. There are differences but they tend to be relatively small. If the only major difference is the presence of processed foods, wouldn't you therefore expect the AHA to embrace the Mediterranean diet?

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Are you addicted to fructose?

Are you addicted to fructose?

13. August 2007 William Davis (1)
Try a little experiment:

Side by side, try a yogurt made with fructose or high fructose corn syrup as one of the first ingredients on the label along with a yogurt made without fructose.

Yoplait and Dannon brands, for instance, fit the bill for fructose. Several brands do not use fructose products. Many of these are the unflavored or unsweetened versions. You may therefore have to add some blueberries, strawberries, or some other fruit for some flavor. ( I doubt that you would add high fructose corn syrup.) Add nuts, seeds, flaxseed, or oat bran to either.

Many people who do this will notice a peculiar effect: The fructose or high fructose corn syrup containing product is, to most, delicious. It also triggers a desire for more. You can't have just one--you've got to have another, or you've got to eat something else.

The non-fructose containing product is more likely to generate satiety, a feeling that you've had enough.

If you experience this effect, the solution is simple: avoid fructose and high fructose corn syrup. I believe that the most worrisome health effect of fructose is this hunger-increasing aspect, difficult to document, perhaps impossible to measure, but a great boon to the food industry who practice an "eat more" philosophy to increase revenues year after year.

Perhaps you will also see weight drop (since you will be more satisfied), see triglycerides drop (since fructose raises triglycerides), and maybe obtain all the downstream benefits of reduced triglycerides (higher HDL, less small LDL, less VLDL, more rapid clearance of post-prandial lipoproteins).

Most people who follow this idea gain better control over appetite, lose weight, and do better in health, including in their Track Your Plaque program.
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  • Dana

    8/14/2007 9:33:00 PM |

    I just came across your blog, but I really like it already!  I think you have a great topic, and you address it really well.  I look forward to being a new reader!

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