Posts by Sara Szal MD
MOTHS-R-US: Addiction as Initiation
I love this one-liner from Pema Chodron, about how we’re insanely, wildly, immaturely, naively, passionately drawn to things that harm us just as a moth is to flame. All of us are addicts in one way or another, whether the object is sugar, our favorite TV show, struggle, excess carbon footprint, negative thinking, anger, violence,…
Read MoreKicking Dairy: Why Bother?
Throughout my 22 years of taking care of people, I’ve seen a lot of addictive behaviors. Particularly around food. Most common: chocolate, cheese, caffeine, flour, sugar, taken to anesthetize. These babies are drugs. I recall learning in the early 1980s that dairy products contain morphine-like substances. This was published in Science in 1981. Learned this…
Read MoreHelp, Kelp?! What to Do with Japan's Radiation (Possibly Heading Our Way)
While I’m sure you’ve heard of the nasty earthquake in Japan – not sure you’ve heard that Japanese nuclear reactors spewed significant amounts of radiation that may be heading our way here in America. Learn about this now: IODINE. Talk to your doctor about protecting your thyroid with supplemental iodine, my friends. Taking supplemental non-radioactive…
Read MoreNuclear Japan: Latest News
BBC this morning: “A partial meltdown did occur in reactor 1.” According to BBC reporter Richard Black: “On Sunday, officials said the same thing was suspected in reactor 3 – although later, they appeared to retract this statement.” This morning I heard many conflicting reports about the worst of the nuclear situation in Japan being…
Read MoreDr. Sara's Book Club #1. 3 Reasons Why We Get Fat (Plus Lunch with Gary Taubes)
What if everything you know about why we get fat is wrong? We are kicking off the start of my new (and FREE!) Dr. Sara’s Book Club with that question, plus many excellent answers and solutions. First, the backstory on why we get fat (and whom I listen to). Not sure you’ve noticed that there’s…
Read MoreUS Aircraft Carrier Detects Radiation Offshore Japan
Japanese officials insist there is no public health risk from the failing nuclear reactors in Fukushima. My read of the news: I have no idea if that is true, and suspect the opposite. The BBC is reporting this morning that one of the US aircraft carriers detected radioactive fallout 100 miles offshore from the reactors.…
Read MoreNuclear Risk Worsening: Prevention Never Premature
Now authorities are admitting that the nuclear crisis in Japan, predicted by my grandfather five days ago and in my first blog, is far worse than Three Mile Island, and possibly as bad as Chernobyl but as yet unclear. BBC is reporting this morning that levels of radiation are significantly above the legal limit. Radiation…
Read MoreSurgeon General States Buying Iodide a Worthy "Precaution"
US Surgeon General, Regina Benjamin, told NBC that buying iodide is a worthy “precaution.” She does not consider it an overreaction, and said you are right to be prepared. Meanwhile, workers at the nuclear power plants in Japan have abandoned the reactors, as reported in breaking news on the Associated Press. We have no idea at this…
Read MoreRadiation Dilemma: Resources
Yesterday the US Surgeon General said: Get iodide. It’s a worthy precaution. But don’t take it yet. Meanwhile, the California Department of Public Health says: Don’t take iodide. Here’s their new site of FAQ on radiation in California. The situation continues to worsen in Japan, and an MIT CNN commenter last night was . Thousands…
Read MoreNYT: Radiation Extremely High at Reactors
We finally have news today from a US official who has independently assessed the nuclear reactors, and states the amount of radiation is “extremely high” as reported on the front page of the New York Times this morning. Not surprisingly, the US and Japan are split on the potential nuke danger. Actual measures of radiation…
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