1.) Dr. Alex Lickerman, MD, primary physician, and mindfulness expert & Dr. Ash EIDifrawi, Psy.D., clinical psychologist; authors of The Ten Worlds: The New Psychology of Happiness
1. “CBD oil. The only FDA-approved indication for CBD oil is for rare forms of childhood epilepsy. While it’s touted to treat everything from anxiety to pain to acne and more, there exists scant evidence that it helps any of the conditions for which it’s being marketed. Though some studies suggest the compound is deserving of more study, there isn’t nearly enough evidence to support the widespread use it’s now enjoying. What’s more, it’s being produced without regulation, which results in a wide range of purity and quality. Counter advice: chronic pain and anxiety are two serious and common problems for which people are turning to CBD oil. Instead of self-administering CBD oil, however, both conditions need to be evaluated by a qualified physician. Many treatments that have real evidence to back their use are available besides CBD oil. For anxiety specifically, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can be quite useful. ACT turns the notion on its head that painful feelings should always be avoided, asking people to view unpleasant feelings (anxiety, for example) in the spirit of acceptance. This paradoxically reduces the intensity of the unpleasant feelings and, even more importantly, teaches people to learn to tolerate their unpleasant feelings. This builds true resilience and is especially useful in combating one of the core delusions that stand in the way of happiness in general, namely that what’s required for happiness is a life free from pain.”
2. “Probiotics. Probiotics are microorganisms that have beneficial properties for people. They’re found in yogurt and are now being supplemented in many other foods. While many probiotics have been studied in humans and have been found to have specific beneficial effects (improve constipation, treat certain forms of infectious colitis, etc.) these effects are specific to individual species of probiotics. That you could take a grab bag of probiotics and receive a general overall improvement in health is unsubstantiated by the research. We’re just beginning to understand the effect of the microbiome (bacteria in the human gut) on human health, but we currently have no evidence that taking multiple random species of probiotics does anything to improve health in general. Further, most species of probiotics don’t survive the acid environment of the stomach to make it to the colon where they can have their effects. Counter advice: One of the most important ways to avoid unfavorably altering the bacteria in the gut is to avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics. Studies show even a 7-day course of antibiotics can alter the gut bacteria for a year. Antibiotics are life-saving when treating true bacterial infections but are dramatically over presubscribed for viral infections. When your doctor tells you the sniffles you’re experiencing are from a virus and will get better on their own, believe it.”
2) Dr. Thomas Jeneby, board-certified plastic surgeon, philanthropist, and author,Confessions of a Plastic Surgeon: Shocking Stories about Enhancing Butts, Boobs, and Beauty
- “Overdone Lips: July 29 is National Lipstick Day. How better to show off that new berry blush lip stain than with a voluptuous, plump kisser? People are flocking to get their lips injected with fillers and serums and it could get really dangerous. With the rise of new “med spas,“ staffed by newly trained “injectors,“ lips are becoming unusually thicker and more unappealing. The first step is to make sure you go to a credentialed med spa led by a physician who can treat any aesthetic complications that might arise.”
- “Phentermine for weight loss: Even with more diverse physical body image acceptance than ever before, many people are still trying to find the magic pill for weight loss, and without proper medical supervision. Phentermine is essentially “speed,” and because it is an alpha one stimulator, it can also increase risk for stroke, high blood pressure, heart attack, and problems with your heart valves. Over time the body gets used to it and needs more and more which sets up a vicious cycle.”
- “Injections under the chin: Mesotherapy, a technique that uses tiny injections to rejuvenate and tighten skin, was touted as a way to melt fat. It doesn’t work it as it was promised and can lead to swelling, which leaves the patient looking terrible! There are several brands on the market. I recommend liposuction of the neck and jowls first followed by other modalities including cool sculpting.”
3.) Dr. Herman Williams, M.D., Leadership Coach, Hospital Consultant and Author, CLEAR! Living the Life You Didn’t Dream Of
4) Dr. Peter Abachi, Recognized Pain Expert; Pioneer in understanding the biopsychosocial aspect of chronic pain and patients’ demands for a more holistic and personal approach to pain management, and Author, Take Charge of Your Chronic Pain: The Latest Research, Cutting-Edge Tools, and Alternative Treatments for Feeling Better and Conquer Your Chronic Pain, A Life-Changing Drug-Free Approach for Relief, Recovery, and Restoration.
- “Sparkling water is a huge trend right now, but consumers should be aware, while better than soda, it can still be bad for your teeth because of the acidity.
- “JUICING: People need to be careful with juicing – it is a source for empty calories and lots of sugars.”
