Dr Pete's Health Secrets

        My  experience as a surgeon practicing across three continents, has given me the opportunity to interact closely with clients across all races and age groups, afflicted with a wide spectrum of health challenges, including the terminally ill with cancer. It has resulted in my developing a very strong bond with many of them which sometimes has extended to family members and friends.  This myriad of experiences has given me a unique insight into what factors contribute to making us live healthy fulfulling lives. In this article I will examine what we need to do to archieve and remain in optimal health so as to live to see our 100th birthday. So what’s the health secret to living to a 100? Get breastfed as a baby Several reseach studies have demonstrated the protective effect of breastfeeding on the health of both the baby and mother. Breast milk is designed by nature to contain all a new born baby needs for optimal growth and development.  It is r...

      Garlic 'Allium sativum', commonly known as garlic, the world's favourite culinary herb, is a species in the onion genus, Allium.  In this article I will examine the health benefits of adding this ancient herb to your meals. In foods and beverages, fresh garlic, garlic powder, and garlic oil are used to add flavor. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo.  It is thought that garlic is native to Siberia, but spread to other parts of the world over 5000 years ago. Heart and blood vessels Garlic whoose active ingredient is Allicin, is used for many conditions related to the heart and blood system.  These conditions include high blood pressure, low blood pressure, high cholesterol, inherited high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, heart attack, reduced blood flow due to narrowed arteries, and arteriosclerosis. According to a 2007 study done at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, garlic can help relax b...

             Red palm oil is natural extract from palm tree fruit. Poised to give its popular tropical cousin coconut oil a run for its money, this brightly colored oil adds an excellent red colour to your meals and has a sweet, nutty taste. In this article I would examine the health benefits of red palm oil and see how it compares with other cooking oils nutritionally,  The simple answer to the question is YES . Here are the reasons why its healthy. Recent studies have shown that saturated fat from plants are not the bad type. As a result coconut oil which has more saturated fat than the red palm oil has received more acceptance in developed countries. The red palm oil, like any other plant oil, does not contain any cholesterol! It contains just 50% saturated fat, the rest are Mono-saturated  and Poly-unsaturated fats. Nutritional Facts  1 Tablespoon (14gms) of palm oil Calories 120 Total Fat 14 g Saturated fat 7...

          Yogurt is quite simply fernented milk. It is packed full of gut friendly bacteia and is more easily digested by the body than plain milk. A  reseach study in 2013   linked yogurt consumption to healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels among many other health benefits.  In the study, yogurt eaters seemed to have a better metabolic profile than those who didn’t eat yogurt. These health benefits are also found in Kefir, Greek yogurt, Sour milk, Cheese and Kenderimu , a Fulani staple. Weight-loss   This means they had lower body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, as well as lower levels of triglycerides, fasting glucose and insulin, and blood pressure. They also showed higher levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), or “good” cholesterol.  Strong Bones Lactase , the enzyme responsible for breaking down milk in the stomach is deficient in a good percentage of those of African and Asian descent....

      Many of us eat bread or other baked goods everyday. Many food producers use Margarine as the source of fat in their baking recipe because it is cheap and has a long shelf life. In this article I shall examine the effects of eating margarine based bread regularly and the effect on heart health.  I shall also highlight healthy alternatives. Margarine was developed in the United States during World War II when there was a shortage of butter.  Food processors discovered that they could heat an oil such as vegetable oil, which was readily available and inexpensive, and pump liquid hydrogen through it to form a “ hydrogenated ” oil that was solid at room temperature.   Hydrogenation changes a fatty acid's molecular structure and turns a portion of it into the trans form. Biochemists call these Trans-fats .  The Daily Mail of England on 7/2/13, described margarine as "chemical gunk". Heart and Coronary disease Research shows the ...

           In some cultures especially in Africa and South America having a big butt is a positive beauty attribute and highly desirable.   In this article, lets examine how this natural endowment affects your health.  Recent studies conducted at the University of Oxford in England, demonstrate that women with bigger butts or buttocks are more intelligent and less likely to get chronic illnesses than women with average or below average butt size.  These results revealed that women with larger butts enjoy health benefits which include lower levels of blood cholesterol and good hormonal balances that help them process sugar better. As a result women with bigger butts are less likely to have ; 1. Type 11 Diabetes   2. Cardiovascular or Heart disease . The results also show that women with wider hips tend to have smarter children. This is all thanks to the excess of Omega-3 fats that are stored in the butt. They hel...

        Okra also known as Bhindi bhaji in hindu ,  is a very popular vegetable in Africa and Asia, a culinary delicacy. Lets examine its health affects. Promotes Healthy Pregnancy Okra's high levels of vitamin A, B vitamins (B1, B2, B6), and vitamin C, and traces of zinc and calcium, make it an ideal vegetable to eat during pregnancy.  Okra also serves as a natural supplement for fiber and folic acid . A single serving of okra contains nearly 10% of recommended levels of vitamin B6 and  folic acid . Lowers Cholesterol Okra not only promotes good digestive health, but also good cholesterol levels due to its high fiber content. Soluble fiber can be dissolved in water, which means that it breaks down in the digestive tract.  Okra also binds to cholesterol in other foods so that it can be excreted along with other wastes. In turn, total cholesterol levels plummet, according to Harvard Health Publications. Control Diabetes Roasted...