Dr Pete's Health Secrets

      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...

    The kidneys are a pair of organs about the size of your fist lying at the back of your abdominal cavity just under your ribs.  In this article I shall examine current reseach based information on the major causes of kidney disease which leads to its failure to perform its crucial role of filtration. I shall also give you health tips and proven preventive measures.  The kidneys perform several funtions which include the manufacture of hormones, regulation of blood pressure and most importantly the filtration of blood.  The kidneys fiter your blood continously to get rid of unwanted toxins and minerals.  About 25% of your blood volume passes through your kidneys every minute. On my visit to Africa after several years practicing medicine in Europe I was surprised by the number and age of people suffering from Kidney disease. According to the World Health Organisation WHO, in 2019, diabetes and kidney disease due to diabetes caused an estimated 2 million de...

          Let's start with the recommended weekly healthy safe limits of alcohol intake,  14 units for women 21 units for men A unit is equivalent to a standard glass of wine, i recommend dry red. We all have been warned about how alcohol negatively affects our minds and bodies.  It can lead to early deaths due to liver, pancreas and heart disease and even accidents. Early onset dimentia is another side effect of alcohol consumption.  A study says that alcoholic drinkers live longer than those who don’t, so abstaining from the beverage can actually cut your life short. How is this so? According to the study led by Charles Holahan, a psychologist from the University of Texas in Austin, whose research was published in the Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research journal, 69% of abstainers died after 20 years,  despite their lifestyle. The study, which lasted for 20 years, surveyed almost 2000 people who were 55 to 65 y...

         The US government has finally accepted that Cholesterol is not a nutrient of concern thereby doing a U-turn on their warnings to us since the 70s to stay away from high-cholesterol foods, to avoid heart disease and clogged arteries. In this aricle I will examine why Cholesterol is finally officially removed from the bad food list. What this means is that eggs, butter, full-fat dairy products, nuts, coconut oil and meat have now been classified as safe and have been officially removed from the nutrients of concern list. However, these fat rich foods must be taken in moderation because of their high calorie content. The US Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for updating the guidelines every five years, stated in its findings for 2015. "Previously, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended that cholesterol intake be limited to no more than 300 mg/day. "The 2015 DGAC will not bring forward this recommendation because ...