With the new year upon us I like to reflect on the previous year. Below are my 12 surprises/challenges from 2020 that I'd like to share with you.
12 - Intrinsic Foot Function
Shoes weaken intrinsic foot function like a brace on an extremity and barefoot exercise enables full function and recovery. Toe yoga will accelerate recovery!
Prior Belief or Understanding
Shoes were necessary for protection and structural support during workouts. Now doing more workouts barefoot and doing the 5-minute Toe Yoga, I have improved my one leg balance and noticed that my foot function has improved.
Source that Started Inquiry
Toe Yoga – Kinetic U Exercise Series. Tangelo – Seattle Chiropractor + Rehab
11 - Fatty Acids
Fatty acids in high quantities (non-esterified) can lead to insulin resistance-like sugar.
Prior Belief or Understanding
Fats never caused an insulin response so were safe in all quantities. Not true if in the background of escalating carbohydrate-induced insulin resistance (seeds of most chronic medical conditions).
Source that Started Inquiry
Gerald Shulman MD, PhD on the Peter Attia Podcast and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4587882
10 - High Dose Melatonin
High dose melatonin may favorably impact cancer growth and aid prevention.
Prior Belief or Understanding
Circadian rhythm maintenance was always known to be foundational but targeting high dose melatonin would seem reckless. Emerging data suggest safety and efficacy.
Source that Started Inquiry
Frank Shallenberger MD YouTube on Melatonin and then direct research: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28420185/
9 - Allulose
Allulose is an artificial sweetener that may be safe and possibly beneficial. I typically favor avoidance of any sweetener options.
Prior Belief or Understanding
Artificial sweeteners routinely have low level neurotoxins, can disrupt the gut biome, or trigger the cephalic phase of insulin release (pop insulin independent of absorption based on sweet taste).
Source that Started Inquiry
Allulose by Stevia is 70% as sweet as sugar and may remove or aid excretion of other blood glucose by the kidneys - Rare sugar D-allulose: Potential role and therapeutic monitoring in maintaining obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus - PubMed (nih.gov)
8 - Spermidine
Spermidine is now available in a supplement and may be one of the best mitochondrial supports.
Prior Belief or Understanding
Generally, stressors such as fasting, breath hold hypoxia, high intensity exercise fostered beneficial autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis (stronger more resilient cells) – now a supplement is included.
Source that Started Inquiry
Lecture by Elizabeth Yurth MD on slowing down cellular aging. Spermidine: a novel autophagy inducer and longevity elixir - PubMed (nih.gov)
7 - Fairlife Whole Milk
Fairlife whole milk with added omega-3 manufactured by Coca-Cola actually has favorable numbers.
Prior Belief or Understanding
As a coffee or tea additive – for those who want a low sugar option – this filtered and fortified option has only 6 total grams of sugar per 8 oz serving while packing 13 grams of protein, 125 mg omega 3. That’s twice the calcium with no hormones or antibiotics!
Source that Started Inquiry
My smart, lovely wife found this one for me, and the product has no fishy flavor: DHA Whole Milk | fairlife Ultra-Filtered Milk with DHA Omega-3
6 - Low Cost EWOT
Low cost EWOT for any home exists – one does not need an expensive system (most are over $2,000) to garner the benefits of EWOT (exercise with O2 therapy).
Prior Belief or Understanding
Through years of using the Wim Hoff method followed by breath hold push ups experimentation, I stumbled upon the “poor man’s system” with easy-to-use Oxygen Plus medical grade portable oxygen doing 30-40 breaths at end of the breath hold pushups – great cellular upgrade.
Source that Started Inquiry
5 - One Meal A Day
OMAD – (one meal a day) is much easier than one would expect and simplifies an exercise, work, and meal schedule.
Prior Belief or Understanding
We seemed to be programmed to stop 2-3 times per day and eat. I love the steady energy delivery from fat burning energy production, which aids workday clarity and effectiveness while melting abdominal fat.
Source that Started Inquiry
Reading the early version of Dave Asprey’s next book Fast This Way moved me to more routinely eat only dinner on most work days in the last 6 months. Fast This Way
4 - Manifestation Works
Manifestation works – whether you call it prayers, intention setting, or dream work, it is a powerful tool.
Prior Belief or Understanding
Intention setting is a major suggestion in my cancer work because it has an impact. As I look back on my life, I see that many of my prayerful dreams have worked out. Most recently, I have succeeded with a Bulletproof Podcast on our company: CareOncology.com
Source that Started Inquiry
One of the best books on the science of intention or the science of Quantum Physics- is by Cell Biologist Bruce Lipton PhD Biology of Belief: The Biology of Belief 10th Anniversary Edition: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter & Miracles: Lipton, Bruce H.: 9781401952471: Amazon.com: Books
3 - Human Spirit
Human spirit – it can persevere remarkable obstacles and continue beyond reasonable expectations.
Prior Belief or Understanding
I had the close-up view of this strength as my mom at the age of 89, near totally blind, in Hospice for 19 months now, continues to surprise us with how he clings to life, despite falls, wound infections, and more. The care by my family has been inspiring and elevated our hearts.
Source that Started Inquiry
As Medical Director of CareOncology.com, we see many advanced, terrible cancers but often witness heroic survival stories. A good insight into the right ingredients necessary was laid out by Kelly Turner in her book Radical Remission Radical Remission Project | Official Website of the NY Times Bestseller
2 - Brain Tumor Glioblastoma
The devastating brain tumor glioblastoma (GBM) is not necessarily terminal.
Prior Belief or Understanding
In my first 29 years of big hospital cancer care, working around many partners where we all treated this malady and no patient made it more than 12-14 months without crippling recurrences. Now with metabolic strategies – ketogenic diet and repurposed metabolic acting medications added to standard of care early, we have many patients out 2+ years without disease and excellent function.
Source that Started Inquiry
A summary of CareOncology.com first cohort of GBM patients can be found at peer reviewed article-Frontiers | A New Method for Ethical and Efficient Evidence Generation for Off-Label Medication Use in Oncology (A Case Study in Glioblastoma) | Pharmacology (frontiersin.org)
1 - Pursuit of Meaning and Purpose
Pursuit of meaning and purpose rather than chasing happiness in life will paradoxically generate happiness and joy as a byproduct. This has never been more evident to me than in this year of turmoil with pandemic, social unrest, and divisive politics.
Prior Belief or Understanding
Most days of 2020, I have had the privilege to interview 4-7 patients per day and get a glimpse into their lives. I continue to see the power of an altruistic purpose as the driver to spit out peals of joy and happiness in people’s lives. This was so true with two of my mom’s caregivers: Shirly, age 72, and Shirly, age 84, who offered unselfishly their hours to serve mom’s end of life needs along with us. Upon us asking about their remarkable commitment, both said in their own way, “this is why I am here.”
Source that Started Inquiry
Henry David Thoreau said, “Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.” I think the “other things” to which Thoreau referenced is the common space of the 3-set Venn diagram where one’s skills, joys, and society’s needs overlap. The daily pursuit of these sometime challenging callings will paradoxically generate joy and happiness into our lives. The prayer of Father Theodore Hesburgh – past president of Notre Dame – says it well: “Lord, give me the ambition to do as much as we can, as well as we can, as long as we can, and the resolve not to despair over the things we cannot do.”
Happy New Year - 2021 will be the best year ever!
Stay strong and keep smiling and be your own best doctor,
- Chuck
Charles J. Meakin MD, MHA, MS
Disclaimer: This information is not meant as direct medical advice. Readers should always review options with their local medical team. This is the sole opinion of Dr. Meakin based on a literature review at the time of the blog and may change as new evidence evolves.