Each of the supplement programs recommended by the clinicians at Block Center is individualized and tailored specifically to each patient’s nutritional and medical needs. Not only is it important to have the right ingredients with the appropriate quality, but it is essential to match the proper formulations to the correct set of circumstances such as … Continued
There’s been a great deal of promotional buzz on a ketogenic diet, but our continuing commitment at the Block Center is to investigate all questions/concerns so we can responsibly inform our patients. Therefore, we have evaluated the following: A key question: Can a ketogenic diet help shrink tumors or stop cancer growth? A … Continued
Evidence of the ability of inflammation to both initiate and fuel cancer has been accumulating since at least the 1980s. In fact, any chronic inflammatory disease – such as arthritis, bronchitis, fasciitis, colitis, and asthma – can increase the risk of cancer. A study published in the May 2009 issue of the Journal of Clinical … Continued
This past Tuesday, we were alerted by a press release from www.consumerlab.com that the Attorney General for the State of New York had announced that – based on a DNA analysis of specific herbal medicines at four major retailers – the state of New York was asking retailers to remove these supplements from their shelves. … Continued
Is Cancer Really Just “Bad Luck”? By: Keith Block, MD A new paper in the premiere journal Science, by Cristian Tomasetti and Bert Vogelstein, two researchers at Johns Hopkins University, has started a hot controversy in the media. The paper claims that “bad luck,” in the form of mutations that happen randomly in the course … Continued
By Dr. Penny Block, PhD All of us are uncomfortable with uncertainty. And cancer can feel like an ultimate, immense, even overwhelming uncertainty. As patients, we look to doctors as medical experts, and often seek definitive information in the midst of this uncertainty. Given these expectations, doctors may be even more uncomfortable with uncertainty and … Continued
Keith I. Block, MD Scientists from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory are criticizing antioxidants again. As you may recall, about 18 months ago, Nobel Prize winner James Watson published a paper saying antioxidants are bad for cancer patients, and that antioxidant-rich blueberries amount to nothing more than a natural “junk food” that are OK to eat … Continued
The final installment in our supplement series will take a look at some of the reliable resources available to consumers for supplement and herbal information. There are several places one can look to find concise information about a botanical supplement. This brief list of sources is evolving, and new credible sources are being compiled as … Continued
Keith I. Block, MD In our previous blog article, we reviewed the issue of supplement purity. Now, let’s consider the issue of supplement potency. When I use the term potency, I’m referring to two things: (1) the strength and freshness of the supplement, and (2) the quantity or concentration of active ingredients. These factors can … Continued
What You Need to Know Before Choosing A Supplement Regimen Keith I. Block, MD As you’re probably aware, Dr. Mehmet Oz appeared in front of Congress last week where he was extensively questioned about his endorsement of some weight loss products that were featured on his daytime talk show. Because the efficacy of these specific … Continued