When a “Routine” Surgery Carries Hidden Risks Understanding Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacements Total hip replacement is now one of the most common orthopedic surgeries performed in the United States. Roughly 400,000 procedures are done annually. For many people with severe joint degeneration, hip replacement can restore mobility and dramatically improve quality of life. When successful, modern implants may last 20 years or more. But not all hip implants are created equal — and certain designs have raised significant safety concerns. The Metal-on-Metal (MOM) Issue The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. In a total replacement, both components are substituted with artificial materials. These materials may include: Ceramic Plastic (polyethylene) Metal In “metal-on-metal” (MOM) implants, both the ball and socket are made of metal alloys. While these designs were initially promoted for durability, post-market surveillance and patient reports revealed a seriou…

Fish oil can help you live a long life and, even better, a long and HEALTHY life.  Based on their analysis of 23 different studies involving more than a million participants, Chinese researchers recently concluded that Omega-3 fatty acids (such as are found in fish oil) reduced the risk of all-cause mortality by 7% for every 200 mg per day consumed.  But what is a long life worth if it’s not healthy?  The good news is that fish oil increases longevity because it makes us healthier.  Not only has fish oil been shown to help prevent all kinds of disease including cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders like diabetes, neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s, autoimmune disease, kidney and pancreas disorders, periodontal disease and cancer, it helps keep our telomeres long! What are telomeres?  Telomeres are caps at the ends of chromosomes found in each cell. Like the tips on the ends of shoestrings, they keep DNA strands toget…

Although Americans need to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, the food gurus these days aren't pushing fruits as much as they once were. That's because more information has come out about fructose, the sugar in fruit. While fine in moderation, in excessive amounts, fructose can be toxic. That's why at Beyond Health, we've always recommended not exceeding more than two pieces of fruit a day. But one fruit the experts still recommend is berries, including strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries and raspberries. Why? Because no fruit offers so much nutritional value for the calories and fructose it delivers. Berries for Disease Prevention Berries are chock-full of phytonutrients (translation: nutrients in plants) that are some of the world's most powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. Since oxidation and inflammation are fundamental processes in all disease, it's not surprising that scientists have been finding that berries help to prevent and curb every…