Archive for January, 2009

Resveratrol piece on 60 Minutes

Published on January 31, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

I’ve been drinking Pinot Noir (in moderation) and curious about this resveratrol deal for a while now, but I found this 60 Minutes report to be really lame. Morley Safer’s tough questions: “So, what you’re saying is someone who is 70 will look and feel like they’re 35?” and “Maybe someday we can forget dieting and exercise and just take this one pill?”

Gimme a break, Morley. How about some obvious questions, like: “If a glass or two of wine shows benefits in humans, then why pump several thousand times that resveratrol concentration into the blood stream?” or “What’s the difference between the resveratrol concentration in grapes or grape juice compared to wine?”

How about interviewing someone who’s skeptical about the issue, or at least some scientists who are not tied to this one biotech company. The piece sounded like an infomercial at times, like these young scientists were making a pitch to investors rather than sharing objective information.

I’ll keep drinking my Pinot Noir—it’s yummy, enjoyable, and makes my tongue purple—but this news piece just reminded me how toothless the mainstream media is and how utterly contaminated the scientific process becomes when big money gets involved.

The Boy with the Incredible Brain

Published on January 24, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

I watched this documentary this morning and it really blew my mind. From Google Video:

“This is the breathtaking story of Daniel Tammet. A twenty-something with extraordinary mental abilities, Daniel is one of the world’s few savants. He can do calculations to 100 decimal places in his head, and learn a language in a week. This documentary follows Daniel as he travels to America to meet the scientists who are convinced he may hold the key to unlocking similar abilities in everyone. He also meets the world’s most famous savant, the man who inspired Dustin Hoffman’s character in the Oscar winning film ‘Rain Man’. (2005)”

Thanks to Mind Hacks for the heads-up.

Integrative Health Coaching Training at DUKE: Module One

Published on January 20, 2009 in Personal. 2 Comments

Tracy Gaudet

I’m through the first of four modules of the Integrative Health Coaching Training Program at Duke Integrative Medicine (DIM) and I’m very impressed so far. The strongest impression was left by Tracy Gaudet, the program director (pictured above). This woman is just bursting with passion and enthusiasm for bringing a holistic paradigm into the mainstream of healthcare. Don’t take my word for it though, just check out this in-depth interview on NPR.

I also found this little piece from the local news, which gives a feel for what’s going on at DIM:

The health coach training is divided into four modules, spaced about a month a part, each lasting four full days. In this first module we learned all about the philosophy and research behind DUKE’s practice of integrative medicine. The building itself was designed and built in accordance with this holistic vision, and it has the feel of a retreat center as opposed to a medical facility. The waiting room features a “water wall,” which is basically a glass wall with water flowing down the sides, and every room in the place has a view of the surrounding woods. They have an on-site chef who fed us gourmet, healthful lunches everyday. The food was incredible, and would easily translate into a thirty dollar meal at a nice restaurant.

The participants in the training are very impressive as well. It’s a really diverse group, with folks from all over the country, and some from over seas. Many are nurses, physician assistants, and other health care professionals, but I also met a New York City Firefighter, a dancer from Thailand, a health educator from the middle east, and a whole bunch of other interesting people. It was an intense four days, with lots of information to process and several opportunities to practice the skills we’re learning. We’ll also be practicing our skills via weekly conference calls between modules.

Anyway, it’s been a great experience so far and I’m looking forward to the second module in late February.

What exactly am I going to do with this training, when it’s all said and done? I’m still pondering that one…

Infidel

Published on January 3, 2009 in Personal. 0 Comments

infidel.jpg

I finally finished reading Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. I was familiar with Ali’s story via online videos of her talks, but reading her book gave me a much deeper appreciation of her struggles and accomplishments.

What struck me most powerfully as I read along was the contrast between Ali’s journey through life and my own. She and I are just about the same age. So, while she was having her genitals excised as a young child in Africa, at that exact moment in time I was in upstate New York, likely playing video games or watching “Little House on the Prairie.” When she was getting her head bashed in as a teenager for not realizing her proper place as a female, I was probably at the mall with my friends, trying to decide whether to get a slice of pizza or a cheeseburger. And when she was rescuing starving refugees, I may have been out drinking at a frat party. Two people, growing up on the planet Earth at the same point in history, yet existing in utter different worlds.

Growing up, I simply had no sense of what was going on around the world, of the way people struggle for and are often denied the basic liberties I take for granted. I’ve “known,” abstractly, through watching the news, that I live a life of privilege, but it wasn’t until I lived in Mexico last year that I truly realized just how fortunate I am to have been born to caring, middle class Americans in 1970.

Another thing that struck me: We worry so much about how every little misstep we make as parents will impact our children later in life. Well, here we have this woman who was beaten, degraded and devalued throughout her childhood, yet she went on to become a totally awesome person, a true hero really. So many of us have had every advantage, have been sheltered from every adversity, and yet still so often feel powerless to create positive change in our lives and in the world. Why is that?

Speaking for myself, I never fail to find some excuse—student loan debt is my favorite—for putting off my big dreams and best intentions. The truth is, there is nothing in my way except phantoms and fear. Infidel has reminded me of this, and left me feeling grateful and inspired.