Carnivore Crap

Mar 26, 2024
By Dr. Sean M. Wells, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC/L, CSCS, CNPT, Cert-DN

Recently our team received emails and messages from a few New York physical therapists. Their overall message was clear: you and your courses are wrong and that carnivore is the only way (along with other expletives). As a proud evidenced-based provider of nutritional continuing education, accept this as our reply and an outlining of why the carnivore diet is ridiculous and unsafe.

Origins

If you are not familiar with the carnivore diet let us explain it briefly, as there is much misinformation and pseudoscience surrounding it. The diet was originally developed by a German scientist in the 1800s. Derivations of this diet followed, such as the meat and hot water diet, with intentions of “curing” diseases like diabetes and chronic diarrhea. While well-intentioned, such diets never gained much traction until recently when an orthopedic surgeon named Shawn Baker decided to make it part of his brand. He wrote a...

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Women's Health: Impact of Diet on Chronic Diseases

Feb 29, 2024
By Dr. Sean M. Wells, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC/L, CSCS, CNPT, Cert-DN

In the intricate tapestry of women's health, diet plays a pivotal role, influencing not just physical well-being but also the prevention of chronic diseases. As the saying goes, "You are what you eat," and for women, this adage holds profound significance particularly in midlife. We know protein intake plays an important role in maintaining the health status of older adults. However, few studies examine midlife protein intake in relation to healthy aging until now. Let's look at a recent study and outline how midlife protein consumption patterns can affect women's health and the prevention of chronic diseases.

The Study

The new study from he American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examines middle-aged women in the Nurses Health Study cohort. The researchers examined thousands of surveys collected from the women every four years and looked at how frequently people ate certain food types. The researchers...

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A New Healthy and Sustainable Plant Based Omega 3 Oil?

Feb 08, 2024

Could Ahiflower Replace Fish and Flax?

By Dr. Sean M. Wells, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC/L, CSCS, CNPT, Cert-DN

In the realm of nutritional supplements, Ahiflower oil has been gaining recognition for its impressive profile of health-promoting properties. Extracted from the seeds of the Buglossoides arvensis plant, Ahiflower oil is rapidly becoming a popular choice for those seeking an omega-rich alternative to traditional fish oil. Some people are making the claim that Ahiflower could replace fish-based Omega 3s but the plant is still new to the scene. A recent PubMed article outlines some of these factors, but let's briefly dive into the potential health benefits that may make Ahiflower oil a noteworthy addition to your wellness routine.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Reinvented

Ahiflower oil distinguishes itself by its omega-3 fatty acid content, particularly boasting a unique combination of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), stearidonic acid (SDA), and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). This trifecta of fatty...

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Physical Therapy and Low-Carb Diets

Jan 25, 2024

Physical Therapy and Low-Carb Diets

By Dr. Sean M. Wells, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC/L, CSCS, CNPT, Cert-DN


In recent years, low-carb diets have gained popularity as an effective approach to weight loss and improved health. Advocates praise the benefits, while critics highlight potential drawbacks. In our 3 course certification program, we dive deep into the topic of various diets to analyze their pros and cons. This blog post aims to delve into the advantages and disadvantages of low-carb diets to help physical therapists (PTs) educate their patients and avoid spreading misinformation.

Benefits of Low-Carb Diets:

1. Weight Loss:
One of the primary reasons people opt for low-carb diets is their potential to facilitate weight loss. By restricting carbohydrate intake, the body is prompted to burn stored fat for energy, leading to a reduction in body weight. While the data on this seems promising, long term studies show the weight loss may not be sustained and is truly pegged to the...

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Physical Therapists' Role in Reducing Alcohol Consumption

Dec 20, 2023

Physical Therapists' Role in Reducing Alcohol Consumption

By Dr. Sean M. Wells, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC/L, CSCS, CNPT, Cert-DN

The holidays are upon us and that typically translates to more alcoholic drinks. Data show alcohol sales tick up during these times often due to stress, social norms (New Years), and cultural reasons. Regardless of the reason, Doctors of Physical Therapy (DPTs) and rehabilitation professionals ought to be informed about the deleterious effects of alcohol: more importantly they ought to know one evidenced-based method to help their clients drink less in general.

Physical therapists that have taken our courses probably will ramble off the alcohol-associated health risks, but many DPTs don't know or don't educate their patients on these issues during PT. Some of these health risk include:

  1. Liver Damage: Chronic alcohol consumption can lead to liver diseases such as fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis. The liver plays a crucial role in metabolizing...

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Holiday Wellness: Mindful Eating, PT Strategies, and Healthy Habits

Dec 08, 2023

Holiday Wellness: Mindful Eating, PT Strategies, and Healthy Habits

By Dr. Sean M. Wells, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC/L, CSCS, CNPT, Cert-DN

The Holidays are here and dietary patterns change! Our physical therapy clients often come into our clinics and gyms complaining of new aches and pains, and with the perpetual battle of progressive weight gain. We discuss, in our continuing education courses for (physical therapists) PTs, the various dietary patterns that can promote inflammation and weight gain. But, what is it about the holidays that make them a particularly difficult time to eat health? Let's look at some information:

1. Overeating and Weight Gain:
- Many studies suggest that people tend to consume more calories during the holiday season, which can contribute to weight gain.
- Factors such as social gatherings, festive meals, and an abundance of high-calorie foods may contribute to overeating. Overeating is difficult to see when foods are ultra-processed: they are calorie rich...

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Boswellia: A PT Game-Changer in Managing Knee Arthritis?

Oct 31, 2023
 

Boswellia: A PT Game-Changer in Managing Knee Arthritis?

By Dr. Sean M. Wells, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC/L, CSCS, CNPT, Cert-DN

In the quest for alternative and effective treatments for knee osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative joint condition marked by pain, swelling, and diminished mobility, Boswellia serrata, commonly known as Indian frankincense, is emerging as a promising solution. Many of my physical therapy patients have asked about Boswellia, and honestly it was never covered in PT school so the depth of my answer was limited. Fortunately with my continued education, writing textbooks, and research advancements, Boswellia appears to be a possible solution for helping our PT clients with arthritis. Let's understand what it is, how it works, and if it is something you should discuss with your clients.

Tackling Inflammation at its Core
With its potent anti-inflammatory properties, Boswellia has shown remarkable potential in subduing the chronic inflammation associated with knee...

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NMN Supplement and Aging

Oct 06, 2023

By Dr. Sean Wells, DPT, PT, OCS, ATC/L, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, CNPT, Cert-DN

Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is a molecule that has gained attention in recent years due to its potential role in enhancing longevity and healthspan. Doctors of Physical Therapy (DPTs) ought to be aware of NMN as many clients have begun taking them and are unaware of new data and legal challenges ahead. NMN is a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a coenzyme involved in various cellular processes, including energy metabolism and DNA repair. Research on NMN supplementation in humans is ongoing, and while there is some promising evidence, it's important to note that the field is still evolving, and more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions.
Here is a research summary of NMN use in humans up to my knowledge cutoff date in September 2021:

  1. NAD+ Levels: One of the primary reasons for interest in NMN is its potential to boost NAD+ levels in cells. NAD+ declines with age, and...
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From Big Sugar to Big Social Media: The New Frontier of Food Industry Influence

Sep 22, 2023

By Dr. Sean Wells, DPT, PT, OCS, ATC/L, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, CNPT, Cert-DN

In recent years, the influence of the United States' food industry has extended its reach beyond traditional methods like lobbying, governmental appointments, and dietary guideline manipulation. According to a Washington Post report, the food industry has now set its sights on a new arena: social media.

Background:

In a strategy reminiscent of tactics employed by the tobacco industry, prominent players in the food sector, particularly big sugar and supplement companies, have been discreetly compensating dietitians to generate content on their social media platforms. These covert actions have raised concerns akin to the obfuscation campaigns witnessed during the heyday of big tobacco. The central figures in this evolving controversy are dietitians who wield significant influence as social media influencers.

The issue of dietitians, or RDs, succumbing to the sway of the food industry is not novel. It revolves around...

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Collagen Supplementation for Joint Pain and Arthritis

Jul 19, 2023

Collagen Supplementation for Joint Pain and Arthritis: Does it Really Work?

By Dr. Sean M.Wells, DPT, PT, OCS, ATC/L, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, CNPT, Cert-DN

Recently I was presenting at the annual conference of Athletic Trainers' Association of Florida (ATAF) and I was overwhelmed by one consistent question: why didn't you talk about collagen supplementation? My talk was specifically on orthopedics for older adults and naturally I focused on osteoarthritis (OA) and how important exercise and diet are for that condition. I did touch on some supplementation, but I left off collagen because my last examination of this supplement, using one of my favorite websites Examine.com, yielded mediocre results. However the participants at the sports medicine conference piqued my interest and convinced me that perhaps I had missed something -- almost every single one of these participants had some form of joint pain or stiffness and felt significantly better after taking collagen daily. So, back to...

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