DrCarney.com Blog

Half of the adults living in America who consume the rich Western diet have permanently stretched the diaphragm that separates the abdominal cavity from the thoracic cavity. Many patients are unaware that they have stretched their diaphragm; some experience symtoms when others do not. This condition is commonly seen in adults over the age of...

"A large number of studies have been conducted, all of which support the concept that salt intake is the major factor increasing [blood pressure] in the population. The diversity and strength of the evidence is much greater than other lifestyle factors, for example, overweight, low consumption of fruit and vegetables and lack of physical exercise,"...

The Mediterranean region of the world is famous for its supposed Mediterranean diet. An emphasis on whole plant foods — fresh vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains, and replacing butter with a plant-based oil — gives the Mediterranean diet some strength. But who would have thought of Finland as a leader in health? In the 1970s,...

Some of the scariest words we can hear are, "You have cancer." When we or a loved one receive these words, we immediately begin looking for the hope and the help in this situation. At home, the big question often becomes, "What should I eat now that I've been diagnosed with cancer?" While I can't...

We know fiber is "good" for us, but what does it actually do? Fiber plays many roles in our health. For one, it stabilizes our blood sugar which helps stabilize our energy and moods. Easier trips to the bathroom also come courtesy of fiber bulking up body waste. But did you know that fiber binds to by-products...

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a painful, chronic digestive disorder affecting millions of Americans every year. GERD occurs when the muscular valve between the esophagus and stomach is weakened or fails to close properly, which causes the contents in the stomach (including stomach acid) to travel up the esophagus. Constant irritation of the delicate lining...

Physicans like myself who follow the wise words of Hippocrates: "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" — witness amazing transformations in the lives of our patients when disease-promoting foods are removed from their diets and their bodies are instead nourished with the finest ingredients. When animal products, refined oils/sugars and processed...

Artificial butter-flavor lovers beware — studies show that the artificial butter flavor, diacetyl, can cause lung diseases, including a life-threatening disease called bronchiolitis obliterans, commonly called “popcorn lung.” This disease was first noticed in workers who manufactured microwave popcorn. Many who developed this serious lung disease were put on a list to receive lung transplants...

If you've been searching the Internet for relief from hemorrhoids, GERD, constipation, or other gastrointestinal disorder, you may be interested in viewing the below 15-minute session featuring Neal Barnard, MD. Dr. Barnard gives a general overview of how eating a diet based on a wide variety of whole grains, beans, fruits, vegetables, and some nuts/seeds...

The origin of many serious health conditions including autoimmune disease can be traced back to a condition called increased intestinal permeability, or better known as "leaky gut syndrome." You may be thinking, "How can my gut possibly be related to my (fill in the blank)? This is a very common question. Knowing how the lining of the...

The statistics are distressing. Eighty-one million Americans suffer from cardiovascular disease, making it our nation's leading cause of death for both men and women. Every year, 1.5 million people suffer a heart attack in the U.S., killing 1 out of every 3 people, or approximately 1 million per year. Considering these facts, it's no surprise that...

We hear it all the time: protein. If we're hungry midafternoon, our coworker wonders if we didn't include enough protein in our lunch. If we say we're feeling tired lately, our sister asks if we're eating enough protein. If we twist our ankle, our neighbor wants to know… Okay, that's an exaggeration, but you get...