Managing Your Health by Mediaplanet_USA

A Mediaplanet Guide to Lung, Prostate, and Digestive Health

JUNE 2022 | FUTUREOFPERSONALHEALTH.COM

Managing Your Health

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The Gut Health Doctor shares her tips for a plant-based diet

Learn how Dynarex is leading the way in reliable, highquality respiratory supplies

Accuray’s innovative new cancer treatment is making therapy easier for patients and families

An Independent Supplement by Mediaplanet to USA Today

No One Should Get Cancer From College Campus Buildings An asbestos lawsuit against Penn State University signals a wave of cases brought against institutions of higher education by individuals with lung cancer or mesothelioma. It began with a retired Penn State University college professor who had been diagnosed with and died from malignant mesothelioma, a disease with only one known cause – asbestos exposure. The law firm Bailey & Glasser conducted an extensive investigation as part of a negligence action against the university. They found asbestos-containing building materials in many of Penn State’s buildings even to this day. The case against Penn State foreshadows what is likely the next wave of asbestos litigation in a field that typically sees asbestos-related diseases in people exposed in heavy industrial settings like steel mills, chemical plants, and factories. With tens of thousands of asbestos-contaminated buildings scattered on campuses across the United States and lawsuits underway against various higher education institutions, including Dickenson College, Northwestern University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and two new mesothelioma cases against Penn State, individuals who contracted mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos in college and university buildings are fighting back. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with lung cancer or mesothelioma and attended or worked inside any American college or university, it is critical to act quickly. You need a team of attorneys with the skills, knowledge, and experience to help you secure the justice and compensation you and your family deserve. Call attorney Michael “Mickey” Robb at the law firm of Bailey & Glasser, LLP for a free consultation. Michael “Mickey” Robb, Esquire Partner, Bailey & Glasser, LLP

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Should I Be Screened for Lung Cancer? Understanding New Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines

Andrea McKee, M.D. Oncologist and National Volunteer Medical Spokesperson, American Lung Association

Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in the United States, but new lung cancer screening eligibility guidelines offer hope to help save lives. Most Americans don’t know that lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of both men and women in the United States. Since the diagnosis typically doesn’t present symptoms until it is in the later stages of the disease, it is often caught at stage 4 when it’s less curable. But there is hope. The lung cancer fiveyear survival rate has increased 14.5% nation-

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ally to 23.7% in the last 10 years. This is thanks, in part, to greater awareness of the disease and advancements in treatment. In addition, low dose CT screening for those at high risk is one of our most important tools to end lung cancer deaths and save more lives. If lung cancer is caught before it spreads, the likelihood of surviving five years or more improves to 60%. With screening, the earliest stage disease is diagnosed in 8 out of 10 cases, and stage 1 lung cancer is highly curable. Unfortunately, lung cancer screen-

ing is underutilized. Nationally, only 5.7% of people who are eligible have been screened. Now more people are recommended to get this lifesaving screening. In March 2021, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) expanded the guidelines for lung cancer screening. In total, lung cancer screening is recommended for 14 million Americans based on their age and smoking history, and many can get this screening through their private health plans or Medicare at no cost. Who is eligible for lung cancer screening? According to USPSTF, you are considered high risk for lung cancer and eligible for screening if you are: • 50 to 80 years old; • Have a 20 pack-year smoking history (smoked one pack a day for 20 years, two packs a day for 10 years, or equivalent); and

• Currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Medicare covers screening for individuals 50-77 who meet these criteria. If you are eligible, talk to your doctor about lung cancer screening today, or share this information with a loved one who might be eligible. For those of you who don’t meet the eligibility guidelines, it is important to recognize that anyone can get lung cancer and you should know the risk factors. First, and most importantly, if you smoke, please start your journey to become tobacco-free. Test your home for radon. Be aware of the air pollution outside your front door and know what to do on days with poor air quality. Know your family history of lung cancer and lung disease. Learn more about lung cancer screening and see if you are eligible at SavedBytheScan.org. n

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PLEASE RECYCLE

Publisher Joanna Tronina, Samantha Jahoda, Claire Hines, Maggie Sullivan Business Developer Katie Konfino, Joelle Hernandez Managing Director Jordan Hernandez Lead Designer Kayla Mendez Designer Celia Hazard Lead Editor Dustin Brennan Copy Editor Taylor Rice Director of Content and Production Jordan Hernandez Cover Photo Andrew Burton All photos are credited to Getty Images unless otherwise specified. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve USA Today.

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Can College Cause Cancer?

Asbestos lingers in aging college and university buildings across the United States. Were you exposed? Each day, millions of students, faculty, and staff study and work in buildings on college and university campuses, many of them unknowingly being exposed to cancer-causing asbestos. After someone is exposed to asbestos, it can take several decades before a malignancy develops. The long delay between one’s exposure to asbestos and the onset of cancer, known as the latency period, means most victims are unaware their lung cancer or mesothelioma may have been caused by asbestos exposures they sustained decades earlier. Could your cancer have been caused by the asbestos that lingers in the

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college or university you attended or worked in years ago? Asbestos-containing building materials (such as ceiling spray, floor tile, ceiling tile, and pipe insulation) were commonly installed in college dorm rooms and classroom buildings constructed from the 1940s through the early 1980s. Many of these buildings are still in use today and, sadly, these cancer-causing materials remain in place to this day. With time, fibers shed from these products and are scattered throughout buildings via heating and cooling ducts, inevitably being inhaled by people in the building. Asbestos contamination in buildings was once thought to be mostly a problem found in blue-collar industrial settings, such as steel mills, chemical plants, and factories. A multi-year

investigation, however, has uncovered widespread asbestos contamination in aging college and university structures across America. This is because higher education institutions employ an “in-place” management approach when it comes to asbestos contamination, which means asbestos is handled or removed only before renovations, demolitions, or when the material could be disturbed or is damaged. Any other asbestos present in non-renovated areas, or if it appears to be undamaged, is typically allowed to remain in place. It is this “in-place” approach that has allowed millions of people to be exposed to asbestos in the United States. Asbestos-related diseases like lung cancer and mesothelioma are developing in individuals whose only

known exposures to asbestos were during their time studying or working inside of contaminated college and university buildings. This hazard must be completely eliminated. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with lung cancer or mesothelioma and attended or worked inside any American college or university, it is critical to act quickly. You need a team of attorneys with the skills, knowledge, experience, and unrelenting passion to help you secure the justice and compensation you and your family deserve. Call attorney Michael “Mickey” Robb at the law firm of Bailey & Glasser, LLP for a free consultation. n Michael “Mickey” Robb, Esquire, Partner, Bailey & Glasser, LLP

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The Growing Need for Safe, Reliable Respiratory Supplies

A rise in chronic conditions has put a spotlight on the need for high-quality respiratory products, and Dynarex, with its RespO2™premium respiratory therapy supplies, is answering the call.

he need for respiratory products is surging. Due in large part to an aging population dealing with chronic respiratory conditions, global demand for oxygen therapy, tracheostomy care, and bronchial and asthma management products is skyrocketing. With so many people depending on these products, patients and providers are seeking suppliers and partners on which they can rely. “Medical professionals and caregivers are looking for the safest, most reliable sup-

plies available,” says Zalman Tenenbaum, CEO of Dynarex Corporation, a leading durable medical equipment and disposable medical products company. “Because safety is more important than ever, we must protect both the patient and the caregiver at all times.” Prioritizing safety and quality Dynarex is an established leader in respiratory products, due in large part to its commitment to quality and safety, as evidenced in its Resp-O2™ line of premium respiratory therapy supplies. “Throughout the entire

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Resp-O2 line, Dynarex has paid meticulous attention to details that enhance patients’ safety and comfort,” says Errol Cooper, RT, director of respiratory services at New Vanderbilt Rehabilitation & Care Center in Staten Island, N.Y. “For example, Dynarex nebulizer cups feature an anti-spill design that enables patients undergoing aerosol therapy to receive treatments at angles up to 90 degrees. Whether they are in a seated or prone position, they’re still getting the full efficacy of the medication.” That attention to detail and patient-centric approach is

found throughout the Resp-O2 line of products. For example, trach tube holders are crafted with stitching rather than machine welding to protect delicate skin, and nasal cannulas are made with cushioned tips to maximize patient comfort. The Dynarex Resp-O2 line also offers high-quality spirometry and peak flow measurement products to help patients in recovery improve lung function. “Spirometry is one of the most important, but often under-utilized aspects of respiratory therapy,” Cooper explains. “When patients are recovering from surgery, it’s vitally important to maximize their lung expansion so we can lower the risk of pneumonia and respiratory insufficiency.” A one-stop shopping experience Another common challenge in the respiratory marketplace is that of simple logistics. Many respiratory suppliers limit their offerings to a narrow selection of niche products, making it necessary to tap several vendors in order to fulfill a broad spectrum of respiratory supply needs. This adds time, money, and effort to inventory management and patient care. Dynarex meets this challenge head on, offering a full range of supplies in a “one-stop shop” for respiratory essentials. These include products for oxygen therapy, aerosol therapy, suction solutions, trach care, manual resuscitation, bronchial and asthma management, and more. Further, Dynarex operates a robust logistical network of six warehouses in the United States, allowing it to meet supply demands in a timely

manner and to ensure customers always have access to high-quality products. Offering this kind of “soup to nuts” range of products is essential, because it increases efficiency and allows everyone involved to focus on what’s really important. “Dynarex has expanded its outstanding line of respiratory products to fulfill the full spectrum of respiratory needs,” says Barry Zuckerman, respiratory adviser for the Dynarex Resp-O2 product line. “In so doing, we are able to save distributors and providers valuable time that they could be devoting to their clients and patients.” Just as important, the Resp-O2 line isn’t the result of impersonal marketing research — rather, it was built with a patient-centric approach that included consulting with respiratory therapists to understand patients’ real-life needs and pain points. The more comfortable patients feel during treatment, the more likely they are to use respiratory products correctly and consistently, resulting in better outcomes. “We take great pride in the outstanding quality of this innovative line of products, because the safety and well-being of patients and providers is our primary concern,” Zuckerman says. n Jeff Somers

For more information about Dynarex and its line of premium respiratory products, go to dynarex.com/products/ resp-o2.html

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A Call to Action on Lung Cancer Screening More than 50% of lung cancer is found in an advanced stage, making it harder to treat and leading to poor outcomes and death.

imply put, screening for lung cancer saves lives. We need

more of it. Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer for men and women in the United States and far surpasses deaths from breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined. It doesn’t have to be this way. Over the past two decades, we have witnessed monumental advances in the early detection of lung cancer through low-dose computed tomography scans. According to the National Institutes of Health, use of this screening tool leads to early diagnosis and reduces lung cancer deaths in screened patients by 20%. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of those eligible for screening are taking advantage of this lifesaving tool.

Addressing barriers to care New guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) offer a significant step forward in lung cancer screening coverage for the millions of Americans at risk for the disease. The new guidelines lower the initial screening age to 50 from 55 and smoking history requirements to 20 packs per year from 30. These changes expand coverage and double the number of people eligible for lung cancer screening to 13.5 million. We applaud CMS for moving in the right direction, but more must and can be done to increase lung cancer screening and save lives. First, CMS ages for screening eligibility range from 50 to 77. With 14% of lung cancer diagnosed in patients over 80, the screening age should be increased so we are not writing off a major

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swath of our population that deserves the same care and shot at life as anyone else. Second, CMS should discontinue the requirement that eligible patients undergo a “counseling and shared decision-making visit” before they are allowed a screening. This requirement does not improve outcomes and poses a significant barrier to screening for the many patients who are hesitant to seek care based on things like fear of stigma or distrust of the healthcare system. Another barrier to screening that must be addressed involves social determinants of health, which include socioeconomic status, neighborhood characteristics, geographic location, and literacy levels. We know that people with poor social determinants of health not only have poor access to healthcare and

are more vulnerable to poor health outcomes, but they are also more likely to smoke cigarettes. This situation creates a terrible recipe for poor lung cancer prognosis in our most underserved communities. More education about the availability and importance of lung cancer screenings in these at-risk communities must be a priority for public and private healthcare systems. Be proactive In addition, as the COVID19 pandemic shed light on health disparities in our most vulnerable communities, the pandemic set us up for more hidden cases of lung cancer as lockdowns and fears prevented people from visiting their doctor for an extended period of time. Now more than ever, it is critical for those at risk for lung cancer

to contact their health providers to request lung cancer screening, and for health providers to speak to their patients about the availability of life-saving screenings. Finally, in addition to addressing barriers to care, the federal government must recognize other risk factors for lung cancer, like significant family history, occupational exposures, secondhand smoke exposure, radon exposure, certain lung disease, and cancer history, and expand screening criteria to include these at-risk people. To save lives, we must break barriers to lung cancer screening and expand availability. Too many lives are at stake. n Laurie Fenton Ambrose, Co-Founder, President, & CEO, GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer

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Harry Lennix Tells Men to Screen Early for Prostate Cancer

Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer: A Safe, Effective Choice

The “Billions” actor is encouraging men, particularly Black men, to visit their doctor, as the best defense against prostate cancer is early detection. In 2019, Harry Lennix became the face of the Prostate Cancer Foundation’s “Know the Numbers” campaign. He has since acted as an advocate for the PCF, encouraging men to understand the risks of prostate cancer and take control of their health. “As we learn more about the disease itself, I think that men need to be encouraged to go [to the doctor], no matter how off-putting or how delicate it might seem,” Lennix says. Simply getting men to go to the doctor is one of the biggest barriers to decreasing the cases of prostate cancer, Lennix says. “All kinds of things are tied into this: ego, selfesteem, masculinity. Men seem hesitant to ask for the help that they need because they don’t want to be even more of a burden than they might otherwise be.” There is even more resistance in the Black community. “We have to address the elephant in the room,” Lennix says, “which is that there has been good cause for some Black men, and Black people in general, to be skeptical of the medical community. There’s evidence that even when treated by Black doctors, there’s an under-servicing that happens to Black people.” Lennix agreed to work with PCF to speak directly to Black men about their prostate health. “Particularly as a Black man, I think that kind of message goes a long way,” he says. “There may be some skepticism that is deeply rooted, but our concern is saving lives. We particularly want to address what was once a disparity and correct that record.” Another message Lennix hopes to share is that early detection and treatment can lessen the disparity in cases for Black men. “If you catch it early enough, the outcomes for Black men are as good as for other men,” Lennix says. “Prostate cancer is extremely treatable and has a high success rate in terms of getting past it and living a rich, full life.” Ross Elliott

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Radiation oncologist Dr. Neha Vapiwala gives an overview of radiation therapy, a common treatment option for men with prostate cancer.

utcomes for men with early-stage prostate cancer are generally very favorable, especially when the diagnosis is made early in the disease process. Approximately 85-90% of men with early-stage prostate cancer will live cancer-free more than 10 years after their diagnosis. Men diagnosed with this cancer have several available options, including active surveillance with close, regular disease monitoring and delayed intervention. The most common treatment options for prostate cancer are surgery and radiation therapy. Radiation is an effective tool used to treat cancer for more than a century; over half of all men with prostate cancer receive radiation therapy. What to expect Sometimes, radiation is the only treatment you need. Other times, it’s combined with surgery, hormone therapy, or chemotherapy.

The best treatment plan can be determined by your primary care physician and cancer specialists, including a radiation oncologist who can evaluate your case and discuss the different types of radiation treatments available. During a comprehensive consultation visit, your radiation oncologist will explain how radiation works against cancer, review potential benefits and risks of various treatments, and answer your questions to help you make an informed decision. If you elect to receive external beam radiation therapy, you’ll undergo a simulation visit involving a specialized treatment planning scan to help your team target the tumor very precisely. During treatment, your radiation oncologist will see you regularly to monitor side effects and offer recommendations to manage them. After your radiation treatments, regular follow-up appointments will allow your radiation oncologist to ensure

that your disease has responded and that any treatment-related symptoms recover as expected. More confident care Like any cancer treatment, radiation therapy can have side effects. Men may experience urinary, bowel, and sexual side effects during treatment and in the following months or years. Always be sure to ask questions and share concerns about side effects with your cancer care team. Fears and concerns are common and understandable; input from your cancer care team can help you feel more comfortable and confident with your care. While prostate cancer is common, each man’s experience and perspective are unique. By working with your cancer care team to better understand your options, you can feel prepared to choose the best treatment plan for you. n Neha Vapiwala, M.D., American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO)

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Making Prostate Cancer Easier for Patients and Their Families REAR ADMIRAL GARRY HALL, PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVOR

Prostate cancer is treatable when caught early – but the choice of treatment impacts both the patient and their support system.

rostate cancer is the second-most common form of cancer in men; about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed at some point in their life. While it is the second leading cause of death from cancer among men, being diagnosed with prostate cancer is far from a death sentence if it’s caught early. “How I was diagnosed was the rate of increase in my prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test over a period of about five years,” says retired Rear Admiral Garry Hall, a former special assistant to the president on the National Security Council. “My doctor said, ‘I don’t like the rate of increase of your PSA,’ so we did a biopsy, and the surgeon said, ‘Admiral, you have prostate cancer.’”

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Many options Hall attended an information seminar at Walter Reed Hospital where he was offered a range of treatment options. “Walter Reed could provide 40 sessions of radiation — that’s eight weeks, Monday through Friday in the morning,” he says, “and I’m thinking, how the heck am I going to do work in the White House and go to Walter Reed for eight weeks, Monday through Friday? The other option was putting radioactive seeds in my prostate. That involves a radioactive seed about the size of a grain of rice, and they put 75 to 100 of those seeds into your prostate.” This makes the patient slightly radioactive, and Hall worried about the impact this would have considering the sensitive nature of his work in the White House.

With these unattractive options before them, Hall’s wife Darlene surprised him by asking about a treatment option called CyberKnife. “I’m married to a wonderful woman,” Hall says. “I didn’t realize that after my diagnosis she immediately went to Google and does this research that I didn’t know about.” CyberKnife is a non-invasive, non-surgical treatment option that delivers radiation to cancer cells with extreme precision by using a linear accelerator directly mounted on a robot that moves around the patient. This precision helps minimizes the side effects because more healthy tissue can be avoided and significantly shortens the length of time required for treatment. For example, instead of the 40 sessions required by traditional radiation treatments,

the CyberKnife (Accuray Incorporated, Sunnyvale, CA) can treat in just five sessions, which can be as short as 15 minutes each, over the course of one to two weeks. And CyberKnife isn’t just used to treat prostate cancer, it can be used to treat both cancerous and non-cancerous conditions throughout the body. Zero impact Hall reached out to a fellow veteran who had undergone CyberKnife treatment and decided it was the best choice for him. “You go in, lie down on a table,” Hall explains. “When everything is in alignment the CyberKnife starts. For the next 45 minutes*, you’re in a dimly lit room with beautiful music playing while the CyberKnife hits you from thousands of different angles just going

click, click, click. 45 minutes and you’re done. For five days over a two week period, I had my treatments and would go right to work. Absolutely zero impact on lifestyle, on workstyle, or family life.” Just as important to Hall was the zero impact the treatment had on his family and friends. “When you have cancer, your family has cancer,” he explains. “Everybody is affected, and everybody is involved.” The short duration of the treatment coupled with experiencing almost no side effects meant that his support system didn’t have to experience the stress and emotional turmoil normally associated with cancer. Hall’s PSA numbers went down immediately, and five years after his treatment it’s so low there’s essentially no evidence of cancer. He’s well aware that a routine blood test saved his life. “You know, it’s not like a growth that you can watch,” Hall notes. “It’s your prostate. So you don’t know what’s happening. I tell men, know your numbers, get an assessment, ask for the PSA test.” n * Treatment times may vary, but the CyberKnife is capable of treating in as little as fifteen minutes. Represents the genuine experience of this partient. Individual results may vary. Please consult your physician to see if the CyberKnife treament is right for you. Jeff Somers

To learn more, visit www.cyberknife.com

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The Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment of BPH Benign prostatic hyperplasia (also known as BPH) is a noncancerous condition in which the prostate is enlarged. Although BPH is not cancer, your medical provider may perform a prostate exam and order blood tests to ensure your symptoms aren’t caused by prostate cancer. The urinary symptoms that an enlarged prostate may cause can take on many forms. The urinary stream may weaken, you may feel like you are not emptying your bladder, or you may feel that you are going to the bathroom too frequently. Whatever your urinary symptoms might be, you should consult with your medical provider to determine if you would benefit from treatment. BPH treatment How we treat men with BPH has evolved over the years. With the increased use of BPH medications in the 1990s, procedures for BPH were often postponed or delayed. Many men had a good response to medications with relatively few side effects. However, with prolonged or incompletely treated BPH symptoms, men may have deterioration in the function of the bladder muscle, which squeezes to help men urinate. This irreversible bladder dysfunction leads to men not getting the full benefit of an eventual BPH procedure. An increasing number of urologists are now advocating for earlier and definitive treatment of BPH symptoms instead of a prolonged course of medications. Recent improvements in the safety and tolerability of BPH treatment options have made this an easy transition for many men, as these procedures may be administered in the physician’s office with excellent and durable results. While we search for an effective BPH prevention strategy, men should know that treatments exist and that delaying your care may worsen your long-term outcomes. Consider seeing your medical provider if you have bothersome urinary symptoms. R. Charles Welliver, Jr., M.D., Associate Professor of Surgery, Department of Urology, Albany Medical College, Spokesperson, American Urological Association

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New Diagnostics and Treatments for Bladder Cancer

Over 81,000 new cases of bladder cancer will be diagnosed this year in the United States. While the standard of care for diagnosing and treating bladder cancer has been the same for decades, new innovations may be coming. Dr. Sam S. Chang, a professor of urology and chief surgical officer at the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, shares his insights into new diagnostics and treatments for bladder cancer.

How is bladder cancer currently treated? Many times, it’s the removal of the bladder tumor with the scope. We’ll also put different types of medicines inside the bladder to prevent tumors from coming back. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine was really one of the first medicines that successfully used immunotherapy — medications that do not attack the cancer, but actually stimulate our own body’s immune system to attack the cancer.

Are there innovations in diagnosis? What’s next in treatments? Currently, bladder cancer is diagnosed with a procedure called cystoscopy, providing direct visualization with a telescopic lens and scope to evaluate the inside of the bladder. We need a better, noninvasive test. If we could have patients give a urine sample, analyze it, and then determine if you do or don’t have cancer, it would be great. We’re not there yet, but we’re getting closer.

In the past few years, multiple immunotherapy medications have shown a benefit, a survival advantage. We now also have a different category of drugs that targets mutations. A third mechanism depends on antibody targeting. We have a lot of trials that are exciting and use medicines that are placed inside the bladder to minimize side effects. n

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MyProstateScore Helps Providers, Patients Make Best Choice A new early detection test for prostate cancer provides patients with an individualized prostate cancer risk estimate that may help them avoid invasive and painful prostate biopsies.

LynxDx developed the test, and its founder, Arul Chinnaiyan, M.D., Ph.D.; president, Steve Riggs; and chief medical and commercial officer, Spencer Heaton, M.D., M.B.A., here explain its benefits.

The test, called MyProstateScore™, (MPS) detects the presence of two genes, TMPRSS2:ERG and PCA3, in the urine. The identification of these genes helps to accurately predict clinically significant prostate cancer.

What’s special about MPS?

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Arul Chinnaiyan: We want to help patients avoid unnecessary biopsies. We provide a diagnostic test that can rule out the need for a biopsy in some

men with a high PSA. In addition, the results they receive from MPS can help guide them, their loved ones, and their physician, in making a clinical determination of the next steps. With the MPS test, patients will learn if they are at high risk of clinically significant cancer or if their PSA test actually returned a false positive result. How does it work? Steve Riggs: The test is performed in a doctor’s office. It begins with a standard digital rectal exam followed by a urine sample. The physician’s office sends the sample to our lab where we check for very specific genetic markers that are commonly indicative of prostate cancer. Results are sent back to the patient’s doctor typically within a week.

patients with an elevated PSA who have been referred for their first prostate biopsy, 98% of the time, a negative test result is accurate, which is a better clinical indicator than any other test on the market. How does MPS benefit the patient? The provider? SR: One in three biopsies can be avoided through MPS. This test saves healthcare costs, helps the patients live healthier lives, and gives them the confidence that this course of action is directed by clinically based evidence. How do physicians request/obtain MPS for patients?

How accurate are the results?

SR: They can easily request information on how to order MPS by visiting LynxDx.com. n

Spencer Heaton: When used in

This article has been paid for by LynxDx.

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While bladder cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States, far too many people learn what the disease is at the time of diagnosis. The American Cancer Society projects that more than 81,000 people will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in the United States in 2022, and more than 17,000 people will not survive their disease. When caught in its early stages, bladder cancer is highly treatable, and the five-year survival rate for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer is more than 77%. That’s good news, but the bad news is that the disease often comes back. Depending on the type of bladder cancer that someone has, its recurrence rate is between 50-80%. This makes it among the most

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Bladder Cancer Is Much More Common Than You Think expensive cancers to treat over a patient’s lifetime. Some important things to consider: • Blood in your urine is never normal. The most common clinical sign of bladder cancer is painless gross hematuria, blood in the urine that

can easily be seen. If you see blood in your urine, see your doctor — preferably a urologist — as soon as you can. • If you smoke, please stop. While the causes of bladder cancer are not fully understood, what doctors do know is that about 50% of all cases can be directly attributed to

cigarette smoking. A current smoker has four times greater risk of being diagnosed with bladder cancer than someone who never smoked. • Certain occupational or environmental exposures to chemicals, smoke, or fumes is also believed to increase

the risk of bladder cancer. If you are a first responder or member of our military, you may have increased risk of developing the disease, so do not ignore warning signs like blood in your urine or urgency and frequency related to emptying your bladder. Our organization, the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, is a community of patients, caregivers, survivors, advocates, and medical and research professionals united in support of people impacted by bladder cancer. We give bladder cancer patients and caregivers the resources and support they need to cope with the disease. Please visit bcan.org for more information n Andrea Maddox-Smith, CEO, Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network

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Celiac Disease Symptoms and Diagnostic Practices by Age Group Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disease that occurs in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine.

eliac disease is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people worldwide, with 2.5 million Americans undiagnosed and at risk for long-term health complications. Celiac disease is commonly associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, but these symptoms make up only a portion of the more than 200 possible symptoms associated with the disease. Celiac disease symptoms can differ between children and adults, and testing and diagnostic methods for celiac disease are also dependent on the age of the patient. Symptoms in children Celiac disease may develop any time after wheat or other gluten-containing foods are introduced into the diet, typically after 6-9 months of age. Celiac disease symptoms in infants, toddlers, and children include, but are not

Brianna Evers Development Manager, Celiac Disease Foundation

limited to: • Abdominal bloating and pain • Anxiety and depression • ADHD and learning disabilities • Chronic diarrhea • Constipation • Damage to tooth enamel • Delayed puberty • Failure to thrive • Fatigue • Gas • Headaches • Iron-deficiency anemia • Irritability • Nausea and vomiting • Pale, foul-smelling stools • Seizures and lack of muscle coordination • Short stature • Weight loss Celiac disease can manifest without symptoms, but if a child has an associated disease, he/she should be tested for celiac disease as well. Associated diseases include: • Down syndrome • IgA deficiency

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• Juvenile chronic arthritis • Thyroid disease • Turner syndrome • Type 1 diabetes • Williams syndrome Symptoms in adults Common symptoms in adults include, but are not limited to: • Abdominal pain • Bloating or gas • Cognitive impairment • Constipation • Diarrhea • Depression and anxiety • Fatigue • Headaches or migraines • Iron-deficiency anemia • Itchy, blistery skin rash • Joint pain • Missed menstrual periods • Mouth ulcers and canker sores • Nausea and vomiting • Osteoporosis • Peripheral neuropathy • Reduced functioning of the spleen • Weight loss

Testing and diagnosis by age group Children must consume gluten for at least one year before an autoimmune response shows up in testing. Children at risk for celiac disease can be screened at age two or three unless symptoms are recognized beforehand, but an antibody test given before the age of three may not be accurate. Genetic testing can be done to rule out celiac disease if neither gene associated with celiac disease (HLA DQ2 and HLA DQ8) is present, but it cannot diagnose celiac disease. If your child is experiencing celiac disease symptoms, find a Celiac Disease Center or pediatric gastroenterologist near you to have him/her evaluated for celiac disease. For older children and adults, a doctor can test for celiac disease using the Tis-

sue Transglutaminase IgA antibody test. This test will be positive in 98% of people with celiac disease on a gluten-containing diet. To confirm diagnosis, an intestinal biopsy via endoscopy is performed and will show the extent of the damage to the small intestine. Children and adults should also be tested if a close family member has been diagnosed with celiac disease. If you are experiencing celiac disease symptoms, it is important to visit a gastroenterologist for testing before beginning a gluten-free diet. All testing for celiac disease must be done while the patient is on a gluten-containing diet for accurate test results. If you are currently on a gluten-free diet, your physician may recommend a gluten challenge to allow antibodies to build in your bloodstream prior to testing. The Celiac Disease Center at the University of Chicago recommends eating gluten every day, in an amount equivalent to at least one slice of bread, for at least 2-3 weeks prior to undergoing biopsy. Please consult with your gastroenterologist regarding your gluten challenge. If you have undiagnosed symptoms that can be explained by celiac disease, take the Celiac Disease Foundation’s Symptoms Assessment Tool survey to find out if you have an increased risk for celiac disease. Once you complete the survey, you’ll receive an email with a printout to give to your doctor detailing the symptoms you reported and the correct tests the physician should run for a celiac disease diagnosis. n

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How Lactobacillus GG Probiotic, Delivered by Culturelle®, May Help Support the Body’s Microbiome and Overall Health It’s a common misconception that all probiotic strains are the same. In fact, different probiotic strains do different things. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG or Lactobacillus GG) is the premier probiotic in the world. Disclaimer – The information in this article is intended solely for educational purposes. Culturelle® products are not intended to diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure, or prevent diseases and conditions such as COVID19, allergies or allergic conditions, cognitive function/impairment, neurological conditions, and atopic dermatitis. Inform a healthcare professional before starting any dietary supplement.

irst identified in 1985, Lactobacillus GG is the most extensively studied probiotic strain, being the subject of more than 200 human clinical trials including over 100 in children and babies. It survives stomach acid and bile, sticks to human intestinal epithelial cells,

and produces numerous substances that support digestive and immune health. Lactobacillus GG helps restore the balance of the microbiota — communities of microorganisms including bacteria and fungi within the human body — that supports a healthy immune system and digestive health. Culturelle®, a leading probiotic brand± focused on supporting the overall health of families worldwide, offers probiotic supplements featuring 100% Lactobacillus GG. Gut-brain axis Scientists have been studying the “gut-brain axis” which describes how gut microbiota influences psychological, behavioral, and cognitive functions. Disturbances to the

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microbiota commonly lead to inflammatory responses and occasional gastrointestinal concerns. “We know that by changing or by modifying the composition of the microbiome — so changing the proportion of the types of bacteria in the GI tract — that we can actually lead to direct changes within the brain,” says John Gunstad, Ph.D., professor and associate chair of the department of psychological sciences at Kent State University. Clinical trials show how Lactobacillus GG can help kids, adults and even older adults better support their microbiome. Helping children’s immune systems Lactobacillus GG has been

studied as a way to support infant and children’s wellbeing, including healthy skin, improved digestion and support of natural defenses. Early studies indicate Lactobacillus GG may help kids with occasional abdominal pain and diarrhea, allergy symptoms and skin conditions. “We found this probiotic is very active in modulating the gut microbiome,” says clinician and researcher Roberto Berni Canani, M.D. PhD. His research shows the effect of Lactobacillus GG on kids with atopic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that he says affects 20% of kids. “We were able to demonstrate that supplementing the diet of a child every day with

this probiotic, it’s possible to have a positive effect on the severity of skin conditions,” he says. “We were also able to demonstrate an effect on the quality of life of these patients, and on the number of inflammatory biomarkers. Last but not the least, we observed a beneficial modulation on the gut microbiome structure.” Participants in the study provided stool and skin samples before and after the 12-week intervention. The samples showed that Lactobacillus GG supplementation worked to boost good gut bacteria and restore healthier bacteria ratios. “Modulating the structure and function of the microbiome at the gut level, means that I can modulate the inflammation, and this

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could be helpful to support the inflammatory response,” says Dr. Berni Canani, noting Lactobacillus GG is safe and well-tolerated. He’s excited about the future of using Lactobacillus GG probiotic in a product like Culturelle® and says it’s part of a “new era of intervention” and an important part of the strategy to support children’s overall health. Improved cognition in adults and older adults Lactobacillus GG may also improve cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults with cognitive impairment; that’s the finding in a clinical trial conducted by Kent State’s Dr. John Gunstad. His research found probiotic supplemen-

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tation, with Lactobacillus GG in Culturelle®, may support cognitive health. His work is based on the premise that the gut microbiome has been linked to cognitive function. Since probiotic supplementation has been found to improve the health of the gut microbiome, he wondered if probiotic supplementation could protect the aging brain. The double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial enrolled 200 adults, aged 52-75, who were given two Culturelle® Lactobacillus GG capsules (10 billion CFUs each), or a placebo, daily for three-months. The results showed those with cognitive impairment who consumed probiotics had greater total cognition

score improvement, compared to those with cognitive impairment in the placebo group, as well as cognitively intact persons in probiotic or placebo groups. While it’s known that exercise and diet can positively influence the microbiome and potentially improve cognition, Dr. Gunstad says not everyone is willing to make those changes. Supplementing with Lactobacillus GG, seems like an easier way to make a change that could help support cognition. “If we can kind of make a change for an average individual, not somebody who’s necessarily already had the neurological condition, this really has the opportunity to make a difference at a societal level,” he says. Dr. Gunstad says the next step is to focus on using probiotics as prevention, rather than treatment. “Probiotics can protect against inflammation, and to some extent, the effects of inflammation on the brain,” he says “Being able to kind of bolster against that extra support or protection over a long period of time, I think, is going to have an even larger effect.” Protecting against development of COVID-19 symptoms Research shows Lactobacillus GG may provide certain protection against the development of COVID-19 symptoms when used as post-exposure prophylaxis within seven days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, chills, headache, cough, shortness of

breath, muscle aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, loss of sense of smell, loss of sense of taste, rash, etc. Duke University researchers, Dr. Paul Wischmeyer and Dr. Anthony Sung, conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the effect of Lactobacillus GG on the microbiome in households where contacts were exposed to COVID-19. “Our goal was to prevent COVID-19 infection in the high-risk population of exposed household contacts,” says Dr. Sung. “So if you are living with someone who was diagnosed with COVID-19, and it’s been less than seven days since diagnosis, you would be eligible for our trial.” In the study 182 participants took two capsules per day of either Culturelle® with Lactobacillus GG (10 billion CFUs each) or the placebo for 28 days; completed questionnaires; and provided nasal swab and stool samples. Results showed participants who received Lactobacillus GG were less likely to develop COVID-19 symptoms compared to those who received the placebo, (26.4% vs. 42.9%), demonstrating that taking Lactobacillus GG for four weeks after COVID19 exposure was effective in reducing the risk of developing symptoms. Additionally, changes to the gut microbiome structure showed a greater abundance of Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Culturelle® with Lactobacillus GG was well-tolerated with no increased side effects. “I think there’s growing awareness of the potential

of microbiome-directed therapeutics to improve human health and to combat disease,” says Dr. Sung.” I would certainly recommend any individual discuss any potential therapies with their physician.” Maintaining ongoing benefits Inform a healthcare professional before taking any dietary supplement. Regular daily consumption of Culturelle® is recommended to maintain ongoing benefits of Lactobacillus GG. Culturelle® products are non-GMO, allergy friendly, and free of dairy^, wheat, eggs, tree nuts, and peanuts. Each product is manufactured, packaged and protected to ensure the survivability of the probiotics and thus shelf-stable without refrigerationş. n Kristen Castillo

Culturelle® is a trademark of DSM ±Based on Nielsen xAOC 52 weeks ending 04/23/2022. ^While there may be no dairy - derived ingredients in the product, it may be produced in a facility that also handles dairy ingredients. şCulturelle® products should be stored in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.

Learn more about how Culturelle® may help improve the gut microbiome at culturelle.com

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Probiotics: Your Gut Is the Big Connector Your gut microbiome is a powerhouse of health. Probiotics directly impact digestive health and indirectly impact the whole body. Support your gut microbes and overall health with probiotics.

ou are never alone; within and on you are trillions of microbes. These microbes are powerhouses for human health. Communities of microbes located on and in humans are called “microbiomes,” including those in the gut, skin, lung, liver, and heart. Each microbiome plays a specific role in the body, yet they are also functionally interconnected. If you’ve ever wondered why your gut gets butterflies or your stomach hurts when you’re stressed, that is evidence of the link between the gutbrain axis. Interestingly enough, the impact of the microbiota reaches far beyond our gut; the gut microbiome seems to have a central role in bodily health. Poor gut health can have far-reaching effects, leading to symptoms in other regions of the body such as the skin. The reverse is also possible, and improving gut health has been shown to improve overall health in various ways.

Probiotics, gut health, and beyond Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host. Probiotics directly enhance digestive health, and their beneficial effects on the immune and metabolic system indirectly affect health all over the body, especially in locations like the skin, heart, metabolic systems, brain, and urogenital tract. Benefits of probiotics extend beyond the gut, including the brain, skin, liver, respiratory tract, and urogenital tract. Most probiotic research supports gastrointestinal indications such as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and antibiotic-associated diarrhea, but it can also help digest certain nutrients such as lactose and fiber. Additionally, probiotics help to balance microorganisms within the digestive tract by facilitating the growth of beneficial organisms, crowding out unhealthy pathogens, and reducing inflammation — supporting gut and immune

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health. Perhaps the flashiest beyondthe-gut benefit of probiotics includes the brain. Specific strains of probiotics have been shown to improve mood and reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Over 70% of the immune cells are located within the gut. A healthy gut supports a healthy immune system. Specific probiotic strains have shown immune support during colds, flus, and specific viruses. A reduction in severity of cold symptoms and duration have been shown in research. Research has also shown specific probiotic strains support weight management, reduce non-alcoholic liver disease, and reduce infections of the respiratory and urogenital tracts. Additional selected probiotic digestive targeted effects include: • Reduction in gas, bloating, and other symptoms from an imbalance of gut microbes •Reduction in irritable bowel symptoms

•Reduction of colic symptoms in babies •Reduction in duration and severity of diarrhea due to travel or antibiotic use •Improved integrity of the digestive tract by strengthening and supporting the gut barrier •Alteration of intestinal pH, producing a hostile environment for pathogenic microbes •Production of vitamins B and K The future for probiotics Deeper understanding of the role the human microbiome will give a better understanding of health and provide opportunities for next-generation probiotics and more specific personalized health needs. For now, support your gut microbes and health with probiotics. n George Paraskevakos, M.B.A., Executive Director, International Probiotics Association (IPA)

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Everything You Need to Know About a Low-FODMAP Diet Dr. Sue Shepherd, author of “The Low-FODMAP Diet Cookbook,” shares her insights into improving gut health and relieving IBS symptoms. Who is most likely to benefit from a low-FODMAP diet? The low-FODMAP diet is a simple treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that affects 1 in 7 people worldwide. The classic symptoms of IBS are abdominal pain, bloating, distension, excess wind, and altered bowel habits. Sufferers of fructose, lactose, and wheat intolerances may also experience similar symptoms. These days, these various conditions are seen

as closely related, and the low-FODMAP diet is effective in treating the symptoms of all of them. In the last decade, the low-FODMAP diet has come to be regarded as the most effective dietary treatment for the symptoms of IBS, providing relief in 75% of patients.

intestinal nutrition recommend the low-FODMAP diet as a cornerstone of their treatment for people with IBS. The majority of IBS sufferers who have tried the diet have experienced greatly improved symptoms and a markedly reduced need for medication.

What are the health advantages of eating low-FODMAP foods?

How long should someone maintain the low-FODMAP diet?

The low-FODMAP diet is the first program scientifically proven to relieve the symptoms of IBS, and it can also help with other digestive conditions including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and celiac disease (alongside a fully gluten-free diet). Dietitians with expertise in gastro-

The low-FODMAP diet has been proven to work for the treatment of IBS symptoms in both the short and long term. People have lived symptom-free for months and even years. This diet has a lot of flexibility, and it’s a dietary management plan that is tailored just for you since people

following the low-FODMAP diet will all have different needs. What resources would you recommend to someone considering this diet? Ask your gastroenterologist or GP about dietitians with expertise in the low-FODMAP diet. You can also look for food with the FODMAP-friendly certification logo. This logo appears on food products that have been tested to be low-FODMAP per serving and has been registered around the world. You can eat with confidence the foods that display the logo on their packaging. Visit www. fodmapfriendly.com for an up-to-date list of the foods bearing the logo. n

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Instagram Influencer with Celiac Disease Offers Her Gluten-Free Travel Tips When Erin Smith, also known as the Gluten-Free Globetrotter on Instagram, was diagnosed with celiac disease at age 2, doctors and patients alike were far less familiar with the disease than they are today. Grocery store shelves weren’t lined with gluten-free bread options, and restaurant menus didn’t commonly have gluten-free options as staple items, as they do now. At the time, stunted growth and a distended stomach helped tip doctors off to celiac; today, a blood test can help diagnose the autoimmune condition that prevents the body from successfully digesting gluten. “My parents went through a lot to get me diagnosed,” says Smith, who is based in New York City and helps others plan fun and safe gluten-free travel through her personal website. Even when Smith was a youngster, her parents joined a local association to learn the ins and outs of managing celiac disease. Smith explains that if she consumes even a trace amount of gluten, she gets “violently ill” with symptoms similar to that of food poisoning, including vomiting, and can’t stomach more than water and ginger ale for a couple of days. “Basically, my body is rejecting it and wants it out as fast as possible,” Smith explains. Gluten-free globetrotting According to the Mayo Clinic, eating gluten sets off an autoimmune reaction in the small intestine. Frequent reactions can damage the lining of this part of the digestive system, contributing to poor nutrient absorption. Because Smith loves to travel, she seeks out support groups of people with celiac disease wherever she goes and uses apps to identify gluten-free restaurants in the places she visits. When traveling to certain new places, such as Asia, she has brought a doctor’s note as a precaution, in case airport security or customs attempt to confiscate her food. “That’s a big thing that a lot of people with celiac are worried about — being able to get food wherever they’re going. Access to that is important,” Smith says. “Even in the United States, there are places where you can’t find any gluten-free foods. You always need to be prepared.” Melinda Carter

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The Unspoken Impacts of Celiac Disease Celiac disease not only impacts a person’s diet, says writer Erica Dermer, but it can also impact their psychological well-being.

rica Dermer is a blogger and author of the book “Celiac and the Beast,” in which she chronicles her lifelong struggle with celiac disease. Even receiving her diagnosis was a difficult saga. “A celiac diagnosis is not very common when it comes to the way that you’re supposed to be appropriately diagnosed,” she says. “You’re supposed to be on a gluten diet. You’re supposed to go to a GI to do the blood test. Then, assuming it comes back positive, you’ll have an upper endoscopy and biopsy, all while still eating gluten. After you get the diagnosis, then you’re supposed to go gluten-free. You actually have to show the intestinal damage in order to be fully diagnosed with celiac disease.”

That was not Dermer’s experience. After a doctor told her to just quit gluten without the screening, she was misdiagnosed with gastroparesis and was told she would need a gastro pacemaker. “I went and got a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic, which is very strict about their diagnosis, and I had to go on a gluten containing diet.” After a few weeks, during which Dermer developed mouth ulcers and her digestion slowed, she received a proper diagnosis of celiac disease, which was causing a number of other digestive problems. “It was kind of a missing puzzle piece,” she says. People often think a celiac diagnosis is only a matter of changing your diet, but Dermer’s blog outlines how life-changing the diagnosis has been. “It is a true psychological change, where you

are oftentimes hypervigilant. You get over-excited and overstressed about everything to where you’re just like, ‘I’m just not going to eat out today or I’m not going to go out to a party.’” That is why Dermer became an advocate, to speak to others that were experiencing the psychological stress of celiac disease. “I just wanted to help people avoid that stress in the future,” she says. “I think the biggest thing I learned from other people with celiac disease is they didn’t understand that other people are dealing with the same exact thing. I think it’s something online communities can really help us better understand — someone is going through the exact same challenges that you are. You don’t have to face it alone.” n Ross Elliott

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Dr. Megan Rossi, author of “How to Eat More Plants,” debunks common healthy eating myths and shares her tips for a plant-based diet made easy. What are common misconceptions about a plant-based diet? The most common misconception that I see is that a plant-based diet means plants only. By definition, plantbased means just that — the base of your diet is plants, and then whatever you choose to add to that base is completely up to you. In “How to Eat More Plants,” I talk about the spectrum of a plant-based diet. On one end you have veganism, and at the other end is flexitarianism. In terms of health, wherever you sit along that spectrum doesn’t necessarily matter, as long as the greatest proportion of your diet comes from plants, you’re following a plant-based diet, and you’re doing the best by your gut and overall health.

Dr. Megan Rossi Teaches You How to Eat More Plants

inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and colon cancer, which can be masked by digestive symptoms. When going to see your physician, to ensure you make the most of your time together, I would recommend you take a summary of your symptom history, such as when your symptoms started, how often they present, whether they are linked with your diet or stress levels, etc. What are some costeffective ways to improve digestive health?

How can a plant-based diet positively impact the digestive system? Plants are not only full of dietary fiber, but they also contain a range of plant chemicals, including polyphenols, which we know feed our “good” gut bacteria and support the right balance of bacteria in your gut. This, in turn, has been shown to support the strength of your gut lining. A plant-based diet can also help with bowel regularity and relieve common digestive symptoms such as constipation and bloating.

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PHOTO: ANDREW BURTON

Why is a healthy diet beneficial for various conditions? We’ve known for a long time that enjoying a plant-based diet is linked with lower risk of a range of chronic conditions including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and

more. However, it’s only been more recently where we’ve uncovered more of the mechanisms. A lot of this benefit comes down to the fact that plants feed our gut bacteria, and it’s these bacteria that play an active role in protecting our bodies from various conditions.

If someone is experiencing digestive concerns, what are some things they should talk to their doctor about? If you’re experiencing ongoing digestive issues, your first port of call should be to go and see your physician to rule out organic conditions such as

Increase the diversity of plants in your diet. This doesn’t just mean buying fresh fruit and vegetables from your local deli, but increasing your “super six,” also known as wholegrains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, and herbs and spices. This can be as simple and cost-effective as bulking out meals with saltfree canned legumes such as chickpeas or lentils, or even buying frozen fruit and vegetables. It’s much more economical and still great for the gut! I also recommend relaxing the gut-brain axis. Good digestive health doesn’t just come from what we eat; it’s also down to factors such as stress and sleep. Our brain and gut are constantly communicating, and I’ve seen so many clients over the years struggle with gut issues as a product of poor sleep and stress. Thankfully we now have evidence-based strategies such as mindfulness and diaphragm breathing that have shown to have measurable impacts on people’s gut health. n

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dults who eat healthier live longer and have a lower risk of obesity and disease, but as we age eating a healthy diet can become challenging. A lack of mobility, social isolation, and changes in our overall health are some reasons why a recent study found that 61 percent of older adults experienced poor diet quality. Rick and Barb Anderson saw this problem firsthand when their own mothers struggled to eat a healthy diet. Rick and Barb realized they couldn’t be there every day to prepare meals for their parents—and that they weren’t the only people dealing with this problem. That’s why they were inspired to found Mom’s Meals® to ensure that aging Americans have access to nutritious food no matter their living situation or overall health status. Mom’s Meals Mom’s Meals is a fully prepared meal delivery service that brings high-quality, delicious meals to seniors, as well as people of any age with a desire to make eating well easy. It launched in a small kitchen in Nevada, Iowa, with the entire Anderson family pitching in to package the chef- and dietitian-designed meals. Today the company operates kitchen and fulfillment facilities in several states and delivers meals nationwide. Each delivery is designed to meet individual taste preferences—clients can choose every meal from a broad menu—but most importantly, every meal is designed to help people get the right nutrients and portion sizes to manage

Delivering Better Health and Lower Healthcare Costs for Seniors

Mom’s Meals aims to help seniors eat healthier by delivering chef- and dietitian-designed meals right to their homes.

chronic conditions like diabetes. The meals are delivered right to the client’s home and can be refrigerated for up to two weeks from delivery. Healthy eating, healthy life As we age the number of chronic conditions we potentially deal with grows, along with the cost to deal with them—the United States spends more on healthcare than any other country in the world. But studies have shown time and again that we can positively affect our health by eating a sensible diet. Mom’s Meals takes that

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a step further: Their meals aren’t just nutritious, but can be customized for a client’s specific health needs. For example, Mom’s Meals recently partnered with UPMC Health Plan to deliver meals to individuals with complex health needs for 13 weeks. The meals were designed to be nutritionally complete and clinically appropriate for their specific conditions. The results were clear: Participants spent 36 percent less on their overall care and visited the emergency room 31 percent less. A separate study suggested that a key fac-

tor is that meals are not just nutritious, but that they be clinically appropriate—that is, tailored to their specific health needs. It’s also well-established that a healthier diet can help control chronic conditions. For example, for people living with diabetes, lowering their A1c levels can reduce the risk of nerve damage and heart disease among other problems. A diet lower in carbohydrates and higher in fiber and other nutrients can lower your A1c level. But many seniors—especially those living in predom-

inantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods—live in “food deserts” without easy access to supermarkets, while many others find preparing and cooking meals to be a challenge. Making a healthy diet as easy as possible by having meals delivered right to a senior’s home can improve their quality of life, their overall wellness and spare them the complications from chronic conditions – which in turn could lower their healthcare expenses significantly. Delicious meals Of course, one reason people fail to eat healthily is a lack of appealing choices, which is why it’s vital that Mom’s Meals offers a wide variety of tasty menu choices, including Chicken Tikka Masala, Korean Style BBQ Meatballs, or Mushroom Risotto, as well as satisfying comfort foods like Homestyle Meat Loaf and Cheese Lasagna. Mom’s Meals delivers to any address nationwide and may be covered by some Medicare Advantage or Medicaid plans, as well as some Older American Act programs (eligibility varies by state and program). They also offer an affordable self-pay option for those who don’t qualify for these programs. n Jeff Somers

If you want to see if you or a loved one is eligible for a program, or to purchase direct, you can get more info a momsmeals.com/ourfood/how-it-works

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NUTRITION you need.

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CHOICE you deserve.

Getting the daily nourishment you need for better health is easy with Mom’s Meals. We deliver refrigerated, high quality, ready-to-heat-and-eat meals to any address nationwide. You choose from a wide selection of nutritionally-tailored meals that match your tastes and preferences. And every delivery comes with comfort, trust, and care. It’s how we’ve built our business from our own personal roots — caring for our clients as we do our own family and loved ones.

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