Category: Motivational

No Pills or Needles, Just Paper: How Deadly Drugs Are Changing – The New York Times

The unbridled rise of synthetic drugs is as profound for the illicit drug market as the television was for the radio, or the computer for the typewriter, scientists say, and it is confounding law enforcement officials the world over.

“This is the modern drug epidemic: It’s like nothing that’s happened in the world before — anywhere,” said Bob DuPont, a drug czar under President Richard M. Nixon.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/21/world/deadly-drugs-paper.html?unlocked_article_code=1.U1A.sQ_E.R9mskql59JD_&smid=url-share

Common Health Problems: Gallbladder Disease

Understanding the cause of gallbladder disease will help you with preventing or treating it. More than 90% of gallstones found in people living in affluent nations are composed primarily of cholesterol. When the bile fluids in the gallbladder become over-saturated with cholesterol, precipitation of the cholesterol into solid crystals begins, and then gradually accumulate to form stones of variable sizes. A diet high in cholesterol-containing foods–red meats, poultry, fish, and dairy products–is the primary culprit for the development of the super saturated levels of cholesterol in the bile. Polyunsaturated oils (vegetable oils), too, will cause the liver to excrete larger quantities of cholesterol that pass into the fluids in the gallbladder, and thereby favor stone formation…

https://www.drmcdougall.com/education/common-health-problems/gallbladder-disease/

Hormonal Balance After 50. Do You Need HRT?

Let’s break this down precisely. This is not an in-depth discussion, but I [Gutavo Tolosa] hope it will help answer some questions.

1. Breast cancer is strongly hormone-sensitive

Many breast cancers are estrogen-receptor positive (ER+), meaning they grow in response to estrogen.

Higher lifetime exposure to estrogen → higher risk

Factors that increase exposure:

Early menstruation

Late menopause

Hormone replacement therapy

Higher body fat (estrogen is produced in adipose tissue)

 

2. Dairy: the strongest dietary concern

Why dairy is implicated:

a) Natural hormones in milk

Milk (especially from pregnant cows) contains:

Estrogens (estradiol, estrone)

Progesterone

Even though amounts are small, chronic exposure + biological sensitivity is the concern.

b) IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1)

Dairy consumption raises IGF-1 levels in humans

IGF-1 promotes:

Cell growth

Inhibition of apoptosis (cell death)

This is critical because cancer = uncontrolled cell growth.

Epidemiology:

Higher IGF-1 levels are associated with an increased risk of breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers.

c) Observational data

Several large cohort studies show:

Higher dairy intake → modestly higher breast cancer risk

Particularly hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer

3. Meat: indirect hormonal and carcinogenic pathways

a) Not primarily about hormones (in most cases)

Unlike dairy, meat is less about estrogen content and more about:

b) IGF-1 and growth signaling

Diets high in animal protein → higher IGF-1

c) Cooking byproducts

High-temperature cooking (grilling, frying) produces:

HCAs (heterocyclic amines)

PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)
→ both are carcinogenic

d) Processed meats

Classified by the World Health Organization as:

Group 1 carcinogen (same category as tobacco, but not same magnitude of risk)

 

4. Hormones added vs natural hormones

Important distinction:

In the U.S., growth hormones are sometimes used in cattle (e.g., rBST)

In many countries, regulations differ.

However:
The bigger issue is natural hormones + biological signaling (IGF-1), not just added hormones

 

5. What the strongest scientific consensus says

Major organizations like:

American Cancer Society

World Cancer Research Fund

Agree on this:

✔ Diet influences cancer risk
✔ Plant-rich diets are protective
✔ Limiting processed and red meat is advisable
✔ Maintaining healthy weight is critical

But:
They do not say dairy or meat alone “cause” breast cancer

 

6. The plant-based perspective:

A whole-food, plant-based pattern tends to:

Lower circulating estrogen levels

Reduce IGF-1

Increase fiber → helps eliminate excess estrogen

Reduce inflammation

This creates a less favorable environment for cancer development

 

Bottom line

Yes — hormone-related mechanisms linked to dairy (and to a lesser extent animal protein overall) are plausibly involved in breast cancer risk

No — they are not the single cause; risk depends on a complex interaction of:

Genetics

Hormones

Lifestyle

Body composition

Environmental exposures

*******

I [Gustavo Tolosa] hope this helps, and I hope you can join us for our 7-Day Reboot and ReSet Program. Here is the link to read more about it and sign up.

Fresh vs. Frozen Broccoli: Is One Actually Healthier Than the Other?

… frozen broccoli is generally higher in vitamins C and A as well as some antioxidants, compared to fresh broccoli that’s been sitting in your crisper for several days,

… frozen vegetables are blanched to help preserve color, safety, and texture, which can reduce water-soluble and heat-sensitive nutrients, including sulforaphane.

… to make frozen broccoli even more nutritious. “Chopping broccoli and letting it sit for about 30–40 minutes before cooking allows an enzyme called myrosinase to activate, which helps increase the formation of sulforaphane,” Hadley says. “Adding a small amount of mustard seed after cooking can also help boost sulforaphane production, making both fresh and frozen broccoli more nutritionally impactful.

https://www.realsimple.com/fresh-vs-frozen-broccoli-is-one-healthier-11894791