In a show of solidarity for our gluten-free marketer Lyssette Gonzalez, CareCloud sat in on a presentation today by Dr. Arthur Agatston, Medical Director of Wellness Prevention for Baptist Health South Florida and co-author of the best-selling nutrition plan, The South Beach Diet.
Dr. Agatston, one of the nation’s leading alternative cardiologists, was this year’s keynote speaker at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Healthcare Symposium on March 21.
His address to representatives from South Florida’s biggest healthcare providers and suppliers focused on the harmful effects of gluten in our everyday diets.
Gluten, a type of protein found in wheat, is extremely difficult to digest compared to simpler proteins like meats and rice. If a person is sensitive to gluten, consumption can lead to symptoms like bloating and abdominal cramps and in worse cases migraines, joint pain, brain fog and fatigue.
Dr. Agatston stumbled upon the benefits of a gluten-free diet while creating The South Beach Diet. During its first phase, the nutrition plan completely eliminates all bread, wheat and pasta.
After recommending phase one to his patients, the Miami cardiologist noticed a significant improvement in their health. This concept was the basis of his upcoming second installment to the series: The South Beach Diet Gluten Solution.
(Lyssette, we plan on buying you a copy for your birthday, so stay away from Amazon).
The renowned doctor also took some time to speak on the emerging importance of preventive cardiology in averting heart attacks.
“One of the best kept secrets in the country is that doctors who are practicing aggressive preventive cardiology have really stopped seeing heart attacks in their practices,” said Dr. Agatston.
His approach to heart attack prevention contrasts today’s models. Currently, most cardiologists use cholesterol LDL levels and risk factors to predict whether a patient is susceptible to heart disease and should be prescribed Statin drugs.
Dr. Agatston, though, believes calcium deposits inside of the coronary arteries are a better predictor of blood clots and, in turn, an oncoming heart attack.
“The national guidelines as they stand now are useless,” said Dr. Agatston. “You should not be reassured if you have a low cholesterol level because you still may be at risk for a heart attack.”
Because calcium can be detected through a non-invasive MRI, it’s easier to identify and, according to Dr. Agatston, more accurate measurement for looming heart problems.
The Healthcare Symposium was meant to be a timely discussion about the Affordable Care Act and the big, high-impact policies fast approaching health businesses this year. Although Dr. Agatston may have gotten a bit off topic, the morning’s presenters focused more on the ACA and its affect on healthcare.
Other speakers at the event included Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Deputy Director, Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); R. Paul Duncan, Ph.D., Chairman, Department of Health Services Research, Management & Policy, University of Florida College of Public Health & Health Professions; and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez.
For more information on the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and its events, visit their homepage.
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