Barry Kottler's Blog

A Fistfull of Slugs

I enjoy my time working in the garden.  I like tilling, planting, watering, and especailly enjoy harvesting.  I even like weeding (to some extent). 

This year, I have been having trouble with my Bok-Choi leaves being eaten to shreds.  And yesterday I found the culprits. 

Needless to say, my wife was a bit grossed out by the picture...

Turn out the lights for health

                Many of us in the North East recently lost power in a large ice storm.  Sitting in the dark gave me some time to think.  Disease of aging, heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and stroke are all on the rise.  This is due in part to the fact that our society is getting older.  People over 85 are the fastest growing age group.  But the rise in chronic disease is also due to how we live our lives.  We exist in an almost alien environment from that of our ancestors and evolution has not had time to catch up.  Processed food, high stress, little exercise, and less sleep are today’s norm.  Each of these factors is an independent risk for most, if not all of the diseases of aging.  They promote inflammatory pathways that in turn increase our risk for disease.

                We live in a society that places many demands on our time.  Even after work and family there are cell phones, the internet, social networking, email, television, and video games; all of which are constantly available and clamoring for our attention.  We sit more, we stress more, we eat more. 

                When the power went out, all of that went away; no computer, no television, no lights to stay up late.  In addition, we were blocked in by downed trees and it was very difficult and dangerous to drive.  So we sat together more as a family, we talked and walked outside enjoying the beauty and devastation of the ice storm, we went to bed earlier (there’s not a lot to do after it gets dark at 4:30pm).

                While I do not recommend going back to a life before electricity (the ice storm really made me appreciate it), I do recommend trying to simply.   And maybe, every once in a while, turn off the lights for your health.

Medical writing tips

There are many ways to get invovled in medical writing.  They way you choose will depend upon your interests and desired audience.  Peer reviewed publications are often the best way to reach physicians, but require more time effort.  Another way to get involved is online or with smaller publications. 

Whether you are looking to write as a career or just a hobby always start with what interests you.  If it interests you, it likely interests others and will make your writing more lively and interesting for the reader and more satisfying for you.  Remeber who you are talking to.  Don't use too much medical jargon in a lay publication.  Finally, don't be afraid to ask for help.  Collegues and friends are great sources of insight and support.

Literature review of plant-based diets

I have been writing a literature review "The Effect of Plant-Based Diets on Cholesterol: a Systematic Review" for Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) for the past year.  It is now nearing completion and soon I will submit it for publication in a peer reviewed journal.  I look forward to the successful completion of this project and the eventual publication.  After the article has been accepted, I will begin posting important and relevant quotes on my blog, so look for updates on this important health discussion.