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Lilli Link, MD
LilliLinkMD (Physician (Verified) )| Communities: All Cancers | Answers: 8 |
| Member Since: Feb. 2013 |
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Professional Statement
Lilli B. Link, MD, MS, is a board certified internist who has the knowledge and experience to combine conventional and complementary approaches to individualize and optimize your health. In addition to her education, listed below, for the past ten years she has been studying conventional nutrition, as well as complementary approaches. And since her own diagnosis of cancer over ten years ago, she has learned first-hand how to use diet and lifestyle to optimize her own health.
Dr. Link lectures on the topic of diet and health and has been a guest on radio shows, including Sirius XM's Doctor radio and The Advocates (WVOX 1460AM).
Dr. Link lectures on the topic of diet and health and has been a guest on radio shows, including Sirius XM's Doctor radio and The Advocates (WVOX 1460AM).
Professional Info
Credential: MD
Medical school: University of Chicago Medical School
Residency: Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center
Fellowship: Cornell Medical College; Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
Practice address:
1125A Park Avenue 1st Floor
New York, NY
10128
Practice phone number: (212) 362-6824
Webpage:
http://www.llinkmd.com/
LilliLinkMD Activities
Emotional eating. Sticking to a healthy diet takes emotional and physical energy. When you are faced with a choice of a piece of fruit or a bowl of ice cream for dessert, it's a lot harder to resist the ice cream when you are stressed or depressed. Also, it's a lot easier to order in Chinese food or cooked up some pasta when you are tired. Start by recognizing these inconvenient truths. That will make it easier to figure out how to deal with them.
Addictive foods. Some of our favorite foods are addictive, especially sweets and other foods that turn into sugar quickly in the blood stream. Think about what happens when you take one bite of that chocolate bar or one crust of that Italian bread at the restaurant. How hard is it to stop? Very, for most of us. That's why it's important to realize these foods really need to be treated as addictive and that first bite needs to be avoided. The government promotes 'moderation,' but that's not a realistic approach for most of us.
Fear of others' responses. Don't let others' opinions get in the way of you what you eat. First of all, with your cancer diagnosis you were given a cancer card (invisible, of course) that lets you get away with a lot. ("Sorry, I can't eat that decadent cake you spent all afternoon making for me. It's because of the cancer.") Second, if people have problems with your healthy eating, it's usually because of their own food issues. No need to change their minds. Just take care of yourself! Third, your health is too important to worry about how it looks if you pull out a bag of sprouts or your own salad dressing at a restaurant. In fact, the fancier the restaurant, the more accommodating they are. (I know this from experience!)
Addictive foods. Some of our favorite foods are addictive, especially sweets and other foods that turn into sugar quickly in the blood stream. Think about what happens when you take one bite of that chocolate bar or one crust of that Italian bread at the restaurant. How hard is it to stop? Very, for most of us. That's why it's important to realize these foods really need to be treated as addictive and that first bite needs to be avoided. The government promotes 'moderation,' but that's not a realistic approach for most of us.
Fear of others' responses. Don't let others' opinions get in the way of you what you eat. First of all, with your cancer diagnosis you were given a cancer card (invisible, of course) that lets you get away with a lot. ("Sorry, I can't eat that decadent cake you spent all afternoon making for me. It's because of the cancer.") Second, if people have problems with your healthy eating, it's usually because of their own food issues. No need to change their minds. Just take care of yourself! Third, your health is too important to worry about how it looks if you pull out a bag of sprouts or your own salad dressing at a restaurant. In fact, the fancier the restaurant, the more accommodating they are. (I know this from experience!)
New answer by LilliLinkMD (Physician - (Verified))
1
Answer |
2 months ago
Changing behavior is hard! This is especially true with food. It's different from cigarettes, for example, because we have to eat. Also, we are bombarded commercially and socially with foods that are not healthy for us. For the person who is motivated to change, and cancer survivors often are, she or he can be successful with the following suggestions:
- Make sure you understand exactly what is recommended.
- Hang the meal plan on the refrigerator.
- Try to get everyone in the household to support the plan.
- Get rid of all temptations in the refrigerator and pantry.
- Don't be afraid to ask for accommodations, whether it's from friends, restaurants or hotels.
- If in doubt, bring food with you.
- Make sure you understand exactly what is recommended.
- Hang the meal plan on the refrigerator.
- Try to get everyone in the household to support the plan.
- Get rid of all temptations in the refrigerator and pantry.
- Don't be afraid to ask for accommodations, whether it's from friends, restaurants or hotels.
- If in doubt, bring food with you.
New answer by LilliLinkMD (Physician - (Verified))
1
Answer |
2 months ago
This is a hard one for the consumer. You can read more about which are 'safe' supplements at the government's website about it:#Information" target="_blank">http://ods.od.nih.gov/Health_Information/ODS_Frequently_Asked_Questions.aspx#Information. You could also joinhttp://consumerlab.com which independently tests many supplements to make sure they contain what they say they do. If you are really motivated, you could also do your own medical literature search athttp://pubmed.gov to see what studies have been done on a supplement. But probably the most practical approach is to find a practitioner you trust who can recommend supplements to you. Feel free to ask that practitioner why they think that company is a good one.
In terms of finding a good practitioner, that is equally difficult. Ask lots of others, including health care practitioners and patients, look at reviews on-line, see what kind of credentials they have, and then try them out.
There are definitely good supplements. Whether there are bad supplements is more difficult to answer. In general, I prefer supplements that are whole food-based rather than synthetically derived. The latter is much more like a medication than the former. But there can still be a role for synthetically-derived supplements for the person who is, for example, deficient in a certain nutrient or is getting a high dose of a supplement. The other thing to know is that a supplement may be 'bad' for you, but just right for the next person.
In terms of finding a good practitioner, that is equally difficult. Ask lots of others, including health care practitioners and patients, look at reviews on-line, see what kind of credentials they have, and then try them out.
There are definitely good supplements. Whether there are bad supplements is more difficult to answer. In general, I prefer supplements that are whole food-based rather than synthetically derived. The latter is much more like a medication than the former. But there can still be a role for synthetically-derived supplements for the person who is, for example, deficient in a certain nutrient or is getting a high dose of a supplement. The other thing to know is that a supplement may be 'bad' for you, but just right for the next person.
New answer by LilliLinkMD (Physician - (Verified))
1
Answer |
2 months ago
Botanicals are plant-based supplements that can come in the form of a pill, tea or tincture. They can definitely be a helpful addition to a cancer survivor's diet, however, there are none that I automatically recommend. Nevertheless, there are some that I think are good for most of the population:
Algae, including spirulina, chlorella, AFA
Probiotics
I generally focus on foods for their anti-cancer benefits. Examples of anti-cancer foods are:
Turmeric
Ginger
Cruciferous vegetables
Garlic
Green drinks or green smoothies high in chlorophyll (ie, dark, green vegetables)
Algae, including spirulina, chlorella, AFA
Probiotics
I generally focus on foods for their anti-cancer benefits. Examples of anti-cancer foods are:
Turmeric
Ginger
Cruciferous vegetables
Garlic
Green drinks or green smoothies high in chlorophyll (ie, dark, green vegetables)
New answer by LilliLinkMD (Physician - (Verified))
1
Answer |
2 months ago
Blood tests will help you determine if you are low in nutrients, such as iron, B12, folate or vitamin D. There are also tests for gluten antibodies and lactose intolerance. There are other minerals and vitamins that aren't routinely tested for by conventional practitioners, but might be tested for by an integrative practitioner, such as magnesium and selenium. These tests do help inform the nutritionist about significant nutritional deficiencies, but most important for getting adequate nutrients is eating a truly nutritious diet.
New answer by LilliLinkMD (Physician - (Verified))
1
Answer |
2 months ago
I pay much more attention to overall diet than I do to the exact amounts of calories and micro- and macro-nutrients in a meal plan. However, if someone wanted to do an analysis of these nutrients in their diet, it's a bit tedious and time-consuming, but they could do it at the government's nutrition website: http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/
Reading the books I've mentioned (http://talkabouthealth.com/what-books-on-nutrition-do-you-recommend-to-cancer-patients) is a great start to understanding how to improve your diet. It's important NOT to get caught up in the minor differences between different anti-cancer dietary recommendations. The foundation of most of them is the same:
- Cut out sugar, simple carbohydrates (ie, anything with white flour), processed foods, artificial foods, fried foods, and oils high in omega-6 fatty acids
- Eat more vegetables, some fruits, more plant-based protein than animal protein, and choose fats high in omega-3 fatty acids
Reading the books I've mentioned (http://talkabouthealth.com/what-books-on-nutrition-do-you-recommend-to-cancer-patients) is a great start to understanding how to improve your diet. It's important NOT to get caught up in the minor differences between different anti-cancer dietary recommendations. The foundation of most of them is the same:
- Cut out sugar, simple carbohydrates (ie, anything with white flour), processed foods, artificial foods, fried foods, and oils high in omega-6 fatty acids
- Eat more vegetables, some fruits, more plant-based protein than animal protein, and choose fats high in omega-3 fatty acids
New answer by LilliLinkMD (Physician - (Verified))
1
Answer |
2 months ago
There are so many books to choose from, many of which are good. Here are the ones I like, from least to most drastic changes:
Anti-cancer: A New Way of Life, by David Servan-Schreiber -- he was a longtime cancer survivor who died a few years ago, but who surpassed his expected survival by many years and wrote a well-researched book on an anti-cancer diet.
Crazy Sexy Diet, by Kris Carr -- she is also a cancer survivor, living with metastatic cancer and doing well for many years. This book is about very healthy eating, and is not just for cancer patients.
Living Foods for Optimum Health, by Brian Clement. He is the director of a wellness spa/institute and the book details how to follow a healthy, raw vegan diet.
Anti-cancer: A New Way of Life, by David Servan-Schreiber -- he was a longtime cancer survivor who died a few years ago, but who surpassed his expected survival by many years and wrote a well-researched book on an anti-cancer diet.
Crazy Sexy Diet, by Kris Carr -- she is also a cancer survivor, living with metastatic cancer and doing well for many years. This book is about very healthy eating, and is not just for cancer patients.
Living Foods for Optimum Health, by Brian Clement. He is the director of a wellness spa/institute and the book details how to follow a healthy, raw vegan diet.
New answer by LilliLinkMD (Physician - (Verified))
1
Answer |
2 months ago
1) It's good to start by keeping a food diary for at least 3 days, including a weekend day. That way you and your nutritionist will know what your current diet really is.
2) Decide how much you want to change your diet. Try to be realistic while still challenging yourself to take the best care of yourself that you can. As an integrative nutritional counselor, I help patients make rather extreme dietary changes if that is what they are interested in. But I scale it down for the person who wants a less drastic change.
3) Be clear about whether you are looking for help with your diet while you are going through treatment or for after treatment. For people in the midst of chemotherapy or radiation that is near the GI tract, they have different food tolerances than people who are not getting those treatments.
4) As with any visit to a health professional, write your questions down before the visit. It's so easy to forget what you wanted to ask if you don't.
5) I send my patients a detailed summary of my recommendations to them after their visit. If you don't get something in writing from your nutritionist, bring a pen and paper with you to the appointment so you can take notes.
6) Think about why you are seeing the nutritionist and make that clear to him or her. It's easy for the practitioner to have one agenda and the patient another. But you, the patient, should make sure your goals are clear and fulfilled.
2) Decide how much you want to change your diet. Try to be realistic while still challenging yourself to take the best care of yourself that you can. As an integrative nutritional counselor, I help patients make rather extreme dietary changes if that is what they are interested in. But I scale it down for the person who wants a less drastic change.
3) Be clear about whether you are looking for help with your diet while you are going through treatment or for after treatment. For people in the midst of chemotherapy or radiation that is near the GI tract, they have different food tolerances than people who are not getting those treatments.
4) As with any visit to a health professional, write your questions down before the visit. It's so easy to forget what you wanted to ask if you don't.
5) I send my patients a detailed summary of my recommendations to them after their visit. If you don't get something in writing from your nutritionist, bring a pen and paper with you to the appointment so you can take notes.
6) Think about why you are seeing the nutritionist and make that clear to him or her. It's easy for the practitioner to have one agenda and the patient another. But you, the patient, should make sure your goals are clear and fulfilled.
New answer by LilliLinkMD (Physician - (Verified))
1
Answer |
2 months ago
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