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Archive for the ‘Opinions’ Category

CR is good for you

It seems that cutting calories or calorie restriction (CR) is not just good for weight loss. It’s also good for life extension. And, it’s not just adding years to your life but adding life to your years as well. This discovery was made in the 1930’s by a Cornell University researcher named Clive McCay. His original work was done on rats whose life-span were extended by putting them on near-starvation diets. Not much was done initially on this important discovery until recent years with the advent of a relatively new field in medicine called anti-aging medicine, otherwise known as age management or longevity medicine. Calorie restriction was found to increase the lifespan of different species by a third or more. In the latest edition of Fortune magazine, there’s discussion about the race for drugs to mimic the benefits of calorie restriction (CR). One drug that’s creating so much excitement is the anti-(transplant) rejection drug called rapamycin. It has been shown to be really effective in extending lifespan according to studies done by scientists funded by the National Institute of Aging. As far as side effects or pricing go, there was no mention in the article about this. A natural substance found in red wine called resveratrol was also mentioned in the article. Not much excitement there probably because it’s a natural substance that can not be patented. I suggest taking resveratrol (and other antioxidants, for that matter) at this point in time and not wait until 10-20 years from now when it becomes standard practice to give nutraceuticals. I would also suggest eating sensibly and staying away from SAD (Standard American Diet).

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Magnets to Plug the Hole?

Project Runway (season 4)

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Sounds like a great idea. I just saw it this morning on CNN. There is this Florida company that came up with the idea. It does make a lot of sense. I hope it works. So far, the pollution goes on. And it’s not just oil. Now, there’s the chemical dispersants to deal with. These chemicals were used to “disperse” the oil. In my own limited understanding of how this works, it means that the oil will just be invisible to the naked eye. It’s still present in the water though, causing harm to microscopic organisms (and the rest of the living creatures) in the water. It’s a mess, a hot tranny mess (as the contestant and eventual winner of the Season 4 reality show, Project Runway, would say)! I know it’s not funny, but we as a people should be open to alternatives especially when “standard” protocols are not working. In this scenario, alternatives should have been sought earlier in the game. The hole could have been plugged successfully by now, the 74th day since the oil started spilling into the Gulf of Mexico. Health-wise, I believe that we should incorporate therapeutic lifestyle changes into standard treatments. That makes the outcome of whatever health issue more successful. Happy 4th of July weekend! Signing out……

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That’s Super! SuperFoods Against Cancer

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It’s on AOL News. It never gets more mainstream than this! Among the 10 anti-cancer foods mentioned include turmeric, berries (blueberries, raspberries, acai berries, wolfberries and cranberries), green tea, garlic, broccoli and cabbage, onions and leeks, tomatoes, soy, watercress and spinach, and resveratrol. I would add essential oils like frankincense and D-limonene (from citrus fruits) to this list. This is awesome considering the bias (in mainstream media) against nutrition and supplements in general. However, the article ends with a cautious note which states that “none of this (advise regarding anti-cancer foods) is to say that anti-cancer foods or nutritional supplements should be used in place of doctor-recommended treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation.” Interesting, huh? Anyway, that’s another controversial topic we can discuss in the future. In my opinion, an integrative approach to cancer works better than just doing the “slash, burn or poison” (for surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, respectively) recommendation. Fortunately, its starting to happen in more progressive areas of the country. “Alternative” modalities such as acupuncture, naturopathy and massage therapy are being brought in to these integrative cancer centers. This holistic approach apparently yields better results than the standard treatments alone, according to studies. In countries that I’ve visited over the years, they seem to have a more advanced approach to cancer. One particular medical center that I visited had a Department of Regenerative Medicine, right next to the Oncology Department. Clients who were scheduled for chemotherapy and radiation treatments were given an option to bank their stem cells prior to the procedures. Stem cell treatments actually help in their recuperation efforts after the said treatment procedures. Other novel treatments such as dendritic cancer vaccines (cancer immunotherapy) are now also being administered in other parts of the world. This is great, considering the “less than satisfactory” results of the “war against cancer.” Suzanne Somer’s latest book called “Knockout” is a collection of interviews she made with holistic doctors who are successfully treating cancer using an integrative approach. Anyway, as Benjamin Franklin once said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It still rings true, even more so these days. So, eat up on those superfoods!

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One-of-a-kind

Yes, that’s what you are. Unique, different, special. No one in this world is exactly like you. Even identical twins have slight differences in certain aspects of their health. That said, I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to making dietary, lifestyle and therapeutic (even medication) recommendations. Why is it that some people tolerate high doses of certain meds while others could get all the full-blown side effects from a single dose of a certain medications. The answer lies in a term we call “biochemical individuality.” We all have very minor differences in our genetics (based on the human genome project) and we all differ in how they’re expressed depending on environmental triggers. To borrow one of my colleague’s statement, “Our genes are like a loaded gun, but the environment pulls the trigger.” There’s a field of science called “Epigenetics,” which basically says that our environment could actually trigger the expression of our genes. This environment includes the food that eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, how we handle stress, the presence of harmful electromagnetic radiation (harmful EMF’s), whether one smokes or drinks, among other things. True, there are things that are difficult to avoid but there are also things that are in our control. Like the food we eat for instance, the closer to nature the food is, the better (meaning, THE LESS PROCESSED, THE BETTER). Regarding vaccinations, I would recommend individualizing it rather than doing mass vaccinations. People who are generally in good health and take care of the basics (nutritious food, clean water, enough rest, etc.) have healthy immune systems and they don’t require vaccinations. However, take a look at the link provided and see what most people have to say about mandatory vaccinations. It’s getting really interesting here.

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Rhythm is the Answer

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There is a rhythm in life. You see it everywhere in nature. Moon cycles, seasonal changes, circadian rhythms, migratory patterns, growth spurts, planting/harvesting times, etc. There is nothing static in nature. Everything is in a constant flux. The only thing that’s static is death. At least, that’s what we know for now. If there are rhythmic patterns in our bodies, doesn’t it make sense to give hormones (if a person’s symptomatic, deficient or has sub-optimal numbers) in a rhythmic pattern as well? This idea was actually brought forth by a person named TS Wiley. She’s trained as an anthropologist and unfortunately (or fortunately?) is not an MD. Otherwise, a lot of doctors, especially in the anti-aging community would have jumped onto the bandwagon of prescribing bioidentical hormones in a rhythmic manner. That is, changing the dose every so often, to mimic nature. Doctors, just like every one else, are creatures of habit. Nobody wants to mess with the status quo. A German philosopher named Arthur Schopenhauer put it succinctly, “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” Anyway, hormonal imbalance is just one of the causes of accelerated, symptomatic aging. Other factors such as nutritional deficiencies, chronic inflammatory processes, toxicities, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction need to be addressed as well if a person wants to age well.

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Fat Tuesday

I know that’s how most people feel like especially after a long holiday weekend. People tend to overeat and not exercise during these rare occasions. I would say that, just give yourself a break when you get off of your program. Oftentimes, you need a break from the monotony of it all. Take exercise, for instance. People do get bored doing repetitive, low-impact, hour-long exercises. Studies show that this is not healthy long-term. Dr. Al Sears’ program, called P.A.C.E., shows how it is so much better to do short bursts of intense or vigorous exercise. This is how our ancestors did it. They did intense shorts bouts of intense activity to gather food or avoid being food. A new study at the University of Missouri-Columbia shows that high-intensity exercise is the best way to reduce anxiety. Apparently, this kind of exercise enhances HGH production and optimizes brain chemistry, thereby making you feel good. So, go ahead and work it!

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Let Them Eat Cake….

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Not! Is it my sweet tooth talking or what? Anyway, do you know how many tablespoons of sugar there are in 1 slice of cake? It may surprise you like it surprised me back then. You’re talking about 8-16 tablespoons of sugar per slice. That’s a lot! But we never, ever think about it esp. when we’re enjoying that temporary high. However, people tend to get those sugar blues (feeling low/depressed) once their blood sugar goes down (due to insulin spikes). One of my mentors always stated that sugar is poison (white, refined sugar that’s devoid of nutrients) and it’s true indeed. We’re seeing an epidemic of obesity and diabetes, not just here in the US but around the world as we see more cultures adopting the Western diet. Do you know that there are so-called fat farms in Japan where obese kids are sent to help them lose weight. A good resource on how diet affects our over-all health is a book called “The China Study.” This excellent book should be on everyone’s book shelves or e-book library (for those techies out there). Anyway, for those who can’t do away with their desserts, they may try raw desserts like the ones I have at Cafe Gratitude. They have a “raw cookbook” available for sale and you’ll be amazed at how creative you can get with preparing a plant-based meal. It’s actually tasty too. Now, you don’t have to just have a boring plate of salad!

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