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Smart Fat Loss

July 15, 2010
My Weight Loss Coach

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What is smart fat loss? Fat loss is the process of losing excess body fat. It is a better term to use (rather than weight loss) because weight loss could be unhealthy esp. if a person is losing muscle mass rather than excess body fat. I think that relying on just 1 pill alone for weight loss is “the opposite of smart.” There are a lot of factors that contribute to obesity. A smart weight management program should look into all these issues. What I don’t comprehend is how drugs used for treating obesity are being reserved for those who are obese (BMI greater than 30) or those who have co-morbid conditions such as hypertension or diabetes. People with complex medical problems don’t need another drug to complicate their life further. In fact, an article on CNN dares to ask the question: “Three New Weight Loss Drugs: Will They Work?” Apparently, prescription weight loss remedies have a spotty history. The article stated that, “some have proved to have a relatively modest effect, while others have been downright dangerous.” A lot of the potential danger lies in the fact that people who take these drugs use it for the long term. Without making dietary and lifestyle changes, it’s bound to create further problems down the road. Anyway, for those who have weight issues, some dietary changes that one could easily incorporate are: eliminating refined carbs, eliminating grains altogether (for some people), staying away from “low-fat” meals (they’re usually laden with sugar; sugar turns into fat; and fat is what tells our satiety centers that we’re full), eating naturally as possible (staying away from foods that have artificial colorings, flavorings or preservatives, although “natural” may not mean a thing anymore), drinking pure water (more on fluoride issues later), chewing our food well and eating like the French (slow food instead of “inhaling” food like some people who eat on the go do). I’ll discuss about dietary supplements, exercise and perhaps, correcting hormonal imbalances to achieve weight loss in future blog entries. In the meantime, let the fat loss begin….

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Balance Bars……

July 14, 2010
Fire and Ice

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That’s one of my favorite Olympic sports. I remember as a kid trying to balance myself on our “pader”, which is the Tagalog word for wall or a tall fence made of cement basically. It is a delicate balancing act. One wrong step and you’re off to the ground (just like Humpty Dumpy). Anyway, it’s the same balancing act that goes on with our hormones. Factors such as nutritional deficiencies (lack of selenium prevents conversion of T4 to T3), heavy metal toxicity (mercury attacks some hormones), or oxidative stress (excessive free radical formation could affect every cell in the body including our endocrine glands) could influence hormonal balance. Hormones by the way, are chemical messengers (secreted by endocrine glands in our body) that act on different target organs. Our hormonal/endocrine system is intimately connected to the nervous and immune systems (which secrete neurotransmitters and cytokines, respectively). These three systems work together bringing optimal communication among every cell in the body. There is such a strong connection among these systems that it’s difficult to treat one system without messing with the others. That’s the reason why we need to be careful about what we take in (whether it’s food, drugs, supplements, water, and yes, even our thoughts) because it affects everything. We cannot isolate one part of the body from the rest of it. In fact, I’m reminded of one Biblical verse which says that, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.” Just thought I’d mention that. Hope everybody’s having a great week!

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Burgers Breaking Bones….

July 12, 2010
The China Study

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I’m exaggerating! However, there’s this interesting piece of news that I read on AOL. Apparently, a lot of jaw problems has been associated with eating 3-inch thick burgers in Taiwan. A professor at the School of Dentistry at the National Yang-Ming University told China Post that his patients developed sore jaws after eating giant burgers. In the US, it hasn’t not been a problem (at least, not that we know of). The article also said that our mouth is designed to eat food only 1 1/2 inch high (interesting, huh?). Anyway, do you know that meat is acidic in general (compared to vegetables and fruits which are more alkaline in nature)? Having a lot of of meat can put our bodies into an overly acidic state that could contribute to chronic diseases associated with aging. One of these health issues is osteoporosis. When our bodies are overly acidic, minerals from the bone are recruited to buffer the acidity. This leads to softening of the bones (osteopenia) which makes them prone to breakage or fracture. In the book called “The China Study“, it chronicles how diet influences a person’s state of health. It has been shown that those places that adopt a fast-food/highly-processed/ primarily meat-based diet, have a higher incidence of chronic degenerative diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. I would suggest eating more of an alkaline diet consisting of vegetables and fruits and if a person has a need for meat, eat the ones that are lowest in acidity such as fish, venison or wild duck. So, let’s eat (and drink) responsibly!

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Longer Telomeres, Longer Life…….

July 9, 2010
Animation of the structure of a section of DNA...

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Telomere what? Sounds like some distant constellation in the universe. Well, it’s not as far as you think. It’s actually part of the micro-universe within our bodies. Telomeres are sections of DNA at the end of each chromosome that serves as a cap to our genetic material. This tends to shorten each time our cells divide. The shorter the telomeres are, the shorter the lifespan of the cell. Or to put it another way, the longer your telomeres are, the longer your lifespan. Are there tests available to measure your telomere length? Fortunately, there are. It’s not a one time test however but more of a serial testing to see how fast one ages relative to a normal population. Therapies directed at slowing the loss of telomere length may actually slow aging and age-related diseases.
Are there factors that affect telomere length? You bet! These are things like diet, stress, activity levels, nutritional deficiencies, etc. For instance, a pro-inflammatory diet consisting of deep fried/refined/fast/processed/”franken” (GMO) foods shorten telomeres faster. Calorie restriction, which I discussed in previous posts, also slows down telomere shortening. So, it might be a good idea to go to bed somewhat hungry rather than feeling “stuffed” (fasting 12 hours each night 4 days a week has been suggested by some sources). Stress reduction, sensible exercise (I recommend the PACE program by Dr. Al Sears), adequate sleep and rest (power naps included), essential oils (frankincense), nutrients like resveratrol and bioidentical HRT all go a long way in slowing down telomere shortening. I’ll discuss more ways to increase lifespan in future blog entries. Until then, let’s all strive to keep our telomeres longer longer……….

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Germs can make you fat!

July 7, 2010

That’s a strong statement! Well, it’s only one of the possible reasons behind getting fat besides overeating and being lazy (c’mon, let’s call a spade a spade rather using the PC term, sedentary lifestyle). According to studies, germs such as viruses and bacteria could actually make you gain weight. One study implicated the role of viruses in causing obesity, thus making it contagious. This study was mentioned in the January 2006 issue of the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, published by the American Physiology Society. Another study done at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found that the human adenovirus Ad-37 causes obesity in chicken. Then, there’s another study mentioned in an article on Newsweek magazine. This time, it’s a “bacteria-made-me-fat” idea that Jeffrey Gordon and colleagues of Washington University reported in Nature magazine stating that obese and slim mice have different populations of gut bacteria. These germs are the “fat-causing” Firmicutes and the “slimming” Bacteroidetes. The article mentions how each of these bacteria can also be found in humans causing a person to lose weight or gain weight, depending on which one is the predominant gut bacteria. Interesting, huh? Anyway, this is still a relatively new concept behind (an infectious source) the causes of obesity. If you think about it however, 15-20 years ago, people would never think of an infectious cause of ulcers (H. pylori) but now, it’s a well-accepted fact. Same thing with C. sanguineum causing calcifications and other organisms causing “non-infectious” diseases. Anyway, as one researcher put it succinctly, “Eat right, exercise, wash you hands.” I toast to that!

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CR is good for you

July 6, 2010

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?

July 3, 2010
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

July 1, 2010
A Sweetie (a cross between a grapefruit and a ...

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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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My tummy hurts!

June 30, 2010
pH scale showing common substances

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Stomach pain. That’s just one of the symptoms of gastropause. Wow, sounds like menopause or andropause. Very similar in a way. Anyway, this term was coined by one of the doctors I really admire. He’s the well-respected author and physician Dr. Eric Bravermerman of PathMed. Gastropause is basically a period in one’s life when the functions of the intestinal tract begin to decline (similar to ovarian function decline in menopause and testicular function decline in andropause). Gastropause may manifest with symptoms such as gas, bloating and indigestion (or heartburn). This usually happens during our 30’s, making the class of drugs called PPI’s or acid-blockers some of the best-selling drugs for this age group. What triggers the onset of these symptoms? Possibly, factors such as eating cooked (dead, devitalized) food majority of the time, eating mindlessly (eating fast and not chewing food properly), and eating the wrong kinds of foods (highly refined or processed foods with artificial ingredients and preservatives). Ways to relieve these symptoms include taking plant (or animal-based) enzymes and betaine HCl. Eating more raw foods is definitely helpful as well. For acute situations, the drug alternative may be used but only for a short period. However, what ends up happening, is that most people stay on these drugs indefinitely, without making the necessary dietary and lifestyle changes to address the problem. In fact, there’s an article in the latest issue of Scientific American on the overuse of acid blockers and how it poses long-term health risks such as nutritional deficiencies, hip fracture (buy inhibiting calcium absorption) and an increased risk of bacterial infection (by increasing the pH of the stomach). One thing the article stresses is that there’s a need to re-evaluate the use of PPI’s as a prophylactic agent (for hospital patients with serious injuries to prevent gastrointestinal bleeding and stress ulcers) since only one intensive care patient is saved from serious bleeding for every 900 treated. Therefore, to prevent or relieve the symptoms of gastropause, try these things. Eat slowly, chew thoroughly, in small (frequent) portions.

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One-of-a-kind

June 29, 2010

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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