Sugar Danger

Even though many people may consider it harmless because it has become a staple of the average American diet, sugar is a much bigger problem than what it may appear on the surface. More and more health issues are being attributed to the overconsumption of sugar in our diets, most notably with diabetes at the forefront (which is still prevalent in epidemic proportion). It doesn’t help that producers of sugar-laden items such as sodas are adding to the problem by trying to disguise the truth that it is a major contributing factor to many health issues. Take this excerpt from a Yahoo! Health news article posted this week:

The Coca-Cola Company has identified the culprit behind America’s weight problem: You don’t exercise enough. (!) The world’s largest producer of soda is pouring money into a nonprofit organization called the Global Energy Balance Network, a research group with the mission of proving that our diets have little to do with our obesity crisis. The group’s vice president, Steven N. Blair, PED, an exercise scientist, claims that “there’s really virtually no compelling evidence” that eating fatty foods and drinking sugary beverages causes weight gain. Instead, the fact that 2 out of 3 Americans is overweight or obese is just proof that we’re not working hard enough in the gym, he says.

I have to admit that I was almost speechless when I read this to think that with the overwhelming amount of research and information out there that points to the many detrimental effects of sugar on our bodies, someone with a scientific degree could speak as though none of that evidence exists. But then, when it comes to the commercial sector, you always have to remember to follow the money trail. Corporations that produce products like these do not have your best health interests in mind. Their bottom line as a business is to make a profit. That being said, the caveat of “don’t believe everything you read” should come to mind when reading quotes such as the one above.

We many never know the extent to which our health is being undermined by others who are in control of what is available to the general public for consumption. With sugar as an example, it appears that the dangers of excess sugar in our diets has been a concern for several decades. A documentary titled “The Secrets of Sugar” tells the story of how the food industry has known for decades about the links between a processed food diet and disease occurrence. However, with resources in the amount of billions of dollars, large corporations can hide or make this information obscure by undermining science, intimidating scientists, and subverting public health policy. To some that may sound like a conspiracy theory, but when there are repeated incidents of this occurring that come to light in various industries (food/agriculture, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, etc.), it makes it seem more viable that we may not be getting sold the clearest picture on whether products available to the general public could really be classified as “safe” or “harmless”.

The problem with sugar is that it is a known producer of inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation in the body will make you feel tired. Chronic inflammation from excess sugar consumption will make your joints ache when you wake up in the morning, even though you haven’t really done anything physically stressful with your body. From a diagnostic standpoint, consuming too much sugar is one contributing factor to elevated blood sugars on our glucose and hemoglobin A1c labs when you get your blood drawn. These elevated sugar levels will promote inflammation in our blood vessels, which is more of a risk factor for cardiovascular disease than your level of cholesterol (as it actually contributes to the cholesterol and triglycerides being elevated!). And if inflammation continues to persist, it can also increase your risk of developing an autoimmune condition or cancer.

Bottom line? Be aware of how much sugar you are putting into your body. Just because a food is packaged as “healthy”, don’t be misled into believing that it always is. Learn to read and understand food labels. Many processed “diet” foods have removed fat from their content only to be replaced with added sugar. And you may be surprised to find many foods that you are currently eating or drinking that have more sugar in them than you would have imagined. Part of making smart choices for your health is being informed about what you are putting into your body. If it all seems confusing or overwhelming to you, please use us as a resource to help you better understand how to minimize your risk of sugar overload and keep your body healthy.

In Health,

Dr. Brad Niewierowski

Source: Sugar Industry Secrets Exposed.  Mercola.com  July 25, 2015

Why You Should Add Nuts to Your Diet

Many people with busy lifestyles are often looking for ways to eat healthy while on the go or dealing with challenging schedules. Having healthy snacks available between meal times is a great strategy to keep hunger at bay and avoid drops in blood sugar and energy.  If you're looking for a nutritious, quick snack, nuts (raw, organic and in moderation) are a near perfect option. With healthy protein, fats, fiber, plant sterols and many vitamins and minerals, nuts pack a powerful nutritional punch, all wrapped up in a tiny bite-sized package. They also provide numerous health benefits, as a study involving more than 13,000 people, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition reported:

Those who ate nuts gained numerous benefits compared to non-nut eaters, including:

·       Decreased body mass index and waist circumference

·       Lower systolic blood pressure

·       Lower weight

·       Less likelihood of having two risk factors for metabolic syndrome: high blood pressure and low HDL (good) cholesterol (for nut consumers)

·       Less likelihood of having four risk factors for metabolic syndrome: abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high fasting glucose and a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome (for tree nut consumers)

Not a bad deal for something that fits in the palm of your hand, right? It's likely that nuts impact your heart health in numerous ways. For instance, many (walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, almonds, cashews and peanuts) contain the amino acid l-arginine, which offers multiple vascular benefits to people with heart disease, or those who have increased risk for heart disease due to multiple cardiac risk factors. L-arginine is a key nutrient in promoting efficient blood flow and overall cardiovascular function. L-arginine is considered one of the "semi-essential" amino acids—meaning, often your body can't produce it in sufficient quantities, so you must obtain adequate quantities from your diet. Other research has further proven that nuts, such as almonds, confer superior heart health benefits to complex carbs like whole-wheat muffins; a study in the journal Circulation found people with abnormally high level of lipids, such as cholesterol, in their blood, were able to significantly reduce their risk factors for coronary heart disease by snacking on whole almonds. Those who snacked on whole-wheat muffins got no such benefit.

You can't really go wrong when choosing nuts to eat, as long as you pay attention to quality. Nuts that are organic and raw, not irradiated or pasteurized, are your healthiest choices. One exception is peanuts, which is a common allergen, and which are technically in the legume family. Along with being one of the most pesticide-laden foods you can eat, most peanuts are also contaminated with aflatoxin, a carcinogenic mold. Generally speaking, each type of nut will offer a slightly different mix of nutrients for your health. For instance:

·       Almonds: One of the healthiest aspects of almonds appears to be their skins, as they are rich in antioxidants including phenols, flavonoids and phenolic acids, which are typically associated with vegetables and fruits. As the Almond Board of California reported, a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry even revealed that a one-ounce serving of almonds has a similar amount of total polyphenols as a cup of steamed broccoli or green tea.

·       Walnuts: Walnuts are good sources of plant-based omega-3 fats, natural phytosterols and antioxidants that are so powerful at free-radical scavenging that researchers called them "remarkable." Plus, walnuts may help reduce not only the risk of prostate cancer, but breast cancer as well.

·       Pecans: Pecans contain more than 19 vitamins and minerals, and research has shown they may help lower LDL cholesterol and promote healthy arteries.

·       Brazil Nuts: Brazil nuts are an excellent source of organic selenium, a powerful antioxidant-boosting mineral that may help prevent cancer.

Keep in mind though that you do need to be cautious with the quantity of nuts you eat, but this is not because they will make you "fat," as many believe. Instead, the reason for moderation is that almost all nuts are top heavy in omega-6 fats and can upset your omega-6/omega-3 ratio. Avoiding the less healthy fats such as corn, soy, safflower and vegetable oils, which are higher in unsaturated fats, will help allow you to still enjoy them without causing the ratio to become unbalanced. Overall, adding nuts as a daily part of your healthy diet will offer many benefits to your body and help keep you on track in achieving a better level of health.

In Health, 

Dr. Brad Niewierowski

Grocery Store Foods to Avoid

As we try to build healthier diets, it’s important to know which foods are good choices and which are not. This can be confusing at times because some foods are inherently healthy if they are in their natural state, but when processing or packaging are added to the picture, it can change their benefit profile. Also, it has to be taken into account how the foods are grown or raised. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid while shopping with foods that are eaten regularly:

Farmed Salmon

These fish are crammed in pens and fed all manner of junk from soy and hydrolyzed chicken feathers and pellets. A scientific study on fish contamination showed high levels of DDT and PCB’s (carcinogens). So serious were the findings that the director for the Institute for Health warns that any more than one salmon meal every 5 months increases your cancer risk. Not to mention that fact that the levels of Omega 3 and Vitamin D are devoid in these poor factory-versions that their wild, up-stream-swimming ancestors contain. Best choice: Choose small & wild varieties wherever available. Look for Wild Alaskan Salmon.

Conventional Beef

In order to get fat cows (and fat people) they are fed grain, corn and soy. This is what farmers do to increase profits. The end product is meat that is nutritionally inferior. Cows were meant to eat grass. Studies show that grass-fed beef (compared to corn-fed) is higher in important vitamins, minerals and the heart-healthy, anti-inflammatory fats. Then there’s also the issue of all the antibiotics used on those inappropriately-fed, sick cows. Best choice: Look for “grass-fed” or “pasture-fed” organic beef. Look for local farmers that adhere to natural raising practices.

Conventional Milk

Dairy cows today are fed growth hormones to maximize milk production. Not only does this make for a potentially breast/prostate/colon cancer milk shake, but it also leads to increased incidence of udder infection for the poor cow, leading to pus in the milk. Best choice: Give alternatives like almond, coconut or rice milk a try, but if you do drink cows’ milk, make sure it states clearly on the label that it is produced without artificial hormones, and ideally choose organic whole milk from pasture-fed cows.

Canned Tomatoes

An endocrinologist and expert on the topic of the synthetic estrogen bisphenol-A (BPA), which has been linked to heart disease and infertility, won’t go near canned tomatoes. Tin cans are lined with a resin containing BPA which is especially a problem with canning tomatoes, as the acid in tomato breaks this down in dangerous amounts. Best choice: if you still want the convenience of store bought, ready-to-cook tomatoes, opt for sauces and tomatoes in glass bottles.

Microwave Popcorn

Another poisonous packaging issue: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) lines the bags of those popcorn bags, and the heat in the microwave leaches this straight onto your movie munchies. Research has linked this compound to infertility. Best choice: Organic (only!) corn kernels + organic butter + sea salt + a big pot (with a lid!) Simple.

Conventional Potatoes

More than any other vegetable, non-organic potatoes are heavily sprayed with herbicides, pesticides and fungicides throughout every stage of their growth, harvesting and storage. So much so that potato growers never eat the potatoes they sell and grow their own separate plots without all the chemicals. Best choice: Opt for healthier sweet potatoes or red/new potatoes, but choose organic potatoes only if this is your choice.

Conventional Apples

There’s no coincidence that farm workers have higher rates of many cancers. Of all common fruits, apples are the most heavily and frequently doused with pesticides. Pesticide residue on conventional fruits is also linked to Parkinson’s. To limit exposure, be wary of apples and other pesticide-heavy produce. Best choice: Go organic. Or at the very least, wash and peel.


In Health,

Dr. Brad Niewierowski

Can your gut help prevent and manage “Incurable” Neurological Disorders?

The quality, quantity and composition of your brain is dictated quite a bit by the bacteria in our gut. According to celebrated brain specialist Dr. David David Perlmutter, he further explains the connection in his new book “Brain Maker.”

Dr. Perlutter is a board certified neurologist and fellow of the American College of Nutrition. He also has a clinic in Naples, Florida, and he’s been very active in the publishing and findings in peer-reviewed medical journals.

His previous book, “Grain Brain,” topped the New York Times bestseller list for 54 weeks. He is arguably the best natural medicine neurologist in the US.

Most neurologist fail to consider how lifestyle impacts the neurological disorders they diagnose and treat every day. Prevention needs to be the focus of such diseases.

Microbiome research Shreds Notion of Reductionism

It turns out that this notion of reductionism- where your body is reducd to its individual parts- is completely nonsensical and grossly flawed. As explained by Dr. Perlmutter, every system in your body interrelates in a what that ultimately causes the manifestation of either health or disease.

Research Shows Swapping Gut Bacteria Can Reverse Type 2 Diabetes and Other Diseases

A researcher in Amsterdam, Dr. Max Nieuwdorp, has published a number of studies looking at changes in the microbiome that are characteristic of Type 2 Diabetes.

In one trial, he was able to reverse Type 2 Diabetes in ALL of the 250 study participants by doing fecal transplantations on them. Remarkable as it may sound, by changing the makeup of the gut bacteria, the diabetes resolved.

All in all, if you nourish your Microbiome, and it will flourish.

Two key strategies to nourish your Microbiome are”

1. Avoid antibiotics unless they are absolutely necessary.

2. Avoid confined animal feeding operation meats.

For more information on how to avoid such devastating diseases and nourishing your gut call our office at (210) 468-1891.

In Health, 

Dr. Jacob Torres

Reference- http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/05/17/gut-bacteria-brain-health.aspx