All Categories - NutritionFact or Fiction ?

Food as Medicine

8/25/2017

A recent article by NPR (National Public Radio) is so good that I would repost it here exactly as it is with a suggestion to read it. It’s very short – written for regular people on the topic of rising public awareness of food as medicine.

   The article describes several community food programs from hospitals and medical institutions in California – taken out to the community in classes and into grocery stores where people shop. The message is that what you eat can make you ill or damage or improve the conditions of your body to fight illness.
    Doctors and nutritionists at some of those institutions want to help educate mothers and shoppers to prevent or contain illnesses like diabetes and asthma, which are on the rise in America.
    Many illnesses are connected to our autoimmune systems – and food is one of the factors impacting our immune systems – with inflammation and allergic reactions to chemicals or hidden substances in our food.
   To improve the health of our immune systems, it is important to reduce processed foods (food in a box, bottle, or can) that contain chemicals to extend shelf life -- and eat fresh fruits and meats as much as possible. Eating organic is even better – plants without chemical fertilizers; animals raised without injections of medicines, such as antibiotics that damage their intestinal biomes – used to fatten them up quickly and increase weight and market value.
    So click the link and see what NPR has to say about what's happening in the community of food and eating – since one small message can make all the difference in solving problems and improving our lives.

Inflammation and Nutrition

6/14/2017

Inflammation is a physical response in the body to illness or injury that involves immune cells, blood and blood vessels, and a multi-protein mediator and co-activator of eukaryotes.
Generally, inflammation is a temporary - healing action in the body, responding to temporary illnesses, pathogens and allergies, or injuries; but autoimmune irregularities, severe allergies, or autoimmune-related illnesses can result in continuous, ongoing, chronic inflammation that must be monitored by SED rate tests to determine when it becomes dangerous or if causes have intensified the condition. In its chronic state, inflammation can become a disease and if it goes unchecked is a threat to life. In traditional medicine, the theory is that inflammation is a result and symptom - but that chronic inflammation may be a cause of other age-related or auto-immune disorders.

Traditional medicine is more likely to connect chronic inflammation to terminal and immune-system-related illnesses; while alternative medicine connects chronic inflammation to various other conditions - such as stress-related factors or chemicals in your food and the environment. Alternative medicine 'believes' medication itself - such as antibiotics can create an imbalance in the intestine and damage (sometimes irreversibly) the intestine and immune system but may be healed through nutrition.

   Regardless of which set of theories are correct, both agree that it is essential to 'treat' inflammation either by ending or correcting the cause or containing it somehow, or death will occur.
   Alternative medicine and most nutritionists advocate that a 'healthy diet' is one of the best defenses and healing devices for treating inflammation - and is increasingly advocated by traditional medicine as a standard treatment or containment of inflammation. Whenever new ideas and theories enter a traditional field, resistance to the new idea is normal - and there is often a lag before the idea is shared throughout the field and people's behavior impacted; but the idea that diet is important to health and healing has become typical in the genre of medicine.
   There are many wonderful articles on diet for healing inflammation, and here are a couple for you to read:

Mindful Eating!

4/21/2017

Mindful eating is a concept that has been very helpful for people with eating disorders but is also a beneficial practice for all of us to follow.
The definition of mindful eating is ‘to be present while you eat. Being in the moment and really experiencing the process of eating is key to feeling satisfied and not over eating.

Experiencing everything from the taste, food texture, smells and bodily processes like chewing and swallowing, to thoughts and feelings that come up during eating.
Mindful eating is a way to get in touch with hunger cues and feeling full while giving us enjoyment and appreciation of eating.

Many of us find ourselves eating due to stress, boredom, depression and even excitement. We eat without really experiencing the food and without being in touch with our body’s hunger and satiety cues. This may lead to overeating and weight gain. The idea behind mindful eating is that one will be more fully satisfied and satiated by this slowed down experience, which will in turn reduce the desire to overeat.

The benefits of mindful eating are being aware of what you’re eating and feeling satisfied when you are done – instead of finishing a large meal still feeling hungry. Ask yourself – am I hungry? Am I full?

It takes approximately 30 minutes for the body to register feelings of satiation. “As food enters the GI tract hunger diminishes, and satiation develops, receptors in the stomach stretch and hormones such as cholecystokinin increase, which brings feelings of fullness”. (pg 251, Understanding Nutrition). Using mindful eating techniques like chewing slowly, putting the eating utensils down between each bite and closing the eyes during chewing and swallowing help to slow down eating so that the body’s processes have time to register the feeling of fullness.
For a deeper understanding of mindful eating go to:What is Mindful Eating? This site says mindful eating includes paying attention to the following details and learning from practice how to do it:

Awareness of your physical and emotional cues
Recognition of your non-hunger triggers for eating
Learning to meet your other needs in more effective ways than eating
Choosing food for both enjoyment and nourishment
Eating for optimal satisfaction and satiety
Using the fuel you’ve consumed to live the vibrant life you crave

The basic idea is – for a healthier relationship with food and healthier eating practices, take the time to pause at regular intervals, relax, enjoy your food, and eat healthy snacks and meals.
Familiarize yourself with the many excellent articles and tips offered by the Center for Mindful Eating.

Medication - Health and Well-being

3/18/2017

Besides a healthy diet, adequate exercise and sleep - caution in using drugs and medication is an essential ingredient of healthy living.
   Safe use of medication is central to our health and well being. When medication is misused within the medical profession and food industry - as antibiotics have been for so many years - a government too friendly and close to large corporations and trying to prevent regulation and enforcement, it's of concern to all of us.
Big Pharma makes its living on patients who are dependent on their products - drugs and medication - and it isn't a great stretch of the imagination that our dependence on their products means increased profits for them.. it's almost like a built-in welfare system for Big Pharma if our prescription requires us to use their medication every day year in and year out.
  The problem with that truth is in recent years, we've been hearing about more and more patients becoming dependent on opiads, overdosing, and dying.
One of the highest-profile cases of that kind of addiction - is Rogers Nelson - better known to all of us as Prince - who was addicted to one of the most dangerous painkillers on the market, Fantanyl Citrate.
   The problem and concern in recent years has so intensified - that it's been defined as an epidemic.
  The question is how much responsibility can and should be placed on pharmaceutical companies and how much on government organizations (FDA) - with former CEOs of medical companies up close and friendly with politicians through organizations such as Chamber of Commerce, ALEC, and university research departments receiving political appointments? Is there substance to accusations that as a result of swinging-door appointments that government bodies are protecting the 'crimes' of drug companies?
..and how often do they protect their peers or are so indoctrinated within the industry that they are unable to separate themselves to adequately do the job to regulate drugs and pharmaceutical companies?
We like to believe that we can trust our doctors to help us with this, but there are several factors of concern - even doctors are too close to the system - indoctrinated by the medical system they are dependent on for training, testing, and licensing - even receiving commissions for prescribing pharmaceutical companies' products. There's a long history of misuse and misinformation about addictive drugs.
   The current concern is with opiad painkillers causing addiction and killing the patients, pharma companies creating addictions or not informing doctors and patients of addictive side effects.
  It isn't an isolated conclusion that doctors treating pain and big pharma companies pushing opiads have created our current opiad epidemic.
   There isn't a hard and fast rule on who you can trust, but more and more - it would seem to some degree that we have to be our own doctor.. protecting ourselves from a corrupt system that doesn't appear to have our best interests at heart. Be cautious - by getting second opinions, reading the labels and learning about the diagnosis and prescriptions. Attempt to become informed.
It's YOUR health and life, and you have a right to say no - without pressure, insults, or shaming.

Is it a scientific fact, trend, or consensus opinion?

11/29/2016

Submitted by a reader
A recent article in UK’s Guardian newspaper, reviewing the book, Breakfast: A History, says that “Our reverence for breakfast is actually relatively recent."

It says that "before the late 19th century in the US, breakfast didn’t have any particular importance.
But all that changed by a small group of religious fanatics and lobbyists for cereal and bacon companies.”
From that point, mothers pestered their children – telling them breakfast was the most important meal of the day that they simply should not skip.

You may know children who simply refuse to eat breakfast. They’re not hungry in the morning; or you yourself may find.. a coffee right after you get up is enough.

..and once upon a time – especially in the early part of the 20th century, it was rigid.. three solid meals served habitually at the same regular hours were a ‘must’ – to fuel and enable (sacred) work to a maximum.

The three-times-a-day 'theory' was based on the religious maxim - the Protestant Work Ethic - and elders were RIGID in enforcing it and judging those who violated their unsubstantiated Protestant ethics - that were facts as far as they were concerned. Hard work, discipline, and frugality were an essential part of Calvinist Protestant faith - still alive today to many Americans.. and dare you defy those people - who drive and control our politics - including what's taught in our educational institutions.

A recent trend says eat small quantities often throughout the day; but this trend ALSO is dictated by ‘work ethic’ as (several) articles explain – since people rushing about with children and/or driven by work haven’t time to sit for three solid meals.
Plus, now, nutritionists have jumped on the bandwagon and are proselytizing this trend. You may have found, it doesn’t seem to work for you, and you may or may not have the courage to buck trends or your nutritionist – and speak up and say: It doesn’t work for me.

I find – a coffee in the morning may be enough for a couple hours – as I’m not really hungry – until after minimal activity – although that isn’t consistent – and I do want to listen to my body when it says it’s not hungry, or this pattern of constant eating seems to arouse appetite, and I find myself overeating – and also gaining weight.
So.. what the article said to me – is.. how do I fight trends or traditions that haven’t been scientifically tested and proven - and discover what is optimal for me? ..or is there a universal pattern that is correct and healthiest for EVERYONE?

When you 'must' eat fast food.. a guide

10/23/2016

The American Heart Association says that fast food isn't always bad for you, so - if you must eat fast food, be selective.. both about the place where you buy and eat it - and the food.
There are some hard and fast rules to use as your guide - first and foremost, avoid sugar and high calorie foods.

> Try to keep it under (500) calories.
> Choose fiber, whole grains, high-quality proteins.
> Vegetable-rich salads are generally healthier - even chlorine-washed salad mixes - than processed foods.
> Avoid foods high in oil and sodium.
> ..and again - avoid sugar, corn syrup, and high glucose-fructose, which are standard ingredients in drinks and desserts, breakfast foods and breads in sandwiches, processed foods (including meat and vegetable nuggets), and also in dressings and toppings.
> Take your own snacks to work or school to avoid hunger and increased appetite - examples: carrots and other raw vegetables, apples or other recommended low-sugar fruits, pro-biotics.. such as bio-yogurt, and nuts.
> Avoid processed foods - note.. some vegetables are on the processed list - for example, baby carrots cleaned and shaped.. in a plastic sack - available everywhere - and pre-bagged vegetables - such as lettuce and salad mixes - that are generally put through a chlorine bath.
The food industry with support from the USDA disputes that baby carrots are unhealthy or processed - especially that the amounts of chlorine in their chlorine bathes is not healthy. If you're a purist and don't trust the political appointments from America's corporations to the USDA.. mostly representatives of the food and agro-industry - then.. be aware (or beware).
Remember - that the purpose of processing foods with additives is to increase shelf life (and profits) - and those chemicals they use, aren't taken from the five food groups or the food pyramid. Chemicals used are generally and often poisons that eaten in large quantities will kill you. The USDA began in 1905 as a small group within government testing on actual human-beings whether and how small an amount of arsenic in your food will make you ill or kill you. The purpose was to allow the food corporations to use arsenic to kill bacteria on food and extend shelf life. That goal remains the purpose of food processing today - to enable corporations (sometimes at the expense of your health) to increase profits.
So.. choose food wisely - the food industry will NOT do it for you - and often - your government - especially with rich and powerful industry-lobbies impacting legislation - will not protect you. As free-market disciples define it, their 'noble intent' and goal is to protect their privilege, expand their power, and increase their wealth and to exploit unless you insist on regulation - and it is your goal to protect your health.

difficulties of changing the diet

10/22/2016

With obesity on the rise wherever the Standard American Diet (SAD) is common, and with it illnesses, such as diabetes and non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), you probably should rethink your diet.
As you may know if you've been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness how difficult it is to change our diet, because food generally brings pleasure - and the food to which we've become accustomed or prefer - is delicious to us, as well as comforting.

..but changing our perception regarding delicious food or even what is easiest to access quickly - may be the most difficult but important factors in changing our diets. It's common to think.. now, there's nothing to eat.
Sometimes a simple photo can get us thinking differently about a diet both nutritious and delicious. There's still lots of food that's healthy and tasty that you can eat - but it may be as simple as perception - influenced by seeing a photo with healthy meals - such as soups and salads, fish and vegetables. You don't have to be reduced to an all starch meal, processed foods - or an all red-meat meal, sausages, and processed meats - to enjoy food.
An excellent chart to help you choose healthy ingredients is the 'Fatty Liver Diet Chart':

    ..and the web is awash with yummy and appetite-pleasing recipes that contain just those ingredients.
   There are a lot of diets out there and ideas and beliefs - and you may feel.. so which of those ideas are actually correct and have been adequately tested? If you can trust the studies and research of Mayo Clinic, then you can trust that obesity levels - as well as diabetes and liver disease are increasing.
   One of those ideas where I haven't found the fortifying studies is that we must eat a ratio of alkaline to acidic foods of 8:2 - and I thought.. who came up with that ratio?
What tests were conducted to determine that exact ratio?
The ratio may be suspect, and I can't dispute their theory - although some reputable sources that require evidence and supporting studies do dispute it, but take a look at the vegetables listed on their chart - and you will likely agree, it's an excellent list of ingredients.
   So - the point is - try to find studies that support claims behind drastic diets and food choices - before making it your standard diet - even when it doesn't 'seem' threatening.

A message from the 'web'..

8/17/2016

Coca Cola shifts the blame

8/11/2016

New York Times reports Coca Cola has hired scientists to redirect studies towards inadequate exercise - away from diet and drinks in researching health problems related to obesity.

The NY Times article says food scientists and the media complain the obesity problem and the rise in Type-2 diabetes result from overeating and sugary drinks - basically bad eating habits - but Coca Cola's scientists claim the research and evidence behind the claims just isn't there - and the real problem lies with poor exercise habits.
Health experts say the message is misleading, suggesting exercise can offset bad diet when exercise is only one part of the equation.

..but - part of the problem and concern from Coke has been a drop in sales with an approximate 25% drop in the use of their product and concern for this global corporation's reduction in profits.
..and there is the issue and trend of corporations hiring political organizations posing as non-profits that actually represent the right to exploit - spreading disinformation supporting political rhetoric - or unionizing, such as the ALEC organization that actually includes Congressmen in their ranks to release canned legislation that benefits business.

The article doesn't discuss other benefits of reducing the 'use' of carbonated beverages:
Companies like Coke - as well as bottled water companies - have been using natural water resources free - for over a hundred years now - without paying for a resource essential to the 'public good,' and that is a growing concern with rising populations and the stress on world water supplies.
As some sources point out, "It takes roughly 20 gallons of water to make a pint of beer, as much as 132 gallons of water to make a 2-liter bottle of soda, and about 500 gallons, including water used to grow, dye and process the cotton, to make a pair of Levi's stonewashed jeans." All corporations do need to take a look at their contribution to growing deterioration from the increasing assault on our habitat.
Coca Cola has grown rich at the expense of the world's health and water supplies, and they've become accustomed to the privilege of being able to exist without adding actual value to society - now crying over the possibility that their reign is threatened or may even be coming to an end.
..and there is the discussion whether a corporation that doesn't contribute to the public good has an actual right to exist - merely because governments have sold them a license to incorporate - and large lobbies grease the palms of Congress and parliaments to continue that privilege.
Because corporations exist, doesn't mean corporations have a right to exist - despite having 'bought' a license from a sympathetic (or corrupt) government.
Employing people in itself is not adequate reason to justify production of commodities harmful to people and humanity. In such cases, we need to find alternative economies' but the issues are complicated by America's legal confusion with corporate person-hood and the acquired right to distort facts through an appeal to First-Amendment rights of free speech - thanks to a system usurped by America's business community, static wealth, and disproportional inequality's distortion of power.
The bottom line is that citizens do have a right to be secure and safe from greed and exploitation.

OBESITY IN TEENS

8/11/2016

A short report from John Hopkins-Bloomberg School of Public Health on "Obesity: Nutrition and Exercise" - the teen years explained.

It includes tips on how you can make a difference helping children fight obesity.