Gluten Free: Rethinking Snacktime

Gluten-free eating has gained popularity recently.  It's not for everyone; however, there are specific health conditions that benefit from avoiding gluten.  Gluten is actually a baking term for the group of proteins found in wheat, barley, and rye; the main protein is called gliadin.  Some folks have a genetic intolerance to gluten/gliadin called celiac disease -- if they consume gluten-containing grains, it causes inflammation in the intestinal tract that can produce constipation or diarrhea, as well as gas, indigestion, and bloating.  More importantly, it can also lead to malabsorption of nutrients, and actually raise the risk of chronic disease development.

Other people do not have celiac disease, but have gluten intolerance -- they have discovered by experience that they feel better and healthier when avoiding gluten.  This may show up as a positive reaction on an IgG food sensitivity lab test (which we offer at CINHC), or could just be discovered by doing a trial of gluten avoidance for a few weeks.

If you have ever tried going gluten-free (GF), out of necessity or curiosity, you quickly discover just how challenging it can be:  wheat is in nearly every packaged or processed food, and most foods available at restaurants.  The key to success with a GF diet is advanced planning, especially to avoid the trap of relying on the explosion of GF junk foods that have become available recently.  Food writer Amie Valpone has great ideas on healthy GF snacking:

Clean and Easy Gluten-Free Snacks

The "Diet Soda Paradox"

Diet soft drinks.  Americans have a love/hate relationship with them, but one thing is certain:  Americans drink a lot of diet soda.  Mostly, this is an effort to either lose weight or protect against weight gain.  Several studies have been published in the last couple of years showing that drinking diet soft drinks does not accomplish these goals at all.  The mechanism of this paradox has been murky; shouldn't a zero-calorie drink lead to weight loss?  One hypothesis has been that the artificial sweetener fools the brain into expecting sugar (which the brain needs to function); when the sugar doesn't arrive, the brain increases hunger signals in an attempt to find the "missing" fuel.

New research in the April edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates that the results may have more to do with what is habitually eaten along with the diet soda.  In other words, people with relatively healthy diets tend to drink less soda overall, while those who eat the Standard American Diet (S.A.D. -- high in salty, fatty, processed foods) consume more soda, including diet soda.  Moreover, there is a "permissiveness" effect from drinking diet soda:  psychologically, reaching for a diet soda instead of a sugary drink justifies a big serving of chips or fries along with it.

While the experts split hairs about whether or not diet soda is a bad thing, I say kick the habit now (after all, you wouldn't want to increase your risk of stroke, would you?).  Consider the alternatives:

• Get a reusable water bottle, and make pure water your go-to drink.  Add a squirt of real lemon or lime juice for a little flavor, if you miss it.  No need to replace one highly processed food (diet soda) with another ("designer" waters).
• Green tea:  go beyond the Lipton -- there are many different varieties, with flavors that should appeal to everyone.  And how about a 20-30% lower risk of cardiovascular disease as a bonus?

No Time for Exercise? Think Again

Patients and regular readers know that my favorite supplement is exercise -- the list of benefits keeps growing all the time.  A common complaint I hear is that it's hard to find the time to work out.  Yes, we all have those busy days.  That's why I often recommend burst training (such as the Sprint-8 plan) as a very time-efficient form of exercise -- a great workout in 20 minutes, 2-3 times per week.

When it comes to therapeutic exercise for postural rehab or back or neck pain, I recommend the idea of "micro-breaks" at work:  taking 15-30 seconds at regular intervals throughout the day for a bit of stretching to counteract the physical stressors we put on our bodies.  Here's a fabulous web site that takes it a step further (besides, "micro" is so 20th century):

Nano Workout

Before You Decide on Cancer Treatment, You Must Listen to This

A diagnosis of cancer can be one of the scariest turning points in a person's life.  There are many highly effective natural treatment methods that can support the body through cancer treatment:  strengthening the immune system, preventing the spread of cancer, and minimizing side effects from conventional therapies.

There are a lot of folks out there in the "alternative" health field who would take advantage of the fear and confusion that comes with a cancer diagnosis.  Before making any decisions, you owe it to yourself or your loved one to listen to this interview with naturopathic cancer specialist Tina Kaczor, ND, FABNO:

EXPOSING UNPROVEN CANCER CURES

Are You Missing this Key for Alzheimer's Prevention?

Previous research indicated there may be a link between vitamin D and reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease.  Now scientists have clarified the mode of action:  vitamin D3 (the active form) activates certain genes responsible for cleaning up amyloid-beta protein.  This protein is the main ingredient of the plaques in brain cells that are believed to cause Alzheimer's disease.

Yet another great reason to find out:  are you among the two-thirds of Americans with insufficient vitamin D?  Time to get your blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D checked.  Maybe this new research will motivate you, if you've managed to ignore the benefits of vitamin D in preventing osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, seasonal affective disorder, autoimmune diseases, etc., etc....

Vitamin D And Alzheimer's: Study Shows How The Nutrient Can Help The Brain Ward Off Amyloid Plaques

Hold the Diet Soda till You Read This...

Anyone who follows good nutrition knows that soft drinks are one of the biggest sources of empty calories for Americans -- a big contributor to our expanding national waistline.  To avoid this, many reach for diet pop instead.  Last year, new scientific research confirmed that drinking diet soda does not protect against mid-life weight gain.  This is significant, since those extra pounds make us more vulnerable to developing chronic degenerative diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

More shockingly, new research just published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine shows that daily diet soda drinkers actually have a 44% increased risk of heart attack or stroke.  Read that again.  A 44% higher risk of heart attack or stroke, even after taking other risk factors (cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, etc.) out of the equation.  Just from daily diet soda consumption.  


The soft drink industry would like to downplay these research studies, since diet soda should "theoretically" be healthier than regular soda.  Clearly, the science proves just the opposite:  diet soda is far from a health food.  Should you switch back to regular soda?  Of course not -- the extra calories and high-fructose corn syrup are a sure recipe for obesity and metabolic syndrome.

What's the answer?  The counter-cultural choice of beverages:  how about water or green tea?  Many people object that they don't like the taste, but really, it's just a matter of getting accustomed to it.  By gradually shifting more servings of beverage each day over to water or green tea, your taste buds will adapt.  And -- in a very real sense -- it might just save your life.

Can Ionic Foot Baths Cure What Ails You?

A few years ago, I was advised by a business consultant to add extra services to my practice, such as ionic foot baths -- something he recommended could be "sold" to patients at a rate of $50 per session for an average of 10 sessions.  After looking into this technology, it didn't take me long to reject it, in spite of growing popularity in some natural health circles.

These foot baths consist of a small basin of water with a small electrical charge running through it.  Manufacturers claim that all sorts of "toxins" -- from mercury to yeast to bile sludge -- can be pulled out of the body through the feet this way.  This ran contrary to everything I knew about physics, biochemistry, and human physiology.  It only took a few minutes on the manufacturer's web site to confirm that the claims were not backed up by any legitimate science at all.  I immediately made the decision not to offer this to my patients, because my oath as a physician requires me to offer safe and effective treatments, not the latest profit center.

A new study carried out by the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine confirmed that  ionic foot baths are not only ineffective, they are potentially hazardous.  As I often tell my patients, ask questions -- not only about conventional treatments, but alternative treatments as well.  There are many wonderful and worthwhile therapies in the field of natural medicine -- I guide patients every day on time-tested treatments, tailored to each specific case.  Remember, though:  just because something is natural does not automatically make it safe and effective.

Study Debunks Ionic Footbath Detox Claims