Renew You Challenge

Let’s start this week off right!

Here is your newest weekly challenge (I mean opportunity!) to help set you off on the right foot and in the right direction for bringing health to your week. You could even add it to your calendar. Join us! 

As if we didn’t have enough reasons to avoid fast food as it is, a recent study published in the Public Nutrition Journal found a link between eating fast food or commercial baked goods (like doughnuts and cakes) and depression. Researchers found “the more fast food you consume, the greater the risk of depression.” They also found that people who ate more fast food were also more likely to have poor dietary habits and be less active. “Even eating small quantities is linked to a significantly higher chance of developing depression,” stated the lead researcher.

Little is known about the effect of diet on symptoms of depression, but certain nutrients, like omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and olive oil have been suggested to play a preventive role. This week, if fast food enters your diet even occasionally, think of alternative options for your fast-food fix. Bring healthy snacks with you when you leave the house so you are not later tempted with hunger while on the go. Find quick, healthy eating locations that would work when you need a fast meal sans fast food.

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On the heels of the recently announced CDC estimate that 1 in 88 children born today will be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder comes a new study, published in the journal Pediatrics, that found a link between metabolic conditions during pregnancy and risk for autism and other developmental disorders. Children born to mothers who had type 2 diabetes, obesity, or high blood pressure during pregnancy were 67 percent more likely to develop autism spectrum disorder (ASD), developmental delays, or other developmental impairments compared to children born to normal-weight mothers without diabetes or high blood pressure.

In addition, children born to mothers with ASD, in addition to metabolic disorders, were more disabled than children with ASD born to healthy mothers. Even children without ASD born to diabetic mothers showed impairments in socialization, and language comprehension and production when compared to non-ASD children of healthy mothers.

Researcher Paula Krakowiak stated, “Over a third of U.S. women in their childbearing years are obese, and nearly one-tenth have gestational or type 2 diabetes during pregnancy. Our finding that these maternal conditions may be linked with neurodevelopmental problems in children raises concerns and therefore may have serious public-health implications. And while the study does not conclude that diabetes and obesity cause ASD and developmental delays, it suggests that fetal exposure to elevated glucose and maternal inflammation levels adversely affect fetal development.”

The devastating effects of obesity and high blood sugar underlie the current chronic disease epidemic that we currently face. That autism spectrum disorder is linked to this phenomenon is not surprising. There are many factors that can contribute to the development of autism, this being just one. Luckily, these metabolic conditions can be reversed. The reversal does not come in a pill, however. It comes when people take back control of their own health by educating themselves, and making permanent diet and lifestyle changes. You must become your own health advocate.

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A recent 60 Minutes segment with Sanjay Gupta will hopefully open the eyes of many people who might not otherwise be exposed to such important information on the toxic effects of sugar. They emphasized that sugar—in the way people consume it today—is a toxin and could be a driving force behind such diseases and heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer.

I have been talking about the consequences of sugar for a long time now, including the link between sugar and cancer (in my last book The Road to Perfect Health), and of course the link to diabetes and heart disease. I have also been recommending the removal of sugar, including refined carbohydrates, in the diets of people with gut imbalances because sugar only serves to worsen or maintain this imbalance.

My stance on sugar has continued as I’ve watched not only my own health, but the health of family members, friends, and many people with which I’ve worked over the years, improve after removing sugar from the diet. In fact, my next book and PBS show tie it all together by recommending a healthy eating plan that limits sugar (including the sugar that comes from certain carbohydrates like bread and pasta) and increases fat—you heard me, the healthy fats including omega-3s. In addition, I talk about the importance of a balanced gut, which can be the underlying source of silent inflammation, the main component of most, if not all, chronic disease. The 60 Minutes segment talks about some of the same topics I cover in my book. It was refreshing to see mainstream media finally coming around.

As the Diva of Digestion, I have always recognized the importance of a healthy diet as a main contributor to digestive health, and to total-body health. One of the best ways to improve your diet is to remove sugar. As the 60 Minutes segment illustrates, sugar has the same addictive qualities as cocaine. In fact, they mentioned that people build a tolerance to sugar, always wanting more and more. The result has only been more and more heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Please, pass this on. Everyone needs to know the harms of sugar.

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Renew You Challenge

Let’s start this week off right

Here is your newest weekly challenge (I mean opportunity!) to help set you off on the right foot and in the right direction for bringing health to your week. You could even add it to your calendar. Join us! 

You’ve heard it many times before: exercise is good for you. In fact, we hear about the benefits of exercise so often it starts to sound like a broken record. And it turns into a should: “I should exercise more.” “I should find time for exercise.” Or a shouldn’t: “I shouldn’t be so lazy.” These “should” statements don’t really help us overcome obstacles. Instead, try to restate it, “I am going to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day because it will make me happier and healthier.” That’s better.

A recent study published in the journal Preventive Medicine found that women are less likely than men to get 30 minutes of exercise daily, and this puts them at greater risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Lead researcher Paul Loprinzi stated, “Those who get 30 minutes a day are less likely to be depressed, less likely to have high cholesterol, and less likely to have metabolic syndrome.”

Metabolic syndrome is a condition that includes a group of risk factors—abnormal blood lipid levels, high blood pressure, abdominal obesity (belly fat), and high blood sugar—and increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Almost 35 percent of American adults have metabolic syndrome. Luckily, addressing lifestyle factors like physical activity and diet can reverse this condition.

This week, start by tracking your physical activity. If you aren’t getting at least 30 minutes a day, figure out how you can add more time each day. It doesn’t have to be all at once. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park further from your destination to add a few minutes of walking when you can, and find a physical activity that you enjoy so that you are more inclined to do it. Finally, remember why you want to be healthy. Maybe it’s because you want to be around to enjoy your grandchildren, or even your children, more. Maybe it’s because you want to feel good. Keep reminding yourself of this reason and find ways to get moving.

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After menopause, the hormone estrogen decreases, leading to bone loss. This results in a large number of post-menopausal women who end up with osteoporosis, a condition that involves a deterioration of bone. Maintaining bone mineral density (the denser the bone, the healthier they are) into old age therefore becomes an important part of healthy aging.

In a recent study published in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism, researchers analyzed the effects of omega-3 fish oil with or without exercise on bone mineral density in 79 post-menopausal women. The women were assigned to one of four groups: omega-3 supplement only (fish oil containing 180 mg of EPA and 120 mg of DHA), exercise only (walking or jogging on a treadmill for 30 minutes daily, 3–4 days weekly, at 45–55 percent maximum heart rate), omega-3 supplement plus exercise, or a control group that took no supplement and did not exercise.

After 24 weeks, the omega-3 plus exercise group showed an increase in bone mineral density of the lower back and the femur bone, as well as a decrease in inflammatory compounds in the blood when compared to all the other groups. The researchers stated, “These findings clearly show that the combination of [omega-3] supplementation with aerobic exercise provides numerous benefits on bone density and inflammation over exercise alone or supplementation alone.”

Obtaining optimal amounts of omega-3 seems to inhibit bone resorption (breakdown) and promote bone formation, both critical to the development and maintenance of strong bones. Omega-3 fish oil and exercise make a great team as they promote bone health in this way. If you’re not getting one or the other (or both), consider adding them to your bone health support regimen.

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A recent article from the Journal of Environment International showed a significant connection between elevated blood mercury levels and autoimmune antibodies to parts of the thyroid gland, specifically thyroglobulin.¹ Thyroglobulin is a protein made in the thyroid gland that is essential for the production of thyroid hormones. With mercury in the thyroid gland, antibodies develop and attach to thyroglobulin, producing complexed thyroglobulin-antibodies (TgAb), which prevent normal function—hypothyroidism is the result.

 However, the story goes way beyond just the thyroid gland. Thyroglobulin autoantibody (TgAb) elevations in the blood have been associated with not only autoimmune thyroiditis, but also rheumatoid arthritis, pernicious anemia, fibromyalgia, and diabetes. Furthermore, one of the papers referenced in the article showed that removal of mercury-containing dental amalgams (silver fillings) resulted in a lowering of the thyroid autoantibody blood levels, and improvement of thyroid function. Other diseases implicated in elevated levels of toxic minerals (including mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, aluminum, and more) include neurologic inflammatory conditions such as autism, multiple sclerosis, and most neurodegenerative conditions.  So what can we do about the problem of exposure to toxic minerals like mercury?

 First, it is important to determine your exposure to these toxins. If you live near coal-burning power plants or industries that use mercury, if you eat large fish (especially tuna and swordfish) regularly, and if you have mercury-containing dental amalgams, most likely you will have elevated hair, blood, and tissue levels of mercury and other toxic minerals. Measurement of these toxins in hair and in packed red blood cells represents chronic exposure (3–4 months), and is more meaningful than serum and urine levels that generally represent exposure over a few days. If you wish to know about total-body storage of toxic minerals, chelating agents (such as DMSA, DMPS, and EDTA) can be used to bind the toxins and deliver them to the urine where they can be easily measured. It can be shocking to find out how much these agents can pull toxic minerals (like a magnet) from your tissues. 

 Second, it would be wise to find a physician trained in detoxification and chelation to help slowly remove these toxic minerals while monitoring your kidney and liver function, as well as your overall condition. Removing these toxins too fast can trigger many symptoms ranging from fatigue to rashes. Onset of symptoms does not mean you need to abandon the treatments, but to slow down, and do more things to support your liver, kidneys, and natural detoxification mechanisms. So what can you do before even testing or removing toxic minerals with the help of a doctor? It is simple—everything we have been discussing over the years, including: 

 Eat an 80 to 90 percent plant-based organic diet, with organic, free-range animal products.

• Avoid most all simple carbs and sugars to give you optimum energy and metabolism needed for detoxification.
• Keep hydrated: Drink 2 to 3 quarts or more of water daily. (Add lemon and stevia to make lemonade if water is unappealing.)
• Good bowel elimination daily: If toxicity levels are high, you may need to supplement with magnesium and/or herbs to promote bowel elimination.
• High quality sleep 7 to 8 hours per night: If needed, take sleeps aids like melatonin, GABA, or 5-HTP
• Probiotics & cultured food: Our intestinal microbiome and high-fiber diet maybe our best detoxification mechanism.
• Vitamin D3 and fish oil are needed to manage inflammation which can affect the body’s mineral balance and enzyme pathways needed for detoxification.
• Take a multiple vitamin, mineral, antioxidant supplement.
• Other supportive detoxification supplements include selenium, zinc, CoQ10, lipoic acid, N-acetyl cysteine, glutamine, glycine, and milk thistle.
• Regular use of infrared sauna increases your removal of toxins through the skin which is a major detox organ. Many people who do not sweat easily develop the ability to do so with sauna use. It’s good to exercise your sweat glands!
• Exercise regularly: Aerobic, resistance training, and stretching are all needed for optimum circulation in and out of tissues, and minimizing fat (which majorly stores toxins).

There is more, but this would be a good start not only for natural removal of toxic minerals, but to optimize the quality of your life in general.   

 References

1. C.M. Gallagher and J.R. Meliker, “Mercury and thyroid autoantibodies in U.S. women, NHANES 2007-2008.” Environ Int. 2012 Apr;40:39-43.

Leonard Smith, M.D.
Dr. Leonard Smith is a prominent Board-Certified, general, gastrointestinal and vascular surgeon who had a successful private practice for 25 years. In addition to his active surgery practice, he also incorporated lifestyle, diet, supplementation, exercise, detoxification, and stress management into many of the therapies he would prescribe. Many of his patients with cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other serious illnesses did so well under his treatment regimes that he began to devote most of his career to foundational health care and preventive medicine.

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Have you been wondering how much mercury is in the fish on your dinner plate? The FDA monitors mercury levels in a variety of fish used for food. They calculate average levels based on that testing. The fish highest in mercury? King mackerel, shark, swordfish and tilefish (from the Gulf of Mexico).

For the complete list, click here. You might want to print it out and take it with you to the fish market next time.

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I blog often about the harmful effects of bisphenol A (BPA) because this harmful chemical is found in over 90 percent of people in the U.S., and it has been linked to an array of health conditions. BPA is a hormone disruptor. That is, it acts as an estrogen imposter, interfering with hormone function in the body. BPA is found in food and beverage containers and linings, dental sealants, medical equipment, and thermal receipt paper.

The main source of BPA exposure is the diet, primarily from food that has come into contact with BPA laden containers. A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found that 3-year-old daughters of women with the highest urine levels of BPA when they were pregnant are more likely to exhibit anxious, depressive, and hyperactive behaviors when compared to those girls whose mothers had the lowest levels of BPA in urine during pregnancy. Boys were also analyzed in this study, but the relationship between BPA levels and behavior was not found in boys.

Previous studies have found a relationship between BPA exposure and impaired social behaviors in children, but a difference between boys and girls was not found. Further studies will be needed to investigate this relationship to determine if a true gender difference exists.

Another recent study published in the journal Circulation found that increased urinary BPA levels were associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease ten years later. The researchers say, “This study strengthens the statistical link between BPA and heart disease, but we can’t be certain that BPA itself is responsible.” The researchers recommend that government agencies organize safety trials of BPA in humans to determine what (if any) levels are safe for human health.

Concern about the dangers of BPA is widespread. In other recent news, Campbell’s Soup has announced that it has begun to remove BPA from some of its canned products, and plans to completely remove it from all products by 2015. This is a big move for such a prominent company. Not that I recommend Campbell’s Soup products, which are over-processed and under-nutritious at best, but I do give kudos to them for taking a big step in a positive direction here. I hope this inspires more companies to remove this toxic chemical from their products.

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Renew You Challenge

Let’s start this week off right!

 Here is your newest weekly challenge (I mean opportunity!) to help set you off on the right foot and in the right direction for bringing health to your week. You could even add it to your calendar. Join us! 

The sugar habits in this country (and we’re not the only ones) are truly atrocious. We often hear reports about the sugary beverages kids drink—soft drinks are the biggest single source of added sugar in kid’s diets—but sugary foods contribute even more sugar to kids’ diets than beverages.

New data from the National Center for Health Statistics shows that children get 59 percent of added-sugar calories from foods, and 41 percent from beverages. Cynthia Ogden, senior author of the report, states, “Soda consumption is high, but we shouldn’t lose sight of the added sugars in foods such as muffins, cookies, sugar-sweetened cereals, and pasta sauces.”

On average, children eat 322 calories a day from added sugar. Compare that to the American Heart Association’s recommended 100 calories daily for adult women and 150 for men. With one-third of our children overweight or obese, added sugar should be the first to go. Sugar adds nothing but calories, and does little more than fill kids up, leaving less room for needed nutrients found in whole foods like vegetables and fruits.

And remember, added sugar does not even include sugars found in 100 percent fruit juice, which can be quite high indeed. Fruit juices tend to add too much sugar and few nutrients. It’s better to just eat the fruit instead. This week, find the sugar in your kids’ diets (and your own!) and get it out. You’ll likely have to make some major adjustments.

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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), most notably including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a serious digestive condition for which we are only beginning to understand the underlying causes. Dysbiosis, or an imbalance of the gut microbes, is one relatively recent factor found to contribute to the development of IBD. One major contributor to the development of dysbiosis is antibiotic use.

A recent study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology concluded, “Subjects diagnosed with IBD were more likely to have been prescribed antibiotics 2–5 years before their diagnosis. This possibly implicates antibiotic use as a predisposing factor in [the cause of] IBD.”

Antibiotic use alters the gut flora, with some studies finding the alteration to last months or even years after discontinuation of the antibiotic. IBD is known to involve a decrease in gut flora diversity and an increase in bacteria that penetrate the protective lining of the intestine. Thus, the interest of researchers in the role of antibiotic use as a possible cause of IBD is well supported.

In the study, involving over 24,000 individuals (more than 2,000 diagnosed with IBD),  it was found that the risk of developing IBD 2–5 years after antibiotic use increased as the number of antibiotic uses increased. In other words, if a person used antibiotics 3 times, they had a greater risk of IBD than those who used antibiotics only once.  

Antibiotic use is obviously necessary for certain conditions (and often unnecessary for others). Supporting the ensuing gut imbalance that follows antibiotic use with probiotics (beneficial gut bacteria) is recommended. Talk to your doctor about it.

People with IBD face a long journey of healing during which the optimization of gut function is very important. Addressing gut imbalance is vital in these folks.

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