Digestive Care Expert Brenda Watson

TAG | hormones

Dietary Salt And Heart Health—What To Believe?

People with high blood pressure are generally advised to reduce their intake of dietary salt. The average U.S. salt consumption is about 3,400 mg per day, but the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend keeping sodium intake below 2,300 mg per day for healthy people, and under 1,500 mg for people with high blood pressure and for those at risk of high blood pressure, most notably blacks and people over age 50. These groups make up about 70 percent of the U.S. population. The American Heart Association recommends that everyone should consume less than 1,500 mg of sodium per day.

These recommendations come from the results of the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) studies, which have found that a reduction of salt intake to below 1,500 mg per day is an effective method for reducing blood pressure.1 Whether or not the reduction of dietary salt leads to further cardiovascular benefits has been a subject of debate, however.

In July of this year, a controversial2 Cochrane Review published in the American Journal of Hypertension found that recommendations for a reduction in salt intake did lead to reduced salt consumption and a small reduction in blood pressure after six months, but that, “cutting down on the amount of salt has no clear benefits in terms of likelihood of dying or experiencing cardiovascular disease,” concluded the study.3 In fact, one finding of the study was an increase in the risk of death in people with congestive heart failure. The lead researcher stated, “We believe that we didn’t see big benefits in this study because the people in the trials we analyzed only reduced their salt intake by a moderate amount, so the effect on blood pressure and heart disease was not large.”

The saga continues with a recent Cochrane Review, also published in the American Journal of Hypertension, which reviewed 167 studies and found that reduction of dietary salt intake resulted in a modest 1 percent decrease in blood pressure in Caucasians with normal blood pressure and a 3.5 percent decrease in Caucasians with high blood pressure.4 Further, the study also found that salt reduction increased renin, aldosterone, adrenaline and noradrenaline (all hormones that affect blood pressure), in addition to raising cholesterol by 2.5 percent and triglycerides by 7 percent. These potentially harmful effects call into question the recommendation to reduce salt intake in Caucasians on cardiovascular risk overall.

The major source of sodium in the Standard American Diet (SAD) comes from processed food—cheese, bread, pizza, and grain-based foods and desserts being the main sources. This is a problem in itself. Perhaps it’s not the sodium that is the major contributor to cardiovascular risk, but rather the overall poor quality of the diet. Processed foods, refined grains, sugars, and chemical additives have turned the American diet into a ticking time bomb for heart disease—and most all chronic disease, for that matter. Remember that salt, in its natural form (from the sea) contains an array of minerals that help support nutrient sufficiency in the diet. Sea salt, like any salt, should be consumed in moderation—don’t overdo it, but you might not want to reduce levels as drastically as have been recommended.

The good news is there are other ways to eat a tasty (or even spicy) moderate amount of salt in your food:  Herbamare is a product which contains sea salt, lemon, fennel, leek, onions, chives, parsley, dill, basil, carrots, garlic, bay leaves,  marjoram, rosemary, thyme, chili, and kelp. Some varieties have hotter chili for those who like it. In addition, adding more kelp, nori, or dulse, all sea vegetables, adds more minerals (including iodine) in a natural form that would be beneficial for most everyone.  Through the use of medicinal foods like these, eating can be a joy that balances salt and herbs, providing much more than just table salt. And now for dessert:  It turns out that dark chocolate and almonds are quite beneficial in lowering blood pressure as well.

 

References

  1. F.M. Sacks, et al., “Effects on blood pressure of reduced dietary sodium and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. DASH-Sodium Collaborative Research Group.” N Engl J Med. 2001 Jan 4;344(1):3-10.
  2. F.J. He and G.A. MacGregor, “Salt reduction lowers cardiovascular risk: meta-analysis of outcome trials.” Lancet. 2011 Jul 30;378(9789):380-2.
  3. R.S. Taylor, et al., “Reduced dietary salt for the prevention of cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (Cochrane review).” Am J Hypertens. 2011 Aug;24(8):843-53.
  4. G. Jurgens and N.A. Graudal, “Effects of low sodium diet versus high sodium diet on blood pressure, renin, aldosterone, catecholamines, cholesterols, and triglyceride.” Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(1):CD004022.

 

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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Leaky Gut Associated with Belly Fat

Belly fat, or visceral adipose tissue (VAT), is the fat that accumulates around the organs in the abdomen. It is strongly related to metabolic disorders including insulin resistance, fatty liver and inflammation. Because of the close proximity of belly fat to the intestines, and the ability of gut bacterial toxins to affect inflammation outside the gut, the relationship of increased intestinal permeability, or leaky gut, to increased abdominal fat has been investigated. 

Indeed, previous studies in animals and in people with illnesses like Crohn’s disease1 and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), have found a link between leaky gut and belly fat. Until recently, however, no studies had been done in healthy humans. Now the picture is all coming together nicely, as a new study highlights.

In 55 healthy women, intestinal permeability was estimated by measuring urinary excretion of ingested nonmetabolizable sucralose and mannitol. (They measure the ratio of excreted sucralose to mannitol—if the sucralose level is high, it means it leaked through the gut, even though it shouldn’t.) Further, imaging was performed of subcutaneous fat (fat just under the skin) visceral fat, and liver fat. The researchers found that increased leaky gut was associated with increases in both visceral fat and liver fat content in healthy women.2 This is important because previous studies have found this in people with illnesses, but it was not known if leaky gut could was associated with belly fat in healthy individuals. Now we have a better picture of this gut connection.

The women in the study had no history of gut disorders, yet some of them still had leaky gut, and those with the worst leaky gut also had the most belly and liver fat. The researchers stated, “The current findings suggest that even without pathologically compromised gut function, intestinal permeability still appears to play a role in visceral adipose and liver fat accumulation.” Importantly, they go on to mention the role that the gut microbiota plays in this picture. Alterations in gut bacteria composition has been associated with metabolic dysfunction,3 and gut bacteria help regulate gut barrier function,4 they mention.

They conclude, “Our data suggests that intestinal permeability may be an important part of the link between diet, gut microbial balance, inflammation, and metabolic disorders. The present findings are consistent with the emerging role of gut in metabolic health.”

Abdominal fat has even been considered an organ of its own, due to the many chemicals and hormones it produces, just as organs do. The role of VAT as a contributor to metabolic diseases is possibly the most important factor to consider when trying to reduce disease risk. That the accumulation of this belly fat is related to the gut, and might even originate in the gut, takes our search into the prevention of diseases yet one more step closer to the source. A healthy gut is truly the foundation of total body health.

References

  1. Desreumaux P, et al., “Inflammatory alterations in mesenteric adipose tissue in Crohn’s disease.” Gastroenterology. 1999 Jul;117(1):73-81.
  2. Gummesson A, et al., “Intestinal Permeability Is Associated With Visceral Adiposity in Healthy Women.” Obesity (Silver Spring). 2011 Aug 18. [Epub ahead of print]
  3. Cani PD and Delzenne NM, “The role of the gut microbiota in energy metabolism and metabolic disease.” Curr Pharm Des. 2009;15(13):1546-58.
  4. Sharma R, et al., “Molecular modulation of intestinal epithelial barrier: contribution of microbiota.” J Biomed Biotechnol. 2010;2010:305879.

 

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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Autoimmune Disease and Toxins

 

Autoimmune disease involves a process whereby the immune system mistakes part of the body as a foreign invader, and mounts an attack against it, damaging tissue. The most common autoimmune diseases include type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, celiac disease, psoriasis, lupus, and Grave’s and Hashimoto’s diseases.

Prevalence of autoimmune disease is on the rise. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates as many as 23.5 million Americans may be afflicted with at least one autoimmune condition, up from 8.5 million in 1996. But even this estimate is low, since those numbers only consider 24 autoimmune conditions, when these illnesses actually number over 80.

Though genes do play a role in autoimmune diseases (they tend to run in families), environmental triggers are also involved and contribute to the increase in prevalence rates, according to Fred Miller, director of the Environmental Autoimmunity Group at the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences. “Our gene sequences aren’t changing fast enough to account for the increases,” Miller says. “Yet our environment is—we’ve got 80,000 chemicals approved for use in commerce, but we know very little about their immune effects. Our lifestyles are also different than they were a few decades ago, and we’re eating more processed food.”

Environmental triggers of autoimmunity include: chemicals, infections, stress, hormones, drugs, diet, weight gain and behavior. Of these, chemicals are particularly concerning due to their prevalence in the environment and to the lack of safety testing and regulation. The following toxins have been linked to autoimmunity: polyaromatic hydrocarbons (found in air pollution), heavy metals (lead and mercury), trichloroethylene (an industrial solvent that contaminates our water and air) and asbestos (found in building materials of older buildings).

Studying the link between environmental toxins and any illness is difficult, but because there are so many autoimmune disease, and because each one has different features, studying the link between chemicals and each illness is particularly difficult. Scientists are calling for better ways to link autoimmune diseases together, as occurs with cancer, to increase funding and understanding of what factors trigger this complex of diseases.

In the meantime, reducing toxin exposure, following a healthy diet, and supporting the seven channels of elimination—colon, liver, lungs, lymph, kidneys, skin and blood—with regular internal cleansing is recommended to help reduce toxic burden.

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Cracking the Gut Microbial Code: Are We There Yet?

“In the future, when you walk into a doctor’s surgery or hospital, you could be asked not just about your allergies and blood group, but also about your gut type.” This is a quote from ScienceDaily (Apr. 21, 2011) referring to a recent article in Nature Magazine. The study, published in Nature, also uncovers microbial genetic markers that are related to traits like age, gender and body-mass index. These bacterial genes could one day be used to help diagnose and predict outcomes for diseases like colorectal cancer, while information about a person’s gut type could help inform treatment.  Researchers found that the combination of microbes in the human intestine isn’t random, and that human gut flora can settle into three different types of communities or ecosystems. 

I would call this important work just “a start,” and would like to present some basic molecular biology to indicate the magnitude of the problem of trying to classify bacterial communities.   We now know we have over 1000 species of bacteria in our intestinal tracts, all of whom have their own thousands of genes as well as their own epigenetic codes regulating their genes. 

Here’s a primer on the epigenetic code: The epigenetic code (or epigenome) is in part a group of enzymes and methyl groups that attach to, and act on, genes. This ongoing active process allows some genes to be expressed, and other genes to be silenced. 

The epigenome responds to most every stimulus coming to the gut bacterial cell’s surface receptors, ranging from food (which can be beneficial or harmful), good or poor hydration, eustress (good stress) or distress; other stimuli include competing or complementary bacteria, viruses and fungi which can team together in biofilms (like a microbial city) in the gut lumen. Other major factors which could affect epigenomic actions are the hormones, growth factors, vitamins, immune factors, and  cytokines which continuously send signals into the bacterial cells to affect epigenetic expression. The resultant expression of genes will then direct the bacterial cells to do what they were meant to do: namely, live in a harmonious symbiotic relationship with us, the host, or remain in a state of alert, which may cause them to stop aiding the host, and become more parasitic in nature.

The above mentioned article did not in their paper find a significant connection between diet and gut bacterial balance.  However, there are many studies that do.  I found one as recently as May 2011.  Here is the summary of the article: “After 4 weeks, weight-loss diets that were high in protein but reduced in total carbohydrates and fiber resulted in a significant decrease in fecal cancer-protective metabolites and increased concentrations of hazardous metabolites. Long-term adherence to such diets may increase risk of colonic disease.”1 

The article points out that a low fiber, high protein diet causes biochemical changes to occur on a bacterial level.  First, without adequate amounts of soluble fiber the beneficial gut bacteria cannot produce short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), especially butyrate, which is the choice food of the colonic lining epithelial cells, and a preventer of damaged colonic cells from becoming cancerous.  In addition, the action of the gut bacteria on cooked meat creates increased proportions of branched-chain fatty acids, and concentrations of phenylacetic acid and N-nitroso compounds, which can lead eventually to inflammation and cancer of the colon. 

The source of bacterial production of both beneficial SCFAs as well as harmful chemicals comes from epigenetic and genetic changes which lead to the production of these chemicals. I believe we are proving daily that lifestyle changes including: a healthy, 80 percent plant-based diet, good hydration, sleep, exercise, elimination, and stress reduction all help to program our bacterial biomass as much as it does our bodies. Remember there are about 100 trillion bacteria and we have only about 10 trillion cells so we are outnumbered at least 10 to 1 in terms of genes and metabolic activity, so we need to take care of our “guests” as well as ourselves! Just as important as what bacteria are in our guts, is what else passes through and affects our guts. We must be able to step back and look at the entire picture, rather than simplifying it to “three gut types.”  

  1. W.R. Russell, et al., “High-protein, reduced-carbohydrate weight-loss diets promote metabolite profiles likely to be detrimental to colonic health.” Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 May;93(5):1062-72. Epub 2011 Mar 9.

 

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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The other day I read about a recent study that really got me thinking…about toxins. True, I probably think about toxins more than the average person, but this was interesting—especially since when most folks think about environmental toxins, they imagine giant factories polluting the air in big cities. But this study really proves that no matter where you live, dangerous contaminants are probably tagging along!

After analyzing more than 40 homes in California, some of which were in low-income industrial areas and some in higher-income coastal areas, scientists found “similarly high levels” of a particularly hazardous type of toxin called an endocrine disruptor. EDCs include things like phthalates and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that act like hormones in the body and can have damaging effects on healthy reproduction and growth in humans. They are also used in many commercial pesticides and even cosmetic products.

What’s more, after testing indoor/outdoor air samples and indoor dust samples for the presence of over 100 different compounds (70 of which were known EDCs), researchers also found also that the number of EDCs was higher indoors than it was outside the homes in both areas. Yikes! Freeloading toxins!

Still, the really interesting part is that the scientists were “surprised” to find high levels of EDCs present in all the homes they tested…but not me! In fact, this just proves what I’ve been saying all along—that our modern world has become more and more toxic in the last few decades, and whether you live in a big city or in the middle of the desert, we can no longer ignore the truth: toxins are everywhere.

How Toxic are YOU? Take the quiz at www.detoxstrategy.com and read more about how to safeguard your body against harmful toxins!

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What if there was a better, safer way to help people we love who are suffering from depression, anxiety, even insomnia? What if we could find a way to deal with addiction—from everyday food cravings to a need for alcohol and even drugs—that focused on the body as a whole rather than just the symptom? Well, guess what? When it comes to your health, everything’s connected—and nobody knows that better than Dr. Rick Sponaugle, founder of Florida Detox® and my guest on tomorrow’s Poop Scoop.

Join me and Dr. Sponaugle to learn more about the link between hormonal imbalance and how it affects the body’s brain chemistry and may contribute to a wide range of physical and emotional disorders, especially in women. A pioneer in the field of addiction treatment, Dr. Sponaugle is changing the way “brain” conditions are treated and has seen incredible breakthroughs using natural therapies to balance brain chemistry, correct nutritional deficiency, and balance the body’s hormones. If you or someone you love suffers from anxiety, depression, insomnia or addiction, don’t miss what Dr. Sponaugle has to say about the remarkable treatment techniques that can accelerate your recovery.

Log on and listen to Brenda’s Poop Scoop LIVE every Wednesday from 4-5 pm (EST) right from your computer. Missed an episode? Visit the Episode Directory on my website and listen to past shows from the archive!

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What if there was a better, safer way to help people we love who are suffering from depression, anxiety, even insomnia? What if we could find a way to deal with addiction—from everyday food cravings to a need for alcohol and even drugs—that focused on the body as a whole rather than just the symptom? Well, guess what? When it comes to your health, everything’s connected—and nobody knows that better than Dr. Rick Sponaugle, founder of Florida Detox® and my guest on tomorrow’s Poop Scoop.

Join me and Dr. Sponaugle to learn more about the link between hormonal imbalance and how it affects the body’s brain chemistry and may contribute to a wide range of physical and emotional disorders, especially in women. A pioneer in the field of addiction treatment, Dr. Sponaugle is changing the way “brain” conditions are treated and has seen incredible breakthroughs using natural therapies to balance brain chemistry, correct nutritional deficiency, and balance the body’s hormones. If you or someone you love suffers from anxiety, depression, insomnia or addiction, don’t miss what Dr. Sponaugle has to say about the remarkable treatment techniques that can accelerate your recovery.

Log on and listen to Brenda’s Poop Scoop LIVE every Wednesday from 4-5 pm (EST) right from your computer. Missed an episode? Visit the Episode Directory on my website and listen to past shows from the archive!

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Depression, anxiety, addiction to drugs and alcohol—they may not seem like things you’d associate with good intestinal health, but the truth may surprise you. In fact, your brain and your gut are more closely connected than you might think, and scientists are just now beginning to understand how important a healthy gut is when it comes to better brain function.

Join me and my guest, Dr. Marvin Sponaugle, the founder of Florida Detox® and a pioneer in the field of addiction treatment. Dr. Sponaugle is changing the way “brain” conditions are treated and has seen remarkable breakthroughs in his patients using natural therapies to correct hormonal/nutritional deficiencies and improve gut health. If you or someone you love suffers from addiction, anxiety or depression, don’t miss what Dr. Sponaugle has to say about the remarkable treatment techniques that can accelerate your recovery.

Log on and listen to Brenda’s Poop Scoop LIVE every Wednesday from 4-5 pm (EST) right from your computer. Missed an episode? Visit the Episode Directory on my website and listen to past shows from the archive!

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It’s scary to think about how many toxins are out there in the world, believe me I know. If it isn’t one thing it’s another—pesticides in our food, pollutants in our air, chemicals in our tap water—but what if it wasn’t just you that you had to worry about?

If you or someone you know is expecting, you’ll want to check out this website: The Endocrine Disruption Exchange is a non-profit organization dedicated to studying the effects of low-dose exposure to harmful chemicals called “endocrine disruptors” on fetal development and human health. Endocrine disruptors are like imposters in your body, and they basically act like hormones and interfere with normal physiological function.

On their website is an amazing interactive chart that shows the effects of three common endocrine-disrupting chemicals—bisphenol A (BPA), dioxins, and phthalates—during each week of fetal development, and they plan to add more chemicals to the chart as they continue to analyze the available scientific evidence.

It may seem a little too technical at first, but the visual is really neat. When you click on a specific chemical, it shows you just how low of a dose of that chemical can affect the healthy development of a baby in the womb. They even provide a summary of each study so you can learn more. Be sure to check it out!

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What Did I Do to Deserve IBS?

Are you one of the millions of people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome? Do you sometimes find yourself wondering “Why me?” or wishing there was something you could do about it? Well, all month long we’re focusing on IBS, and today we’re going to take a look at what causes IBS. Now keep in mind that there are many contributing factors when it comes to IBS, but here are some of the most common:

  • Irregularities in intestinal hormones and nerves responsible for bowel motility (muscle contraction)
  • Bacterial, fungal or parasitic infection
  • Food sensitivities
  • Inadequate enzyme production
  • Imbalanced gut flora
  • Inadequate diet
  • Stress

And because there are so many contributing factors, treatment for IBS can sometimes be difficult. BUTthe more you know, the better chance you have of finding relief, especially if small changes in your diet or lifestyle could be the answer.

Ruling out an underlying food sensitivity is an important step in dealing with IBS, which is why most experts recommend following a “food elimination diet.” This just means that the most common dietary offenders are eliminated from the diet for a period of time, and then reintroduced one by one to determine if a reaction occurs because of a certain type of food. The following is a list of the top foods shown to cause sensitivity:

  • Dairy products
  • Wheat and gluten
  • Eggs
  • Corn
  • Citrus
  • Caffeine
  • Alcohol

Keeping a food journal during this process is also extremely important. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had people tell me, “Wow! I had no idea what I was really eating until I started writing it down!” So grab a pen and start keeping track of what you eat and drink throughout the day—along with any digestive symptoms that might occur after eating. Eventually you’ll begin to notice patterns when you eat certain foods. 

Now I know the food elimination diet can be difficult, but it really is the best way to determine if you have a food sensitivity, which believe me is very common in people with IBS. And remember—if you can get to the bottom of your IBS symptoms, relief will come…so good luck!

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