Fats vs. Carbohydrates

When I get a new book, I will often read through the Table of Contents, skim through a few pages and look at the last few pages before I start reading the book from the beginning. I am now embarking on a new read, a book that has been on my "to read" list for about 3 years, called Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes. So far, in my glancing over the book, I find it extremely interesting and confirming for what I have been researching over the last several years. The epilogue has a great list that I thought I should post. Mr. Taubes notes that he spent 5 years in research for this book, not expecting the results that he found. He states, "As I emerge from this research, though, certain conclusions seem inescapable to me, based on the existing knowledge: 1. Dietary fat, whether saturated or not, is not a cause of obesity, heart disease, or any other chronic disease of civilization 2. The problem is the carbohydrates in the diet, their effect on insulin secretion, and thus the hormonal regulation of homeostasis--the entire harmonic ensemble of the human body. The more easily digestible and refined the carbohydrates, the greater the effect on our health, weight, and well-being. 3. Sugars--sucrose and high fructose corn syrup specifically--are particularly harmful, probably because the combination of fructose and glucose simultaneously elevates insulin levels while overloading the liver with carbohydrates. 4. Through their direct effect on insulin and blood sugar, refined carbohydrates, starches, and sugars are the dietary cause of coronary heart disease and diabetes. They are the most likely dietary causes of cancer, Alzheimer's disease and the other chronic diseases of civilization. 5. Obesity is a disorder of excess fat accumulation, not overeating, and not sedentary behavior. 6. Consuming excess calories does not cause us to grow fatter, any more than it causes a child to grow taller. Expending more energy than we consume does not lead to long-term weight loss; it leads to hunger. 7. Fattening and obesity are caused by an imbalance--a disequilibrium--in the hormonal regulation of adipose tissue and fat metabolism. Fat synthesis and storage exceed the mobilization of fat from the adipose tissue and its subsequent oxidation. We become leaner when the hormonal regulation of the fat tissue reverses this balance. 8. Insulin is the primary regulator of fat storage. When insulin levels are elevated--either chronically or after a meal--we accumulate fat in our fat tissue. When insulin levels fall, we release fat from our fat tissue and use it for fuel. 9. By stimulating insulin secretion, carbohydrates make us fat and ultimately cause obesity. The fewer carbohydrates we consume, the leaner we will be. 10. By driving fat accumulation, carbohydrates also increase hunger and decrease the amount of energy we expend in metabolism and physical activity." So there it is, from Gary Taubes in Good Calories, Bad Calories.

The Perfect Storm

A horrible tragedy today, children, teachers and the school principle are murdered in what we have previously considered a safe place, our public elementary schools.  Some are blaming this on mental illness and others will say it is due to just plain evil that exists in the world.  I tend to believe this is what culminates from a perfect storm... just like a cancer.

Start with someone who has a genetic predisposition for mental illness, add to that the challenges and pains of childhood and the teenage years, also add to that a difficult upbringing by parents who make mistakes (sometimes really big mistakes) including abuse and neglect, then add to that desensitization by violent movies and video games, compound all of this with environmental exposures that affect the brain and nervous system (vaccinations, psychiatric medications, heavy metals and dietary excitotoxins), plus a lack of nutritional support for a healthy functioning mind and hormone balance... and then on top of all that, we now have a history of these mass shootings which feeds this soul and mind helping him to believe that he can and will accomplish this horrific task.  It's the perfect storm and it's extremely sad and disheartening for all of America.

My heart aches for these families, the mommies and daddies who went to rescue their children only to find them dead, the brothers and sisters of those children, the children whose parents died, the children who witnessed the killings, the community that is hurting so badly tonight and will never be the same again.  Oh dear God, help us.

What's wrong?

The more I read, the more I realize that there is so much going on in our world than we realize!  My own little world with my family, our school, our neighborhood, our jobs, our church... it's all so small when you realize how BIG the world is!  The more I learn, the more I understand that so much of what we are exposed to occurs without us realizing it, or having a choice about it.  Exposures such as what the media tells us, what the government tells us, what our health care professionals tell us, what our educators tell us, it's all filtered information.  Sometimes it may be filtered for our good, but ultimately, we should ask ourselves, "Who should decide what I am eating, drinking, smoking, watching, listening to, reading, or what I'm cleaning with?"   (BTW: I don't smoke but with marijuana becoming legal in some states, and cigarettes being banned in public places in some states, it is an issue for some people.)

Because I have an interest in nutrition and health, the nitty gritty of what I am referring to is our food and water supply.  Why do we have increased rates of asthma and allergies?  And cancers?  And autoimmune disease?  And autism or autism spectrum disorders?   I believe the "cure" for cancer (and many of these other conditions) is not that hard to find.  If we look at everything that has and is changing in our world, we may be able to decrease these things if we take away the causes.

What has changed, you may ask.  Here are a few major changes in the last several decades:

1. increased use of food additives, colorings, preservatives, etc
2. increased intake of fructose and other sugars
3. increased intake of processed/packaged foods
4. increased intake of artificial sweeteners
5. increased intake of genetically modified(GMO) corn and soybeans (a HUGE detriment to our health)
6. increased microwave use and less "real" cooking
7. fluoridated water intake
8. increased numbers of vaccinations given and with that mercury and other preservatives and adjuvants and contaminants (I'm not saying that ALL vaccines are bad, just that we are giving so many, especially to our youngest population, and yet do not know how this is truly impacting their health)

Some of these things, we don't even realize nor have we been given the choice to choose otherwise (mainly GMO foods).  Many of these things have not had proper research or studies done to prove they are safe and thus the public has become guinea pigs to those in the top ranks making big bucks (vaccines are an example of this).

Now, more than ever, we need to be advocates for our own health.  I'm not a paranoid person, but the more I read, the less I trust.  We need to know who our doctors are, get second and third opinions about major health decisions, know what we are eating and where it is coming from, have an awareness about what we are giving to our children whether it be food, soda, or vaccines.  I worked in family practice for 10 years and authorized hundreds, maybe thousands of childhood vaccines to be given, yet have never known exactly what was in those vaccines.  I ordered them because that is what I was taught to do.  Know why you do what you do and make the best decisions you can daily with what information you have. 

Ultimately though, as I get worked up and into a frenzy about this stuff, we need to remember that I, nor you, nor your doctor, is responsible for the day you die.  Only God knows this.  However, we need to do the best with what we have today.

Uff-da.  Glad I got that off my chest.  More to come though, so beware!

Blessings on your day.
Elizabeth

Resources

We are in a transition in our family.  I am changing jobs which will hopefully simplify my life and allow more time with my family!  We are also still waiting to bring home our little boy from Haiti.  While we thought he would have been home by now, we have come to know the journey that adoption is and the roller coaster it is for most who have been through it.

I am preparing to speak at a Christian Health Coop meeting this week and wanted to share some of the resources that I am giving them.  This will keep you busy for hours and hours if you want. 

Happy reading and learning :)


RESOURCES:

Eat Fat, Lose Fat by Dr Mary Enig and Sally Fallon

Know Your Fats by Dr Mary Enig (much more scientific)

Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes

The Cholesterol Myths by Dr Uffe Ravnskov

http://www.westonaprice.org/ 

http://www.spacedoc.com/

https://www.drbrownstein.com/homePage.php  

http://www.mercola.com/

http://www.blaylockreport.com/

http://weightandwellness.com/

http://elmag.com/

http://www.womentowomen.com/

Sincerely,
Elizabeth

Hello!

I thought about writing an update a few weeks ago, but forgot how to log on and make a new post!   I'm certainly not very technical and still prefer to read my books on paper :)

We have been very busy with our adoption and getting ready for our little boy Carson to join our family.  Actually, he is already part of our family, now we just need to bring him home!

Can I give you a tidbit for the day?  I just took a class through Nutritional Weight and Wellness (weightandwellness.com) and loved it.   I'm so glad to know that other people are teaching what I am teaching, plus I gained some great ideas and recipes.  I would highly recommend you check them out and attend a class or have a consult with one of their nutritionists.  They also have a radio program in the twin cities on 107.1 FM called Dishing up Nutrition.  It can be heard at 8am Saturday or 6pm Sunday.  One of my patients told me of this and I'm so glad she did. (Thank you Linda!)

A final thought ~ eat real food!  What is real food?   It is that which is already whole ~ fruits, vegetables, proteins, dairy, healthy fats (butter, cream, nuts, olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, etc).  It is not that which is made in a factory or refined and processed and placed in a bag or box. 

In America, we are set up to fail.  We have processed food and fast food everywhere and often times, it's cheap!  We have convenience foods and microwave ovens and have forgotten how to cook.  Challenge yourself to cook something this week using real food and real spices and herbs. 

That's all for now.  Thanks for reading!
Elizabeth

Finally... and a word about CoQ10.

Yes, I am still here, working, researching, trying to sort through the mountains of paperwork and internet information that is available!   As many of you know, my brother has just been through treatment for brain cancer and his last radiation treatment was yesterday!  He is now done with this until his follow up check up in 6 weeks.  He is doing so well, we are so proud of hiim and his wife and baby girl!   I have helped him by putting together nutrition information for him in order to help his body fight this cancer and then to prevent it from coming back. 

We are also awaiting the call from our adoption agency letting us know when we can go to Haiti and pick up our little Carson.  Hopefully this summer!!  I now fully understand why adoption paperwork takes so long to complete.

So on the nutrition front... there is more and more evidence regarding the benefit of Vitamin D.  If you are not taking this crucial supplement, you should read about its many benefits and strongly consider taking it.  A healthy diet often does not supply enough Vitamin D and if you live in the northern states, you really don't make enough Vitamin D due to lack of sun exposure.  Dr Mercola has lots of great articles regarding Vitamin D on his website mercola.com.  Please check it out!!

Cholesterol is my main area of research and I am at the forefront of changing the community standard for the way health care systems measure good health.  I truly believe that most people on the popular cholesterol lowering medications, the "statins," do not need them.  If you are on them, I would be willing to help you decide if you really do need them.  As with anything you put into your body, whether its a Big Mac or a medication, you need to weigh the risks and the benefits.  For most people, the benefits of these medicines are so minimal, that it is not worth the risk of the side effects.  One of the main side effects, or better stated, the adverse effects, is a lack of CoQ10.  The body needs this important enzyme for energy production, muscle function, and its antioxidant benefits. The statin medicines block the process of making CoQ10 in the body.  Remember your HEART is a muscle!  If I remember correctly, the rate of heart failure is increasing... does this have anything to do with the fact that millions of people are taking these medicines that deplete one of the most important enzymes for muscle function??  I am not the only one who is questioning this, other researchers are too.  If you are taking a statin medicine, you NEED to take a CoQ10 supplement, I suggest a dose of 50-300mg daily.  The dose probably depends on the dose of the statin and also your age since your body doesn't make as much as you age.

I could go on and on and I never intend for these posts to get so long, but they do!!
Here's to changing health for 2011! 

My brother Jeffrey is Amazing!

Hello!  As many of you know, my 26 year old brother Jeffrey has brain cancer.  He's undergone 2 huge surgeries already to remove 2 separate tumors from his brain.  He is recovering so well and his faith is incredible.  There is an event going on THIS SATURDAY, Oct 23rd, as a benefit to him to raise money and support his fight in this battle.  He has been married 2 years to Amanda and has a 6 week old beautiful baby girl, Lucy. 

This saturday at Maranatha Church in Forest Lake, starting at noon, the event begins.  This is going to be huge with tons of family friendly things to do and see. 

Please check out the website for more info:  jeffhaugenbenefit.com

Also, my great hubby Ryan found this website that looks to have lots of great info also:
http://chrisbeatcancer.wordpress.com/

Blessings to you and your loved ones.
Elizabeth