We have always defined obesity as YOUR problem.  You got fat because you ate too much and were lazy!  That definition doesn’t get us very far because all of us are now fat.   I bet most of you don’t think of yourselves as lazy.  So, we come up with simplistic answers like, “you are fat, therefore, don’t eat fat”.  In 1978, our food guidelines from our own government came out with the biggest public health disaster in modern history.  We said to stop eating fat and stoke up on healthy carbs.   As many as you want.  Our FDA said it so our Diabetes Association, our Dieticians, our American Heart association all chanted the same mantra.  You get fat because you eat too much fat.  And in the next thirty years, we all cut down on our fat, and got fatter.

Someone needs to tell the Emperor that his clothes don’t fit!  In fact, that theory is dead wrong.  There is now an emerging consensus from both research on humans and population studies all around the world in “non-obese” populations that we get fat when we eat our unique, Western, wheat and processed carb (including sugar) diet dominated diet.  I’m going to discuss this for a couple of news letters, but first, we are going to start with a new definition of obesity and how you got there.  Then, I’m going to prove it to you!  If it’s outrageous and different enough, we’ll both learn something here.  So, bear with me and enjoy this ride.

Here goes.  # 1 What is obesity?  Dr Westman proposes that it is a disorder of excessive fat accumulation.  NOT overeating, NOT energy balance, NOT sedentary behavior.  You are accumulating fat because your hormonal response to the food you eat is all messed up by insulin sensitivity.  YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME!

#2:  The PRIMARY DEFECT is in the body, NOT the brain.  Our fat tissue is tightly regulated with incredible sensitivity to our insulin levels.  That’s what’s messed up. Our bodies think we are hibernating for winter, and store calories willy-nilly.

#3  OVEREATING and SEDENTARY behaviors are COMPENSATORY, not primary behaviors.  We’ve had chicken and egg backwards.   We eat to keep up with our fat tissue accumulating fat.  We rest because we are exhausted, and don’t have the energy to exercise.   Your calories are all going to fat, and not to energy.  You get starving hungry so you eat again, and again, and again.  And when you eat wheat, you force yourself to release insulin, store more calories and get fatter.

#4  THE CORE PROBLEM is that insulin is exquisitely capable of defining how much fat we either STORE or BURN.  Hence, if we force ourselves to secrete insulin, we lock up fat calories, and force ourselves to put on weight.   We’ve had our strategies all backwards because we based them on the concept that we simply have to eat less not realizing the incredible power of appetite to drive our behavior.  We have to change the food we eat to get away from the vicious circle.  And wheat sits at the center of that circle.  That’s just one of the problems with wheat.  There are more.

We are doing it to ourselves, that we must admit.  But it has been upon the advice of all our experts from the FDA, to the ADA, to the American Heart Association to EAT MORE WHOLE GRAINs.  And that means eat more wheat.  Next week: a whole new world.  “The problem with wheat”.

WWW. What will work for me?  The bread of life.  Wheat is a problem.  It makes us sick.  It makes us fat.  It forces us to secrete insulin.  Now that I have your attention, I’ll show you how in about 5-6 newsletters.  We will learn more about “the trouble with wheat”.   You got fat because the food we have invented in the 20^th century is poisoning you in unique ways that play upon the core mechanisms of our metabolism.  You need to understand those mechanisms and how to get around it.  But it all starts with wheat.

Written by John Whitcomb, MD  Brookfield Longevity and Healthy Living Clinic, 17575 W North Ave, # 160 Milwaukee, WI 53045   262-784-5300 www.LiveLongMD.com and newsletters archived at www.NewsinNutrition.com

To unsubscribe, please just write back.  And please forward this email to a friend.  That way, you learn it too!

Fay McCabe had tried several programs to lose weight: Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, LA Weight Loss.

She lost 10 pounds on Jenny Craig but grew tired of the prepackaged meals. Once she stopped eating them, she gained the weight back. Weight Watchers was better, but she didn’t like attending meetings and talking in front of people. She didn’t want to hear their issues either. And the LA Weight Loss bars and supplements got old.

So she turned to someone else to help her with her weight loss: her doctor, Dr. Rebecca Hunton. The result: a 50-pound weight loss in two years.

“I eat regular food, and I eat a lot of food,” said McCabe, 57, of Viera. “I just eat healthier things, vegetables, lean meats, nuts, a piece of fruit for a snack. I also exercise more. I go to the gym five times a week.”

For years, people who wanted to lose weight turned to commercial diet programs, such as Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem and Slim Fast, among others, their ads touting the program’s ease, testimonials and unbelievable before and after photos. Some tried fad diets, such as South Beach, Atkins, Cabbage

Soup and the Master Cleanse, the lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper concoction Beyonce drank to slim down for the movie “Dreamgirls.”

In the meantime, Americans continued to get fatter. Today, two-thirds are overweight or obese.

So perhaps it is time doctors got involved in weight loss. And no, we’re not talking Physicians Weight Loss Centers or a doc simply looking at a BMI chart and telling a patient to lose weight.

Hunton recently introduced the Wellspring Healthy Weight Loss Program at her practice in Suntree. The program uses Metagenics’ FirstLine Therapy, which incorporates an eating plan, exercise, supplements and stress management. FLT is described as a therapeutic lifestyle change program that also treats chronic health problems, such as high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome (a precursor to diabetes) and unhealthy body composition.

Hunton said she started the program because so many of her patients wanted to lose weight.

“A lot of them were going elsewhere and losing the weight, but not necessarily getting healthy, and gaining it back and then some,” she said.

Her program begins with blood work. Hunton then makes specific recommendations based on lab results to determine a person’s nutrient needs and metabolic profile.

For example, Tina Lange’s blood work revealed she is prediabetic and vitamin D deficient. So the 37-year-old mother of two, who also is the public relations manager for the practice, takes a vitamin D supplement, a supplement to fight fatigue, fish oil, which is recommended for all the patients, and makes sure to eat three meals a day plus snacks.

She also was advised to start exercising for 30 minutes a day three times a week, in addition to her one-day-a-week roller derby practice. Her goal: Lose 25 pounds.

“She takes your whole lifestyle into account,” said Lange of Satellite Beach, about Hunton. She had tried Weight Watchers but was looking for a more personalized program.

“She’s not only looking at your weight. She’s looking at your blood work, stress level, sleep patterns, that’s all part of this FirstLine Therapy idea. It’s basically the idea of taking all these things into account in formulating a strategy for wellness.”

Three-phase program

Hunton’s program has three phases. Phase 1 is the cleanse. Patients are asked to slowly eliminate processed foods, caffeine and bad carbs. Processed foods create inflammation, which can lead to patients holding on to unwanted weight, according to Hunton. Phase 1 also focuses on getting the body rehydrated.

Phase 2 is the personalized weight-loss plan. There is no calorie counting. Rather, a certain number of servings are recommended from various food groups. Patients are encouraged to eat three times a day, plus drink two Metagenics’ UltraMeal shakes. The shakes, full of vitamins and minerals, are not meal replacements but can be substituted for a meal if combined with something else, such as fruit or nuts.

“We’re going to guide you on what types of food you’re supposed to eat every day,” Hunton said. “We’re supposed to eat those variety of foods for our bodies to be healthful. There’s nutrients in foods that we need.”

And phase 3 is the stabilization phase, where a patient transitions from weight loss to maintenance.

Hunton said she occasionally recommends B-12 vitamin shots to give patients increased energy. These do not replace regular multivitamins. She also may use hCG shots as a “plateau buster” for patients stagnant in their weight loss. hCG, which stands for human chorionic gonadotrophin, is a hormone produced during pregnancy. Some believe it helps to curb appetite. She does not use it in conjunction with a low-calorie diet like many other programs.

The program costs $60 a week, including supplements. Patients are expected to lose two to four pounds a week.

Joan Salge Blake, a registered dietitian and clinical associate professor at Boston University, praised such an integrated approach to weight loss. She would like to see dietitians and doctors work together more.

But she prefers people make up for nutritional deficiencies with food, not supplements. For example, B-12 can be found naturally in animal products and in synthetic forms, such as fortified cereals.

“It’s always food first,” she said. “Because it’s not just one nutrient in food. I’m not just going to have milk because it’s a good source of calcium. But it’s also a good source of vitamin D, potassium. But then, after we try food first, for some reason you’re not meeting your nutrient needs, you go to a supplement.”

‘Treat the whole person’

Dr. Lance Maki, who owns MAKImd Restoration Medicine on Merritt Island, also is taking a comprehensive approach to help patients lose weight. Like Hunton, he incorporates Metagenics’ FLT, using the FDA-approved medical foods as part of a healthy eating plan. He also does lab work, looking at a patient’s cholesterol levels and performs a micronutrient analysis.

He even has Annette Sallee, a health and wellness coach, work with patients to figure out why they medicate with food. She teaches them how to eat properly, exercise and set realistic goals in addition to holding them accountable in a nonjudgmental manner.

“We want them to eat healthy, every three hours, not allow themselves to get hungry,” she said. “Good high-quality nonprocessed foods. Fruits and vegetables and lean protein, drinking half their body weight in ounces of water, and sleeping. Sleep is huge for weight loss.”

Maki’s program is 12 weeks and costs less than $100 a week, including the UltraMeal shakes, bars and weekly consultations with Sallee. Some participants receive B-12 shots at an additional cost. Patients are expected to lose one to two pounds a week.

“We try to treat the whole person,” said Maki, adding he spends a lot of time with the patients, not only discussing what to eat but overall health and wellness concerns. “We are not recommending that people diet, rather that they change their diet to eating healthy the rest of their lives.”

Of course, this all sounds like a no-brainer, especially for someone who has struggled with their weight for years. They know the refrain: Diets don’t work, lifestyle changes do.

But when people get to the point where they are seeking “this kind of help, they will do whatever is necessary to lose weight and be healthy,” Sallee said.

Plus, a physician can make recommendations based on lab results, medical history, body composition and a person’s symptoms and tailor a plan that works for them.

So far, Hunton’s patients are pleased with the results. Some, like McCabe, started before it was even an official program.

Debbie Pedicini, 55, of Melbourne, has lost 8 pounds and dropped one dress size in six weeks. She even has stopped taking medicine for her arthritis. She is no longer in pain. She said she is happier, more energetic and more alert.

“Some days I would get up and say, ‘Oh I want to go back to bed.’ I don’t have those days anymore,” she said. “It’s an easy program to follow, and it works. It definitely works.”

McCabe, who is maintaining her weight, has had to make some sacrifices: no ice cream, cookies, white flour or white sugar. But she doesn’t miss those foods.

She still comes to Wellspring for supplements, B-12 shots and lab work. She no longer takes prescription drugs. She was on high blood pressure pills.

“I’m happy,” she said. “My blood work is good and I feel good.

“I needed to be healthier if I was going to be around,” she added. “I didn’t want to be around and not be healthy.”

> read original article

There has been much misinformation over the years on the best ways to lose weight and optimize health. In the 1980′s, the “low-fat” craze began – leading us all to believe that if we only cut the fat out of our diets, we would lose weight. The problem was that the U.S. population just kept gaining more and more weight as the years passed. The truth is that there is so much more at work than simply fat intake.

In the 1990′s, we had the insurgence of “fad” diets: Atkins, Ornish, South Beach, etc. This includes
diets that are too caloric restrictive as well. The results from these diets varied, but we learned that
excluding any food category – whether it be fat or carbohydrates – is never good for you, and
ultimately your health will suffer in one way or another.

Today we are facing the worst obesity epidemic in our country’s history. Last year, USA Today
reported that by the year 2030, more than 50% of the U.S. population is going to be diabetic
because of our poor habits.

There is no single factor that contributes to weight gain. There are a multitude of forces working
together, and it’s important to educate yourself – then work with your doctor to develop a plan that
makes sense for your individual situation and combination of health factors. Here are some things
to consider as you assess your own situation:

1. Cut back on eating foods that raise blood sugar and insulin levels in your body. Don’t
just eliminate carbs, rather choose “healthy” carbs and balance them with protein. Insulin
Resistance is the top-contributing factor to obesity in this country today, and it is caused by an
overabundance of insulin in our high-sugar, high-carb diets.

2. Consider hormones. In particular, our adrenals, thyroid and pancreas have a significant
effect on the way our bodies process fat. Additionally, estrogen and testosterone levels affect the
way insulin is processed in our cells. Work with your doctor to optimize hormone levels prior to
attempting weight loss.

3. Stress leads to increased cortisol in the body, which leads to increased food intake and abdominal obesity. It is critical to manage your stress levels – not occasionally with a nice vacation or massage, but every day.

4. Addiction. Food addiction is a common problem and unlike alcohol or drugs, you cannot
simply “avoid food.” When you have a food addiction and your family members, friends and coworkers put the food your brain craves right in front of you, it is not a matter of willpower. Seek
help, as you would for any addiction

5. Toxicity. There are damaging chemicals in our food and in our environment. Toxins put our
bodies in self-defense mode, which can result in unnecessary fat storage. Nutritionally support your
body and detox to purge those toxins from your system.

5. Hydrogen Peroxide – No, not the bottle in your home medicine cabinet. The quality of Hydrogen
Peroxide administered through IV Therapy has shown significant results in combating frequent
Herpes outbreaks, and also serves as an extremely effective antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial and
antiparasitic agent.

6. Sleep. Did you know that if you don’t get 7-9 hours of sleep a day, you will gain weight?
Studies have shown that subjects that only get an average of five hours of sleep per night have
73% increased likelihood to become obese.

7. Allergies. If we are allergic to certain foods, those allergies may cause inflammation, and our
bodies respond to inflammation by making more cholesterol and fat. Get tested for food allergies.

What Should You Eat?
Changing your eating patterns can immediately get you off to the right start, while you wait for
blood tests to rule out some of the other factors listed above.

Eliminate high fructose corn syrup. The problem is that corn is the #1 food product in our
country and is heavily subsidized by the government. Therefore, it’s much cheaper to purchase
foods laden with corn syrup. Look at your labels and avoid this ingredient whenever you can.

Eat healthy fats and sugars. Butter is actually composed of 86% healthy fat while margarine
has hardly any. Fructose is not a harmful sugar when you eat the raw fruit. Fruits eaten with the
peels on (apples, pears, berries) are healthier than those without (watermelon, applesauce, juice)

Buy certain groceries organic. While organic produce is more expensive, there are certain
fruits and vegetables that contain more chemicals and toxins than others. These include apples,
potatoes, green peppers, and leafy greens. Also, consider buying organic coffee – it is one of the
most toxic food products on our grocer’s shelves today.

Finally, talk with your doctor about your lifestyle and determine if you have the symptoms of
Metabolic Syndrome/Insulin Resistance. This would include a waist size larger than 35″ for women
and 40″ for men, and elevated triglycerides, blood sugar over 130/80 and HDL levels less than 50
in women and 40 in men. Once you know you’ve developed Insulin Resistance (many of us have),
you can immediately start adjusting your diet and managing the other internal and environmental
factors that may be keeping you from fully realizing your wellness goals

> read original article

In today’s society, we’ve been taught to take a pill for everything. Often it is a pharmaceutical agent, but more and more people are turning to natural medicine and nutritional supplements instead. Unfortunately, many of us aren’t getting the results we should. Call it leaky gut or intestinal permeability, our guts just aren’t functioning the way they were designed.

For those that are taking far too many medications, it could be interfering with the acid and bacteria balances we need in our stomachs for optimum health. In addition, many prescription
medications interfere with our cell’s natural ability to absorb nutrients. As a result, while treating one issue, could actually be sabotaging your body’s efforts to gain the nutrition you need from your food.

IV Nutrition is a safe way to address a wide variety of micronutrient deficiencies, and a much more effective method to ensure optimal absorption of nutrients into our bloodstream. Micronutrient deficiencies can result in a number of physiologic symptoms, including (but not limited to) chronic fatigue, unexplained tremors and twitches, hair loss and brittle nails. IV Nutrition may be a preferred option for patients experiencing such symptoms. There are a number of more serious illnesses that can also be effectively treated through IV Therapy, including Parkinson’s Disease, Herpes and Hepatitis.

A risk factor that can be surprising is that carbonated drinks can cause significant calcium and
bone degradation. Additionally, your daily coffee fix may be contributing to bone loss as a result of
the myriad of chemicals found in non-organic coffees. Another significant contributor to
osteoporosis is over-the-counter reflux medications. The warnings on these products recommend
they be taken for no longer than three months. This is because they contribute to bone loss.

Another interesting factoid – IV Therapy can be quite effective in reducing wound infection, bruising
and swelling prior to surgery and greatly increasing healing times following surgery. There are
several different types of IV Therapy, and it is important to become educated on the options
available to you. Here are a few of the more common IV therapies available:

1. The “Myer’s Cocktail” – a 10 to 20-minute in-office procedure that administers therapeutic doses
of multiple nutrients, combined to meet your specific needs. The cocktail commonly incorporates B
and C vitamins and Magnesium as a foundation.

2. Glutathione – This therapy can benefit anyone, although it is well known for its remarkable
effects on the brain – most notably in Parkinson’s patients, who have shown significant
improvement in arm ambulation and overall bodily movement within only 15 minutes of receiving
Glutathione therapy

3. Phosphatidyl Choline (PPC) – PPC is found in Lecithin and plays a critical role in helping cells
ingest and expel critical nutrients. It is also a wonderful antioxidant for your brain!

4. Vitamin C – The viral superhero. It is a proven fact that Vitamin C administered through IV
Therapy is absorbed MUCH more effectively in the body than through oral doses. It is impossible to
get similar concentrations of this crucial vitamin through oral methods. In addition to fighting
everyday viral infections, Vitamin C is also commonly used in the days prior to and following
chemotherapy for cancer patients.

5. Hydrogen Peroxide – No, not the bottle in your home medicine cabinet. The quality of Hydrogen
Peroxide administered through IV Therapy has shown significant results in combating frequent
Herpes outbreaks, and also serves as an extremely effective antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial and
antiparasitic agent.

6. Glycyrrhizin – A derivative of licorice, Glycyrrhizin has been used for years in Japan to normalize
enzymes in patients at high risk of developing liver cancer. It is also effective in treating patients
with Hepatitis C, HIV, Herpes and Shingles.

IV Therapies work for a simple reason. They provide a much more direct way to get higher
concentrations of nutrients into the bloodstream and tissues.

IV Nutrition is not a cure for everyone and everything. It is also not a replacement for a healthy
lifestyle. But IV Therapy can be an extremely effective tool in optimizing your health.

As with any medical treatment, know your options and empower yourself through education. YOU
are the best person to take charge of ensuring you live a long, active life.

> read original article

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is a popular topic these days. Much of the interest has been initiated by aging Baby Boomers who are extremely interested in maintaining active,vital lifestyles throughout the remainder of their years. Popular culture icons such as Oprah, Dr. Phil and Suzanne Somers have also generated curiosity and interest. Hormone optimization plays a significant role in anti-aging, but it’s not only beneficial for those of advancing age. Hormonal imbalance can occur at any age, and treating even mild hormone deficiencies can dramatically improve your quality of life.

But what is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy? The term ‘bioidentical’ means that the
molecular structure of the hormone is identical to that which is produced by our own bodies. BHRT
is a clinical specialty where the physician measures your current hormonal status and utilizes that
information to bring you to an optimal, balanced state. Surprisingly, it is not just about estrogen,
progesterone and testosterone; Hormones such as thyroid, insulin, pregnenolone, human growth
hormone, cortisol and other adrenal hormones are all measured and addressed as well.

When considering BHRT, know that when your physician interprets your laboratory results as
“normal,” that doesn’t necessarily mean “optimal.” While your hormone levels may be within
defined, safe ranges, they may not be at levels that will enable you to be the best version of
yourself. The best example of this is your thyroid hormone. In 2006 the American College of
Endocrinology found that a TSH greater than 3 often indicated clinical hypothyroidism and in 2010
the Annals of Internal Medicine reported that most people feel better with a TSH less than 2. Yet,
most current laboratories report abnormal as greater than 4.6. If your physician is unaware of
current studies, there’s a good chance your thyroid hormone isn’t being addressed correctly.

Even with BHRT, lifestyle choices are still a fundamental part of your success. Your clinician should
factor lifestyle choices when developing your personalized plan. If you do believe that BHRT may
be a good option for you, be sure and consult a qualified physician. Every individual has a unique
physical, genetic and hormonal composition. The way certain hormone replacements may
assimilate into one person’s body may differ in another. Although some over-the-counter products
claim to be natural hormone therapy, natural isn’t necessarily bioidentical and they may not function
in your body in the same way as the hormone your body produces. In addition, you don’t want to
supplement a hormone that is not in a deficiency state. Dosage is also not “one size fits all.

Thyroid – Synthroid is available from any pharmacy. It is a synthetic bioidentical hormone
replacement. Sometimes with synthetics, there are issues tied to conversion within the body. It is
important to know how your body chemistry will respond to this type of replacement. With generic
solutions, while the FDA does regulate the active ingredient, binders and fillers can vary. Some
generic versions of Synthroid are made with fillers that contain lactose or magnesium stearate,
which can inhibit absorption into the body. Symptoms of Hypothyroidism may include constipation,
fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, dry skin, and fertility problems. Optimizing your thyroid levels may
help you to gain vitality and even become pregnant, if that is your desire. However, it is also
important to know that factors like yo-yo dieting, low calorie dieting and stress, can impact your
ability to assimilate correctly. The lesson here – work with your doctor to take a whole body
approach to tackling thyroid issues.

Adrenals – Most of us identify our adrenals as our “stress management/fight or flight” hormones.
Imbalances in adrenals may be caused by unmanaged stress, aging, genetics, and environmental
factors. There has been a significant amount of research conducted on Adrenal Fatigue, which can
adversely affect our immune system and cause us to become susceptible to colds and airborne
illnesses. Getting your adrenals in check can make a significant difference in your overall health.

Cortisol – Too much cortisol and too little cortisol are both concerning. There is a fine balance
that your body should maintain when it comes to this hormone, and self-medicating with herbs can
be dangerous. Unbalanced cortisol levels can lead to hypertension, cardiovascular disease and
depression, as well as decreased libido and erectile dysfunction.

Andropause – Sometimes referred to as a man’s version of menopause, Andropause refers to
decreased testosterone levels in aging men, leading to symptoms such as erectile dysfunction,
dementia, general frailty, heart disease and diabetes. Testosterone replacements are available at
your local pharmacy, but typically require pre-authorizations by insurance for coverage. The
downside is, most insurance companies require testosterone levels to be in the lowest 2.5% for a
particular age range in order for that patient to receive coverage on the therapy. For that reason,
many patients must pay out of pocket. Compounding pharmacies can be a less expensive way to
go if you are one of those individuals that does not have insurance coverage for your therapy.

Progesterone – This hormone, popularly tied to PMS, should maintain a delicate balance in the
female body. Optimizing progesterone levels is critical for aging women and should be monitored
carefully by you and your physician.

Estrogen – Menopause. Hot flashes. Dryness. Brain fog. Incontinence. All of these symptoms can
be a result of unbalanced estrogen levels. There have been highly contested studies that show the
drug Premarin may have caused cancer in certain patients. This drug’s manufacturer states that
Premarin is obtained exclusively from “natural sources.” The natural sources include pregnant
mare’s urine (this is what “Pre-mar-in” stands for). There have been studies that link this drug to
higher incidences of breast cancer. It was determined that the type of estrogen used in the drug, as
well as the delivery method used in trials (oral), were not optimal. We now know that transdermal
application of this drug is much safer and delivers the hormone to the bloodstream and tissues in a
way that nature intended. Overall, estrogen therapy can be very beneficial if administered with the
careful supervision of a trained professional ensuring therapy is administered with the correct
method and dosage.

Insulin – We have an epidemic of insulin resistance in our country due to poor diet and lack of
exercise. Insulin levels that haven’t been optimized can result in fatigue, diabetes and inflammation
(which can cause cancer). For those with diabetes, not taking measures to control their sugars will
lead to dementia, so insulin levels are not something to take lightly.

Human Growth Hormone – In recent advertisements Sylvester Stallone pitches the benefits of
HGH. It’s true, Human Growth Hormone does in fact make a person appear stronger and more
youthful; However, HGH is not a magic cure. The bottom line here is you have to maintain a
healthy lifestyle as well.

> read original article