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Winter 04/05-Health Habits-ThePATHNews
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M. Templeton
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Dec 31, 2004 06:29 PST
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The PATH Newsletter
(Pursuing Abundance Through Health)
Volume 4 - Issue (4) : Winter 2004/2005
Editor: Margaret Templeton
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Welcome to The PATH Newsletter.
Our purpose is to share information with free thinking
people who are seeking effective, alternative methods
for natural healing.
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IN THIS ISSUE
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=> Health News: Hormone Offsets Harmful Effects of Aging
=> Featured Article: Carbohydrates; Why Size Matters
by Laura Turner
=> Preview - Next Issue: Changes are coming in 2005!
=> Guest Column: Do You Wake Up at 2 am? Is it Depression?
Or is it...? by Jonni Good
=> Holistic Q&A for Readers: Children & Allergies
=> Phoebe's Pet Column: Pet Safety For The Upcoming Holidays
by Bradley Wallace
=> Helpful Links: A Thought-Provoking Film!!
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
To Our Subscribers, please read .
The PATH News thanks you for your referrals. They are
always appreciated and are the major way we grow.
Share us with a friend. subsc-@thepathnews.com
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Health News
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Reported November 10, 2004
Hormone Offsets Harmful Effects of Aging
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers at Washington University
School of Medicine in St. Louis have found the hormone
dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) may be able to offset the
increase in abdominal fat and accompanying increased risk
for diabetes that often occur with advancing age.
The study authors explain levels of DHEA peak at about age
20 and then gradually decline. They say by the time we are
70, we have only about 20 percent of the peak amount
circulating in the body, which has been associated with the
harmful effects of aging.
Dennis T. Villareal, M.D., and John O. Holloszy, M.D., set
out to examine whether complications of aging could be
reversed if DHEA levels in elderly people were returned to
the levels of their youth. The study included 56 people with
an average age of 71. For six months, half of the group was
randomly assigned to receive a placebo while the other half
received 50 milligrams of DHEA daily.
Using MRI measurements, the researchers found that
DHEA supplementation resulted in a decrease in abdominal
fat of 10.2 percent in women and 7.4 percent in men. It also
resulted in a 6-percent decrease in fat below the skin surface
for men and women.
"Among the different fat stores, visceral [abdominal] fat is
specifically considered potent and metabolically active because
its blood drains directly to the liver," the authors say. "Fatty
acids from visceral fat get deposited in the liver and other organs
and then mediate the decrease in insulin action that leads to an
increased risk for diabetes."
In addition, patients receiving DHEA showed an improvement
in insulin action. This shows a protective effect of DHEA against
insulin resistance caused by a high-fat diet and the natural
decrease in insulin responsiveness that occurs with older age,
the study authors say.
Dr. Villareal and Dr. Holloszy are now recruiting people for a
larger study on the effects of one year of DHEA replacement.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical
Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to:
http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: The Journal of the American Medical Association,
2004;292:2243-2248
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Featured Article
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Carbohydrates; Why Size Matters
Laura Turner
If I collected a dime for each time I’ve seen or heard the
word “carbohydrate” - or picked up a book on the subject,
for that matter - I’d be a wealthy woman. And of course
we’ve all heard the buzzwords: simple carb; complex carb;
high carb; low carb; no carb.
But do we really know what a carbohydrate is? And are
carbs really as bad and fattening as we’re told they are?
In this article, I’ll make my best attempt to unveil the
mystery of the carbohydrate - and why it’s gotten such a
bad rap. After all, it’s the molecule both scientists and
nutritionists know is the main source of the body’s energy.
BASIC CHEMISTRY:
First the boring stuff. The basic chemistry of a carbohydrate.
I’ll keep it brief: Carbohydrates contain a carbon atom attached
to water molecules. This is important because it’s the structure
and size of a carbohydrate which influences the speed by which
it’s converted into glucose (sugar) and then into energy.
WHY ARE CARBS USEFUL?
Before we take a look at the different “sizes” of carbohydrates,
let’s look at why they are useful to us. Aside from supplying
the body’s energy, carbs are also useful for the proper
functioning of internal organs, as well as proper function of
the muscles and nervous system.
The most exciting feature of a carbohydrate, in this writer’s
opinion, however, is it’s ability to aid in protein and fat
metabolism.So as it turns out, when used wisely, carbo-
hydrates are actually useful in burning fat.
THE THREE PRINCIPAL CARBS FOUND IN FOODS:
Next let’s take a look at the three basic carbohydrates found
in foods (Still boring but stay with me). They are: simple
sugars, starches and fiber.
Simple Sugars come in two varieties. The monosaccharide
(meaning one sugar) are quickly digested and almost
immediately utilized by the body due to their “simple”
structure (think fruits, fruit juices and honey).
The second, disaccharides, act in almost the same way and are
one molecule larger. The disaccharides, however, tend to be
more of the refined sugars are very sweet to taste (think white
sugar, candy etc.)
The second basic type of carb is the starches or what we would
consider complex carbs (the polysaccharides): foods such as
potatoes, wheat, rice, corn. These carbs are slow to break down
and take some time to be converted into energy.
Finally, there’s the fibers (think bran). Fibers don’t have a
lot of energetic value, however, they do lend some support to
the body. Because they don’t add much sugar to the system,
they make it further through the pipeline to help with intestinal
function and elimination. Moreover, they reduce cholesterol
and slow fat absorption.
WHY SIZE MATTERS
The theory behind low carbohydrate diets is, when the body
consumes too many carbohydrates the excess will become stored
by the body as fat. This is true.
When the body ingests a carbohydrate, it aims to convert it to
glucose as soon as it can, so that it can be utilized by the
body. If there is some excess, no problem, it will get stored
as glycogen in the limited space of the muscles. The trouble
arises, when the stores exceeded capacity: the remaining
molecules are stored as fat in fat cells that can infinitely
expand (horrors!).
Yet, what if there was a way to outsmart this system by using
the different “sizes” of carbohydrate molecules to your
advantage? What if you could keep the body burning carbs at a
steady rate according to the speed of your metabolism and your
activity level?
Enter the glycemic index. The glycemic index is a scale which
tells you (on a food-by-food basis) the rate at which a
carbohydrate is converted into glucose. The scale is calibrated
by glucose itself (which is rated at 100). The higher the
number the faster the conversion.
First used by diabetics to prevent flux in blood sugar, the
glycemic index (GI) has become a popular way to get all the
benefits of carbohydrates without the threat of fat storage.
Here’s what the scale looks like:
Low GI = 55 or less
Medium GI = 56 - 69
High GI = 70 or more
To see a chart with samples of some favorite foods visit:
http://thecompounder.com/GlycemicIndex.html
HOW IS THE GI HELPFUL?
If weight loss or weight maintenance is your goal (isn’t it
everyone’s?), creating a diet around lower GI foods will
decrease peaks in glucose levels. It’s as simple as that.
You can implement this eating pattern by scanning the low
glycemic foods and aiming to consume a serving at each meal
(Be sure to see the article on food combining in this issue).
This will also help you avoid both the “highs and lows” of the
refined sugar rush.
Higher glycemic foods can be useful, too, and are considered
the “recovery” foods. Medium and high GI foods should be
consumed for up to two hours after exercise to recover lost
carbohydrates and maintain steady blood-sugar levels.
Because metabolism varies from person to person, it would be
well worth your time and effort to continue a personal study of
the glycemic index. Enjoy your carbs by checking in on your
favorite foods and decide when it’s best to consume them.
Where to get this information:
You can get the skinny on the glycemic indexes of all your
favorite carbohydrate foods. Check out the searchable data
base at: www.glycemicindex.com
In closing, here’s a few guidelines to help you put your carbs
to good use:
Aim to eat several small meals during the day. Choose one
serving of carbs for each, preferably low GI.
When in doubt choose carbohydrates that are naturally
Occurring such as vegetables and fruits.
Minimize refined sugars whenever possible.
When consuming breads aim for wheat instead of white.
Try to substitute white potatoes with sweet and substitute
brown rice for white.
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Laura Turner is the Sr. Editor of The New Body News and
Wellness Letter: The premier online eZine dedicated to giving
you the "Insight and Inspiration to Build a Better You." Raise
your healthy I.Q. Subscribe today for F.r.e.e. visit:
http://www.new-body-news.com or
send any email to: mailto:newbod-@getresponse.com
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Preview - Next Issue
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All New PATH News coming in 2005!
We are expanding our focus while keeping our
purpose which is to share information with free thinking
people who are seeking effective, alternative methods
for natural healing.
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Guest Column
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Do You Wake Up at 2 am? Is it Depression? Or is it...?
by Jonni Good
Has this happened to you? You go to sleep easily, but 2 am
comes around and your eyes pop open. You're totally awake,
but you know you need more sleep. You look at the clock and
groan - you have to be up at 5 am to get ready for work, and
you know you'll be groggy, irritable, and fuzzy-brained if
you can't get back to sleep.
Your mind searches for the reason why you can't sleep. You
go over your recent fight with your husband, word for word,
over and over. Or you agonize over the poor grade you got on
that test. You may discover problems you didn't even know
you had - not enough time to yourself, too much stress, too
little respect from your family or coworkers.
The negative thoughts charge on, and you stay wide awake.
Is it depression? Is it stress? Do you need sleeping pills,
or anti-depressants?
Maybe. But before you begin medicating yourself, try this
simple experiment. Don't eat any sugar for a week, and don't
drink any alcohol after 5 in the afternoon.
You may discover that you can sleep just fine, just by
making those simple changes.
If you eat that big piece of chocolate cake or sip that
glass of whiskey just before going to bed, your blood stream
will be bombarded with the extra sugar. (Yes, I know that
alcohol and sugar aren't the same, but they both cause the 2
am wake-up problem, for the same reason.)
Too much sugar (or too much alcohol) in the blood stream is
a dangerous situation, and your body will pull out all it's
forces to fight the "enemy." Unfortunately, the battle is
fought too aggressively, so by 2 am your blood stream has
too little glucose. And your brain needs glucose. Your brain
realizes that there's a big problem, so you need to wake up.
Protein can be reprocessed into glucose to feed the brain,
but it takes time. In the meantime, you lie there awake,
with an imbalance in your brain chemistry that tends to
cause a rehashing of everything negative from your day.
Your brain is looking for the cause of the problem but can't
find it, unless you understand that the 2 am wakening might
be caused by sugar or alcohol. The chances are fairly high
that your doctor will not ask you what you ate or drank if
you go to him for help. Since you don't know to look at your
diet for a clue to the problem, your brain looks everywhere
else - at the state of your marriage, at your financial
situation, at your children's school grades, at your career
prospects...
Next time you wake up too early, think about what you ate
and drank last night. By finding the real cause of your
insomnia, you may be able to save yourself a trip to the
doctor. You may even give yourself an excuse for a
healthier lifestyle at the same time.
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Jonni Good is the author of a self-help book for sugar
addiction, and the owner of a website concerning
sugar addiction and natural weight loss.
http://www.stress-free-weight-loss.com
For Jonni's latest articles, visit
http://www.howtothinkthin.com/blogger.htm
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Holistic Q&A
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Hi Margaret,
Been reading your ezine for years! Interesting stuff. Do you
know anything about allergies in children? I have a grand-
daughter who has behavioral problems and I think it could
be due to her diet. She does have sugar in her diet but her
mom is careful about over doing it. Any suggestions on
how to pursue this?
Jan in AL
Dear Jan,
In my wellness coaching practice I have helped
parents deal with this problem. I suggest the book by
Doris Rapp, MD, Is This Your Child? as I find it helpful
and refer to it along with suggesting the proper supplements
I find effective for the individuals needs. Contact me at email
below for further assistance.
Margaret
Send your questions to Holistic Q&A,
mailto:HQ-@thepathnews.com
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Phoebe's Pet Column:
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Title:
Greetings Human Friends,
Here's an article worth reading to educate humans about the
safety and well being of their pets during the holidays. Please
take the time for your beloved Fifi, Tiger, Bowser, Snowball
and/or possibly Tweety Bird. I'll speak for them and say
Thanks!
Pet Safety For The Holidays
by Bradley Wallace
Be sure to make this upcoming holiday season safe and
enjoyable for everyone in your family by observing the
following pet safety tips:
* If you have a live Christmas tree, keep the water
stand covered. Pine sap mixed with water makes a
poisonous drink for your pet. The smell of a live or
artificial tree may cause your pet to urine-mark it. It
may help to bring the tree into an isolated indoor room
for a day or so, so that it smells more like "home."
* Pick up any ornament hooks, tinsel or ribbon that fall
on the floor. Your pet could experience serious internal
injuries if it ingests any of these items. Tinsel is
especially lethal and should be avoided when ever possible.
* If you have a cat that is tempted to play with the
ornaments on your tree, decorate the bottom third of the
tree with non-breakable, plastic or wooden ornaments, or
decorate only the top two-thirds of your tree.
* Keep holiday treats and candies out of your pet's
reach. Additionally, remember wrapped gifts under your
tree that may be food items. People food, especially in
excess, can make your pet sick. Chocolate, onions,
raisins and alcohol can be fatal to dogs!
* Secure Christmas trees to a wall or ceiling hook with
sturdy fishing line. This will help prevent the tree
from toppling over should your pet jump on it or
accidentally knock it over.
* If you have indoor holiday lights, be sure they don't
hang so low that your pet could become entangled in
them. Remember to unplug the lights when you're not home
to supervise your pet.
* If you have a bird, make sure it is safely in its cage
if you're lighting any candles. Additionally, lit
candles should be kept out of any pet's reach, perhaps
high on a counter or table.
* Poinsettias, mistletoe berries and some other plants
and other popular holiday flowers can cause serious
stomach upset for pets. Check with your veterinarian or
local poison control center to find out what holiday
plants and flowers you need to keep out of your pet's
reach. You can also check the Online Pet Encyclopedia at
http://www.canadianpetcare.com/encyclopedia.html and look
under Pet Health for a list of common plants that can be
harmful to pets.
As always if you are not sure about possible hazards for your
pets, always practice safety first, and when in doubt ask.
Resource Box:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The author Bradley Wallace is author and editor for
CanadianPetCare.com. Their site provides one of the most
comprehensive online locations dedicated to assisting pet owners
with daily pet care. CanadianPetCare.com's goal is to
continuously enhance your pet's life and your pet care
abilities. Visit the site http://www.canadianpetcare.com get your
free pet care newsletter and learn more about overall Pet Care,
Pet Health, Pet Behavior, Training Pets, Pet Breeds and much
more.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Have a Happy Safe and Healthy Holiday Season!
Staff Columnist,
Phoebe
Mini Schnauzer
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Helpful Links
_________________________
What the Bleep Do We Know?!?
Sedona International Film Festival and Workshop Winner
What the Bleep Do We Know!? has received Audience Choice
Award for Most Thought-Provoking Film at the Sedona
International Film Festival and Workshop 2004. "Film Festivals
and Film Festival coordinators dream of finding that 'diamond in
the rough' ... that one film that will make it big and make a
difference. 'What the Bleep' is that film! It is a must-see and
will change the way you look at things." Patrick Schweiss,
Executive Director, Sedona International Film Festival and
Workshop
http://www.whatthebleep.com/
------------------------
Splenda Celebrates Fifth Anniversary
A no Calorie Sweetener, also known as sucralose. Research in
animals has shown that sucralose can cause many problems
in rats, mice, and rabbits, read more...
http://www.mercola.com/2004/oct/9/splenda_anniversary.htm
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Information provided in The "PATH" is of a general
nature and is not intended to take the place of
proper evaluation, treatment and your physician's
advice. You are encouraged to obtain his/her
interpretation of information contained in this
newsletter.
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