Thursday, December 25, 2008

High glycemic index diets increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration

Several dietary factors are known to be risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness among persons over 65. New research indicates that high-glycemic-index diets may be a risk factor for early AMD and potential visual loss later in life.

A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined the association between dietary glycemic index and the 10 year incidence of AMD in the Blue Mountain Eye Study population.

This was a population-based study with 3,654 participants over 49 years of age. Volunteers were examined at the beginning (1992-1994); then were reexamined after 5 years and again after 10 years.

Over 10 years, 208 of the participants developed early AMD. After adjusting for age, smoking, other risk factors, and dietary constituents, a higher average dietary glycemic index was associated with an increased 10 year risk of early AMD. Conversely, a greater consumption of cereal fiber and breads and cereals (predominantly lower glycemic index foods such as oatmeal) was associated with a reduced risk of early AMD. No relation was observed with advanced AMD.

The research suggests that a high-glycemic-index diet is a risk factor for early AMD, and low-glycemic-index foods such as oatmeal may protect against early AMD.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 79, No. 5, 865-873, May 2004

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

What are Normal Homocysteine Levels?‏ ‏/ Ray D. Strand, M.D.




The medical literature has shown us that a homocysteine level below 6.5 micromols/L is a safe level. As the homocysteine level rises above this level the risk of cardiovascular disease will increase. The higher these levels the greater your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Most labs report a normal homocysteine should be in the range of 5 to 12 or even 15 micromols/L. If your homocysteine level is above 12 micromols/L, you are in serious trouble. There are now even studies that show that individuals with elevated homocysteine levels are also at greater risk of developing several different kinds of cancers and even Alzheimer’s dementia.

The main point you must remember that the lower your homocysteine level the better. You certainly would want to see your homocysteine level below 6.5. The lower the better is the key when it comes to homocysteine levels. The next Health Nugget will tell you how you can lower your homocysteine level.

RAY D. STRAND, M.D.
Specialist in Nutritional Medicine

Contact me today for more information

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Homocystinuria / Dr. Kilmer McCully‏



In the early 1970”s, Dr. Kilmer McCully, who was a pathologist at Harvard, reviewed two autopsies of young boys who had died of a heart attack. This was very concerning since one of the boys was 7 and the other was only 3 years old. He observed that their arteries were as hardened as an 85 year old man’s arteries that had severe atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). These boys had a congenital disease known as homocystinuria. They did not have the ability to break down homocysteine into more benign products. Their homocysteine levels were extremely high. Most of these children never see their teenage years because they die prematurely from a heart attack or stroke.

This led Dr. Kilmer McCully to postulate that maybe normal individuals who may have slightly elevated homocysteine levels over a lifetime might be at greater risk themselves of having a premature heart attack or stroke. Several clinical trials over the years have shown that Dr. McCully was right. Elevated homocysteine levels, which can cause a tremendous amount of inflammation in our arteries, are an independent risk factor for developing a heart attack or stroke.
RAY D. STRAND, M.D.
Specialist in Nutritional Medicine

Friday, December 19, 2008

Multivitamins and Healthy Immune Function

Adequate nutrient intakes are required for the immune system to function efficiently. A good multivitamin can enhance the immune system by supporting the body's natural defenses on both a structural and cellular level.

A recent article published in the British Journal of Nutrition summarizes the roles of select vitamins and trace elements in immune function.

Adequate intakes of micronutrients are required for the immune system to function efficiently. Micronutrient deficiency suppresses immunity by affecting antibody responses, leading to imbalances in the immune system. This situation increases susceptibility to infections, which increases disease and death risk. In addition, infections aggravate micronutrient deficiencies by reducing nutrient intake, increasing losses, and interfering with utilization by altering metabolic pathways. Inadequate intakes of micronutrients are common in people with eating disorders, smokers (active and passive), individuals with chronic alcohol abuse, certain diseases, during pregnancy and lactation, and in the elderly.

Micronutrients contribute to the body's natural defenses on three levels by supporting physical barriers (skin/mucosa), cellular immunity, and antibody production. Vitamins A, C, E, and the mineral zinc assist in enhancing the skin barrier function. Vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and folic acid, and the minerals iron, zinc, copper and selenium work synergistically to support the protective activities of the immune cells. Finally, all these micronutrients, with the exception of vitamin C and iron, are essential for the production of antibodies.

Overall, inadequate intake and status of these vitamins and minerals may lead to a suppressed immune system, which increases the risk of infections and aggravates malnutrition. Therefore, supplementation with a multivitamin that includes these micronutrients can support the body's natural defense system by enhancing all three levels of immunity.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

New Guidelines Double Amount Of Recommended Vitamin D For Young / ScienceDaily (Oct. 14, 2008)

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is doubling the amount of vitamin D it recommends for infants, children and adolescents. The new clinical report, "Prevention of Rickets and Vitamin D Deficiency in Infants, Children, and Adolescents," recommends all children receive 400 IU a day of vitamin D, beginning in the first few days of life.

The previous recommendation, issued in 2003, called for 200 IU per day beginning in the first two months of life.

The change in recommendation comes after reviewing new clinical trials on vitamin D and the historical precedence of safely giving 400 IU per day to the pediatric population. Clinical data show that 400 units of vitamin D a day will not only prevent rickets, but treat it. This bone-softening disease is preventable with adequate vitamin D, but dietary sources of vitamin D are limited, and it is difficult to determine a safe amount of sunlight exposure to synthesize vitamin D in a given individual. Rickets continues to be reported in the United States in infants and adolescents. The greatest risk for rickets is in exclusively breastfed infants who are not supplemented with 400 IU of vitamin D a day.

Adequate vitamin D throughout childhood may reduce the risk of osteoporosis. In adults, new evidence suggests that vitamin D plays a role in the immune system and may help prevent infections, autoimmune diseases, cancer and diabetes.

"We are doubling the recommended amount of vitamin D children need each day because evidence has shown this could have life-long health benefits," said Frank Greer, MD, FAAP, chair of the AAP Committee on Nutrition and co-author of the report. “Supplementation is important because most children will not get enough vitamin D through diet alone.”
"Breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for infants. However, because of vitamin D deficiencies in the maternal diet, which affect the vitamin D in a mother’s milk, it is important that breastfed infants receive supplements of vitamin D,” said Carol Wagner, MD, FAAP, member of the AAP Section on Breastfeeding Executive Committee and co-author of the report. “Until it is determined what the vitamin D requirements of the lactating mother-infant dyad are, we must ensure that the breastfeeding infant receives an adequate supply of vitamin D through a supplement of 400 IU per day.”

The new recommendations include:

  • Breastfed and partially breastfed infants should be supplemented with 400 IU a day of vitamin D beginning in the first few days of life.
  • All non-breastfed infants, as well as older children, who are consuming less than one quart per day of vitamin D-fortified formula or milk, should receive a vitamin D supplement of 400 IU a day.
  • Adolescents who do not obtain 400 IU of vitamin D per day through foods should receive a supplement containing that amount.
  • Children with increased risk of vitamin D deficiency, such as those taking certain medications, may need higher doses of vitamin D.

Given the growing evidence that adequate vitamin D status during pregnancy is important for fetal development, the AAP also recommends that providers who care for pregnant women consider measuring vitamin D levels in this population.


Adapted from materials provided by American Academy of Pediatrics.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081013141737.htm

Monday, December 15, 2008

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is Reversible‏ ‏/ Ray D. Strand, M.D.



I have personally documented over 50 patients in my practice that had type 2 diabetes mellitus that were not only able to control their diabetes and get off their medications, but were also able to totally reverse their diabetes.

Now not everyone who has diabetes is able to reverse their disease. However, after firmly establishing the healthy lifestyles promoted in the Healthy for Life Program (http://www.releasingfat.com/), many of my diabetic patients were able to reverse their disease. This was documented by the fact that their fasting blood sugar, glucose tolerance test, and their hemoglobin A1C (a measure of the amount of sugar in a red blood cell) all returned to normal off of all diabetic medication.

Now it took my diabetic patients a minimum of 18 to 24 months on the Healthy for Life Program to accomplish this goal. This gives great hope to so many of my patients who are just becoming diabetic. It allows them to significantly slow down the aging process. Just think what you can do if you firmly establish these new, healthier lifestyles that improve insulin resistance before you become diabetic. I personally believe that the Healthy for Life Program is the answer to the diabetes and obesity epidemics.
RAY D. STRAND, M.D.
Specialist in Nutritional Medicine

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Treating Insulin Resistance‏ ‏/ Ray D. Strand, M.D.



One develops insulin resistance as the result of their poor lifestyles. When you combine the All-American diet with inactivity, you slowly become less and less sensitive to your own insulin. Over time you develop insulin resistance. Since it is our poor lifestyles that get us into this problem, it makes common sense that firmly establishing healthy lifestyles could get us out of this situation.

I spent three years researching the medical literature in regards to insulin resistance. The result of that research was my book Healthy for Life [Real Life Press 2005].

My research showed that there was a triad of healthy lifestyles that all improved insulin sensitivity from a different mechanism. When you firmly establish these healthy lifestyles, you give yourself the absolute best chance of reversing insulin resistance and “tipping back” into a normal metabolic state.

I have established an online 12-Week Healthy for Life Program located at http://www.releasingfat.com/ to help my patients and any one who wants to become more proactive in protecting or regaining their health. It is really a behavioral modification program designed to take my patients by the hand and guide them into these new, healthier lifestyles that improve insulin sensitivity. My patients are excited when they learn that they never have to go hungry, they feel great, have more energy, their health parameters improve, and they begin losing weight and are not even trying. Even if you have a strong family history of diabetes, I personally feel that you can prevent becoming diabetic over 90% of the time by just living a healthy life.

RAY D. STRAND, M.D.
Specialist in Nutritional Medicine


Contact me today for more information

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Join the REVolution - REV3



Contact me today to find out how you can get hold of Rev3

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Vitamin C and E Supplements Lower Diabetic Retinopathy Risk

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness. It occurs when diabetes damages tiny blood vessels inside the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye). There may be an association between the use of vitamin C and E supplements and a reduced risk of diabetic retinopathy.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined 1,353 type 2 diabetics who were diagnosed from 1993 to 1995. Data from these subjects revealed no association of diabetic retinopathy with vitamins C and E from food alone, but a decreased risk was found among those who reported long-term (> 3 years) use of vitamin C or E or multivitamin supplements. Compared to those who did not report supplement use, long-term supplement users experienced a two-fold reduction in the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

Although there had previously been evidence of this association from in vitro, animal, and short-term research, this was the first epidemiologic study on retinopathy to show the same protective effect associated with supplemental vitamin C and vitamin E.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 79, No. 5, 865-873, May 2004

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Look after your Liver for a Healthier Christmas

Your liver will be working overtime over the next few weeks as you drink a little more, eat a little more and stress a little more.


Some of the symptoms of an overworked liver are:

• Feeling tired and lethargic

• Tummy upsets particularly nausea

• Skin eruptions like acne and eczema

• Emotional ups and downs, particularly irritability and frustration


So, how can you take care of your liver and avoid the feeling of being completely run down over Christmas?


Temperance
Drink moderately. The liver has to detoxify poisons, including alcohol, so be sensible with your intake.


Balance
If you do have a “big night” out, make the next day really light. Drink fresh vegetable juice (especially carrot), eat lots of fruit and salads, and drink plenty of water.


Protection
Nourish your body. Take liver herbs such as Milk Thistle and make sure you’re getting plenty of antioxidants so that your body is well equipped to deal with the extra stress. Vitamin C, alpha lipoic acid and beta-carotene are particularly important.


Wisdom
If you’re stuck in traffic or waiting in queues, rather than getting angry, remind yourself that at this time of year, everything is supposed to take longer and the shops are supposed to be busier! To keep your serenity, give yourself a little extra time to do things, be organised and forgive yourself if you choose the wrong queue.



Greetings of the Season to you and yours,Brenda Rogers NDUSANA Naturopath

Friday, December 5, 2008

Recipe of the Month

Healthy Chocolate Cake Recipe

1 cup soy milk3/4 cup cocoa powder (try Organic Pure Raw Chocolate Powder from http://www.powersuperfoods.com/)

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup raw sugar or rapadura (evaporated sugar cane juice available in some health food stores)

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

4 egg whites (large), at room temperature



1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a cake pan.

2. Heat the soy milk in a medium size saucepan until barely simmering. Remove from heat and whisk in the cocoa until thickened and almost smooth (some tiny lumps will remain). Let stand 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in the applesauce and vanilla extract.

3. Mix the flour, 3/4 cups of the raw sugar, the baking powder, soda, and sea salt in a large bowl.

4. Beat the egg whites in a medium size bowl with an electric mixer until thick and foamy. Gradually beat in the remaining 1/4 cup of raw sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form when the beaters are lifted.

5. Pour the cocoa mixture over the whole wheat flour. Stir just until blended.

6. With a spatula, gently stir about a quarter of the egg whites into the whole wheat flour mixture. Fold in the remaining egg whites until no white streaks remain. Pour into the prepared pan.7. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Garnish with your favorite fresh fruit..

Monday, December 1, 2008

Christmas SHOPPING NIGHT!

On Wednesday 3 Dec, 6pm-9pm, USANA is hosting a "One-Night-Only" shopping event with lots of savings on our key nutritionals. Specials will be available at the Business Centre and online! Contact me today to get more information about the specials and to make your orders.