How Our Diet Affects our Weight Gain / Loss

This Article is designed to address one of the greatest underlying problems with our society today, A problem that is not only making us Gain Weight, its shortening our lives, putting us a risk of a variety of diseases, increasing the risks of birth defects and decreasing our chances of reproducing.

When Most of us go shopping we look only at the basic macronutrient profile of our foods (Fats, Protein, Carbs) we figure that if we adhere to what the majority of nutritional literature out there tells us to do, we will be healthy an in shape.  That is cut out Saturated and Trans Fats, sugars, and high glycemic carbs.  This is a good start but it is only scratching the surface.  Now unfortunately due to the lack of regulation in the food and supplement industry, people have to nearly be chemists to be able to make healthy buying decisions at the supermarket.  We are bombarded by products that we think are helping us stay healthy and they are doing the opposite.  Diet (zero Calorie) products that contain Asulfame K, Aspartame and sucralose may actually make us put on weight and increase our risk of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, asthma. They are also thought to mimic estrogen in the body and irritate the liver, causing weight gain. Monosodium Glutamate, a flavor enhancer that is in a multitude of supermarket items from soups to fried chicken to beef jerky is injected  into lab rats to make them obese for certain studies, and we eat products containing this compound of our own free will. We are not even safe when we consume many fruits and vegetables that have been treated with pesticides that are endemic.

So how do we protect ourselves? Firstly education.  Unfortunately because governments and large corporations care more about the bottom line than the welfare of the public we must educate ourselves. We can not rely on regulations to protect us; we must do our own research to learn how to avoid harming ourselves with what we eat.  We must also learn what foods protect us against some of the unavoidable dangers in the environment.

Eat organic, whole foods as much as possible, the fact that there is zero processing, and minimal exposure to chemicals such as pesticides. It also means you are getting all the food enzymes that the body requires to function optimally, and ensures maximum nutritional benefit from the foods consumption (excess processing and cooking destroys many nutrients).

Eating a diet consisting of Mainly whole foods goes much deeper than simply calories in and calories out, or adhering to the Glycemic index. It is in our biology, it is the way our bodies are programmed to be fueled. If you can understand one fact, then you have taken a large step towards unraveling the “mystery“ behind the obesity epidemic in  western countries and behind the increasing rates of  terminal and degenerative diseases. The fact is this, we are still cavemen!  Well Biologically at least. The first Homo sapiens (Modern Humans) have been dated back about 195,000 years ago. Now we live a lot differently from the way early humans did, but we are biologically tuned exactly the same as they were, and our bodies are still tuned to be fed the way they were fed! Early Homo Sapiens lived of a diet consisting mainly of whole Fruits, Whole Vegetables,  nuts, meats and fish. These foods were eaten mostly raw by early humans, although eventually meats were cooked by our ancestors. This meant that all the enzymes in the foods were preserved, as well as micro-nutrients and phyto-nutrients. It also means that there were no toxic food additives, artificial flavors,  preservatives or colors in their food. So what does this mean?  well it means that today we are hit with a double whammy, well actually a triple whammy.

We eat a ton of processed foods, that are full of artificial Flavors, Colors,  sweeteners, preservatives and flavor enhancers. In some cases thinking we are making a choice that is better for our health (diet and sugar free drinks vs. Non Diet drinks) but we are actually doing serious damage, an there is mounting evidence that diet products may even facilitate weight gain by stimulating appetite (for example MSG ),interfering with the livers ability to function and therefore break down xenon estrogens, and causing the pancreas to release excess insulin.  To add to this these artificial products may increase the severity of inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, psoriasis and acne. Lab rats are injected with MSG to facilitate obesity for obesity studies. MSG makes the pancreas produce more insulin than normal,  facilitating weight gain and causing pancreatic failure (diabetes). This can be found in thousands of items we consume everyday, from Soups, to Take away food, to restaurant food to beef jerky. The artificial ingredients are not the only problem. Refined sugars, Starches, and gluten are all ingredients that we eat everyday that our body has not biologically been programmed to process efficiently. We haven’t evolved passed the dietary programming of our  early ancestors. So these refined products over many years of consumption may contribute to a range of problems from Bloating and weight Gain, to more severe issues such as inflammatory conditions, celiac disease (chronic Gluten intolerance) and even cancer.

Even when we do eat whole foods, mass production and genetic tampering and the desecration of much of the worlds top soil have led us to a point where produce is so lacking in vitamin and mineral content compared to even 60 years ago that we cant get what we need from them anyway. In 1952 you had to eat 2 peaches to get your daily requirement of Vitamin A. Now you need to eat 52!!! Wow!!! That is frightening. That means that your average supermarket fruit or vegetable is only 4% as Nutritious as it was in 1952? As most readers are aware I am originally from New Zealand, and found out recently that the New Zealand Government have just launched an initiative where they are asking people to bring in the seeds from fruit trees on their properties that are from trees older than 50 years. The idea is to re-inhabit New Zealand Commercial orchards with “genetically older” plants, to try and restore some of the nutritional value to New Zealand Produce to the levels they were in the early 1900’s. New Zealand’s health and agricultural organizations are now beginning to realize the problems that nutritionally inept foods are posing to the well being of the public.
This is the kicker, We are also exposed to toxins In our environment. Pesticides, estrogens, Petrochemicals and the list goes on. We are now looking at a society that eats a ton of processed and artificial foods, that is exposed to a huge amount of toxicity in the environment, and this is compounded with a  decline in the nutritional content of the good foods that are being eaten. If it was important before to eat a diet rich in whole foods 50 years ago, its twice as important now.

So what’s the answer. Simple, eat whole, eat Clean! I personally shop organic from Establishments like Whole Foods Market. I try to eat a diet consisting mostly of whole, organic foods. The more I am diligent about this the better my health and energy is. I also take health supplements such as digestive enzymes.

Digestive enzymes are contained in all raw foods, especially raw fruits, Nuts and vegetables. Cooking and processing destroys or deactivates the majority of digestive enzymes. The biology of Our body,  is 200,000 years old, the exact same biological blueprint of our ancestors that lived in caves and ate a diet consisting  mostly of raw foods. Hence we rely on our diets being rich in raw foods to provide us with the necessary enzymes for our bodies to function at optimum efficiency. Our bodies are biologically programmed to function this way.

So why are digestive enzymes important, and what are the implications of the under consumption of enzymes in the majority of the modern population’s diets?

Digestive enzymes are responsible for the breakdown of foods that enter the digestive system, and therefore the successful breakdown of  macronutrients, Fats, Proteins, Carbohydrates. Digestive enzymes include proteases, amylases, lipases, pancreatin, cellulase, and lipase. They also play a role in the absorption of vitamins and minerals Cooking and processing of foods causes these enzymes top be destroyed or deactivated. So if we do not eat adequate raw foods, and hence do not get an adequate intake of digestive enzymes then we do not break down our foods properly. There are two major consequences of this.

1: We do not absorb adequate nutrients from our food, and therefore suffer the consequences of malnutrition. I doesn’t matter how good your diet is (In an orthodox view of  ‘a good diet’, eating raw foods is often overlooked, the focus is on macronutrient profiling-fats, carbs, proteins) If you ado not have an adequate intake of digestive enzymes then it doesn’t matter what nutrients you ingest, or if you only consume a limited amount of calories, or if you follow the glycemic index. If nutrients cant be processed properly they cant be utilizes, and if the cant be utilized they are rendered useless. If we don’t digest the foods we eat efficiently we will in the long term suffer from malnutrition, and the consequences of Malnutrition- Disease. For example Proteins and fats are key for many metabolic and hormonal processes, if these nutrients are not absorbed well then these processes are less efficient. This can lead to weight gain, lethargy, fatigue, Hypothyroidism, hormone deficiency or imbalance,  and any one of Numerous Inflammatory conditions that are now common occurrence.

2: If food in inadequately processed it causes a backlog in the digestive system and therefore a build up of decaying food matter and therefore toxins. Over time this problem compounds itself and can contribute to many disorders, from IBS to weight gain to Chronic fatigue.
A double-blind, crossover study confirms the efficacy of digestive enzyme supplements in optimizing digestion. Healthy volunteers consumed a high-calorie, high-fat meal, either with pancreatic enzyme capsules or with placebo. Gastrointestinal symptoms were recorded for the next 17 hours. Pancreatic enzyme supplements significantly reduced bloating, gas, and the feeling of fullness. These findings demonstrate that even healthy individuals can experience greater digestive comfort through the aid of digestive enzyme supplements, and suggest a role for digestive enzymes in those challenged with irritable bowel syndrome.

As we age our ability to produce digestive enzymes decreases. Because of this we are especially at risk of developing vitamin, mineral, and trace element deficits; all of which may seriously impact immunity and overall health. A recent study conducted in France, for instance, found a high prevalence of vitamin, mineral, and omega-3 fatty acid deficiencies among men and women aged 70 and above., and vitamin B12 deficiency, which may lead to a serious condition known as pernicious anemia, among other pathological conditions, is all too common among the elderly.
Given the potentially devastating consequences of inadequate nutrition, it is imperative to optimize digestive health in older adults.

In addition to enhancing digestive health, digestive enzymes may play further beneficial roles in the body, such as in reducing autoimmunity and inflammation and speeding healing after surgery.
In autoimmune diseases, immune complexes, which are large aggregations of antigens (molecules that trigger immune responses) and antibodies (immune proteins that neutralize foreign invaders), lock together in a tangled embrace. Their deposition in tissue results in tissue damage. They are believed to play a role in immune system diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, and glomerulonephritis, a form of kidney disease. Some scientists believe that supplemental enzymes may have immunomodulatory activity and could play a role in reducing the incidence of these immune complexes.

Oral enzymes have also proven popular in Europe as substitutes for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. They are used to treat conditions ranging from osteoarthritis to rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammation-related conditions. The results of various studies (placebo-controlled and comparisons with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) in patients with rheumatic diseases suggest that oral therapy with proteolytic enzymes produces certain analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Generally, these commercial enzyme preparations have been found to be equally as effective as standard anti-inflammatory drugs, but with better tolerability

So the answer is two do one or both of the following. Eat a diet rich in whole (if possible organic) foods, especially raw fruits, vegetables and nuts. You can also take a comprehensive digestive enzyme supplement, I personally use one made by Nutrilite that I get from www.blwstore.com. If you can do both then you will hedge all bets and help ensure optimal digestive health.

Artificial Flavors- 0 calories but they make you fat- How?

This Article is an example of why we need to be extra vigilant in checking labels on what we buy from the grocery store…..

The content of this article has links to substantiate its claims – Scary stuff. This article focuses on MSG but other artificial flavors that are toxic and May cause internal issues include artifical sweetners (such as Assulfame Potassium, Aspartme, sucralose).

MSG (a slow poison) – Very interesting

The food additive MSG (Mono-Sodium Glutamate) is a slow poison.  MSG hides behind 25 or more names, such as Natural Flavoring.”  MSG is even in your favorite coffee from Tim Horton’s and Starbucks coffee shops!

I wondered if there could be an actual chemical causing the massive
obesity epidemic, and so did  John Erb.  He was a research
assistant at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, and spent
years working for the government.  He made an amazing discovery while
going through scientific journals for a book he was writing called The Slow
Poisoning of America ..

In hundreds of studies around the world, scientists were creating
obese mice and rats to use in diet or diabetes test studies.  No strain of
rat or mice is naturally obese, so scientists have to create them.

They make these creatures morbidly obese by injecting them with MSG when they are first born.

The MSG triples the amount of insulin the pancreas creates, causing rats (and perhaps humans) to become obese.  They even have a name for the
fat rodents they create: “MSG-Treated Rats.”

Go to any house in America, look in the kitchen and check the cupboards and the refrigerator.  MSG is in everything — the Campbell’s soups, the Hostess Doritos, the Lays flavored potato chips, Top Ramen, Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper, Heinz canned gravy, Swanson frozen prepared meals, and Kraft salad dressings, especially the “healthy low-fat” ones.

The items that didn’t have MSG marked on the product label had something called “Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein,” which is just another name for Monosodium Glutamate.

It is shocking to see just how many of the foods we feed our children everyday are filled with this stuff.  MSG is hidden under many different names in order to fool those who read the ingredient list,  so that they
don’t catch on.  (Other names for MSG are “Accent, “Aginomoto,” “Natural Meat Tenderizer,” etc.)

But it didn’t stop there.

When your family goes out to eat, start asking at the restaurants what menu items contain MSG.  Many employees, even the managers,will say they don’t use MSG.  But ask for the ingredient list, (which they grudgingly will provided), and sure enough, MSG and Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein are everywhere.

Burger King, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, every restaurant — even the sit-down eateries like TGIF, Chili’s, Applebee’s, and Denny’s — use MSG in abundance.  Kentucky Fried Chicken seemed to be the WORST offender: MSG was in every chicken dish, salad dressing and even the gravy.  No wonder we love eating that coating on the skin — their secret spice is MSG!

So why is MSG in so many of the foods we eat?
Is it a preservative, or a vitamin?

Not according to John Erb.  In his book The Slow Poisoning of America, he said that MSG is added to food for the addictive effect it has on the human body.

Even the propaganda website sponsored by the food manufacturers lobby group supporting MSG explains that the reason they add it to food is to make
people eat more.

A study of the elderly showed that older people eat more of the foods that it is added to.  The Glutamate Association lobbying group says eating more is a benefit to the elderly, but what does it do to the rest of us?

“Betcha can’t eat [just] one,” takes on a whole new meaning where MSG is concerned! And we wonder why the nation is overweight!

MSG manufacturers themselves admit that it addicts

people to their  products.  It makes people choose their product over others, and makes
people eat more of it than they would if MSG wasn’t added.

Not only is MSG scientifically proven to cause obesity, it is an addictive substance.  Since its introduction into the American food supply fifty years ago, MSG has been added in larger and larger doses to the pre-packaged meals, soups, snacks, and fast foods we are tempted to eat
everyday.

The FDA has set no limits on how much of it can be added to food. They claim it’s safe to eat in any amount.  But how can they claim it’s safe when
there are hundreds of scientific studies with titles like these:

“The monosodium glutamate (MSG) obese rat as a model for the study of exercise in obesity.”

Gobatto CA, Mello MA, Souza CT , Ribeiro IA. Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol 2002.

“Adrenalectomy abolishes the food-induced hypothalamic serotonin release in both normal and monosodium glutamate-obese rats.”

Guimaraes RB, Telles MM, Coelho VB, Mori C, Nascimento CM, Ribeiro. Brain Res Bull. 2002 Aug.

“Obesity induced by neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment in spontaneously hypertensive rats: An animal model of multiple risk factors.”
Iwase M, Yamamoto M, Iino K, Ichikawa K, Shinohara N, Yoshinari  Fujishima.  Hypertens Res. 1998 Mar.

“Hypothalamic lesion induced by injection of monosodium glutamate in suckling period and subsequent development of obesity.”

Tanaka K, Shimada M, Nakao K Kusunoki. Exp Neurol. 1978 Oct.

No, the date of that last study was not a typo; it was published in 1978.  Both the “medical research community” and “food manufacturers” have known about the side effects of MSG for decades.

Many more of the studies mentioned in John Erb’s book link MSG to
diabetes, migraines and headaches, autism, ADHD, and even Alzheimer’s.

So what can we do to stop the food manufactures from dumping this
fattening and addictive MSG into our food supply and causing the obesity
epidemic we now see?

Several months ago, John Erb took his book and his concerns to one of the highest government health officials in Canada.  While he was sitting in the government office, the official told him, “Sure, I know how bad MSG is. I wouldn’t touch the stuff.”  But this top-level government official refuses to tell the public what he knows.

The big media doesn’t want to tell the public either, fearing issues with their advertisers.  It seems that the fallout on the fast food industry may hurt their profit margin.  The food producers and restaurants have been addicting us to their products for years, and now we are paying the price for it.  Our children should not be cursed with obesity caused by an addictive food additive.

If you are one of the few who can still believe that MSG is good for us and you don’t believe what John Erb has to say, see for yourself. Go to the National Library of Medicine at www.pubmed.com <http://www.pubmed.com/> . Type in the words “MSG Obese” and read a few of the 115 medical studies that appear.

I do not approve of food that makes us into a nation of obese, lethargic, addicted sheep, feeding the food industry’s bottom line while waiting for the heart transplant, the diabetic-induced amputation, blindness, or other obesity-induced, life-threatening disorder!!

To Soy or NOT to Soy

Have you ever wondered about soy?  It’s promoted as the miracle food that will feed the world while at the same time prevent and cure all manner of diseases.

But what if all you’ve read about soy is nothing but a multi-million dollar marketing strategy based on scanty facts, half-truths and lies?

Soy is a cheap filler and poor substitute for more bio available, and health promoting proteins (whey, meats, eggs).  It is used in health bars, some protein powders and other products because it is cheaper than higher quality proteins such as whey, hence increasing the bottom line of companies selling these products. The Marketing Machines of these companies of course spin Soy off as “the new healthier alternative” or as a Vegan and hence more ethical choice of protein.

Red Meat and Eggs have been vilified for their alleged contribution to heart disease as well as the ethical issue surrounding consuming animal products. Since Red meat and Egg phobia Rates of Anemia and Alzheimer’s have risen significantly.  Haem Iron (Iron from Meat) is 6 times more absorbable than Iron from Vegetables, there is also a synergy of absorbability of Iron when Vegetable iron and haem iron are consumed together.  Eggs are the best know source of phospholipids, more specifically the yolk.   Phospholipids have been linked to the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of Dementia.  Since Egg phobia and the vilification of eggs ram rampant in the 80’s and 90’s, rates of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia have sky rocketed. This shows us how irresponsible marketing, inadequate regulation by food and drug authorities and media hype can mislead us, and why it has become so hard for the average person to be able to shop safely for themselves and for their families.  Soy and the “BS” surrounding its so called health benefits is another example of this, and how the all mighty dollar has once again been put before the welfare of the public.

Most people remain unaware that soy is known to contain an array of potent chemical toxins.  The modern manufacturing processes of high-profit industries make no effort to remove these potent toxins.  High levels of phytic acid, trypsin inhibitors, toxic lysinoalanine and highly carcinogenic nitrosamines are all present in soy products.

Phytoestrogens that disrupt endocrine function and are potent antithyroid agents are present in vast quantities in soy, including the potentially devastating isoflavone Genistein. Infants exclusively fed soy-based formula have 13,000 to 22,000 times more estrogen compounds in their blood than babies fed milk-based formula, the estrogenic equivalent of at least five birth control pills per day. Premature development of girls has been linked to the use of soy formula, as has the underdevelopment of males.  Infant soy formula has been linked to autoimmune thyroid disease.  Soy has been linked to the blocking of Iodine absorption, a mineral we already struggle to consistently obtain enough of (especially women).

Soy is linked to infertility, breast cancer, hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer, and many other disorders.

“Imagine drugs that are known, by years of scientific documentation, to be both carcinogenic and to also cause DNA and chromosome damage being prescribed and administered through the food supply to populations of many countries around the world without the knowledge or consent of the individuals consuming these foods … with no way to track dosage, individual reactions, or harmful side-effects … and without any concern for some people’s increased vulnerability to these drugs, such as cancer patients. It sounds crazy, but that is exactly what is happening around the world when Soy is added to our food supply. Soy contains the scientifically documented carcinogenic and DNA damaging and chromosome damaging natural chemicals genistein and daidzein.”

- True Health, the magazine of Carotec Inc., Naples, Florida. May/June 2004.

“(Soy foods) are not nutrients. They are drugs.”

- Dr. L. White, Honolulu Aging Study.

How could anyone get away with this?

The answer is simple; given the soy industry is one of the worlds most wealthy and powerful multi-billion dollar industries.

“Despite an impressive array of scientific evidence that soy is not a fit food for man nor beast, the soy marketing mastodon has marched through the American market like Sherman through Georgia – and likely doing about as much damage as Sherman’s Union Army did. In our opinion the widespread use of non-fermented soy is part of the chronic disease problem since soy is known to wreak havoc with the human thyroid and other hormone systems.”

- True Health, the magazine of Carotec Inc., Naples, Florida. May/June 2004.

Soybeans are widely known to contain a gamut of natural toxins – and it makes no difference whether they are organic, “Round-Up Ready”, or in any number of modern products. The trouble with modern soy products is that fast industrial processing does not equate to historical methods of fermenting “for two summers” or boiling “for the length of an incense”. The method of modern get-rich-quick corporations is simply to leave these well-known natural toxins in our products.

“Among the Hawaii study conclusions: that tofu accelerates brain weight loss in aging users, that the more soy you use the more it impacts your mental abilities, that soy acts like a drug, not a food.”

- True Health, the magazine of Carotec Inc., Naples, Florida. May/June 2004.

In short, Soy is a cheap filler, and a poor substitute for quality proteins such as eggs, whey, meat, fish and nuts.  At one point eggs and meats, mostly red meat were being smeared and pin pointed as causes of disease and Soy was touted as the healthy Savior.  Unfortunately we have been mislead on both fronts and rates of certain serious diseases, as well as the acceleration or even creation of new ailments have risen from both the use of Soy and the malnutrition suffered due to the avoidance of the aforementioned foods.  The use of Marketing and media hype as well as biased and circumstantial research has led to Soy being hailed as a health product and miracle answer to many problems such as high cholesterol, PMS and Lactose intolerance. Soy is not only an inferior protein (Whey Isolate has a bio availability of anywhere from 110-130, whole eggs are 100, soy is 32) but is high in Estrogens- strong enough to stop boys going through puberty.  If the health issues surrounding Soy aren’t enough to convince you here is an easy one- The amount of phyto-estrogens in Soy protein will make you as fat as a cow- Irony intended!

Household Toxins

Since the end of WWII, more than 80,000 synthetic chemicals have been invented to be used in chemical warfare yet only 20% of those chemicals have been tested for toxicity.  These same chemical toxins have been added to our food, water and cleaning supplies.  According to the Poison Control Center, over 10% of all toxic exposures reported were related to household cleaners!!  Surprisingly the #1 cause of household poisoning is dish detergent and what makes this even more disturbing is that the government does not require the manufacturers to list the ingredients.

A great example of this is Chlorine (labeled as sodium hypochlorite), it is the very first agent used in chemical warfare, yet it is found in just about every cleaning product as well as in our drinking water.

Toxic chemicals in household cleaners are three   times more likely to cause cancer than air pollution?  The average household contains anywhere from 3-25 gallons of toxic materials, most of which are in cleaners.  Did you know that women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than those who work away from home? The 15-year study concluded it was a direct result of higher exposure rate to toxic chemicals in common household products.

Household toxins don’t just affect us; they also harm every living thing on earth. During the manufacturing process, toxins get disposed of in the environment in the form of air and water pollution, as well as toxic waste. These toxins are not only polluting our air and water, but killing fish, animals and plant life.

Well, how do you avoid all of this then?  BodyWorks Lifestyle works with a range of cleaning products know as “Planet-Positive”, which means that not only are they made from sustainable, naturally derived ingredients that won’t hurt your family or the environment, they also use 100% recyclable packaging so they keep looking after the planet, even once you’ve used it all up!

All this is even recognized by the EPA – You can’t get better than that!

If you want to look after your plant, your home and your wallet, then come and talk to us about trying out this AMAZING range of products.  We offer a full 180 day money back guarantee, so you can’t get much safer than that!