Showing posts with label complimentary and alternative nutrition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label complimentary and alternative nutrition. Show all posts

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Email forward fallacies and olive oil for ulcers


I don't send forwards. Never have, never will. I got a forward today about fruit, so I opened it as it was from my aunt who knows I'm a dietitian. I was nearly in tears I was laughing so hard. Check it out:


EATING FRUIT...

It's long but very informative
We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat.
What is the correct way of eating fruits?
IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! * FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.
FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.
In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and
digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil....

So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining - every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet etc - actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!

Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter (is this even grammatically correct??).  If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up.

 Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it.

 You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!

Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer! Can u believe this?? For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE: (THIS IS NOT A JOKE!) Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive...was this forward about cancer and fruit or heart attacks? I’m now confused…..

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.

Read this....It could save your life!!



*EYE ROLL* It SCARES me that there's this kinda crud floating around! Much less, people are reading and believing it! Research health claims that you hear and ask your medical provider before falling for any fallacies out there!


On a completely unrelated note....



While I like to think I teach patients things, they also teach me things, too! Like this week, for example, a patient asked, “Is it true that olive oil helps prevent stomach ulcers?” After swallowing my pride just a bit, I responded with an, “I’m not sure, but I’ll get back to you!”


Ends up, olive oil DOES help to prevent stomach ulcers according to WedMD.


A Spanish study from 2007 suggested virgin olive oil may help prevent and treat H. pylori infections, a leading cause of gastritis and peptic ulcers. Lab testing revealed that the antioxidant compounds found in virgin olive oil are effective against several strains of H. pylori. Other natural products such as red wine, green tea, and cranberry juice are rich in a class of antioxidants known as phenolic compounds, which can inhibit the growth of H. pylori [1].


Phenolic compounds are found to have strong antibacterial properties. Lab results show olive oil’s phenolic compounds are effective against 8 strains of H. pylori, including 3 that are resistant to some antibiotic treatments [1]. Go virgin olive oil!


[1]. Warner, Jennifer. Olive Oil May Prevent Ulcers. WebMD. February 13, 2007.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Day 2 and more


I dropped Lily off at "Camp Bow Wow" this morning for her "interview" (we're boarding her during our Thanksgiving trip to Chicago). Needless to say, she's having a blast right now at camp. How do I know this? I'm WATCHING her online! Yep, that's right! Camp Bow Wow has cameras installed in the facility so you can watch your dog play indoors, outdoors, sleep, eat, and more! Since she's going to be one POOPED little puppy tonight, I've asked my husband to take me out on a date tonight! So, here's my day so far...


Breakfast:
1 cappuccino with sugar-free International Delight (0 carbs)
1 slice wheat toast (1 carb)
1/2 Tbsp Smart Balance Light (0 carbs)
1 egg, large (0 carbs)
1 Fiber One bar (2 carbs)
     Total: 3 carbs


Lunch:
1/4th Spinach Calzone from last night (3 1/2 carbs)
1/2 c. roasted vegetables: potatoes, carrots, and squash (1/2 carbs)
     Total: 4 carbs


Snack:
1 large chocolate chip cookie (2 carbs)


Dinner and PM snack: TBD


While that afternoon cookie isn't the best choice, my co-worker always stops for cookies from an Amish Bakery before our RD meetings each month. So, I know cookies will be there (and she always gets chocolate chip), I will want one, and I need to limit myself to ONE to not go over my carbs.


Anyways, Chicago finds out today whether or not the 2016 Olympics will be held there! I'm really hoping they are, but that's easy to say as I don't live there anymore and will have my parent's home to crash at during the events if we decide to attend. Oh, and the taxes...I won't be paying Illinois taxes :) Either way, an exciting time for Chicago and the Olympics in Chicago supporters (there's a lot against it, and their reasoning is justified). We shall see!


The Chicago Tribune put out an article yesterday stating that life expectancy is still rising in "rich" countries and that many babies born after 2000 may live to be 100 years old. Even more shocking is that this upward trend in life expectancy is not showing a plateau in sight [1]. How old was Moses when he died? 120? Kidding, kidding.


The article states, "While illnesses affecting the elderly like heart disease, cancer and diabetes are rising, advances in medical treatment are also making it possible for them to remain active for longer. The obesity epidemic, however, may complicate matters. Extra weight makes people more susceptible to diseases and may increase their risk of dying. In the U.S., data from 1982 to 2000 showed a major drop in illness and disability among the elderly, though that has now begun to reverse, probably linked to the rise in obesity [1]."


Moving on....ginger. Ginger is by far a favorite ingredient of mine. While nothing tops garlic in my heart, ginger MAY take the silver. For hundreds of years, ginger has been used to ease nausea. A number of studies have been assessed to find that ginger does cure nausea caused from sea-sickness, morning-sickness, and chemotherapy. While the mechanism of action is yet to be determined, the proposed active ingredient in ginger is 6-gingerol, which helps relax intestinal muscles. How much ginger to ease nausea? Studies suggest 0.5 grams to be effective and it's available as powder in capsule form, as well as it's natural root state. Simply shave off several slices of ginger to chew and swallow, or enjoy it blended in water or a smoothie [2]. 


And did anyone else hear that Coke is putting calories on all their products? Read more here. I have to say, however, it would be MOST useful to do one of two things with say, 20 ounce bottles of soda - 1) list the TOTAL calories and carbohydrates in the whole bottle (people won't look at servings per container!) or 2) do away with anything other than 1-serving containers for individual sale (which won't happen). Unfortunately, even consumers who are trying to follow labels and make better decisions are unclear on how to read nutrition labels. So many of my patients fail to realize that while there are 26 grams of carbohydrate in an 8-ounce serving of soda....there are 65 grams of carbohydrate in the 20-ounce bottles they drink!!! Without knowing how to read the labels, however, most go on thinking they're consuming 26 grams, or "2 carbs". As soon as I point out the math (i.e. "You're drinking more carbohydrates than you're supposed to eat in a MEAL"), that soda loses a lot of appeal. So, I do wish labeling were a bit more straight forward for consumers to utilize appropriately. Off soap box.



In reading a fellow RD's blog this week, I found this YouTube view -- a snipet from The View on an episode hosting Paula Dean and her new cook book for children and specifically, children's lunches. Listen for Barbara Walters calling out Paula, it's great!





I hope it's as beautiful where ever you are as it is here today! TGIF and have a WONDERFUL weekend!



[1]. Cheng, Maria. Happy 100th Birthday! Most babies born since 2000 will hit 100, life expectancy still rising. Chicago Tribune. October 1, 2009.
[2]. O'Connor, Anahad. The Alternative Medicine Cabinet: Ginger. The New York Times. October 1, 2009.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Aloe Vera and Yukon Golds

I’ve heard two diabetes-related “rumors” recently, so I had to research into their origins and truthfulness. 

The first rumor: a hypoglycemic effect of aloe vera in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. 
An October 1999 study performed by the British Journal of General Practice disputed the use of aloe vera in the hyperglycemic. Four independent literature searches were conducted and controlled clinical trials in various languages were included. The results showed that “oral administration of aloe vera might be a useful adjunct for lowering blood glucose in diabetic patients as well as for reducing blood lipid levels in patients with hyperlipidemia.” While these results are intriguing the conclusions of the study stated that while the results yielded promising results, the clinical effectiveness of oral aloe vera is not sufficiently defined.


The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) recognizes the side effects and cautions of using aloe vera stating, “People with diabetes who use glucose-lowering medication should be cautious if also taking aloe by mouth because preliminary studies suggest aloe may lower blood glucose levels.” The NCCAM explains that the science of aloe does not support aloe vera for uses beyond laxative and burn and abrasion healing at this time [2].




Bottom line: False. While there is some science in support of the use of aloe vera in lowering blood glucose, it is not a recognized use at this time.





The second rumor: Yukon gold potatoes have less carbohydrate than other potatoes.




An average-sized potato is approximately 5.3 ounces (148 grams). A 5.3 ounce Russet potato is 25-26 grams of carbohydrate. A 5.3 ounce Yukon Gold potato has the same 25-26 grams of carbohydrate.




Bottom line: False. Yukon Gold potatoes are NOT lower in total carbohydrate.




[1]. Vogler, B. K., Ernst, E. Aloe vera: a systematic review of its clinical effectiveness. British Journal of General Practice. October 1999.
[2]. National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. Aloe Vera. Updated April 2008.