Jonny Bowden's Blog, page 20
June 11, 2015
Is Garcinia Cambogia The Next Magical Cure For Obesity?
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
I’ve been back and forth on the use of Garcinia Cambogia for weight loss. My good friend Harry Preuss, MD—who is a professor of medicine at Georgetown University and the president of the American College of Nutrition—published some really good research on garcinia cambogia, particularly in conjunction with chromium, and his study did show that it helped with weight loss. My personal experience has been different..
Garcinia cambogia comes in several forms but the type Dr. Preuss used is called hydroxycitrate, also known as HCA or HCA-SX. I do know that the dose and the form of garcinia cambogia is quite important. Dr. Preuss used a form that’s available commercially as Super CitriMax, and you need to take the equivalent of about 1500 mg of HCA three times a day.
My problem with it is this: while I have great respect for Dr. Preuss and his research, I have personally never come across anyone who has used garcinia cambogia successfully. I’ve even taken it in the past myself, and although that’s very far from a science experiment, my personal experience was ho-hum..,. So if you’re going to give this a try, be sure to use it in exactly the form and dose that was used in the research that showed it worked.
While Garcinia may turn out to have some fat-reducing benefits, it’s very far from a magical cure for obesity. If you want to lose weight, your best option is to stay off the sugar, quit the processed foods, eat more fiber, and exercise.
June 9, 2015
Cinnamon for High Blood Sugar?
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
“You have HIGH BLOOD SUGAR”. Those are five words you’d really rather not hear from your doctor at your next checkup. High Blood Sugar is the first step down a road that can easily lead to metabolic syndrome (a kind of pre-diabetes that puts you at considerable risk for heart disease) or even diabetes itself. When your blood sugar is high, all kinds of metabolic events occur, none of them good.
Foremost among them is an overproduction of the “sugar-clearing” hormone insulin. Insulin clears the bloodstream of excess sugar. The more sugar in the bloodstream, the more insulin the pancreas has to send out to get the job done. Too much insulin can set you up for high blood pressure. Insulin sends a message to the kidneys that says: “Hold on to the sodium, dude!” This means that you have to hold on to more water to balance the excess sodium. Excess sodium plus excess water translates to high blood pressure – an enormous risk factor for heart disease. Insulin is also known as the “fat storage hormone” High levels of circulating insulin make it difficult to lose weight.
Even more frightening, high blood sugar is being linked to a significant increase in the risk of cancer. Have I convinced you yet that controlling your blood sugar should be one of your top health priorities?
Cinnamon! Cinnamon has an uncanny ability to moderate blood sugar. Many plants and individual phytochemicals can lower blood sugar, but many of them accomplish this at a price of imposing some nasty toxic cost on the body. Not cinnamon! C. Leigh Broadhurst, Ph.D., and her research team at USDA have identified new phytochemicals in cinnamon called chalcone polymers that increase glucose metabolism in the cells twenty-fold or more and no side effects in sight!
Cinnamon was the star in the prestigious Journal of the American College of Nutrition. The active ingredient –methylbydroxychalcone polymer or MHCP- seems to mimic insulin function, increasing the uptake of sugar by the cells and signaling certain kinds of cells to turn glucose into glucogen (the storage form of sugar).
Researchers found that even 1 g of cinnamon a day reduced blood sugar 18% to even 29%; and the cost just a couple of bucks! BTW: It will also reduce cholesterol by 12% to as high as 26%. Researchers at Georgetown University found that cinnamon reduced the insulin level in rats with high blood pressure.
Buying cinnamon in bulk is cost effective and highly recommended. In my book: The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth” I provide you with different recipes on how to ‘Sip this Medicine”. Why wouldn’t you add a cinnamon bark to your brewing tea?
Meanwhile, I sprinkle the stuff on everything-great with my oatmeal, and definitely with my morning cup of java. Because cinnamon can affect insulin and blood sugar, work with your health care practitioner on adding this natural prescription to your routine if you currently take insulin or medications for high blood sugar.
June 6, 2015
Could You Use A Boost Of Ascorbic Acid?
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
You know what I say to all the people who scoff at vitamin C because it doesn’t really prevent colds?
“Who cares?”
Vitamin C may or may not stop or shorten colds, but let’s look at some of the much more important reasons to supplement with this vitamin. Without vitamin C, your immune system is toast. When you’ve got an infection, your lymphocytes—white blood cells—kick in to defend the body. Lymphocytes use up a ton of vitamin C. So does a process called phagocytosis, which is how the immune system removes cell debris, bacteria, pathogens, and dead tissue cells. You need vitamin C for that “cleanup crew” to do its job!
Then there’s the fact that vitamin C is a powerful—and I mean powerful—antioxidant. Oxidation is a kind of cellular aging—you can see what oxidative damage looks like by leaving apple slices out in the hot summer sun for a day. That’s what happens to your cells (and skins) when you have oxidative—or free radical—damage. That’s not only a big part of aging, it’s also a component of absolutely every single degenerative disease you can think of (and many that you’ve never heard of).
Vitamin C is one of the most powerful antioxidants on the planet. It’s a natural weapon against cellular damage from a host of enemies. It’s also no accident that vitamin C—ascorbic acid—is an important ingredient in so many high-end skin care products.
June 4, 2015
Want A Super Spice Equipped With A Unique Flavor Profile?
If you’re looking for a spice with some wonderful compounds, have a look at the spice that makes Indian foods and curries bright yellow—turmeric. Not only is it tasty, several studies have shown that it may be effective in treating certain health conditions. Let’s take a look at what we know about the Super Spice.
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
To start, Tumeric may be effective in helping reduce inflammation, as well as reducing the growth of certain kinds of tumors. It has anti-cancer properties. It is remarkably helpful for liver health and detoxification. These compounds that have all these wonderful effects are collectively called curcumin, which is available as a supplement but is not easily absorbed by the body. If you want to try it out, be sure to purchase a high quality grade—I look for products made with the more absorbable BCM-95 curcumin, like the Terry Naturally line.,
If you’ve had Indian Curry, chances are you’ve had a taste of Tumeric before. Without question, it can throw a unique curveball to just about any dish. If you’re up for the spice adventure, I recommend experimenting with Lentil Soup or a Greens Salad—and pouring it on!
June 2, 2015
Do You Want To Make A Healthy Impact On Your Family?
Want to set your family up to succeed,? Of course you do. And here’s one simple way to do it: make the evening home-cooked meal into a sacred tradition.. If you’re looking to make a healthy impact on your loved ones, eating with family members at the dinner table may afford you with a three-for-one package, a trifecta of mental, physical and spiritual benefits. Let’ me explain.
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Study after study has come to show that kids who regularly eat at home with their families do better on practically every metric. They perform better in school. They have reduced risk of addiction. They’re more well-adjusted. And if all that isn’t enough, consider the powerful spiritual aspect of eating a meal with loved ones. Finally, enjoying dinner with loved ones encourages your presence and engagement. It promotes mindfulness. And over time, it’s incredibly bonding.
Do you want to increase the health and longevity of your loved ones? I am absolutely convinced that routinely preparing meals at home can be the single-most important step you can take, with the possible exception of exercising every day. So what are you waiting for? Have some fun, get your spouse or kids in the kitchen, and teach them a new recipe or two!
April 28, 2015
EASY Ways to Live Better: 4 Ways EGGS Boost Your Energy!
Ordering egg white omelets is an idea whose time has come—and gone. (Long gone!) Trust me, Mother Nature put the egg together the way she did for a reason.
Eggs—yolks and all—contain more than 15 different vitamins and minerals, including double-digit percentages of the daily value for important energy vitamins such as riboflavin (vitamin B2) and vitamin B12, not to mention some of the highest quality protein on the planet. And that’s a great recipe for energy!
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
#1. The yolk is a rich source of an essential nutrient called choline, which is usually thought of as a member of the B-vitamin family. Choline is needed for the synthesis of acetylcholine.
#2. Having adequate levels of acetylcholine also helps protect against dementia! Why? Acetylcholine is actually one of the major neurotransmitters in the body. That means it helps transmit information in the brain and is absolutely critical for MEMORY and thought.
#3. It’s all interrelated. The choline in egg yolks also helps the body form a chemical called betaine, which in turn, reduces another body chemical called homocysteine. Homocysteine can slow you down in a number of ways. It’s a nasty little chemical compound that is made naturally in the body—but when it builds up, it can contribute to inflammation and increase the risk for heart disease and stroke, both of which are not exactly at the top of your must-have list. High levels of homocysteine are also linked to greater risk of fractures, which isn’t something that’s likely to increase your get up and go either.
#4. If all that were not enough, the choline and phosphatidylcholine* in egg yolks help the liver get rid of the kinds of toxins that can drain your energy. Remember that the liver is ground ZERO for detoxification, and the more help you can give it, the better off you’ll be. With the number of energy-zapping toxins we’re exposed to on a daily basis, your liver a can use all the help it can get.
Remember, in today’s world, we need to proactively seek the healthy version of EVERYTHING. So spend the extra two or three dollars and get yourself organic eggs from cage-free chickens. If the $2 feels like a stretch, just give up one bucks a week or some other daily indulgence and you’ll be able to get TWO dozen luxurious, energy-packed orbs.
Eggs—complete with the nutritious yolk—can help. Eggs truly are an energy superfood.
*A close relative of choline.
February 11, 2015
Fifty Shades of Grey: The Great Vaccine Debate
Recently, a reader on Facebook asked me to comment on the current debate over vaccinations. Here are my thoughts. Let me know what you think!
February 9, 2015
Trick Question: How Do You Lower Cholesterol?
The other day, I received a request from a writer working on a story about how to lower cholesterol “naturally”. His questions are reprinted below, together with my answer.
What are your thoughts on taking supplements as part of a cholesterol-lowering plan?
Which ones do you like, and why?
Are they safe? What are the risks?
How do supplements fit in with traditional cholesterol-lowering methods like statin drugs, diet, and exercise?
Sounds reasonable, right?
Here’s my answer:
Dear Writer,
I’m delighted to help you with your story, which, It appears, is about using supplements to lower cholesterol.
I am a firm believer that lowering cholesterol is the least important thing you can do for heart health.
In fact, I am the author of a book called, “The Great Cholesterol Myth: Why Lowering Cholesterol Won’t Prevent Heart Disease and the Statin-Free Plan that Will”.
So I wonder if I’m the right person to be interviewed about how to lower your cholesterol since I’m on a mission to correct the impression that lowering cholesterol matters a whit.
As I said on the Dr. Oz show, trying to prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol is like trying to reduce calories by taking the lettuce off your whopper.
If you want to talk about supplements for heart health, I’m your man. If you want to talk about strategies to prevent heart disease, I’m your man.
But if you want to talk about how to lower your cholesterol, or what supplements to use as part of a “cholesterol-lowering plan”, I’m probably not your guy.
To me, that’s like asking a general in the armed forces, “What’s the best way to invade Portugal so we can stop Al-Queda?”
Al-Queda isn’t in Portugal, so invading Portugal won’t help us fight terrorism.
And cholesterol doesn’t cause heart disease, so lowering it won’t help us fight heart disease..
Warmly,
Jonny Bowden
The writer replied: Let me rethink my slant on the article. I’ll get back to you on that.
Well, at least that’s some progress!
Cholesterol: The Misunderstood Molecule
Cholesterol is a very misunderstood molecule.
And though many people might not be aware of it, there has long been a vocal minority of doctors, researchers and health professionals who believe that cholesterol and fat have been wrongly convicted as the primary promoters of heart disease.
Along with a growing body of fellow health professionals, I believe that this emphasis on cholesterol has caused us to take our attention off what I believe to be the true promoters of heart diseases – inflammation, oxidative damage, stress and sugar.
The evidence against cholesterol as a causal factor in heart disease is much weaker than was previously believed, and cardiologist Stephen Sinatra, MD, and I make that case in our new book, The Great Cholesterol Myth, complete with hundreds of medical references from peer-reviewed journals. We also believe that the statin drugs given to lower cholesterol are being over-prescribed, and are not without significant side effects.
Cholesterol is needed for life. It’s the parent molecule for all the major sex hormones, including estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. It’s needed for the immune system, and it’s needed for the brain. (In fact, one of the most serious side effects of cholesterol-lowering medication is memory loss.)
As we stated on the Dr. Oz Show: “Trying to prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol is like trying to reduce calories by taking the lettuce off your double cheeseburger. It’s not that the lettuce doesn’t have any calories – it’s that lettuce is the wrong target.
And cholesterol is the wrong target if you’re trying to prevent heart disease.
We fervently believe that neither cholesterol nor fat is the major villain in the American diet – sugar is. We also believe that the case against cholesterol, which was made nearly 30 years ago, was based on faulty evidence. The case needs to be re-opened and the evidence needs to be re-examined.
Belief in the “Great Cholesterol Myth” has caused us to neglect the real causes of heart disease while obsessively focusing on an innocuous molecule that’s essential for life and that we believe has only a minor role in heart disease.
February 3, 2015
Heart-Protective Carrot-Ginger Soup with Chives
The following recipe is from The Great Cholesterol Myth Cookbook by Jonny Bowden, Stephen Sinatra, and Deidre Rawlings.
Tangy, tasty, and warming from the inside out, the combination of carrots with ginger will delight not only your taste buds but your entire digestive system. This soup is packed with the antioxidants vitamin A and beta-carotene, together with tons of fiber and B-complex vitamins, it doesn’t get better than this for high-energy, nutrient dense soup.
Ingredients:
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or coconut oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 6 large carrots, chopped
• 2 cups chopped butternut squash, skin on
• 5 cups vegetable stock
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, Celtic or sea
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger, peeled
• 1/4 teaspoon each ground cumin, coriander powder, and garlic powder
• 1 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 6 tablespoons plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Instructions:
Melt the oil in a large pot. Add the onions and cook for several minutes over medium heat until they begin to sweat. Add the carrots and butternut squash and cook for about 3 minutes. Add the vegetable stock, salt, ginger, cumin, and coriander and garlic powders. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, about 15 to 20 minutes, or until you can pierce the pieces easily with a fork.
Purée the soup in a blender or food processor with the parsley. Serve with 1 tablespoon of yogurt in each bowl and top with fresh chives.
Yield: 6 servings
Note: Ginger is a stimulating herb that gets the blood flowing and the circulation going. Because of this, it can make you feel warm when nothing else seems to do the trick.
