William Davis's Blog: Dr. Davis Infinite Health Blog, page 48

Why health headlines are wrong so often

Eggs cause heart disease; eggs don’t cause heart disease. Red meat causes cancer; red meat doesn’t cause cancer.

Why do health headlines flip-flop so frequently? And how can you tell what is true from what are just attention-getting headlines?

There’s a good explanation for the confusion, but don’t expect the media—or even many doctors—to understand why.

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What HbA1c tells you about aging

A common blood test, hemoglobin A1c or HbA1c, usually used to assess blood sugar values for the prior 60-90 days, can also provide insight into the rate at which you are aging.

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I raised my HDL by 350%

Conventional cholesterol panels are generally useless and serve as lousy predictors of risk for heart disease.

However, there is a measure–HDL cholesterol–in conventional cholesterol panels that can actually provide insights into your metabolic health. It is also something you have enormous control over with NO prescription drugs, without the doctor, just simple strategies you introduce on your own.

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What’s the story with iodine?

Iodine is an essential nutrient, but one that many have forgotten about despite the fact that iodine deficiency was a major public health crisis all throughout human history until 1924.

Iodized salt was the solution to iodine deficiency. But, since the FDA advised everyone to cut back salt intake, iodine deficiency and even goiters (enlarged thyroid glands due to lack of iodine) are making a comeback along with weight gain, fatigue, thinning hair, high blood pressure and other health problems, yet the solution is so simple.

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Do you always feel cold?

There are three common reasons for feeling inappropriately cold, even when the ambient temperature is warm:

Hypothyroidism–exceptionally common.
Anemia–especially iron and B12 deficiency caused by wheat/grain consumption
Lack of prebiotic fibers—that your microbiome needs to generate heat

Identify, then address these three causes to obtain relief from this unpleasant feeling.

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Why we do NOT take calcium supplements

In the Wheat Belly lifestyle, we do not take calcium supplements for a variety of reasons.

First, calcium supplementation does NOT increase bone density nor prevent fractures. In addition, several Wheat Belly strategies increase calcium absorption from the diet:

Removing the gliadin protein reduces urinary calcium loss, calciuria
Cultivating Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria bowel flora species increases intestinal absorption of calcium
Removal of grain phytates means that more calcium is available from diet
Vitamin D supplementation increases intestinal absorption of calcium

It all adds up to markedly improving your ability to absorb and retain calcium, making supplementation unnecessary.

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What is modern wheat?

With efforts to increase yield-per-acre and enhance pest resistance, agribusiness and agricultural scientists have introduced marked changes into the modern wheat plant. It is now genetically and biochemically different than traditional strains, even looks different.

It also means that many of the toxic effects of wheat have been amplified by these efforts with serious implications for human health.

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What does it mean if you are intolerant to prebiotic fibers?

In my Wheat Belly and Undoctored programs, we add prebiotic fibers to help cultivate healthy bowel flora.

But if you experience an adverse effect upon adding prebiotic fibers, such as excessive gas, bloating, diarrhea, emotional effects, joint pain, skin rash, etc., this is an extremely reliable sign that you have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO, especially if these effects are experienced within 60 minutes of consuming them.

If you experience this effect, it is very important that you address SIBO, one of the more complex health issues we manage in my Undoctored Inner Circle: InnerCircle.Undoctored.com.

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Deja Ewww! Wheat and grain re-exposures

Once you are free of wheat and grains on the Wheat Belly lifestyle, it is important that you avoid re-exposures, as some pretty unpleasant reactions can result.

Most commonly, people experience bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, skin rashes, joint pain, panic, anxiety, depression, as well as a return of any health problems that originally reversed with grain elimination.

Once you are wheat- and grain-free, it is best to remain wheat- and grain-free.

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What do food intolerances mean?

A growing number of people are developing intolerances to common foods. They are often advised to eliminate, say, FODMAP-containing foods, lectins, or nightshades that can reduce symptoms.

But none of this addresses the CAUSE of food intolerances. Failing to address the cause can lead to long-term health problems even if you continue to avoid the problem foods. Identify the cause, then correct it–THAT is how you deal with food intolerances. The food intolerances may even reverse over time.

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