Welcome to the thirteenth edition of Viewpoints, our monthly
e-newsletter.
We at Insulite Laboratories applaud all our clients who have decided to achieve
a healthier life for themselves. Our commitment is total when it comes to
pointing the way towards a greater sense of well being via a balanced,
nutritional diet and a realistic exercise program.
There's no time like the present to lose weight and escape from the shadow of
America's obesity epidemic. The facts behind this crisis never cease to amaze.
For example, a study has shown that 27% of the phenomenal growth in health care
spending over the last 15 years was attributable to obesity. Over that period,
the treatment of obese patients was 37% more expensive on average than for
people of normal weight.
Federal officials have estimated that it costs $93 billion a year to treat
obesity-related illnesses like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), the cluster
of Cardiovascular Diseases known as Metabolic Syndrome (Syndrome X) and Type II
Diabetes. All these conditions can have Insulin Resistance as an underlying
cause.
Our aim is to help you avoid or reverse the symptoms of these disorders by
enabling you to reach your goal of better health. Taking steps in the right
direction doesn't have to be a difficult process. Just read this month's
Insulite Lifestyle feature on wearing a pedometer while you walk to see what we
mean.
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“The way to succeed is to double your error rate.”
Keep trying and learn by your mistakes.
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| INTELLIGENCE REPORT |
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SLEEPLESS NIGHTS CAN INCREASE YOUR WEIGHT
If you're losing sleep, you could be gaining weight. A new study has shown that
sleep deprivation triggers an increase in a hunger hormone while at the same
time reducing levels of a different hormone that make you feel full.
The end result can be obesity through overeating and could explain why so many
Americans who are chronically sleep-deprived are also overweight. It may also be
the reason why sleepy college students, new parents and shift workers find
themselves piling on the pounds.
They are among the 65% of Americans who are overweight or obese. Insulin
Resistance is a key factor in causing the country's obesity epidemic, which
increases the risks of sufferers developing a host of conditions, including
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Type 2 Diabetes and the cluster of
Cardiovascular Diseases called Metabolic Syndrome or Syndrome X.
The medical community is intrigued by the possible connection between the number
of overweight or obese people in the U.S. and an estimated 63% of American
adults who do not get the recommended 8 hours of sleep. The average adult gets
6.9 hours of sleep on weeknights and 7.5 hours at weekends, making a daily
average of 7 hours.
Chicago University professor of medicine Eve Van Cauter, lead author of the new
study, has spent 25 years carrying out research on the hormones that are
affected by sleep. She says lack of sleep activates a small part of the
hypothalamus, which is the region of the brain that is also involved in appetite
regulation. There are two critical hormones that regulate food intake: ghrelin
and leptin.
These hormones influence eating in different ways. Ghrelin is an
appetite-stimulating hormone released mostly by the stomach. When ghrelin levels
are up, most people feel hungry.
Leptin, on the other hand, is regarded as a satiety or fullness hormone, which
is released by fat cells and tells the brain about the current energy balance of
the body. High leptin levels send a message that the body has enough food,
resulting in a person feeling full.
"The hormones have been called the yin and yang of hunger," says Professor Van
Cauter, who directs the Research Laboratory on Sleep, Chronobiology and
Neuroendocrinology at the University of Chicago School of Medicine.
"One is the accelerator for eating (ghrelin) and the other (leptin) is the
brake," she added. (For more on leptin, see Consult Dr Mary)
Professor Van Cauter, whose findings were published in the Annals of Internal
Medicine, arranged for 12 healthy, normal weight men, with an average age of 22,
to come into a hospital laboratory to sleep and eat dinner and breakfast. On one
occasion, they were limited to four hours' sleep for two consecutive nights. On
another occasion, they were allowed to sleep for up to ten hours for two
nights. Their blood was tested at regular intervals and they were asked about
their hunger.
The findings:
- Leptin levels were 18% lower and ghrelin levels 28% higher after they slept
four hours.
- The sleep-deprived men who had the biggest hormonal changes said they felt the
most hungry and craved carbohydrate-rich foods, including cakes, candy, ice
cream, pasta and bread. Those who had the smallest changes reported being the
least hungry.
One of the participants, biology student Matt Tierney, 23, said he was so hungry
after getting only 4 hours of sleep that "I could have eaten my pillow." He had
no problems with hunger after getting the longer nights of sleep.
Different people have different sleep needs. But in general, most adults require
7-9 hours, say experts. Some can do with less. When she was Prime Minister of
Britain, Margaret Thatcher only needed four hours a night. Others have to have
more.
Professor Van Cauter suggests this method for discovering your individual sleep
need:
The next time you're on vacation, sleep as much as you can the first couple of
days. That way you can pay off your sleep debt. Then, when your sleep has
stabilized, make a record of how much you sleep, plus or minus 15 minutes. The
average figure is your sleep need or capacity.
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT A SYSTEM THAT HELPS TO REVERSE THE SYMPTOMS OF
METABOLIC SYNDROME
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| NEW RESEARCH |
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WOMEN WITH PCOS MAY BE AT GREATER RISK OF LIVER DISEASE
Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) face
a higher risk of developing liver disease, according to a new study in Southern
California. Researchers say the finding is important for doctors who may not be
aware that women with PCOS face this higher risk and thus treat them with
medications that could be toxic to the liver.
PCOS is a disorder caused by a hormone imbalance linked with the way the body
processes insulin, which aids the body's absorption of blood sugar for energy.
When insulin and glucose levels become unbalanced because of a condition called
Insulin Resistance, the ovaries can produce an abnormal abundance of the male
hormone testosterone, which is a characteristic of PCOS.
Among the signs of PCOS is the growth of abnormal cysts on the ovaries. This can
be accompanied by irregular or non-existent menstrual cycles leading to
infertility. Symptoms of the disorder may also include hirsutism (abnormal
growth of hair), thinning hair, acne, weight gain, depression and anxiety.
In a study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, physicians at the
University of California at San Diego theorized that PCOS is connected with a
higher risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD. This is
an umbrella term used to describe a range of liver diseases, from benign to
potentially fatal, which are characterized by the accumulation of fat in the
liver. This increase in fatty liver risk can be caused by different things, such
as Insulin Resistance-related disorders such as Type 2 Diabetes, weight gain,
poor diet or associated illnesses like tuberculosis. The worst kind of fatty
liver disease is known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is
diagnosed when accumulated fat causes liver inflammation, resulting in damage to
the organ.
"We hypothesized that women with PCOS would demonstrate a high incidence of
NAFLD because of the link to Insulin Resistance," explained Walter Schwimmer, an
assistant clinical professor of Pediatrics at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center
in Bellflower, California, and one of the study's lead researchers.
Insulin Resistance is a shared characteristic of both PCOS and NAFLD. "The data
in the study, in fact, demonstrates that elevated ALT is more common in women
with PCOS than in the general population of women of a similar age, race and
body weight," he added.
Doctors look for levels of ALT as a sign of liver disease. ALT stands for
alanine aminotransferase, an enzyme released by the liver into the bloodstream
when the liver is damaged.
For the study, researchers reviewed the records of 70 women who had been
evaluated for infertility. Information was gathered on height, weight, blood
pressure, hirsutism, liver enzyme levels, fasting glucose, fasting insulin and
cholesterol.
Nearly a third of the women diagnosed as having PCOS had higher-than-normal
levels of ALT, indicating the presence of liver disease. Additionally, levels of
another liver enzyme, aspartate aminotransferase, or AST, were increased in 12%
of the patients studied. All seven subjects with an elevated AST also had an
elevated ALT.
Women with higher ALT levels also weighed significantly more, had a higher waist
circumference, increased triglyceride levels and higher cholesterol. "There was
a significant association between the presence of hirsutism and the finding of
an abnormal ALT in women with PCOS," says the study, adding that the link
between fatty liver disease and hirsutism was "very unexpected."
"We determined that Insulin Resistance explains the high rate of elevated ALT in
women with PCOS, and that these women with PCOS are at increased risk for NAFLD,"
said Professor Schwimmer.
But the investigators also cautioned that since liver biopsies weren't performed
in the study, it was not possible to determine the true prevalence of NAFLD in
the group of women.
In conclusion, the investigators recommend that women diagnosed with PCOS who
also have higher ALT levels avoid alcohol and acetaminophen, both of which can
be toxic to a diseased liver.
* Schwimmer JB, Khorram O, Chiu V, Schwimmer WB. Abnormal aminotransferase activity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril 2005 Feb;83(2):494-7.
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DR. MARY'S VIEW:
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“The fat that is visible on your body is only a symptom of what
is happening behind the scenes.”
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This recent research further confirms the importance of reversing PCOS.
Previously, most research demonstrated an increased risk in several life
threatening conditions such as Cardiovascular Disease and now we have more
evidence that increases the urgency to reverse PCOS.
Many of you may be puzzled about this connection. When your body continually
uses sugar as its primary fuel source, it is "locked" into a sugar burning mode
which can have a serious effect on every organ system. Fat is "stored" and
begins to build up in places where it shouldn't. This is in addition to fat
accumulating at the waist line or midline -- the "apple shape" distribution that
contributes to the cause of Insulin Resistance.
The fat that is visible on your body is only a symptom of what is happening
'behind the scenes' where fat is accumulating around and inside the internal
organs, most importantly the liver. The result is two-fold: the liver becomes
even more Insulin Resistant, causing it to release greater amounts of glucose,
and it creates a further rise in insulin production, which perpetuates the
Insulin Resistance problem. A portion of the fat gets stored inside the liver
cells and contributes to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease or NAFLD. The
disorder is called 'non-alcoholic' liver disease because it shares
characteristics with liver conditions found in people who abuse alcohol.
However, with the Insulin Resistant person or PCOS female, there is an increased
incidence of NAFLD which is frequently 'silent' or without obvious symptoms. The
basis of this disorder is an impairment of fat metabolism. It is still unclear
why this happens - it is possible that the liver is unable to change fat to a
form that can be eliminated.
Dr. Mary Shackelton, MPH ND, is the Medical Director of Insulite Laboratories.
Click here to learn about a system that is scientifically-designed to help reverse the symptoms of PCOS.
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| WEIGHT LOSS: MYTH OR FACT? |
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Myth: Exercising on an Empty Stomach is More Effective
Fact: You don't lose more weight by exercising on an empty stomach. In
fact, it may hinder the effectiveness of working out if lack of food means you
don't have enough energy to exercise properly. You should try to eat a small
snack that has adequate protein, fat and carbohydrates prior to your workout if
you're exercising in the morning. This will ensure a more stable blood sugar
level during and after your workout. If you do exercise on an empty stomach, you
are likely to have a surge of cortisol which increases your blood glucose and
results in an insulin surge also. This not only contributes to the condition of
Insulin Resistance, which can be a major factor in weight gain, but also
increases irregular blood sugar levels and day-long carbohydrate cravings. |
| CONSULT DR. MARY |
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Q. CAN YOU ADD FAT TO A DIET AND STILL BE HEALTHY?
A. Most people avoid fat in their diets so as not to gain weight. But
what we are realizing now is that, if we add 'good' fats to our diets, our
insulin and leptin levels decrease. This means we feel more satisfied and our
carbohydrate craving decreases significantly. You can actually lose weight by
eating more fat. This would have been a reckless statement 20 years ago.
Research confirms, however, that it is true.
We at Insulite Laboratories encourage heavy reliance on sources of "good" fats
like avocados, nuts, olives, olive oil, grain-fed beef, nut butters and omega-3
enriched eggs in our daily diets. Try experimenting with these and see how they
make you feel. The good fats lower leptin and insulin levels, which, in turn,
improve the quality of these hormone signals so that our cells "hear" their
messages better and control hunger.
What you may find is that including these "good" fats in your diet will leave
you feeling more in control of your cravings and dietary choices. Better control
of your choices will condition your neural networks to support this new,
healthier way of eating.
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“The thing that impresses me the most, aside from the wealth of useful
information you offer on your web sites and in your newsletter, is the lack of
"hard sell." You really do seem to have the interests of your clients at heart.”
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- B.E.,
London, England
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Insulite Laboratories would like to share
other experiences like this one to inspire our many clients on the same
path. Tell us your story and we will use it in a future issue of this
newsletter, as well as on web sites and affiliate sites.
If you are uncomfortable with us publishing your name, we are quite happy to
use your initials to preserve your anonymity. Please email us at
testimonials@insulitelabs.com
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Insulite Laboratories is
pleased to announce the addition of a new member to its Medical Advisory
Board. He is:
 Chuck
Davis M.D. who works currently in family practice at both Kaiser
Permanente, Boulder, and Exempla Health Care, Broomfield, CO. He
gained his B.A. and M.D. at Michigan University.
He was Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the University of
California in San Francisco. Chuck is also certified in Occupational
Medicine and Accupuncture for Pain Control. He is committed to
helping reverse the conditions caused by Insulin Resistance such as
PCOS, Metabolic Syndrome and Pre-Diabetes. Another interest is
documentary film making. Several of his films have been shown on PBS
and have won awards at film festivals.
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| DID YOU KNOW? |
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CINNAMON CAN
LOWER BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS FOR DIABETICS
People with Type 2 Diabetes are 2-4 times more likely to develop
Cardiovascular Disease associated with abnormal levels of lipids, namely
triglycerides, LDL "bad" cholesterol and HDL good" cholesterol.
Something in the diet that could help balance blood glucose and blood
lipid levels would be a major health boost for Diabetics. Now a new
study has shown that cinnamon may just be what the doctor ordered.
Researchers in Peshawar, Pakistan, studied a group of 60 people with
Type 2 Diabetes. They were equally divided between men and women with
an average age of 52, not taking insulin and had a fasting blood glucose
level between 140 and 400 mg/dl. Each one had had Diabetes for at least
4 years.
The participants were randomly assigned to one of 6 groups. Cinnamon was
available in capsules containing 500 mgs together with placebo or dummy
capsules containing 500 mgs of wheat flour. Groups 1,2 and 3 received
2,6 or 12 cinnamon capsules daily, while groups 4,5, and 6 received 2,6
or 12 placebo capsules, respectively.
The capsules were taken after meals, with water, for 40 days. Normal
meals and usual medications were continued throughout the study. Blood
levels of glucose, lipids and total cholesterol were determined at
baseline and on days 20, 40 and 60 (the latter being 20 days after the
end of cinnamon intake.)
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results were dramatic. Daily doses of cinnamon in whatever amount caused
a significant reduction in fasting glucose levels after 40 days. The
effect persisted to a considerable extent even 20 days after the
cinnamon capsules were stopped. A similar effect was seen on levels of
LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and total cholesterol, though HDL
cholesterol showed no cinnamon-induced changes. The placebo had no
effect.
Researchers found that 1-6 grams of cinnamon daily for 40 days reduced
fasting blood glucose by 18-29%, triglycerides by 23-30%, LDL
cholesterol by 7-27% and total cholesterol by 12-26%. The changes
largely persisted for 20 days after the patients had stopped taking the
cinnamon.
It's not clear why cinnamon works in this way but doctors think it
somehow increases sensitivity to insulin and acts as an antioxidant.
One of the report's co-authors, Dr. Richard Anderson, said: "I don't
know of anything else that can change glucose, triglycerides and
cholesterol levels so much."
Such an impressive study results have to be confirmed by additional
trials before widespread use of cinnamon by Type II Diabetics can be
promoted. But the occasional cinnamon bun or pastry may now be devoured
with a little less guilt than before...
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“A smile is a curve that can get everything straight.”
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- Anonymous |
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Have fun. Don't take everything too seriously!
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INSULITE LIFESTYLE: TIPS
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STEPPING UP YOUR EXERCISE BENEFITS
It pays to watch your steps. Wearing a step-counter or pedometer on your
waistband has been proved to encourage walkers to travel greater distances,
resulting in more benefits from exercise.
For a new study, researchers at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville
recruited 58 inactive women who normally walk fewer than 7,000 steps a day.
The participants were divided into two groups, with the first group asked to
take a brisk, 30-minute walk on most days of the week.
The second group was asked to wear a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day,
which is a distance of about 5 miles. The women were told they could rack up
the steps either by taking a long walk or in shorter bursts like using the
stairs at work instead of the elevator.
The 30-minute group averaged 8,270 steps a day compared with 10,149 steps
for the other group, according to the study in April's issue of Medicine and
Science in Sports and Exercise, the journal of the American College of
Sports Medicine. That was a difference of about a mile, depending on stride
length.
"The pedometer is a constant reminder to walk more. More steps, more
calories burned, more health benefits, " said lead researcher Dixie
Thompson, director of Tennessee University's Center for Physical Activity
and Health.
Another of the university's studies showed that middle-aged women who walk
10,000 steps or more each day are more likely to be a healthy weight.
Different activities clock up different numbers of steps:
- 2,000 steps - walking around a shopping mall for 20 minutes without
pausing or going grocery shopping in a supermarket and going up down the
aisles for 45 minutes
- 4,000-5,000 - playing doubles tennis for an hour
- 8,000 - dancing continuously for an hour or playing nine holes of golf
without using a cart
"With pedometers, every step counts," said James Hill, one of the
co-founders of America on the Move, a national initiative which encourages
participants to add 2,000 steps a day to what they are already doing and
then gradually increase their activity from there.
Americans walk about 5,310 steps a day on average, says a poll for America
on the Move. "People can make a big increase in the steps they take but it
works best if they do it in small increments," added Mr. Hill.
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Eating
the skin of apples spurs roughly twice the anti-cancer activity in your body
as eating only the pulp, according to a study by Cornell University. That's
why this recipe specifically says not to peel the apple. By the way, don't
worry about the amount of fat in each serving - 90% of it is good
monounsaturated fat from avocado and pecans.
Romaine With Apple, Pecans and Cheese
- 4½ cups of hearts of romaine lettuce, torn into pieces
- 1 large unpeeled apple, chopped
- 1 Hass avocado, cubed
- ½ cup chopped red onions
- ¼ cup toasted pecan pieces
Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing
- ½ cup (approx 2.5oz) blue cheese
- 2 Tbs white vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 8oz plain non-fat yogurt
Combine all the salad ingredients in a large bowl and toss with ½ cup of the
dressing. Serves 4.
Per serving with 2 Tbs dressing: 240 calories, 19g carbohydrates, 7g
protein, 16g fat (4g saturated), 4g fiber, 225mg sodium. |
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You are
well on the way to reversing your Insulin Resistance and preventing its related
conditions such as PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), Metabolic Syndrome
(Syndrome X) and Pre-Diabetes. You are also taking important steps to achieving your desired weight loss goal
and the healthy lifestyle you deserve.
Remember that persistence is crucial.
We at Insulite Laboratories are
committed to your success and your well being. We're here to help you.
Please contact us with any questions or to order the Insulite System or the
Insulite PCOS System at info@insulitelabs.com
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| Quick Links... |
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DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this newsletter is for the sole purpose of being informative.
This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice
of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take
any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have
regarding a medical condition.
Nothing contained in or provided through this newsletter is intended to be or is to be used or relied
upon for medical diagnosis or treatment. Your use of our newsletter opportunity is subject to certain
terms and conditions including, but not limited to, the fact that you have not been seen, evaluated or
diagnosed by a qualified medical/health care provider through the use of our newsletter service.
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