Welcome to the ninth edition of Viewpoints, our monthly
e-newsletter.
As the year draws to a close one doesn’t know whether to review and dissect the
previous twelve months or just acknowledge what’s passed and look ahead.
Too much introspection of “the year in review” could weigh us down, stop us in
our tracks. But then a laborious compilation of New Year’s resolutions is as
dangerously ambitious as the participants in “The Apprentice”. What to do?
A bit of both is what we recommend at Insulite Laboratories. Both reflection and
projection are called for, each infused with confidence and hopefulness.
We know that self-criticism raises stress levels which, in turn, increase
cortisol and that spurs unhealthy snacking. A vicious cycle wrapped up in a
self-fulfilling prophecy is no gift to ourselves.
Conversely, did you know that optimism boosts life expectancy and strengthens
our immune systems? And, that a study of older people showed that their
perceptions of their own health were found to be more important in longevity
than their actual health?
Please give yourself credit for your triumphs of the year gone by, no matter how
small. If you went out walking when you didn’t feel like it or made a
nutritious selection while dining out – Bravo! The simple fact that you’re
reading a newsletter about improving your health – well done!
Pat yourself on the back for every healthy choice you make this year. Applaud
your commitment to being well. Admire the positive changes in your body and look
forward to more. Praise your efforts...we certainly do.
Our best wishes to you and yours for good health, happiness and fulfillment in
the coming year.
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“You miss 100% of the shots you never take.”
- Wayne Gretzky
Legendary hockey player
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Believe in yourself and your ability to achieve.
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| INTELLIGENCE REPORT |
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Women with PCOS Share the
Same Gene Defect
With Their Female and Male Siblings
A gene defect in women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) often shows up in
their female and male siblings, putting both sexes at risk of developing serious
illnesses.
Researchers discovered that sisters of PCOS sufferers have metabolic and
hormonal abnormalities that are connected to the same gene defect that causes
PCOS, a disorder linked with infertility, ovarian cysts, menstrual
irregularities, excessive body hair/hair loss and skin problems. The defect
also increases the risk of Type 2 Diabetes for women with PCOS as well as their
brothers.
The new findings come from a $6 million National Institutes of Health-funded
study by the National Centers Program for Infertility Research. Lead researcher
Dr. Andrea Dunaif of Northwestern University and her colleagues believe they
pinpointed the PCOS gene mutation on chromosome 19 near the insulin receptor
gene, which is associated with risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes in PCOS
sufferers and their male siblings. This gene plays a key role in blood sugar
(glucose) being converted into energy via insulin receptor sites or “doors” on
the cell wall.
Insulin acts as a key to unlock the cell “door” for glucose to pass through to
become energy. When this process is impaired by a vast reduction in receptor
sites, the disorder is called Insulin Resistance, which is the underlying cause
of PCOS. Because access is so restricted, glucose bounces off the cell wall and
free-floats in the blood stream, causing increased levels of blood sugar that are
sent to the liver. Once there, it is converted to fat and stored throughout the
body. This process may result in weight gain or obesity, which, in turn, can
cause PCOS.
The second way Insulin Resistance underlies PCOS is by causing insulin
“rejected” by the cell to free-float in the blood stream. This excess insulin
creates unbalanced hormone levels in women with PCOS. Excess insulin stimulates
the ovaries to produce large amounts of the male hormone testosterone, which may
prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg each month, thus causing infertility.
High levels of insulin also increase the conversion of male hormones (androgens)
to female hormones (estrogens), upsetting a delicate balance between the two and
having a direct effect on weight gain and the formation of cystic follicles or
cysts in the ovaries.
In recently published studies, approximately 50% of the sisters of women with
PCOS had elevated androgen levels, while the other half of the sisters were
unaffected. Of the high androgen group, half the sisters had PCOS and Insulin
Resistance, while the other half were Insulin Resistant but showed no PCOS
symptoms and had normal menstrual periods.
The high androgen level sisters of women with PCOS were found to be more obese
than the others who were free of the condition. The brothers of women with PCOS
also had significantly elevated levels of the androgen DHEAS.
Insulin Resistance in PCOS sufferers can be a precursor to Type 2 Diabetes. In
fact, PCOS sufferers have seven times the risk of other women for developing
adult-onset Type 2 Diabetes. This condition greatly increases the risk of
Cardiovascular Disease, stroke and kidney problems. Research has also shown that PCOS is an important risk factor for the adult form of Type 2 Diabetes in
teenage girls.
The PCOS Center at Northwestern University is recruiting women with PCOS and
their families to participate in this nationwide gene study, which is
receiving collaboration from Pennsylvania State University and the
University of Pennsylvania. To qualify, women with suspected PCOS
should be between 18 and 40, have six or fewer menstrual periods a year
and not be taking oral contraceptives.
Family members may be asked about their willingness to participate in the
study. All study-related tests will be performed free of charge. The study
consists of four visits over approximately 6 months. For information,
call 1-800-847-6060 or e-mail
pcos@northwestern.edu
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| NEW RESEARCH |
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WEIGHT FLUCTUATIONS COULD WEAKEN
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
People who repeatedly lose and regain weight are
putting themselves at higher risk for illness. Diet and nutrition experts are
concerned about the potential health consequences for people who flip-flop with
their weight, as evidence grows that rebound dieting may weaken the immune
system.
Women who begin dieting before the age of 14 are most at risk. A study by
nutrition educators at the University of California, Berkeley, reported that
these women were heavier as adults. They were also more than twice as likely to
have been on more than 20 diets than women who tried to lose weight later in
life. Lead researcher Joanne Ikeda said females who begin a pattern of losing
and regaining pounds before puberty could disrupt their physical development.
Going on so many diets could have a harmful effect on long term health,
according to another study. The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in
Seattle measured the effectiveness of natural killer cells, which attack viruses
and cancer. Researchers asked 114 obese women aged 50-75 with sedentary
lifestyles how many times each one had taken off at least 10 lbs in the previous
two decades.
Among women who had lost weight at least five times, natural killer cell
function, which is part of the body’s complex immune system defense against
illness and infection, dropped 30%. Scientists aren’t entirely clear about how
much disease-fighting power must be lost before it can do harm. But a crucial
finding of the study was that weight cycling had effects on the
immune system that lasted as many as 15 years after women had last dieted.
Another report, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, showed
that yo-yo dieters had 7% lower levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL), the
“good” cholesterol. Changes in blood lipids, including a decrease in HDL
cholesterol, can encourage the build-up of plaque on the inside of artery walls,
raising the risk of stroke and heart attack.
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DR. MARY'S VIEW:
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“Slow and steady weight loss is the safest and most effective way to
take off extra pounds and keep them off.”
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 At
a time when an estimated 50% of American women and 25% of American men are
either dieting or thinking about dieting, these findings reinforce the wisdom of
sticking with a sustainable weight. They also underscore the need for more
research into yo-yo dieting, which has become a lifestyle for many people.
Weight cycling, or regularly losing and regaining weight, is a somewhat
neglected topic in the research community. Further studies are needed to compare
the different health effects of weight loss and gain over a matter of months and
even years.
Slow and steady weight loss is the safest and most effective way to take off
extra pounds and keep them off. Rapid weight gain can cause a reduction in more
metabolically-active muscle tissue rather than fat tissue. This reduces the
body’s ability to burn fuel and increases the chance of putting the weight back
on again.
The most permanent way to lose weight is take off no more than ½ -1 lb. a week,
so the body can slowly normalize to a lighter weight. This pace will prevent
“shocking” your metabolism which can cause future difficulties with losing
weight as well as having damaging effects on your immune system.
The slow and permanent approach is the best way to avoid the dreaded “rebound
effect” of weight loss and gain. Our goal at Insulite Laboratories is to inspire
you to include exercise in your lifestyle (if you don’t already) so that your
chances of losing weight slowly and safely are more likely! Additionally,
remember that food can serve as your medicine, so choose healthy foods when you
shop or eat out and watch the pounds slowly fade away forever.
Dr. Mary Shackelton, MPH ND, is the Medical Director of Insulite Laboratories.
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| WEIGHT LOSS: MYTH OR FACT? |
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Myth: Eating red meat is bad for your health and will make it
harder to lose weight.
Fact:
Like most things in life, there are pros and cons to consider when it
comes to red meat.
Unhealthy factors like saturated fat and cholesterol can be found in red
meat, along with pork, chicken and fish. But these foods also have nutrients
like protein, iron and zinc, which are important for good health.
Lean meat, that is meat without a lot of visible fat, can be eaten in small
amounts as part of a healthy, weight-loss plan. An ideal serving size is 2-3
oz. of cooked meat, which is about the size of a deck of cards.
It’s best to choose cuts of meat that are lower in fat, such as beef eye of
the round, top round or pork tenderloin. Trim any extra fat before cooking.
The “select” grade of meat is lower in fat than “choice” or “prime” grades.
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| CONSULT DR. MARY |
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Q. How do glucose and insulin affect cholesterol levels?
A. Anytime there is an elevation in glucose in the blood stream, such as
after a carbohydrate-rich meal, there is a compensatory rise in insulin
production from the pancreas. Over time, and after consistently elevated carb
consumption or over-nourishment, excess insulin may accumulate in the blood
stream to such a degree that it can cause damage to the interior lining of blood
vessels.
This elevated insulin level is called hyperinsulinemia and it encourages your
liver to produce more triglycerides (TG), which are directly related to a
greater risk of Cardiovascular Disease. Increases in TG and an accompanying
decrease in HDL “good” cholesterol can cause the buildup of plaque on the inside
of artery walls, raising the risk of stroke and heart attack.
Additionally, people who suffer from the Insulin Resistance-related symptoms of
unbalanced glucose and insulin levels also have smaller and denser LDL “bad”
cholesterol particles, which increase the chance of a heart attack.
Click here to read about Insulin Resistance and a System that can treat this condition.
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 Thank
you for the wonderful response to news about the Insulite PCOS System!
Enquiries about PCOS, its diagnosis, relationship to Insulin Resistance,
symptoms and – most importantly, how to reverse this condition - have been
reaching us literally, from Iran to South Africa, Canada to Malaysia.
We’ve heard from teenagers and their concerned parents and women whose PCOS
precludes them from conceiving, to post-menopausal sufferers and those who tell
us that their health care providers have never heard of PCOS, to members of the
medical community.
PCOS is truly a universal condition and Insulite Laboratories is here to help.
If you, or someone you know and care about, would like to receive information
about the Insulite PCOS System available online in early 2005, please contact us at
info@insulitelabs.com
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“Once I started using the Insulite System, I noticed a change right away.
I had been trying to lose weight for over a year with a strict regimen of diet
and exercise but did not have success. My weight just wouldn’t budge and I was
feeling fairly discouraged.
“The Insulite System has given me a fighting chance to be successful and I am
encouraged to continue. Now I’m able to see results and feel the hard work is
paying off. My weight has come off naturally and not too fast.”
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- Tracey Miller
Boulder, CO
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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, web sites and affiliate sites. Please email us at
info@insulitelabs.com
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| DID YOU KNOW? |
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PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY MAY
STAVE OFF
DEMENTIA AND
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
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Some people might literally be able to walk away from dementia and
Alzheimer’s disease. The sooner people of any age start getting regular
physical activity - like walking - the more likely they are to lower
their chances of developing these conditions.
Two new studies show that seniors who walk regularly or go in for other
more strenuous levels of activity had 20 to nearly 50% less risk of
suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s than those who led sedentary
lives. The greatest benefit occurs in someone who has been exercising
all his or her life. But older citizens who have just begun walking
regularly also improve their chances of avoiding illness, so it’s never
too late to start.
Robert Abbott, a biostatistician at the University of Virginia and a
co-author of one of the reports, studied 2,257 physically able,
non-smoking Japanese-American men between the ages of 71 and 93 living
around Honolulu, Hawaii, who were already taking part in a long term
aging study.
The distance they walked each day was checked between 1991 and 1993.
They were also assessed for dementia in two exams between 1994 and 1999.
During this follow-up period, 158 cases of dementia were identified.
After making adjustments for their age, it was found that men who walked
less than a quarter-mile a day had 1.8 times the risk for dementia than
men who walked two miles a day.
The second study measured the effects of activity like walking on the
cognitive function of elderly women. Researchers for the Nurses Health
Study run by Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, with the Harvard
School of Public Health, tracked 18,766 women aged 70-86, with two
rounds of mental function tests staged about two years apart.
The women were ranked in five groups depending on average energy
expenditure each week. Women with the highest rates of physical
activity, including walking, had significantly less cognitive decline
than women with a more sedentary approach to life.
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 Walking
is hard to beat as a natural way to improve your health. The benefits of
this simple form of exercise include keeping weight down and raising HDL
“good” cholesterol, which help to protect the heart and circulatory
system.
It may also boost the immune system and benefit hormone levels, thereby
helping to prevent cancer. Walking also plays a role in bowel
regularity, which, in turn, reduces the risk of colon cancer. Studies
are underway to see whether walking helps prevent breast cancer, too.
To start a walking program, it’s best to begin slowly and build up very gradually to the stage where you can walk comfortably for 30-60 minutes a
day. In the first week, start with a 15-minute walk with an easy pace on
five days out of seven. Spread out your rest days, e.g. make days 3 and
6 rest days. Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes and clothes.
Consider buying a pedometer and keeping a record, adding time and
distance to your walk at a rate that suits you. There’s no rush. The
fact that you’re getting exercise is the main thing. Walking
half-an-hour a day or 3 hours a week is associated with a decreased risk
of heart disease, while walking 7 hours a week is thought to improve the
chances of avoiding Type 2 Diabetes and breast cancer.
But only walk at a pace and cover a length that feels comfortable.
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“Good intentions are not enough. Ultimately, we are measured
by our actions.”
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- Anonymous |
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Translate your dreams into reality
by physical effort
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INSULITE LIFESTYLE: TIPS
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 Carbohydrates
may be notorious for being a source of weight gain. But there is a way to make
them a friend rather that a foe. Carbs are the basis of all food groups so
you’ll find them in almost everything you eat. But by counting them as part of a
meal- and snack-planning system, you can eat a specific number of carbohydrate
grams without adverse effects.
The most compelling reason to count carbs is that this method can improve blood
sugar control. This is crucial because growing scientific data suggests that
preventing blood sugar, or glucose, from spiking can help prevent heart disease
as well as the onset of Type 2 Diabetes.
Carb counting can also curb your appetite and facilitate weight loss. An
increasing number of scientists and doctors now believe that controlling carbs,
rather than calories, results in greater and more lasting weight loss, which, as
we all know, leads to better health.
The average person consumes more than 300 grams of carbs a day, which is too
great an amount for most individuals to burn as energy. In other words, there is
more intake than expenditure of energy which leads to weight gain and lifestyle-related diseases such as Diabetes,
Cardiovascular Disease and Insulin
Resistance. High carb foods are converted in the body to glucose. In turn, the glucose
is converted to energy by passing through the cell wall via insulin
receptor sites. Any glucose not used for energy ends up stored as fat.
The beauty of the carb counting approach is that it allows you eat a wide
variety of foods as long as you are careful to stay within your per-meal
allowance of carbs. Everyone is different as regards creating the most
beneficial meal plan. It’s helpful to consult a health professional or
nutritionist to determine the number of carb grams you should consume when you
eat a meal or snacks. You can choose your favorite food within carb counting
guidelines.
Another approach to counting carbs is to use a blood glucose meter available
online or in retail outlets to test how foods affect your blood sugar 1-2 hours
after eating. You’ll also need a food scale, measuring cups and spoons plus one
of the numerous carbohydrate counting guides sold in book and health stores.
Don’t forget to pay attention to the nutritional facts on food labels.
The key to reducing your intake to an ideal level at any meal is to gradually
reduce the amount of the carbs you consume at each meal, each week. The Insulite
System’s Nutrition Plan follows this philosophy by advocating a gradual
reduction in carbs each week. You need to wean yourself off carbs slowly,
otherwise intense cravings can develop that will sabotage your efforts. We’ve
found that a gradual, 7-week plan to integrate more green leafy vegetables and
protein into your diet at the expense of carbohydrates streamlines the
transition dramatically.
Foods that are highest in carbohydrates include pastas and noodles, breads,
rice, pastries, pancakes, soda, honey, sugar, potatoes, bananas, corn, fruits,
ice cream and energy drinks.
Green leafy vegetables do contain carbohydrates but at very low levels.
Recommended are lettuce, broccoli, spinach, celery, kale, brussel sprouts and
parsley. Cauliflower may not be green but it’s good for you.
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There’s
nothing like a quick vegetable curry to warm up a cold dark winter’s night.
The Thais know a thing or two about how to spice up a meal, so why not try
this delicious Vegetable Curry? Simple and satisfying, it offers plenty of cheer as the
temperature drops outside.
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- 1 cup dry basmati or brown rice
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp roasted peanut oil
- 1 Tbs finely chopped ginger
- 1 can coconut milk
- 1 bunch scallions, chopped
- 2 Tbs soy sauce
- 1-3 tsp Thai red curry paste
- 4 large, fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1 zucchini sliced into ¼ in. pieces
- 2 onions chopped
- 1 can garbanzo beans, drained
- 3 carrots, shredded
Rinse the rice in cold water and cook according to package directions. Heat
the oil in a wide, non-stick skillet or wok; add the garlic, ginger,
scallions, onions, zucchini, carrots and beans and stir-fry for
2-3 minutes. Add the coconut milk and soy sauce and stir in the curry paste
(1 tsp for mild; 2 for medium and 3 for hot). Simmer until thoroughly
heated.
Spoon the mixture over the rice and garnish with basil leaves. Serve with a
dish of low-fat sour cream or plain yogurt for a cooling complement and a green salad topped
with toasted, slivered almonds and low-fat sesame dressing. |
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You are
well on the way to reversing your Insulin Resistance, preventing its related
conditions such as PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), Metabolic Syndrome
(Syndrome X) and Pre-Diabetes, 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 at info@insulitelabs.com
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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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