Welcome to twelfth edition of Viewpoints, our monthly
e-newsletter.
How time flies! Almost a year has passed since the first edition of Viewpoints
and, to judge by the positive feedback from our ever-growing number of readers,
we seem to have struck a popular balance in the articles we’ve featured so far.
Supporting our clients in achieving their goal of a new sense of well being is a
crucial element of the Insulite System, together with other factors like healthy
exercise and a nutritious diet enhanced by neutraceutical supplements. We want
the newsletter to play its part by informing readers about new scientific
discoveries regarding the benefits of weight loss and the most helpful ways of
achieving them. You can’t be too well-informed about health issues these days
and we place a strong emphasis on passing along up-to-the minute data.
But everything doesn’t have to be serious, of course, and you can have fun while
you transform your health. That’s one of the aims of our Insulite Lifestyle
section, which this month shows how the small dishes called tapas and meze can
pack a deliciously big taste. Happy nibbling!
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“Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible and,
suddenly,
you are doing the impossible.”
Who knows what you can achieve if you put your mind to it?
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| INTELLIGENCE REPORT |
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OVERWEIGHT MEN FACE
DOUBLE THREAT FROM PROSTATE CANCER
Overweight and obese men run a double risk of developing prostate cancer,
according to two new studies.
In the first, the Research Institute of Public Health at the University of
Kuopio, Finland, recently published a report on the increased risk of prostate
cancer in middle-aged men suffering from Metabolic Syndrome, a condition
characterized by excess weight or obesity. Known also as Syndrome X, Metabolic
Syndrome has until now been seen primarily as a collection of risk factors that
substantially increase the chance of developing Cardiovascular Disease and Type
II Diabetes.
Participants in the Finnish study were 1,880 men from the eastern part of the
Scandinavian country who did not have a history of cancer or Type 2 Diabetes.
Metabolic Syndrome was diagnosed in 357 of the men at the start of the study.
Over a period of 13 years, a total of 183 cancers occurred in the group as a
whole, of which 56 were cancer of the prostate.
Almost twice as many men with Metabolic Syndrome developed prostate cancer as
men without the syndrome, after adjustment for age, alcohol consumption and
physical fitness. The study showed that overweight and obese men with Metabolic
Syndrome ran a more than 70% greater risk of developing prostate cancer than
leaner men.
Researchers concluded that the incidence of prostate cancer may be reduced by
curbing the current worldwide epidemic of overweight and obese middle-aged men
who have developed Metabolic Syndrome because of sedentary lifestyles.
Many people are unaware that they are suffering from Metabolic Syndrome, even
though the American Heart Association estimates that 20-25% of the adult
population of the U.S. have this disorder – between 58 and 73 million men and
women.
Metabolic Syndrome is characterized by having at least three of the following
symptoms:
- Insulin Resistance (when the body can’t absorb blood sugar or insulin
properly)
- Abdominal fat – in men this means a 40 inch waist or larger, in women 35
inches or larger
- High blood sugar levels – at least 110 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) after
fasting
- High triglycerides – at least 150 mg/dL in the blood stream
- Low HDL (the “good” cholesterol) – less than 40 mg/dL
- Prothrombotic state (a precursor of Cardiovascular Disease)
- Blood pressure of 130/85 mmHg or higher
A second study suggests a man’s weight may “mask” the accuracy of a common test
to detect prostate cancer, with researchers warning that doctors could be
missing this dangerous cancer in obese men.
Between the years 2001-04, a team at San Antonio’s University of Texas Health
Science Center studied 2,799 men who were free of prostate cancer. In results
released online in the journal Cancer, researchers reported finding that the
more obese men were, the lower their levels of prostate-specific antigen or PSA.
A man’s PSA of 4.0 or lower usually means no cancer and the study results were
surprising because prostate cancer has been shown in previous studies to be more
aggressive in obese men than males of average weight. The Texas researchers
wanted to discover whether the detection of cancer was somehow being delayed in
obese men.
The study found that obese men have PSA levels that are about 30% lower than
males of normal weight. “That tells us it’s likely or it’s possible that
prostate cancer detection may be delayed in overweight or obese men,” said
Jacques Baillergeon, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of
Texas Health Science Center.
The study did not explain why obese men have lower PSA levels. But doctors
believe obese men produce more estrogen, which drives down testosterone levels
and could affect the antigen used in the PSA test.
The research may spur many doctors to take a closer look at the test results of
obese male patients. “For sure, I will be more vigilant in my patients, who are
obese, in evaluating their PSA,” said Dr. Nelson Stone of Mount Sinai School of
Medicine in New York City, who was not involved in the study.
Dr Stone added that colleagues might be losing some of the PSA test’s
sensitivity, reducing its ability to detect prostate cancer in obese patients.
“We may have to set our sights lower,” he said.
The antigen used in the PSA test is made by normal prostate cells and is
measured in blood. The higher the antigen level, the more likely the chance of
prostate cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. But having a high PSA
level is not a definitive diagnosis of cancer, which is why the Atlanta-based
Society recommends that men with high PSA levels should have a biopsy.
The Texas study builds on previous research released in May last year in the New
England Journal of Medicine which found that 15% of men with a “normal” PSA
actually had prostate cancer and that two-thirds of those men had aggressive
cases.
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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DIABETICS CAN REGAIN LOST MEMORY
Reducing blood sugar levels can lead to improved
memory for people suffering from Type 2 Diabetes.
Insulin Resistance, a disorder that creates unbalanced levels of glucose and
insulin in the blood stream, is a root cause of Pre-Diabetes, which, if
untreated, can lead to Type 2 Diabetes. While previous research has shown that
managing blood sugar levels can have benefits in such areas as kidney function
and sight for Diabetics, a new study by the University of Pittsburgh School of
Medicine is the first to extend the effect to cognitive function.
There are 17 million people suffering from Type 2 Diabetes in the U.S. today and
they are up to twice as likely as the general population to experience cognitive
decline. Even mild cognitive impairment can have a negative effect on memory.
One result is that some people have difficulty learning new information and
remembering that information. Cognitive decline can also have an impact on a
person’s ability to perform routine tasks.
The Pittsburgh study set out to determine whether there was a relationship
between blood sugar control and cognitive function in people with Type II
Diabetes. Researchers recruited 141 individuals, who, other than having been
diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, were relatively healthy. The average age of the
participants was 60.
To help balance blood sugar levels for the purposes of the study, all of the
participants took the drug metformin and were then given random doses of either
Avandia or glyburide. Fasting blood sugar was measured at the beginning of the
24-week trial and all individuals took a preliminary series of psychological
tests to ascertain cognitive function. Three categories of function were
assessed: learning ability, cognitive efficiency and working memory.
The main result was that balancing blood glucose levels had no effect on
learning ability or cognitive efficiency but it did show a significant
improvement over the 24 weeks in working memory. In one of the major memory
tests, there was a 30% improvement.
In both groups, working memory improvements correlated with improved control of
blood sugar. Individuals with the biggest improvement in control had the
greatest improvement in working memory. Those who took Avandia for the study had
fewer side effects.
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DR. MARY'S VIEW:
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“Our brains are affected by blood sugar highs and lows.”
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This
recent research reaffirms what we at Insuilte Laboratories believe is true.
Imbalances in blood sugar levels caused by consuming refined carbohydrates have
an impact on nearly every system in our bodies. These findings further confirm
what dietary influences in children of school age have shown-- those having
highly refined carbohydrate breakfasts do poorer on tests and demonstrate poorer
learning ability. We know that our brains are affected by blood sugar highs and
lows when we experience irritability, headaches and shakiness during a low blood
sugar moment. At the same time we know that we feel more stable, physically and
emotionally, with a balanced diet of good fats such as avocados, nuts, eggs and
sufficient protein at each meal.
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: Obese people are compulsive overeaters.
Fact: The compulsive eater, whether thin or obese, is a person with an
eating disorder. Simply being obese does not indicate the presence of an eating
disorder. Many people who suffer from obesity eat far less than most would
realize. Their obesity is due to a complex number of factors including genetics,
metabolism and dieting history and, most importantly, being insensitive to their
own insulin. Once the body has stopped responding properly to the messages of
insulin, food that should be used as fuel for the cells is instead stored as fat
at an increasing rate. So when you see someone who is struggling with obesity,
you should know that they have metabolic challenges that cause this disorder. |
| CONSULT DR. MARY |
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Q. What is the connection between insulin and high blood pressure?
A. Anytime there is an elevation in glucose in the blood stream, such
as eating a carbohydrate-rich meal, there is a compensatory rise in insulin
secretion from the pancreas. Over time, and after consistently elevated carb
consumption, excess insulin becomes a constant in the blood stream. This
condition is known as hyperinsuliemia, which, in turn, causes high blood
pressure, also known as hypertension.
This latter condition is major health problem for several reasons - it’s very
common, its consequences are widespread and it remains relatively silent and
undiagnosed until late in its course of causing cardiovascular damage.
Hypertension is one of the most important risk factors in both coronary heart
disease and stroke. It can also lead to congestive heart failure, aortic
dissection (a hole in the aorta) and kidney failure.
Blood pressure is determined by cardiac output, or how much blood the heart
pumps per beat, and total peripheral resistance, which is a measure of how
easily the blood is pumped to the distant organs of the body.
Excess insulin is an underlying factor in high blood pressure because it can
cause atherosclerosis. This condition is a build-up of harmful material called
plaque which narrows the inside width of arteries and reduces the easy flow of
blood. Additionally, excess insulin damages the inside lining of the blood
vessels which decreases it's elasticity. A decrease in elasticity causes the
heart to work harder to pump the blood through the entire cardiovascular system.
Visit our website pcos.insulitelabs.com
to learn about the new Insulite PCOS System.
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“Thank you for being so informative, I’m always amazed about the
little-known facts you make available. I’m doing my best to lose weight and live
a much healthier life.”
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- Linda Anderson,
Houston, TX
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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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| DID YOU KNOW? |
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TEMPER MAY
AFFECT
YOUR CHILD’S WEIGHT
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Youngsters who throw temper tantrums could be at risk of becoming
overweight. A new study by Stanford University shows that the risk
increases if their parents are also heavier than they should be.
Dr. W. Stewart Agras, leader of the study, says one reason may be
because the parents of difficult children try to placate them with food.
But the parents may also try to put too many limits on their child’s
eating habits.
“Our own theory,” said Dr.Agras, “is that parents may find these
children difficult and may over-control their feeding and not allow the
child to moderate his own feeding ... so he doesn’t learn to handle food
normally.”
The percentage of children in the U.S. who are considered severely
overweight has doubled in the last 20 years to 15%. The majority of
these kids will carry the extra weight into adulthood, setting
themselves up for a wide range of health problems, including Insulin
Resistance-related obesity which can lead to Type 2 Diabetes,
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and the cluster of cardiovascular
disorders known as Metabolic Syndrome.
Dr. Agras’ study followed 150 children born at three San Francisco Bay
Area hospitals for an average of 9 1/2 years to come up with the results
published in the Journal of Pediatrics. Researchers have long known that
overweight parents are more likely to have overweight kids. But this new
study found that the correlation was exacerbated if the child had a
difficult temperament.
Another finding was that overweight children need less sleep than
normal-sized kids, leading researchers to conclude that the explanation
may be that the former were less tired because they were less active.
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 If
you are concerned that your child may be on the path to becoming obese,
begin to watch how food is used in your family. Are you using food as a
positive reinforcer? In other words, do you reward good behavior with
food and do you take "treats" away for bad behavior? One suggestion for
avoiding this common and tempting pattern is to agree upon a reward that
is non-food related such as a new coloring book, a play date at a
friend's house, play time at the park or time alone with just one parent
for "special attention".
Try to reinforce healthy food choices that your child may make without
rewarding them with a dessert, even though it is tempting to offer
dessert for a "clean dinner plate".
It is not uncommon for adults or children to "self-medicate" with food.
The link between carbohydrate consumption and depression (which can
manifest itself as aggression, anger and tantrums) is clear-- the more
carbohydrates we consume the more serotonin we produce. Serotonin is a
neurotransmitter that has a calming effect on brain chemistry. People
who struggle with depression often have less serotonin than they need,
which is why constant carbohydrate craving and the satisfaction that one
feels when eating carbohydrates is such a difficult cycle to break.
Most importantly, try to have time each day with your children to just
talk and let this be over a meal. Mealtime is an important way to bond
as a family. If you set aside this time together to air your concerns,
joys and problems, kids will begin to open up and discuss their
feelings, rather than acting out or withdrawing.
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“The highest kite you can fly is imagination.”
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- Lauren Bacall |
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Don’t allow your outlook to be limited...
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INSULITE LIFESTYLE: TIPS
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 Two
of the hottest trends in dining, tapas and meze, might seem like they were
devised for today’s diet-conscious world. But these deliciously healthy
Spanish and Greek ways of eating small samples of food have been around for
centuries.
The origin of tapas depends on which story you believe. Some say King
Alfonso the Wise of Spain dreamed up the idea after illness forced him to
maintain his strength by taking small bites of food with wine between meals.
Other will tell you it was originated by Spanish farmers during long,
grueling days in the fields when they needed bites of food to keep going
until it was time for a main meal.
Meze, on the other hand, comes from a leisurely Greek tradition of friends
enjoying sunny, mid-afternoon sessions of nibbling snacks, talking and
drinking the odd glass of wine or ouzo.
In the beginning, both tapas and meze were meant to tease the palate, rather
like appetizers. But these days they have replaced entrees at a growing
number of restaurants in America and become a main course for people
watching their weight. One thing hasn’t changed, however. They are still
meant to be sociable meals, ideal for sharing with friends while chatting
over a glass of wine.
The treats on offer can range from everything from small portions of simple
steamed mussels and habas con chorizo (fava beans with sausage) to
taramasalta (a codfish roe spread) and tyropitakia (warm, buttery feta
cheese pies). Other dishes can include colorful salads, skewered meats,
seafood, nuts and olives.
The health benefits are excellent if eaten in moderation. Small meals are
regarded as being easier to digest and, thanks to being prepared with
liberal quantities of olive oil, these dishes are packed with Vitamin E and
beneficial fats.
Three tips for trying tapas and meze:
- Don’t be fooled by the size of these dishes and order ten different
offerings. Start with two or three and see how it goes as you share them
with your friends and sample their choices, too. You can always order more.
- Go out to eat with as many friends as you can muster. That way, you get to
try more delicious tastes.
- Start off being hungry and by the time you finish you’ll have a feeling of
satisfaction from a variety of food without having played havoc with your
diet.
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 Good
health is made up of many elements. Nutrients are essential and CoQ10
is one of the most important for energy.
While it may sound like an ingredient of a secret formula for rocket fuel,
CoQ10
is actually an anti-oxidant nutrient in each cell of the body. It was first
identified by researchers in Wisconsin in 1957.
The nutrient is found in fish and meat, among other foods, and plays a
significant role in the energy system of cells. Although humans make some of
their own CoQ10, there are significant benefits to be derived from taking
supplements of this antioxidant.
Research shows that CoQ10 is beneficial in the treatment of Cardiovascular
Disease, including heart failure and high blood pressure (hypertension) The
nutrient is particularly effective at increasing energy production in the
heart muscle. It has also been evaluated as important for treating Type II
Diabetes and lowering high levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol.
Insulin resistance often causes elevated cholesterol levels and many of our
clients take medications to lower their cholesterol. One class of
cholesterol-lowering drugs -statin- inhibits the body's manufacture of
CoQ10. Supplementing CoQ10 daily at a minimum of 50 mg per day can help
prevent the depletion that these medications may cause.
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT HOW COQ10 IS INCLUDED IN THE ELEMENTS OF THE FIRST SCIENTIFICALLY–DESIGNED SYSTEM TO HELP REVERSE INSULIN RESISTANCE
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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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