How does your brain respond to food? Some overweight people may be hardwired to overeat.

August 2, 2011

Aug. 1, 2011 — Willpower alone usually is not enough for lasting weight loss; instead, some experts now recommend focusing on the ways in which the brain responds to food rather than solely on personal choice.

In a paper published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, dietitians at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago conclude that “practitioners should more heavily focus on helping patients overcome the brain-based processes” that make dieting so difficult.This, the researchers say, is especially important because the brains of at least some obese and overweight people may be hardwired to overeat.

Such an approach to weight loss may be more successful over the long term, and it may also help counter the stigma that overweight people often feel when unable to control their urge to eat.

“Even highly motivated and nutritionally informed patients struggle to refrain from highly palatable foods that are high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats,” study researcher Brad Appelhans, PhD, a clinical psychologist and obesity researcher at Rush University Medical Center, says in a news release.

Brain’s response to food:
In the paper, the researchers present three brain processes that are associated with both overeating and obesity: food reward, inhibitory control, and time discounting.

Food reward, which includes both the pleasure of eating and the motivation to eat, has been linked to the same brain processes that control our urges for sex, gambling, and substance use. People with a greater reward sensitivity will likely have stronger food cravings, particularly for fatty and sweet foods, the researchers write.

Inhibitory control, or the ability to eat in moderation, is influenced by the part of the brain strongly associated with self-control and planning, the researchers write.

Time discounting is the tendency to prefer short-term rewards over long-term rewards. In the case of obesity, it amounts to choosing the immediate pleasure of eating tasty foods as opposed to the health benefits of abstaining.

These three brain processes, when coupled with an environment in which highly tempting high-calorie, low-nutrition foods are readily available, contribute to overweight and obesity. Understanding those processes and controlling such environments, the researchers conclude, may contribute more to successful and sustained weight loss than focusing solely on personal choice.

They recommend the following strategies:
•    Eliminate high fat-foods from your home and your workplace.
•    Stick to a shopping list of healthy foods when at the supermarket, or shop online so you don’t have to confront tempting foods.
•    Reduce stress, a frequent trigger of overeating.
•    Stay away from all-you-can-eat buffets and restaurants that promote overindulgence.
•    Focus on short-term goals, especially at the beginning of a weight loss program

By Matt McMillen
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in General Health | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Why do we choose food for comfort during stress?

July 30, 2011

Great Article from the ScienceDaily (June 29, 2011)

We are one step closer to deciphering why some stressed people indulge in chocolate, mashed potatoes, ice cream and other high-calorie, high-fat comfort foods. UT Southwestern Medical Center-led findings, in a mouse study, suggest that

ghrelin — the so-called “hunger hormone” — is involved in triggering this reaction to high stress situations.

“This helps explain certain complex eating behaviors and may be one of the mechanisms by which obesity develops in people exposed to psychosocial stress,” said Dr. Jeffrey Zigman, assistant professor of internal medicine and psychiatry and senior author of a study appearing online June 23 and in a future print edition of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. “We think these findings are not just abstract and relevant only to mice, but likely are also relevant to humans.”

Scientists know that fasting causes ghrelin to be released from the gastrointestinal tract, and that the hormone then plays a role in sending hunger signals to the brain. Dr. Zigman’s laboratory has previously shown that chronic stress also causes elevated ghrelin levels, and that behaviors generally associated with depression and anxiety are minimized when ghrelin levels rise. In mice, these stress-induced rises in ghrelin lead to overeating and increased body weight, suggesting a mechanism for the increased prevalence of weight-related issues observed in humans with chronic stress and depression.

For this investigation, the researchers developed a mouse model to determine which hormones and what parts of the brain may play a role in controlling more complex eating behaviors that occur upon stress, particularly those that lead to the indulgence of comfort foods.

They subjected mice to a standard laboratory technique that induces social stress by exposure to more dominant “bully” mice. Such animals have been shown to be good models for studying depression and the effects of chronic stress and depression in humans.

Wild-type mice subjected to the stress gravitated toward a chamber where they had been trained to find pleasurable, fatty food — the mouse equivalent of “comfort food.” However, genetically-engineered mice, which were not able to respond to stress-induced increases in ghrelin, showed no preference toward the fatty food-paired chamber, and when exposed to the fatty food, did not eat as much as the wild-type animals.

“Our findings show that ghrelin signaling is crucial to this particular behavior and that the increase in ghrelin which occurs as a result of chronic stress is probably behind these food-reward behaviors,” Dr. Zigman said.

The study also showed that these effects of ghrelin are due to direct interaction with a subset of neurons that use catecholamines as a neurotransmitter. These include dopaminergic neurons in the brain’s ventral tegmental area, which is known to be associated with pleasure and reward behaviors.

The findings, he said, may make sense when considered from an evolutionary standpoint.

Our hunter-gatherer ancestors needed to be as calm as possible when it was time to venture out in search of food, or risk becoming dinner themselves, said Dr. Zigman, who pointed out that ghrelin’s anti-depressant effects and its actions to help efficiently secure calorically-dense, tasty foods may have provided a survival advantage.

“Though it might have been beneficial to have these actions of ghrelin linked, now it seems to be a cause of a lot of morbidity in our modern society,” Dr. Zigman said. “Ultimately, these linkages also may present a large challenge to the development of therapeutics to treat and/or prevent obesity.”  The researchers next plan to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which ghrelin acts to cause these stress-associated food-reward behaviors.

The work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research, the Klarman Family Foundation, the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, and the Disease-Oriented Clinical Scholars Program at UT Southwestern.

Journal Reference:

  1. Jen-Chieh Chuang, Mario Perello, Ichiro Sakata, Sherri Osborne-Lawrence, Joseph M. Savitt, Michael Lutter, Jeffrey M. Zigman. Ghrelin mediates stress-induced food-reward behavior in mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2011; DOI: 10.1172/JCI57660
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Antioxidants before and during pregnancy help prevent obesity, glucose intolerance in children

July 24, 2011

Antioxidants play a crucial role in preventing the onset of disease, and they can make all the difference in determining whether or not children develop glucose intolerance or become obese. According to a new study out of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHP), women who consume high amounts of antioxidants before and during their pregnancies may be protecting their children against diabetes and obesity.

Noting that diets high in bad fats and carbohydrates cause harmful oxidative stress that leads to obesity and diabetes, researchers decided to study the effect that antioxidants have in mitigating their onset. The team fed four groups of test rats either a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet or a healthier and more balanced diet. The first two groups received such diets with no additional antioxidants, while the other two received extra antioxidants with their diets.

At the conclusion of the study, the group eating the unhealthy “Western” diet with no added antioxidants had significantly higher rates of inflammation and oxidative stress than the other groups, and their offspring were larger and had higher rates of glucose intolerance. The Western diet group that consumed added antioxidants, however, produced offspring with markedly lower rates of glucose intolerance and no obesity whatsoever — and these conditions persisted even after two months.

“These results suggest that if we prevent obesity, inflammation and oxidative stress in pregnant animals, we can prevent obesity in the offspring,” said Rebecca A. Simmons, MD, a neonatologist at CHP.

The study shows that not only do antioxidants help prevent obesity, but they even do so when consumed as part of the Standard American Diet (SAD). This diet consists of high intakes of red meat, sugar, high fat rate foods, refined grains, dairy products and eggs.  This is not to suggest that consuming a SAD diet is beneficial, but rather that the incredible power of antioxidants to alleviate oxidative stress and its resultant diseases is strong enough to counteract some of the negative effects associated with the worst of diets.

Sources for this story include:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele…

Learn more: http://www.NaturalNews.com/031702_antioxidants_pregnancy.html#ixzz1SWtF6FPQ

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in General Health, pregnancy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Tannin is great for cold sores

July 23, 2011

Ever have a canker sore? Here are a few natural ways to reduce pain and help heal your canker sore without synthetic medication or surgery:

  • Tannin
    Tannin is found in Black tea
  • Mouth wash
    Mix together 2 ounces of hydrogen peroxide, 2 teaspoonfuls of salt and 1 teaspoonful of baking soda and swirl it around your mouth for about 1 minute. Spit it out. Don’t swallow.
  • Aloe Vera
    Aloe Vera juice a few times a day will help make the sore less painful
  • Onion
    Apply a raw onion to the canker sore
  • Papaya
    Suck on some papaya
  • Plum Juice
    2 table spoons of plum juice and soak a cotton ball in the fluid. Compress it over your sore for a few minutes
  • Soda
    A cupful of warm soda and a pinch of salt
  • Grapefruit Seed
    Extract of grapefruit seed is a disinfectant and after a few applications, it should be gone!

Cold Sore diet suggestions

Here is advice for a Cold Sore Diet:

Avoid: Acidic and salty foods. Chocolates, peanuts, grains, peas, seeds, oatmeal and whole-wheat are high in arginine, These are restricted. Avoid tea and coffee.

Do Eat: A vitamin enriched diet. Your diet must include vitamin A, C, E, Zinc, and iron.  Garlic is highly recommended in your diet. Eat fresh food with high antioxidants  and high complex carbohydrates. Avoid processed food. Eat lots of fruits and green leafy vegetables.

- Dr. Amie B. Gregory, DC, CCEP

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in Chiropractor Redwood City, General Health, Redwood City Chiropractor | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Beets can help your liver!

July 23, 2011

This is a great article from Natural News regarding new information to help your liver:

The liver is an organ that removes toxins and other harmful substances from the body, allowing the body to function without experiencing the many illnesses and other harmful side effects that these toxins can cause. For this reason, it is crucial that individuals periodically detoxify their livers. One of the most common and effective natural liver detoxifiers is the beet. Beets have been used to fight liver toxins and to increase the overall level of health of individuals for many years, and they can be easily integrated into one`s diet to keep the liver working at an optimal level.

Beets are beneficial to one’s health for many reasons, as they are a high-antioxidant vegetable that contains a number of important substances, including: betaine, betalains, fiber, iron, betacyanin, folate, and betanin. Pectin, which is a fiber found in beets, can also help clean the toxins that have been removed from the liver, allowing them to be flushed out of the system instead of reabsorbed by the body.  Because of this property, many medical professionals encourage individuals to eat beets raw without juicing them, so that these fibers can be ingested as completely as possible. This is not difficult, as they can be baked, grated, or roasted as well as eaten alone or incorporated into other dishes.

However, beet juice can be highly beneficial, as it allows the betaine to stay intact. Betaine is the substance that encourages the liver cells to get rid of toxins. Additionally, betaine acts to defend the liver and bile ducts, which are important if the liver is to function properly. This particular substance is also said by some to decrease the risk of coronary and cerebral artery diseases, as it lowers inflammation in the body, allowing the many systems to work without interruption.

Additionally, beets have been linked to the healing of the liver, a decrease in homocysteine, an improvement in stomach acid production, prevention of the formation of free-radicals in LDL, and the prevention of lung, liver, skin, spleen, and colon cancer. Though these health benefits are not directly linked to the detoxification of the liver, they allow the body as a whole to work more efficiently. Because the systems of the body are all intertwined and rely upon one another to work properly, this indirectly affects the ability of the liver to rid itself of toxins and continue to work at an optimal level.

The recommended serving of beets varies depending upon the source, so the best way to go about integrating them into a diet is to start the day with beet juice instead of coffee, to add grated beets to salads and other dishes where appropriate, and to include a baked or roasted beet as a side dish with dinner as often as possible.

People who are looking for a natural way to improve the health of their liver and to enhance their overall vigor will quickly find that incorporating beets into their diet will allow them to function at a more efficient level. Because beets contain so many important substances, they will cause a marked improvement in both liver health and overall wellbeing.

Sources

http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/05/02/l…

http://vegpeace.org/beets.html

http://altmedangel.com/liver.htm

http://www.naturalnews.com/033025_beets_liver_function.html

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in General Health | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

NY Times says Teenagers prefer caffeine

July 19, 2011
Interesting News today in the New York Times.  It seems kids crave caffeine even when they don’t know it is in the beverage!

Super-caffeinated energy drinks with names like Red Bull and Monster are increasingly popular among teenagers. But is it savvy marketing or the caffeine that keeps teenagers coming back for more?

New research from the University at Buffalo suggests that adding caffeine to a beverage increases its appeal among young people — even when they don’t know the drink contains caffeine.

To study the effect of caffeine on taste preference, the researchers first set out to create new drink flavors that weren’t familiar to their test subjects. Using a combination of Kool-Aid and flavored carbonated water, the researchers concocted seven new drink flavors, including vanilla-orange and lime-pomegranate. Then they asked 100 young people, ages 12 to 17, to rank their favorites.

The scientists then picked each child’s fourth-ranked drink. Half the students were given the drink with caffeine added, while the other half, acting as a placebo group, were given the version of the drink without caffeine.

Over the next four days, the students came back to the lab to taste the drink and rank their preference for it on a scale of 0 to 100. Notably, among the placebo drinkers, there was no change in the students’ flavor ratings over the four-day tasting period. But among those students who were unknowingly drinking a caffeinated version of the drink, the flavor ratings improved each day, rising by 20 to 25 percent over the four days.

“Every day, the association with that flavor and the feeling it gave them increased their liking just a little bit,’’ said Jennifer Temple, an author of the study and assistant professor in the department of exercise and nutrition science. Dr. Temple and colleagues are presenting the study on Friday at the annual meeting of the Society for Study of Ingestive Behavior in Clearwater, Fla.

Dr. Temple said the study suggests that the presence of caffeine in a beverage influences a child’s taste preferences. That said, the study data weren’t conclusive. On the sixth day of testing, the students were given all seven drinks again and asked to rate them. Even though they had tasted their fourth-favorite flavor repeatedly over the past four days, it remained in fourth place.

In conducting the research, the researchers told the students they were part of a study testing a variety of drink additives, including flavors, artificial sweeteners, carbonation and caffeine. Follow-up testing at the study’s end showed that the students were no more likely to guess the beverage had caffeine in it than any of the other additives, showing that neither group was aware if they were drinking a placebo beverage or one with an additive.

Dr. Temple said flavor and packaging likely influence a child’s drink choice. But once they have made a choice, over time children appear to develop a stronger preference for drinks with caffeine.

“The pairing between the flavors and the way caffeine makes them feel reinforces their propensity for drinking these drinks,’’ she said. “The caffeine is what makes these drinks so reinforcing to children and so liked.’’

REFERENCES: Tara Parker-Pope, The New York Times

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in General Health, Redwood City Chiropractor | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Hypertension, health and the DASH Diet

July 18, 2011

Hypertension is defined as having blood pressure greater or equal to 140/90 on 3 or more visits to the doctor.

To combat this problem it is very important to exercise while keeping track of your heart rate as well as eating what is called the DASH diet.  This includes a diet high in fruits and vegetables with decreased dairy products and saturated fats.  If you follow this plan, you will see not only great results in our cholesterol level and blood pressure, but will probably lose some inches too!

Here is a list of what is recommended by DASHdiet.org:

Type of food Number of servings for 1600 – 3100 Calorie diets Servings on a 2000 Calorie diet
Grains and grain products
(include at least 3 whole grain foods each day)		 6 – 12 7 – 8
Fruits 4 – 6 4 – 5
Vegetables 4 – 6 4 – 5
Low fat or non fat dairy foods 2 – 4 2 – 3
Lean meats, fish, poultry 1.5 – 2.5 2 or less
Nuts, seeds, and legumes 3 – 6 per week 4 – 5 per week
Fats and sweets 2 – 4 limited
By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in General Health | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

What is Restless Leg Syndrome?

July 17, 2011

Have you been told that you have Restless Leg Syndrome?

What is it anyway?
It is a restless urgency to move because of burning, tingling, tugging sensations in the legs.  People can not sleep with this urgency and loose sleep because of it.  It is becoming increasingly more popular and people really don’t know what to do about it.

How can it be eliminated?
I have found that simple pelvic adjusting has decreased the frequency of these sensations and most times keep them at bay for good.  Caffeine, alcohol and tobacco all exacerbate restless leg syndrome. So, like always, keep off the junk food, drink lots of water and take care of yourself!  If you still have problems with Restless Leg Syndrome, give us a call, we can help!

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in Chiropractor Redwood City, General Health, Redwood City Chiropractor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

How to Prevent Tommy John Surgery

July 6, 2011

Tommy John surgery has become something that most big league pitchers and players have to consider when having elbow pain.  Throwing, especially at high speeds puts a lot of stress on the elbow.  Repetitive throwing can lead to swelling and tearing of the Ulnar Collateral Ligament in the arm. This ligament keeps the Humerus, Radius and Ulna in place and provides mobility of the elbow.

Compared to the larger muscles and ligaments in the body, this ligament is not as strong as knee ligaments (Anterior Cruciate Ligament).   Our body also wasn’t designed to perform high velocity throwing for years.  In time, if enough pressure is applied to the elbow, it will tear apart causing pain and effecting the velocity of throwing.

It is common for major league pitchers to have Tommy John Surgery.  Surgeons take some of the tendon of the players “good” forearm or hamstring and put it into the “bad” elbow.

They also drill holes in the ulna and humerus bones to sew it in.  Sounds easy huh?  Well, there are some concerns with this surgery.  In order to move the ulnar nerve away, surgeons have to cut or detach major muscles.  This can lead to infection, fractures, nerve irritation, numbness and inability for the muscle to function properly.  It is also pricey.  This surgery can run between $10,000 and $20,000.

Proper stretching, weight lifting can help pitchers stay away from this painful and expensive surgery.  Exercises with elbow pronation, supination and flexion are key to keeping the elbow in proper condition and ready to take the added stress of throwing a ball 100mph.

As chiropractors, we help keep prevent this surgery by keeping the joint in its proper position,  allowing the muscles and ligament to remain strong and work out any tissue damage that may have occurred.  We are a great option.

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in Chiropractor Redwood City, General Health, Redwood City Chiropractor | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Thumb or Wrist pain can be a real pain!

June 26, 2011

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is inflammation of the tendons near your thumb. This can be quite painful and you’re likely to feel pulling and pain every time you move your wrist or try to grip or make a fist.  Inflammation can occur around the thumb and make if uncomfortable to move.  If so, ice can be used to take the inflammation down.

This injury can happen because of repetitive work movements, sports, cooking.  Even musicians can start getting pain because of the repetitive movements while playing an instrument.

Treatment normally can take four to six weeks, but can sometimes be longer if your job requires you to continue to do repetitive movements of the wrist and hand.

If you have tried drugs, wrist braces and ice and it still hurts, you may want to call us for an appointment.  We can help.

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in General Health, Redwood City Chiropractor, San Carlos Chiropractor | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)