Is Butter Bad?

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Posted on 4th January 2012 by dr george in Family Health Tips

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People often come into the office and ask “should I  eat this or not eat that?”  The answer is not simple.  A variety of factors can come into play: age, activity levels, overall health, genetics, diseases and weight.  These are among some of the factors determining diet and portion sizes.  I often have people tell me that they are on a low-fat diet; they don’t consume butter, eggs, cheese or whole milk.  I disagree with these concepts.  Just like there are good and bad carbs, there are also good and bad fats.  With anything, it is the amount of these foods you consume.  Butter is high in vitamin E, vitamin D, lecithin, conjugated linoleic acids, medium chain fatty acids, selenium, iodine and vitamin K2.  The Journal of Nutrition(March 2002) published a study on the effects of MCFAs and how they prevent obesity.  Polyunsaturated fatty acids in the butter help with the absorption and utilization of vitamin D. 

As I have often stated, whole, natural foods are always a safe choice.  People have eaten butter, eggs, avocados, cheeses, nuts and animal fats for centuries.  Obesity and many other diseases that have become so epidemic in modern times are most often the result of overconsumption of bad carbohydrates, sugar, and processed foods.

Are Eggs Really Good For You?

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Posted on 2nd January 2012 by dr george in Family Health Tips

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Now that the holidays are over, everyone is concerned about their weight.  Diets, diet products, diet shakes, diet pills, and almost everything imaginable is being marketed to us.

 

When considering what to eat and what not to eat, always think about natural whole food.  Processed food is not a good idea.  Marketing has misled many Americans and harmed their health.  One prime example of this is eggs.  For awhile, because of dietary cholesterol, eggs were not considered to be heart-healthy.  This was a misconception.  It is now known that trans-fats are more responsible for raising your cholesterol levels than dietary intake.  Harvard did a study that shows that eating one egg a day had no effect on cholesterol levels.  Eggs are high in cholesterol, but they are also high in lecithin, which keeps the body from having increased cholesterol levels.  The yolk is where most of the vitamins, minerals and at least 40% of the protein are found.  The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology(2007) had one group eating a bagel and the other group eating two eggs.  After eight weeks, the egg-eaters experienced 65% greater weight loss, 83 degrees decrease in waist circumference and more energy.  Changes in plasma, cholesterol and triglycerides did not differ between the two groups.

 

I would caution diabetics and those with heart disease when consuming large numbers of eggs.  Before eating eggs on a daily basis, check with your physician, dietician or nutritionist for advice.

Weight Loss in 2012

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Posted on 2nd January 2012 by dr george in Uncategorized

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Its a new year and most people have had a few holiday treats. Most of us have gained a couple pounds and many of us even had some extra pounds before the holidays. Weight loss is a very popular new year’s resolution. Weight loss is not quick, fast, or easy. We all want to look slim and we want results fast but weight loss is never quick. It is a life long journey.

 

Exercise is the most important component. Studies have shown that exercise improves blood pressure, blood sugar, depression, flexibility, and endurance among other things. Gym memberships are all the rage after the holidays. There are some terrific deals on gym memberships and they are fine as long as you actually use the gym on a regular basis. There are also many advertisements for exercise equipment. Before you make a purchase on anything, realize how much opportunity exists for absolutely no money. If you cannot afford cardiovascular equipment, there are staircases in almost every home and business. They work just fine and cost nothing to use. Walking your dog is free and will do you both a lot of good. Most senior citizen centers, universities, churches, and other organizations have exercise classes and many of them are free.

 

Realistic goals:

 

If you are not exercising at all, have a poor diet, and are tremendously overweight, do not disappoint yourself by setting yourself up for failure. Make one or two realistic goals per week and stick with them.

 

The best diet drink is water. Artificial sweeteners are very bad for your health and I have found no evidence to prove that people who consume them actually lose weight because of these products. Junk food is junk food. Do not be fooled by labels that say “light”, “fat free”, “all natural”, “low-carb”, etc. For the most part these are just marketing techniques. If you smoke light cigarettes do you get light cancer? Poison ivy is all natural. Do you want it in your salad?

 

A realistic goal to start with could involve eating something raw at each meal. This could consist of a serving of fresh fruit at breakfast, having lettuce, onion, or tomato on sandwiches, or eating carrot sticks or any other raw vegetables.

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