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You can eat eggs and butter–and still have good cholesterol, says this wellness coach

Eggs and butter while on a diet? Why not?

Australian wellness coach and motivational speaker Chad Davis, author of “Primed for Your Life,” has been steadily helping Filipinos lose weight by making them eat more—including more eggs and fats like olive oil, coconut oil and butter.

“I eat 20 eggs for breakfast at one time and my cholesterol is fine. Don’t be afraid to eat fats. They’re essential for you to live an optimal life,” the 48-year-old Davis said.

A corporate account of his, a company in Davao called NEH Phils. Inc., had 100 of its employees on the Primed diet. At the end of the program, they lost a total of 500 kg.

Primed food is food that gives optimal nourishment for the body and brain. That means eating the way our great-grandparents used to eat—they didn’t count calories, they didn’t throw away the egg yolk, they ate coconut oil under the sun, and, more importantly, they ate because they were hungry. And they lived much longer than the modern-day Filipino.

With Primed food, he said, you’ll feel so full and properly nourished that your lunch will provide energy and satisfaction all the way until evening, and you can skip dinner without feeling deprived. Your body then goes into intermittent fasting—a diet popular among Hollywood stars like Terry Crews and Hugh Jackman—and becomes a fat-burning machine.

Don’t be afraid of fats

“The basis of Primed food is really simple. Eat more eggs, have more vegetables, especially leafy greens, don’t be afraid of fats like coconut oil, olive oil, or butter, eat lots of seafood, and avoid simple carbs like bread, pasta and rice because they don’t feed us well enough,” Davis said.

Why butter? Mother’s milk, Davis said, is 50 percent fat, and the brain is 65 percent fat. Butter is good fat, he added, especially the grass-fed variety.

White rice is okay as long as you live an active lifestyle. But for many who are sedentary, they’re better off skipping simple carbs.

Just take a look at a typical Filipino breakfast: white rice, some protein, pan de sal and orange juice. Now that’s a lot of sugar, and the day is just beginning.

You can lose weight even without exercise. In my equation of good health, exercise comes in at No. 10… It’s all about optimizing your life

“Seafood and eggs fill you up more but also help your brain, so choose optimal nourishment,” he said.

A client, an executive from Lucerne, dropped from 76 (167.5 lbs) to 59 kgs (130 lbs). Even better, she is no longer hypertensive, she reduced her blood sugar, and her body inflammation is gone. She used to think she couldn’t live without white rice, but now only eats it once a month. She has no cravings, has more energy, and has even gotten rid of her hunger anxiety attacks.

Primed food trains the brain to make healthier choices. Once the brain’s health is improved, the body craves for food that feeds it, making you lose interest in rice “because it doesn’t help your intelligence. Good quality fats and seafood give more blood flow to your brain,” Davis said.

Primed for Your Life is a 12-month stint with recipes, tips, coaching and counseling from Davis. As a former restaurateur in Australia, he said he can teach one how to cook, or go to one’s house to teach the helper how to prep the food and teach you how to eat right when dining out so you’ll have no excuses.

He doesn’t sell supplements or medicines. Instead, he gives sound advice and teaches how to work out smarter. Instead of spending three hours in the gym, you can bring that down to just 20 minutes, giving you more time to enjoy life.

“Hypertension will be gone in two weeks, ADHD within days, gout, asthma—all gone,” he said.

His clientele ranges from executives to professional athletes, from doctors to nurses, and even young children. Parents, he said, should teach their children how to eat right. If he can change the lives of parents, the effect will trickle down to their children.

“You can lose weight even without exercise. In my equation of good health, exercise comes in at No. 10,” he said.

Exercising while consuming bad food makes it only worse. You’re better off sleeping than joining races, then hitting the nearest fastfood after for a burger and soda.

“You’re always hungry. You eat a lot of food but there’s no quality, so you get hungry very quickly. You are undernourished despite being overfed,” he said.

A triathlete he knows, for example, a guy who everyone thinks is healthy, consumed five energy gels and five energy bars on a 180-km bike.

“He fueled himself with 100 teaspoons of sugar—a normal body has 1 tsp—and he didn’t do very well. The next day he could hardly walk,” Davis said.

On Primed food, he said, he could join an Ironman with not much training and still be able to run the next day.

“It’s all about optimizing your life. If you do a sporting activity and you can’t enjoy the next day, what’s the point? You just wasted a day pretending you’re a hero,” he said.

Many think losing weight is about starving yourself. That’s wrong, Davis said. Beyond losing weight and ditching medicines are priceless rewards: confidence and happiness.

“It’s more about your skin, your vibrancy, how your body works, how your brain works, and then everything improves after that.”

source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/240134/you-can-eat-eggs-and-butter-and-still-have-good-cholesterol-says-this-wellness-coach/

Primer on stem cells and stem cell therapy Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/primer-on-stem-cells-and-stem-cell-therapy/#LlulJ8Y9oGkuhagc.99

Can stem cell therapy really reverse or retard the aging process and cure a variety of cancers?

Stem cell therapy refers to the use of stem cells to treat, prevent, or reverse a disease or condition. The term stem cell, on the other hand, does not refer to a single cell type. It is the collective term for the cell types in the body that have the capability to multiply infinitely and transform into a variety of specialized cells. There are many types of stem cells and their capabilities differ.

At present, the list of diseases or conditions for which stem cell therapy has been shown to be beneficial is a very short one. It doesn’t include retardation of the aging process.

The origin and nature of stem cells

The trillions of cells that make up a human being originated from a single cell, the fertilized ovum, which resulted from the union of the father’s sperm cell and the mother’s egg cell. After it has formed, the fertilized ovum multiplies many times over to produce potential stem cells, very versatile cells that have the capability to transform to any type of body cell. To produce the various tissues and organs however, these cells need to differentiate (i.e. transform into more specialized cells) several times. Each time they differentiate, stem cells lose some of their versatility, until they finally get restricted to transforming into a single cell type only.

At birth, most of a person’s stem cells are still relatively versatile, they can still produce a variety cells. But as the person grows older, his/her stem cells gradually and progressively decrease in number and capability. In adults, the capability of most of the stem cells that persist is limited to the production of functional cells that have short lifespan and rapid turnover rates, very few, if any, potential stem cells remain.

Adult stem cells usually reside in the organs where the functional cells they are committed to replenish are located. For example, in the bone marrow, there are enough stem cells called hemopoietic stem cells that ensure the continuous production of blood cells. In organs where the functional cells are long-lived such as the brain and muscles, however, very few stem cells persist to adulthood. Thus, often, nerve cells and muscle cells (such as those in the heart) that are lost are replaced not by functional cells but by cells that form scar tissue.

Conditions where stem cell therapy works

Stem cell therapy consists of harvesting stem cells, culturing them in the laboratory to increase their number, and then infusing them to patients where they can replace damaged, injured, or dead cells in the various tissues and organs.

At present, the stem cells therapies that are being legally performed involve bone marrow stem cells only. These stem cells can definitely replenish bone marrow cells, but it is not known whether they can likewise give rise to functional cells in other tissues and organs. In any case, stem cell therapy using bone marrow stem cells has proven success in only a few conditions, notably dysfunctional bone marrow, multiple myeloma, and leukemias (cancers of the blood).

Stem cell therapies that are currently peddled, which supposedly delay or reverse the aging process or cure other forms of cancer, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, heart attacks, and other conditions should be considered highly experimental and labeled “caveat emptor.” They are of doubtful benefit yet very expensive, no less than a million pesos per treatment.

source: Manila Bulletin
http://www.mb.com.ph/primer-on-stem-cells-and-stem-cell-therapy/

Breast cancer busters

Foods that fight cancer cells

Last year as I had my first breast ultrasound just before I turned 36, I asked my breast specialist what causes breast cancer. I even inquired as to the possibility of a woman’s diet causing this much dreaded disease to develop. I was told that diet does not directly promote the initiation of breast cancer cells which are mainly brought about by free radicals or unstable molecules which capture electrons from proteins, enzymes, cell membranes, and DNA; chemical toxins in the mammary fat which are derived from the environment, food and water; and the third unfortunate cause is genetic flaw.

My breast doctor emphasized the importance of catching the disease early on. Women should learn how to do monthly self breast examination, get an ultrasound and mammogram depending on their age and risk. He also cautioned against abusing one’s lifestyle. Eating healthy will promote overall health thus decreasing risk of cancer.

Our mothers were right when they relentlessly reminded us to eat our daily dose of vegetables and fruits not to mention vitamin supplements when we were younger. The nutrients and phytochemicals which are abundant in fresh produce help combat diseases and even play a role in prevention.

Here are five plant-based foods that help fight cancer cells:

Cruciferous vegetables – women who consume high amounts of cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kangkong, pechay, kale, collard greens, bok choy, brussels sprouts, mustard green, turnip greens, radishes, horse radish, and arugula have lower risk of developing cancer. Antioxidants indole and isothiocyanate prevent the formation of tumor and protect normal cells from damage caused by free radicals and toxins.

Red and yellow fruits and vegetables – Carotenoids are abundant in these colored fruits and vegetables most specially lycopene which is a type of carotenoid found in tomatoes. Studies have shown that lycopene appears to have the ability to inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells. However, this powerful phytochemical can only be absorbed after undergoing exposure to heat through cooking or processing. It must also be consumed with a fatty food. A good example of a combination is tomato soup with olive oil or pasta topped with tomato sauce with lean meat.

Turmeric – Recently, this spice has been gaining a lot of popularity for its anti-inflammatory properties but before we claim this as the solution to every disease in existence, let us first understand how it can fight breast cancer. Curcumin is a compound found in turmeric that blocks the activation of carcinogens or cancer causing agents. It kills, reduces, and slows the growth of tumors in studies conducted in laboratories. Drink turmeric as a tea or add it to flavor recipes much like the Chinese and Indians do.

Green tea – Anti-cancer properties are found in green and white tea, both of which are rich in antioxidants known as catechins. Green tea fights cancer by interfering with cyclins which promote the growth of breast cancer cells. It also stops the synthesis of fatty acids needed for the formation of cancer cell membranes. Enjoy a hot cup or cold glass of green tea every day.

Red wine – Alcohol should always be consumed in moderation for fear of its undesirable effects. However, red wine contains the antioxidants resveratrol and procyanidins which are antagonists of the hormone estrogen. Excess estrogen levels increases the risk of breast cancer.

source: Manila Bulletin
http://www.mb.com.ph/breast-cancer-busters/

Dietary saturated fat linked to aggressive prostate cancer

Men with prostate cancer may be more likely to have the most serious form of the disease if their diet contains a lot of fat from meat and dairy, a recent U.S. study suggests.

The increased risk tied to saturated fat and cholesterol was greater for the prostate cancer patients who had not been taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, researchers report in the journal Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases.

The link between saturated fat in the diet and aggressive prostate cancer was also strongest for men of European descent, compared to African American men, the study found.

“A diet high in saturated fat contributes to high blood cholesterol levels,” which have already been linked to worse outcomes for prostate cancer, said lead author Emma Allott of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

One out of every seven men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetimes, according to the American Cancer Society.

In Western countries, prostate cancer tends to be more common, and people in Western nations also tend to consume more saturated fat, the authors note.

To explore the relationship between prostate cancer and fat in the diet, the study team used data on 1,854 men with newly-diagnosed prostate cancer, including 321, or 17 percent, with "highly aggressive" cancers.

As part of the North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project, the men answered questions about their diet habits, their medications, and demographic and lifestyle factors like age, race and activities.

The researchers calculated the levels of saturated fat in each man’s diet, as well as the amounts of mono- and poly-unsaturated fats, the types found in vegetable oils or fish.

They found that men with more aggressive prostate cancer consumed more calories and more cholesterol every day and had a higher percentage of calories from fat in their diets.

Among men with more aggressive prostate cancer, a greater proportion of the total fat they consumed was the saturated kind and less of it was polyunsaturated fat, compared to men with less aggressive cases.

Diets highest in saturated fat were tied to an overall 51 percent higher risk of having highly aggressive cancer, compared to diets lowest in saturated fat. Cholesterol intake was also separately tied to higher risk of more aggressive cancer, but only for white men.

For men who weren't taking statins, the risk of highly aggressive cancer was increased by 71 percent with the diets highest in saturated fat, only a 16 percent risk increase in men using statins.

“There are a number of things that men can do to reduce their risk of advanced or lethal prostate cancer,” said Stacey Kenfield, who researches lifestyle and diet factors to help prevent prostate cancer at the University of California, San Francisco.

Preventive measures include “not smoking, having a normal body weight, high physical activity, and high intake of tomatoes and dark meat fish (e.g., tuna, mackerel, salmon, sardines), and low intake of processed meat,” she said.

These efforts may also help prevent other diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, Kenfield, who was not involved in the study, told Reuters Health by email.

People concerned about cancer “can cut down on the amount of saturated fat in their diets by choosing lean cuts of meat and low-fat dairy products, and by cooking with plant-based oils,” Allot said.

“Controlling dietary saturated fat content may be important not only for cardiovascular disease prevention and overall health, but also for aggressive prostate cancer prevention,” she said.

source: Reuters Health
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-dietaryfat-prostate-cancer-idUSKCN1271OQ

Herbal and dietary supplements tied to liver damage

One in five cases of chemical-induced liver damage come from herbal and dietary supplements, a research review concludes.

A decade ago, less than one in 10 cases could be linked to supplements, researchers report in the journal Hepatology.

Up to half of U.S. adults consume supplements that contain ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, teas and proteins to improve diet, as well as illegal anabolic steroids, which are synthetic versions of testosterone used to boost athletic performance, the study found.

“Overall, liver injury from supplements is rare,” said lead study author Victor Navarro, chair of hepatology at Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia.

“However, if overused, or used in combination with other supplements, or used for very prolonged periods or in combination with conventional medications, they may become harmful,” Navarro added by email.

Hundreds of prescription medicines are associated with liver damage, and serious side effects in the liver are a common reason that drugs fail in development or get recalled after they go to market.

Part of the problem with liver complications is that damage can sometimes take months or years to develop, and patients often don’t notice symptoms until the injury is advanced. As damage progresses, patients may initially notice fatigue, itching, nausea and then go on to experience yellowing skin, fluid accumulation, bleeding and mental confusion.

The risks with prescription drugs are one thing, because these medicines have a proven benefit for patients, the authors argue. But many supplements have no proven benefit, only a potential risk.

“Consumers have free access to these supplements, often with inferred promises to improve health, enhance appearance,” Navarro said. “It is seductive to think that someone can impact one's health or appearance without the need to involve a trained healthcare provider.”

To assess the scope of liver problems caused by supplements, researchers reviewed data from several previously published studies, much of which was also presented at a 2015 conference sponsored by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. They also looked at 130 cases of supplement-related injuries reported over eight years in a U.S. registry of drug-induced liver injuries.

Steroids, which have long been linked to liver damage, accounted for more than a third of those cases in the U.S. registry.

The remaining 85 cases, however, were attributed to 116 different products, often containing multiple ingredients, that left few clues as to which individual ingredient might be the culprit, the study found.

Non-steroid supplements included green tea, mixtures labeled as “Chinese herbs,” “Korean herbs,” or “Ayurvedic medications,” as well as vitamins and dietary supplements.

Many cases were tied to products marketed under various company labels, including six from Slimquick, four apiece from Herbalife and Hydroxycut and two apiece from Move Free and Airborne.

One limitation of the study is that product labels may not provide a complete list of ingredients, making it difficult to determine patterns in the supplements linked to liver damage, the authors note.

Complications from supplements may also go undetected because consumers don’t tell doctors they are using the products and therefore aren’t being monitored for side effects, the authors also point out.

Not all supplements are bad, said Samantha Heller, a nutritionist at New York University Langone Medical Center who wasn’t involved in the study. For example, people may need them to address certain nutritional issues tied to diseases or caused by medications.

But shoppers should be wary of products that make extreme claims and too-good-to-be-true promises, and understand they can’t necessarily detect any unsafe ingredients, Heller said.

“There is no miracle in a bottle that will build muscle, detoxify your system, cure cancer, or cause rapid, long lasting weight loss,” she said by email. “At best it is a waste of money. At worst you could die.”

source: Reuters Health
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-supplements-liver-damage-idUSKCN1261OP