I started this draft last December. Since I have decided to give blogging another shot, I think it is appropriate to post this and add follow ups as time allows. I am starting my MSN/Ed next week and will probably incorporate some of the study topics in order to keep the blog alive during the school year. Perhaps I should have added my BSN journey into the blog, but I was too busy reading other people's blogs in my off time and lost interest. Anyhoo, here is the beginning of the story that recently changed my life's direction, revived my dreams, and awakened new goals.
On June 1st 2010, topping the scale at 305-310 pounds, my BMI was over 40. Feeling exhausted all the time, having difficulty breathing, a poor view of myself, I had had enough. A friend told me about a book, The Belly Fat Cure by Jorge Cruise. I read it, put it to work, and lost 8-10 pounds the first two weeks. Fascinated, I continued down this path and began studying fat metabolism, I discovered Good Calories Bad Calories written by Gary Taubes. It is a premier critical analysis of the last two centuries questioning the scientific method and resulting policies of diet, health, and exercise. In it he argues quite convincingly how insulin is a primary driver behind obesity and western diseases.
Needless to say, I severely restricted any source that increased my serum glucose and the pounds kept coming off. I weighed myself every day and noticed weight coming off almost a pound a day for the first two months. The next two months averaged under a half pound a day.
My hunger cravings for sugar and flour had subsided after eliminating wheat one month into the weight loss. The weight keeps coming off, even now. It is effortless, albeit much slower. My BMI is just over 25 and will be in the normal range in early 2011. Energy levels have increased significantly and my brain fog has lifted.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Do whole grains really reduce your risk of colorectal cancer?
I just completed my B.S.N. and am about to begin my M.S.N., Ed. so, I had a moment to read some science (really write about it) for fun and personal reasons. Actually, I have been reading more health oriented research/data than my college assignments over the last year. This is due in part to my fascination of how I have been able to lose 130 pounds without exercise or combating hunger. Our bodies are truly amazing machines. More about that subject later . . .
Reading a post on a great cooking blog recently, the subject of discussion was a recent meta-analysis' findings regarding the benefits of whole grains in our diet. Here is the link to the BMJ article. Buy and large, the findings indicate a linear risk reduction of colorectal cancer associated with increased dietary fiber from whole grain intake (up to 60% risk reduction with 90 grams of fiber daily). Now this raised a huge flag especially since the study did not show any risk reduction associated with vegetable and fruit fiber intake.
90 grams! That's a lot of fiber. The USDA (mind you, I am hesitant about some of their recommendations) suggests daily fiber intake of 35 grams. I did a little research and compared carbohydrate intake associated with study's findings of fiber intake. Using nutritiondata I took a common whole grain item most health-conscious people would consider eating without question unless they are gluten intolerant or suffer from a gastrointestinal disorder. One average serving (26 gm) of this whole grain contains 11 gm carb/2 gm fiber. In order to get your 90 gm fiber from whole grains such as this, one would consume 495 gm carbohydrates (@ 2,000 calories). When broken down metabolically, this equals approximately 495 grams of sugar in our gut. This sugar (glucose) goes straight to our bloodstream in addition to competing with vitamin C receptors. The human body's normal fasting glucose level equates to less than one teaspoon of sugar in our circulating blood. Here is a breakdown of fasting glucose levels.
Call me a doubting Dolly but literally taking the meta-analysis' conclusion to consume 90 grams of fiber daily may be suggestive of a diet that does contribute to cancer, diabetes, obesity, AND heart disease. Subjecting our bodies to nearly 500 grams of sugar a day is not something I or anyone should be doing. Pancreatic burnout and chronic inflammation are two obvious conclusions of dietary recommendations such as this.
Eating this much whole grain may indeed reduce our risk of colorectal cancer, but one must consider the risk/benefit analysis (we really should do this much more closely with everything we do). The problem with this type of research is that it gets published in a variety of news outlets such as this, the general public swallows it hook, line, and sinker, and continues meandering down the collective path of obesity and disease.
Reading a post on a great cooking blog recently, the subject of discussion was a recent meta-analysis' findings regarding the benefits of whole grains in our diet. Here is the link to the BMJ article. Buy and large, the findings indicate a linear risk reduction of colorectal cancer associated with increased dietary fiber from whole grain intake (up to 60% risk reduction with 90 grams of fiber daily). Now this raised a huge flag especially since the study did not show any risk reduction associated with vegetable and fruit fiber intake.
90 grams! That's a lot of fiber. The USDA (mind you, I am hesitant about some of their recommendations) suggests daily fiber intake of 35 grams. I did a little research and compared carbohydrate intake associated with study's findings of fiber intake. Using nutritiondata I took a common whole grain item most health-conscious people would consider eating without question unless they are gluten intolerant or suffer from a gastrointestinal disorder. One average serving (26 gm) of this whole grain contains 11 gm carb/2 gm fiber. In order to get your 90 gm fiber from whole grains such as this, one would consume 495 gm carbohydrates (@ 2,000 calories). When broken down metabolically, this equals approximately 495 grams of sugar in our gut. This sugar (glucose) goes straight to our bloodstream in addition to competing with vitamin C receptors. The human body's normal fasting glucose level equates to less than one teaspoon of sugar in our circulating blood. Here is a breakdown of fasting glucose levels.
Call me a doubting Dolly but literally taking the meta-analysis' conclusion to consume 90 grams of fiber daily may be suggestive of a diet that does contribute to cancer, diabetes, obesity, AND heart disease. Subjecting our bodies to nearly 500 grams of sugar a day is not something I or anyone should be doing. Pancreatic burnout and chronic inflammation are two obvious conclusions of dietary recommendations such as this.
Eating this much whole grain may indeed reduce our risk of colorectal cancer, but one must consider the risk/benefit analysis (we really should do this much more closely with everything we do). The problem with this type of research is that it gets published in a variety of news outlets such as this, the general public swallows it hook, line, and sinker, and continues meandering down the collective path of obesity and disease.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
This is it!
I've decided to start my journey blogging. I really don't know how well this will go over or if I will continue to maintain this project. I seem to be taking on more and more these days. It all started May 16th, 2010 when my BMI had surpassed 40. I was taking antihypertensive medication (not that it was very effective) since my baseline blood pressure was hovering around 145/95 on medication. I was experiencing intermittent bouts of rapid heart rates 135-150 bpm that I could somewhat mitigate with certain activities such as lowering my head below my heart by bending over or lying in the Trendelenburg position.
I have a lovely wife and two children, Zachary 5, and Megan 3. I became very concerned about my health and decided to reduce my cardiovascular risk in order to be able to be alive to give my daughter's hand in marriage, spend Dad time with my son, watch my children grow to be complete adults, and provide for my wife.
I will be discussing the things I have learned in hopes it will help others find the indelible strength to change, improve, and maintain their lives and the lives of those around them. Since I read a great deal of blogs, I will probably link to and plug their sites and discuss some of the ideas ruminating.
Currently I am reading my latest cookbook, Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats, by Sally Fallen of the Weston A. Price Foundation. I recommend everyone pick it up and read the first 68 pages as it is an excellent primer on the basics of nutrition and a book in its own right within the cookbook. As a matter of fact, it has kept me so interested that I haven't even looked past the page I am reading. There are also excellent references in the back that help the reader become more well-rounded in understanding and accessing health and nutrition.
Most of my posts will be built around ideas of those who have influenced me and information deemed relevant for general wellness. If you look at the blogs I follow, many are excellent resources and have helped indirectly draft my current health status and fortunately my disillusionment with my primary care practitioner.
On that note, I am currently looking for a primary care provider. I am having a hard time finding one. I consider the team approach with health care providers acting as facilitators using their expertise to help the patient identify, forge, and reach their wellness goals through self-realized methodologies. I believe this to be the the most effective and sustainable pathway to health and wellness. I am tired of having a provider that does not look past a diagnosis and expresses a negative attitude in regards to a patient's attempts at Implementing primary and secondary care.
I have a lovely wife and two children, Zachary 5, and Megan 3. I became very concerned about my health and decided to reduce my cardiovascular risk in order to be able to be alive to give my daughter's hand in marriage, spend Dad time with my son, watch my children grow to be complete adults, and provide for my wife.
I will be discussing the things I have learned in hopes it will help others find the indelible strength to change, improve, and maintain their lives and the lives of those around them. Since I read a great deal of blogs, I will probably link to and plug their sites and discuss some of the ideas ruminating.
Currently I am reading my latest cookbook, Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats, by Sally Fallen of the Weston A. Price Foundation. I recommend everyone pick it up and read the first 68 pages as it is an excellent primer on the basics of nutrition and a book in its own right within the cookbook. As a matter of fact, it has kept me so interested that I haven't even looked past the page I am reading. There are also excellent references in the back that help the reader become more well-rounded in understanding and accessing health and nutrition.
Most of my posts will be built around ideas of those who have influenced me and information deemed relevant for general wellness. If you look at the blogs I follow, many are excellent resources and have helped indirectly draft my current health status and fortunately my disillusionment with my primary care practitioner.
On that note, I am currently looking for a primary care provider. I am having a hard time finding one. I consider the team approach with health care providers acting as facilitators using their expertise to help the patient identify, forge, and reach their wellness goals through self-realized methodologies. I believe this to be the the most effective and sustainable pathway to health and wellness. I am tired of having a provider that does not look past a diagnosis and expresses a negative attitude in regards to a patient's attempts at Implementing primary and secondary care.
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