Waking still fatigued in the morning in spite of sleeping for many hours is referred to as ‘non-restorative sleep’ and is one of the hallmark symptoms of a variety of sleep disorders. The most common sleep disorder is Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea causes abnormal breathing when asleep and leads to prolonged periods of low blood […]
Tired Even After A Long Night’s Rest? Read More »
I wanted to give you just another reason to worry about your consumption of artificial sweeteners. A recent study has demonstrated that the intense sweetness of artificial sweeteners (in this case saccharin) is preferred as a rewards over cocaine in rats. This even applies to rats that were already addicted to cocaine! The cocaine-addicted rats
9 out of 10 Cocaine-Addicted Rats Prefer Artificial Sweeteners Over Cocaine! Read More »
One of the most well established concepts in psychology is that animals (including humans) learn about relationships among the events they experience. These repeated experiences can change how we react to the events we’ve experienced. This is the basis of Pavlovian psychology. Research on the use of artificial sweeteners suggests just such a mechanism may
Pavlov and Artificial Sweeteners Read More »
No. In terms of weight loss, breads are arguably one of the worst foods to be consuming. There are grocery aisles with thousands of bread loaves on the shelf, yet very few could even be charactarized as healthy. Many of them contain high amounts of sugars or high fructose corn syrup. There is a large
Is There A Weight Loss Wonder Bread? Read More »
The jump to starting exercise may be easier than most think, but usually the hardest part is jumping off the couch potato train. Most individuals don’t even think of themselves as couch potatoes, as they are busy with a pressing schedule of a building a career, raising a family, and having an active social life. Getting started
Jumping on the Exercise Bandwagon Read More »
What are the Symptoms of Insulin Resistance? People may have Insulin Resistance for several years without noticing anything. But in many individuals, Insulin Resistance causes a wide variety of common symptoms we often attribute to other medical circumstances. These symptoms often occur because of an imbalance of your autonomic nervous system. Common symptoms from autonomic
Does Insulin Resistance Have Any Symptoms and What Is Metabolic Syndrome? Read More »
What Causes Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome? The last 20 years has seen an epidemic rise in Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes Mellitus in the United States. Extensive research has helped us to understand that the combination of high carbohydrate diets, lack of exercise and increased portion sizes has lead to this problem. Prehistoric humans
If I Have Insulin Resistance or Metabolic Syndrome, How Can I Make It Go Away? Read More »
Another measure of how processing has altered the nutritional value of foods is the increasing calorie density of food. This can be measured as the number of calories per pound of any given type of food. A shocking example of this is what happens to corn as if goes through modern food processing. One pound
Modern Day Life and Carbohydrates – Part II Read More »
So where does this unprecedented increase of dietary carbohydrates leave us in the modern era? Modern humans presently consume more carbohydrates in a single day than Stone Age humans consumed in a year, and 20-30% more than we did just a few decades ago. Part of the reason for the significant increase is that carbohydrate-based
Modern Day Life and Carbohydrates – Part I Read More »
Modern humans evolved from our Stone Age ancestors that lived within a hunter-gatherer society whose main sources of food were animal meat and plants. The animal meat provided a significant source of protein and fat while the plants they ate provided a significant amount of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Scientists estimate that Stone Age humans
Stone Age Humans And The Introduction Of Carbohydrates Read More »
I do! I’ve watched the show the ‘The Biggest Loser’ a few times and come away each time with the same thought, “This is the most dangerous, manipulative show I’ve ever seen on television.” Medically speaking, to encourage individuals to lose weight at these tremendous rates is very unhealthy and extremely dangerous. Weight loss experts
Do You Think 'The Biggest Loser' Is Exploitative? Read More »
Many of my patients who are working on the carbohydrate restriction to improve their blood pressure, blood sugars, triglycerdies and weight often tell me that if they “fall of the wagon” and start eating high carbohydrates foods, they can’t seem to stop. There are scientific reasons for this. Eating a diet high in carbohydrates results
Why Do We Crave Carbohydrates And How To Control It At A Party Read More »
For more than a decade there has been an ongoing debate arguing that organic products are better than non-organic. Both products have their pros and cons, but the biggest concern with consumers is the cost. While your organic red apple may be as red and blemish free as your non-organic red apple, the non-organic is
Is Organic the Better Option? Read More »
Try eating more slowly if you’re looking to shed some pounds. When you eat too fast you can outpace your body’s normal hunger mechanisms that tell you when you are full. The more slowly an individual eats, the more the body is able to release hormones that suppress our hunger. So, eating a moderate
Why Eating Slowly Helps Decrease Your Weight Read More »
One of the more intriguing health benefits I’ve observed in my patients from decreasing carbohydrate intake (to 25-30% of daily calorie intake) and increasing protein (20-30 grams per meal 3 times per day) is the significant and fairly rapid body sculpting effect that occurs. Patients will often comment how quickly they seem to shrink in
Body Sculpting With Low Carb/High Protein Diets Read More »
As many as 100,000 cases of cancer could be prevented in the U.S. each year if Americans get rid of their excess body fat. The estimates suggest that heart disease, diabetes, and joint problems aren’t the only illnesses in which rampant obesity is causing havoc. A 2007 report from the American Institute for Cancer Research
Obesity Causes Up To 1/3 Of All Cancers Read More »
Just when you thought it was safe to escape the cold and cuddle up with your favorite snacks at the local movie theater, the people at the Center for Science in the Public Interest are popping the lid on movie theater popcorn’s calorie, fat, and salt content. A large popcorn packs the biggest punch, containing
Don't Be In The Dark When Eating At The Movie Theater Read More »
The holidays can be difficult for those that are taking the low carb approach. Socially involved holidays can be an exception to enjoy your favorite foods. The ham or turkey, green beans, and the acorn squash are the best options for a low calorie and low carb approach, but you can still enjoy your mashed potatoes and gravy on
Low-Carb Gravy for Turkey Day Read More »
For some families, Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving without the cranberry sauce. Cranberries are high in vitamin C and have a tiny bit of calcium per 1/3 cup serving. Eaten raw, they are naturally low in carbohydrates and sugars. However, on Turkey day these berries are traditionally served as a sauce or a relish, with sugar as the
Enjoy the Cranberry Relish Read More »
Many of us have been in the circumstance where someone is pressing us to eat something we would rather not eat. We can be put on the spot to eat something (especially unhealthy high carbohydrate snacks) that we know we’d rather avoid, but the pressure can cause us to give in rather than being rude.
Do You Feel Pressured To Eat Food You Don't Want At A Party? Read More »
With Thanksgiving only days away, recipe planning and grocery shopping is at its peak. Before you head out this week with your grocery list, see if you can stock up on low carb alternatives to your favorite Thanksgiving dishes. A low carb plate alternative to a traditional plate can still be satisfying, such as stuffing, cranberry relish,
Sausage and Herb Stuffing Recipe Read More »
All vegetables are carbohydrates, but you’d be amazed to hear how much lower they are in carbohydrates than grain products. Root vegetables are excellent sources of vitamins, but some rank better than others in terms of calories, fiber and carbohydrate content. Turnip: 1 cup 46 calories 8g carb 2g fiber 5g sugar 1g protein *high in vitamin C,
Root Vegetables: How Do They Rate? Read More »
Food is an important emotional component in many of our lives. We have incorporated food through the ages for ceremonies involving life, death, religion and family. Because of this, it is important to not feel like the most important meals of your life are being excessively altered by your effort to eat in a more
Take The Bread Challenge Read More »
As previously posted, protein bars are a convenient way to supplement a meal or have after a workout. Protein shakes are another easy way to replace a meal, and today they fill grocery store shelves with similar benefits of protein bars as well. The good and the bad of common protein shakes are listed below: Muscle
What is a ‘Good’ Protein Shake? Read More »
Protein bars are an excellent way to supplement a meal and they are great for post-workout energy and to restore glycogen stores in your muscles. Due to confusing marketing and advertising, some bars appear ‘healthier’ when really they are horrible. Ideally I recommend a bar that is high in protein, low in carbohydrates and sugars,
What is a 'Good' Protein Bar? Read More »
We are social creatures. No matter what religion or nationality, food will always be present at a social event. With the upcoming fall and winter holidays, the pressure of foods at social events is inevitable. In order to prevent the weight gain, I recommend to my patients to follow a few pointers. 1. Have Fun.
Be Social Without the Food Read More »
Patients begin a weight loss program with us and want to ramp up the exercise immediately. Although I think it great that a person is wanting to get fit, a sudden increase in exercise can actually have negative effects. It may stimulate a person’s appetite, they may injure themselves or exhaust themselves. Depending on your
Start Your Exercise Today! Read More »
Stress occurs in our lives every day for different reasons. Each person deals with their stress differently. One common trend with patients trying to lose weight is that their stress outlet is eating food. This is the opposite direction of the healthy life they are trying to lead, but a hard habit to break. Follow
Using Food as a Stress Release Read More »
About 80% of my weight loss patients have a similar complaint, they feel a sense of hunger in the afternoon described as a “grumbling” of their stomach, a sense of weakness or even a shaky sensation as if they have low blood sugar. And I tell them all the same thing, “Your sense of hunger
You Really Don’t Need A Snack To Reduce Your Afternoon Hunger Read More »
The holidays are meant for family and friends to be together. For people trying to lose weight, a worry of the holidays is the Thanksgiving meal. I’ve outlined the calories of a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Keep in mind, this breakdown does not include going up for second servings. Thanksgiving Meal: Food Amt Cal Fat Carb Sugar Protein Turkey breast 6
Calories in Thanksgiving Meal Read More »
Medical Disclaimer: The information presented on this website is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, and does not create any patient-physician relationship.
