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Carbohydrates and Protein by Daved Rosensweet M.D. Question 1
Dear Dr Rosensweet:
Dear S.G: First, letıs review some basics. Food content can be categorized chemically into carbohydrate, protein, fat, minerals and vitamins. Carbohydrate is a common fuel to burn. When combined with oxygen it produces energy. It is relatively easy to digest and assimilate. It does require Insulin to move it out of the bloodstream into the cells. Protein is used in the structure of cells and in biochemical process. For example, it is part of the matrix of bone, and the structure of enzymes that facilitate biochemistry. Amino Acids, the constituents of protein, can also be burned as fuel. Fats can be metabolized for energy production. They also play a role in structure, forming, for example, part of cell walls and nerve cell insulation. They also are the biochemical backbone of many hormones. Again, Insulin secretion facilitates fat deposition. Thus, a diet high in carbohydrates, the only food element that requires Insulin, can result in unwanted weight gain. The worst of the provokers of Insulin secretion are the simple carbohydrates, which wreak havoc with delicate Insulin mechanisms. Sugar, and anything sweet, are the simplest of the carbohydrates. When you eat them, your blood sugar raises very quickly because they require little or no digestion and assimilate very rapidly. Your body is fooled into thinking you ate a big meal because of the rapid rise of blood glucose. You then can over-secrete Insulin and drop the blood glucose below normal as a consequence: an "overshoot" that is called "hypoglycemia". The recovery from this requires cortisol secretion, which then stresses your adrenal glands. Thus we have the connection between the sweet toothı and weight gain. Animal products (meat and dairy) are high in protein and fat. Grains, vegetables and fruits are high in carbohydrates. Thus diets low in animal products are high in carbohydrates. Metabolism may not work well with excessive carbohydrate for other reasons. Your body can read that you are doing a form of protein starvation and that adjustments will need to be made to deal with the "low protein income". Passionate rates of metabolism will be turned down and you will burn less. You will then tend to gain weight even when you are eating less: the great mystery to many a dieter. Some benefit greatly by increasing their protein intake. Eating organic chicken is an excellent choice. It can end the partial "starvation response" and help with structure and burn. In conclusion, eliminating sweets can make a very big difference. Organic food in general is important for weight loss. There is more to this subject. Sometimes it also calls for investigating hormones and other factors. You can turn it all around, especially with as much exercise as you do.
Question 2 Dear Dr Rosensweet: There is so much information on vitamins and supplements that I am overwhelmed and do not know what to think. Do you have any general suggestions? J.S. Fort Myers Dear J.S: Nutritional supplements have burgeoned into a multi-zillion dollar industry. The basic reasons for this explosion are sound. There is a maze however, to find your way through to making sense of it all. Individuals vary as to needs, products vary as to quality: mix and match becomes your job. As for need, I believe that almost without exception, everyone can benefit from supplemental vitamins, minerals and other nutritional products. The American food supply is grossly deficient in them. In the 1930ıs the United States Senate reported that American soils had major mineral deficiencies. Agribusiness farming methods have only made this worse. In a Rutgers University study it was reported that food from conventional supermarkets contain 15% of the minerals that are found in "organic" from health food stores. This is one of the reasons food doesnıt taste as good as it did fifty years ago. There are also problems that develop from vitamin losses that occur in fresh foods because of the time gap and poor handling from harvest to dinner plate. Food processing greatly accentuates this problem. Modern cooking methods, such as the microwave add insult to injury. All of this loss is taking place in a context of increased need and demand for nutrients! Modern life has new types of stressors that require increased metabolism as well as additional management of environmental toxins that come in through the air, water, food and medicines. Even on the most minute levels, modern life is causing a lot of "free radicals" to form that cause oxidative damage. Vitamins and minerals play a crucial role in the internal biochemistry that handles all of these noxious substances. Seeing the wisdom in taking supplements, it can be daunting to determine which ones are for you. I can make a few suggestions here. As for what to take, I recommend as a basic regime: *A good multiple vitamin-mineral combination. *A good anti-oxidant combination formula. *Additional Vitamin C. *Additional Vitamin E (to total approximately 1200 i.u.). *Sublingual methylcobalamin (B12). *Calcium (citrate preferred). *Magnesium (glycenate preferred). *Trace minerals. *Digestive Enzymes. *Betaine Hydrochloride (in most, and not all, cases). *Prostate formulas for men:- (contain saw palmetto & zinc). *Estrogen processing aids for women:- (sufficient B6, B12, Folic Acid, and Indole-3-carbinol). These basics apply to everyone, and, their can be significant beneficial additions. Each individualıs program is best customized according to needs. Arthritis, for example, call for a group of additional supplements. Memory issues call for others, as do cardiovascular, liver, detoxification, intestinal, immune and hormonal issues. Quality presents a challenge in this industry because it varies greatly company to company. The best supplements are being distributed by health professionals: holistic medical doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, nutritionists, uncommon health food stores, and others. This is where youıll find the highest quality and a somewhat higher price. High quality means a lot. You can have two bottles of Calcium side by side. One can be very inexpensive and come from limestone, which is cheap yet difficult to absorb. The other can cost more, and, be a calcium citrate that you can easily assimilate! The shortcut to doing well with supplements can often begin with professionals. Also, there are some health food stores that have knowledgeable staff that can be helpful. This is just a bare beginning. Because I have had many questions on this topic, I will be giving a lecture on it at the end of January. Vitamin and mineral supplementation is a wonderful opportunity. If you get help as well as learn on your own, you can come up with a program that could make a big difference in your health.
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