YourHealthMatters

Welcome to YourHealthMatters

I hope this becomes an important source of health-related information for you. My practice and philosophy combines both conventional approaches and complementary approaches to improving health, treating disease and improving healthspan.

I ALSO HAVE A WEBSITE FOR THE PRACTICE- www.drbobsager.com

I am writing and posting content here frequently and if you sign up for email alerts on the left hand column, you'll get emails about new postings. There is also an RSS feed on the right hand side for people with RSS readers. I also plan to use the email alerts to let my patients know when Lynda & I will be away, when flu shots arrive and other news about the office.

I welcome questions, comments, and ideas for content. Please click on the categories on the right side to find information which I think is useful. You will find files to download on various health issues. Tell your friends and share what I have written.

I hope you explore this site and return often to sample the new content. 

To Your Health -

drBob

Pillar # 3 - Control Carbohydrate Absorption

We often eat too many carbs and usually they are absorbed too quickly. This spike in blood sugar level causes a surge in insulin output and can cause fat to be laid down just where you don't want it. Continual use of too many carbs can be very detrimental to weight loss. However it is possible to slow down the absorption of sugar by using fiber in your diet. Numerous studies confirm this connection between fiber and slower uptake of sugar and health benefits. Beta-glucan is a fiber that markedly slows carbohydrate absorption and also gives you a feeling of fullness as it swells in your stomach. Taking 5 grams of beta-glucan fiber before each meal will level out the spikes in blood sugar and therefore keep insulin levels lower. Another fiber to consider is glucomannan, which if taken before each meal can also blunt the glucose-insulin spikes that occur with too many carbs in your meal.

Then there are ways to reduce carbohydrate breakdown and absorption in your gut. Simple carbohydrate sugars are broken down using an enzyme called alpha-glucosidase. This can be blocked by a drug called acarbose taken before each meal. Complex carbohydrates such as starches are broken down with an enzyme called alpha-amylase. This enzyme is found in an extract of white kidney bean.

It is very important to know how many carbs you eat so I often have patients record their carb foods and calculate the total grams of carbs they eat each day. The numbers can be much higher than you would think.  Excess carb intake will increase your fat. Last year a major study compared low carb dieting with calorie restriction with the Mediterranean diet for effective weight loss. Do I have to tell you which diet won hands-down? Finally the late Dr. Atkins was vindicated.

Both beta-glucan and white bean extract are in the new product for weight control that I am leading up to announcing in this series. Stay tuned.....

drBob

Vitamin D Testing to Become Uninsured

If you read my recent post about all the benefits from VitaminD3, it won't surprise you that Medicare is proposing to stop paying for screening tests for Vitamin D. That figures doesn't it - stop supporting a simple safe, cheap non-drug solution to improving health. Obviously the bureaucrats at Medicare are not in touch with what works, except for what their lobbyists tell them. I include here the message I got from the VitaminD Council website about this. I recommend we all send angry letters to the person in the letter. I know many of my patients have seen positive benefits from taking high doses of vitamin D after appropriate testing.
And if you don't think people have power in politics, we do. Government does listen to people who make enough noise. I have had some experience personally with this and wish all people desiring the best health, support the need for vitamin D screening with Medicare and the insurance companies. I could be harsher in my words for these two groups but will restrain myself.

From the vitamindcouncil.com website:

Proposed Restrictions on Vitamin D Testing
Soon, Medicare's newly proposed guidelines for restrictions on vitamin D testing will be adopted by every major insurance company in the country.
The restrictions would forbid screening, the most important use of the test. This means that although vitamin D deficiency treatment is still covered, your doctor will not be able to order the test to find out if you suffer from low vitamin D in the first place!
We encourage people to send their comments to Medicare by filling out this form on their website. When filling out the form, the proposal's LCD number is DL30273. The name of the proposal is "Vitamin D Assay Testing."
If you would rather send a letter, which is more effective, sent it to:
    •    Ms. Anna Gene Risoldi
    •    Senior Research Analyst
    •    Highmark Medicare Services
    •    1800 Center Street, 1AL3
    •    Camp Hill, PA 17089
Comments may also be sent to Dr. Daniel B. Kimball, Jr. at drdankimball@gmail.com. He is on the AMA board that is reviewing this policy.

drBob

Vitamin D3 Benefits

As many of my regular readers know I consider vitamin D3 the most important vitamin supplement we can take for its many benefits. It has usually been thought  of as responsible only for calcium absorption in the gut but research keeps turning up more benefits. I would like to review recent discoveries.
1. Anti-cancer benefits. A large study about a year ago showed that people who kept their vitamin D3 levels above 55 ng/ml would have a 50% reduction in their risk of stomach, lung,colon, breast and prostate cancer. No side effects and a very cost-effective way to reduce cancer risk.
2. Immune modulation - I routinely find very low levels of this vitamin in patients with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. Clinical improvement can occur when the level is restored to normal.
3. Regulate hormones - women with polycystic ovary syndrome who are not menstruating usually get a return to normal period cycling and become fertile when I include Vitamin D in my treatment approach.
4. Insulin effects - studies with Vitamin D and calcium have shown these two can reduce your risk of diabetes.
5. Asthma - children supplemented with adequate Vitamin D show improvements in their asthma, presumably because of it's immune effects.
6. Arthritic & fibromyalgia pain - research supports the testing of vitamin D and use in high enough doses to reduce the pain of arthritis and fibromyalgia up to 50%.
7. Flu - it has been known for years that flu outbreaks are highest in countries with least winter sunshine. Research into the ability of Vitamin D to improve your resistance to H1N1 (swine) flu is going on now.

These are just some of the many benefits already established for Vitamin D3. Find more by going to www.vitamindcouncil.com. They have a free newsletter you can subscribe to and I recommend you do this. Get your level tested soon. Stay tuned for an important update to the government's attitude to this testing. What do you think Medicare thinks of this vitamin??

drBob

9 Pillars of Successful Weight Loss - #2

The second pillar of successful weight loss is to know your hormone levels This is a very important aspect of weight management and metabolism. We don't know enough about this but we know some hormones that affect it, namely thyroid, DHEA, testosterone and estrogen.

Let's start with women. It is important to know their blood levels of all these hormones, especially if they are in menopausal age range. When estrogen levels drop in menopause, this leads to fat deposition especially around the belly. Aging women also often have thyroid problems, with low free T3 levels definitely slowing metabolism.  I have seen many women of all ages with thyroid problems associated with weight gain. However, thyroid replacement by itself is not enough to restart the metabolism and cause weight loss. Prolonged stress in your life may reduce your thyroid function also.

In men we need to know their testosterone levels because low levels affects their ability to build muscle instead of fat. Also as men age they may produce more estrogen from their fat cells using aromatase. Blockers for aromatase can reduce estrogen and enhance the positive benefits from testosterone.

In both sexes DHEA can be low and this slows metabolism and promotes fat storage. DHEA can be easily measured in your blood and then easily adjusted with supplements. There are a number of studies showing DHEA supplementation can help fat metabolism and weight. Do not take DHEA blindly without blood testing first.

I use an infrared fat measuring device in my office to assess body fat as this can tell you how much fat you must lose to regain youthful healthy fat levels. Other fat measuring devices are not as accurate as this technique.

drBob

What's In My Vitamins Doc?

I often get asked for advice on what brand of vitamins, minerals or supplements to purchase. The question is really about whether what's on the label is also in the pill. I can not answer this question but there is resource on the web that can help.

A private group called ConumerLab routinely assays the contents of various brands of the natural supplements and publishes reports on their findings. A yearly subscription to get the results is quite reasonable. They have published reports on calcium products, CoQ-10, multivitamins and many other products in the past year or so.

Although most of the time they find the label matches the actual capsule contents, they do find significant variations sometimes. There is no pattern to the exceptions.

I strongly recommend you sign up at www.ConsumerLab.com and start a subscription to their very unique and helpful service.

drBob

Wrong Ways to Diet!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31329422/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/

There are many ways to safely control your weight and there increasing numbers of wrong ways. I am hearing more patients ask me about detox diets, cleansing diets and fasting. These 3 approaches I would not recommend. Firstly they teach you nothing about longterm dietary changes you must learn to make for success. Second, they do nothing to help your mindset about food and health. Third, taken to the extremes they often are, they can be dangerous. I remember the so-called protein sparing fast many years ago and I remember how sick some of my patients became on this vile-tasting liquid protein.

Here is an MSNBC article on problems with these approaches, focusing on Hollywood people using them for perhaps the wrongs reasons.

As I wrote about recently your beliefs about food, health and weight are crucial to good health. Steve Seibold's excellent eBook "Get Tough or Die Fat" is now released in paperback form also. You can order it here and I highly recommend you do and start changing your self-destructive beliefs about food and weight.

And frankly, one of the most successful weight loss programs is still Weight Watchers, where you pay regularly and show up regularly for weigh-ins and have a group to support you and compete with.

drBob

Another Side to Weight Control

One of my  patients sent this email this week highlighting another aspect of weight loss - the spiritual side. He has used this free online course with the close followup it includes and he says he lost 65 pounds this year with its help.. This is an impressive result and I am very happy to recommend this course to you for consideration. The link is near the end of his email. I would welcome other readers to submit their success stories with their weight and health and what they used.

drBob

"I know that there are, without a doubt, many physical, as well as mental aspects to weight loss. How often is another aspect of weight loss, the spiritual, considered? In January, I ran across a series of Bible-based studies that have been literally changed my life. I am a Christian and have the privilege of serving as a pastor. That being said, I am very cynical and skeptical of most things labeled "Christian" these days. I've been around long enough to understand that books, products, etc. are marketed and labeled "Christian" or "Bible-Based", just like everything else competing for a buck. The study I've found and gone through is entitled, "The Lord's Table". It is free, in that there is no charge to go through the course, and also free from the hype that comes with most programs or schemes.

Personally, I have lost 65 lbs. since January of this year. That is all well and good, but the best benefit I have derived is from a renewed and deeper relationship with my Creator, my wife, as well as the other relationships in my life. In addition, my outlook towards food has completely changed. I know see it as a gift that the Lord has provided to sustain and enrich my life...not as medication to get over a bad day or difficult times. If I wouldn't have lost one pound, I believe I would have benefited greatly from going through this study.

The study is a series of 60 lessons completed online. A mentor who has gone through the course and training is assigned. Their job is to pray for, encourage and support as one goes through the course. I found my mentor to be a great source of encouragement and strength. The answers from each lesson are emailed to your mentor and also to one other person you select to be a support during the course.

Here is the link to the course: http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/courses/lords-table/day1/
The web site also offers many different courses and studies for substance abuse, sexual addiction, etc.

God Bless,
Eric Mason
Hugoton, KS

New Armour Thyroid Formulation - Problems?

During early 2009 there were shortages of Armour Thyroid products and now I know why. The FDA mandated a change in how the product was being made and changed the filler. Cornstarch was added to the tablets and amounts of cellulose and extrose were changed also. I don't know if the generic versions were affected but likely. People with corn allergy might notice problems with this new formula. Absorption might also be affected by these changes. The so-called inert filler ingredients in drugs are not always inert for everyone in my experience, even though the FDA says otherwise.

If you are a patient of mine on Armour or the generic thyroid extract pills, and noticing problems, maybe it is time for a visit and a lab test.

I found this information on Mary Shomon's excellent website on thyroid issues. Click here for her article. This article reports what patients are suddenly experiencing if they do not respond as well to the new formula. If you have thyroid problems, I recommend you sign up for her free emails on thyroid.

Thanks to one of my patients for bringing this to my attention.

drBob

9 Pillars of Successful Weight Loss - #1

I highlighted an article from Life Extension Foundation recently and promised to write more details. Here is the first pillar - Restore Insulin Sensitivity. Insulin resistance is a growing problem in North America and leads to diabetes if not controlled, increased weight, heart disease and hormonal disturbances such as polycystic ovary syndrome.

Insulin is the trigger molecule that opens cells to permit carbs to enter and be burned for energy. With increasing carb intake and poor exercise the cells become resistant to this effect and then insulin levels must rise to get the carbs into your cells. If the resistance becomes severe then the insulin becomes a fat storage signal and you make more and more fat. Since your energy from food is being stored this way, you feel tired and usually more hungry and thus eat more, keeping the destructive fat storage cycle continuing.

Here are some other issues involved with insulin sensitivity. Last year the Mayo School of Medicine proved which tissue first develops insulin resistance. Guess which tissue and saying fat is wrong.

Their excellent research showed that muscle cells are the first to become resistant to insulin. What they didn't say but is widely known, is that exercise of muscles restores insulin sensitivity. The proper exercise is muscle building and resistance training, not just aerobics. I highly recommend Dr. Al Sears' PACE system which you can download here as an info-packed eBook or here as a DVD.

Excess carb intake is the villain with inadequate exercise. I routinely have patients record and count carb intakes, usually with surprising results. The highest carb intake I have seen in someone was over 700 gms per day. This person was markedy obese. Average counts in obese people are 250-350 gms per day. One gm of carbs is worth about 5 calories. Do the math.

Other factors that can help insulin sensitivity are:
1. Chromium with each meal. Chromium is the mineral that makes insulin work best at the cellular level. Excess carb intakes robs our body of its precious chromium stores.
2. Vanadium - you will see this mineral recommended for insulin issues. There are some issues with getting too much and I don't suggest this mineral until chromium is tried first.
3. Slowing/blocking absorption of carbs in the gut. There have some supplments that do thus by blocking the enzyme that breaks down carbohyrates into the simple sugars needed for absorption.
4. Metformin - a very old inexpensive diabetic drug that improves insulin sensitivty. Last year the FDA authorized this drug to be used in pre-diabetic patients (anyone with a fasting sugar between 95-125)
5. Get a blood test for Vitamin D3 and take enough extra D3 to keep your blood level above 50 ng/ml. Deficiency of this vitamin is so common now that I only find 2-3 people per year with adequate levels. Sunbathing does not usually make enough Vitamin D for us to absorb before we sweat it off or towel it off.

This is an essential issue to address if you want to attain a lifelong healthy weight. Stay tuned for the other 8 pillars....

drBob

Die Fat or Get Tough! - book review

One of the most important aspects to successful weight loss and then maintaining your new healthy weight is your mental attitude and beliefs about weight loss. I have asked many patients after they lose weight about their beliefs and thinking about weight loss. Few can easily speak about what changed in their thinking to achieve their goal. It is obvious to me that those who keep weight off for long periods have changed their views  of how they regard food, exercise, and their health.

Now comes a book which records the changes in thinking for its author as he finally achieved a healthy weight. This is a downloadable eBook by Steve Siebold packed with over 200 pages of content. Each change in thinking has 2 pages. The first page compares the author's new thinking to the old thinking while obese. The second page then gives some ideas for helping you adopt this new belief. Steve & his wife offer workshops on Mental Toughness and losing weight and are very experienced in this field.

I highly recommend this eBook to anyone pursuing permanent control of their weight. See how many of these beliefs you still have that have blocked your successful weight control.

Click here to purchase and download online . 

drBob