Saturday, May 23, 2009

Michael Pollan on The Colbert Report

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Michael Pollan
colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full EpisodesPolitical HumorGay Marriage

Saturday, April 4, 2009

The Protein Carbohydrate Solution by Smokey Santillo

Facts About Protein

Protein MoleculeProtein in Greek means "primary importance." Your body digests protein and breaks it down into amino acids. There are 22 amino acids; nine are essential--meaning your body can't manufacture them. They come by way of foods. The other 14 are assembled or disassembled by the liver. From these 22 amino acids your body makes over 50,000 other amino acids. So your first line of defense is proper digestion so the amino acids get to the liver. Then your liver humanizes or reconstructs the amino acids into proteins your body can use. This means the protein is personalized and recognized so your body can accept them and build body parts. If your body cannot recognize them, they can become an allergen, become toxic, acidify the body, and overwork your immune system. This can lead to an inflammatory disease like arthritis and fibromyalgia. It can also cause lymphatic congestion and inhibit the removal of toxins. A high protein diet suggested years ago at 200 grams a day with poor quality protein can cause osteoporosis and kidney and liver damage. A low protein diet promotes a
weak immune system, deficiencies, and weak tissue integrity.

Amino acids are required by every cell in your immune system, antibodies, endocrine hormones, cellular matrix, the material between cells, and collagen, the insoluble protein found in connective tissue, skin, bones, ligaments, and cartilage. Collagen represents 30% of the total body protein. Imagine all the problems in these areas if the proper protein is absent. Thousands of enzymes are made from amino acids. So we know the importance of getting the proper amount of protein. We'll soon see getting the right kind of protein is more important than just quantity. The key is how to use protein. You can get more benefit out of less protein so there's less body stress, less toxicity, and your body will become more efficient.

Some of our protein problems often avoided and not even looked at are:

  1. Digestive enzyme deficiencies = poor digestion.
  2. Poor quality protein coupled with incomplete digestion.
  3. Poor food combining.
  4. Not enough vegetables to buffer acidification.
  5. Too much complex protein like meat and raw nuts which can be hard to digest.
  6. Not enough exercise.
  7. Too many carbohydrates which can result in not enough protein in the diet.

Carbohydrates in the Diet

Carbohydrates

In the 1980's a high carbohydrate diet was promoted. The results of this type of diet left these advocates deficient in protein, and with poor quality tissues and hormonal imbalances. A high cooked grain diet can become allergenic, especially if fruit and vegetables are neglected. Another factor is that most of these grains are hybridized and loaded with herbicides, pesticides, gasses, and chemical fertilizers.

The dry weight of the body is 70% protein. Bones, skin, collagen, immune system, and hormones are based on protein and must be renewed daily. Six to 12% of the dry weight is carbohydrates in the body and they must be kept in transit and utilized for energy. Grains, potatoes, pasta, and cereals can short change the body. A high carb diet may reduce protein toxicity, but is not in accord with the body matrix. They may give superficial energy, but turn to sludge in the body and produce a breeding ground for bacteria and increased triglycerides (fat), especially if they are simple carbs or highly processed. Excess sugar converts to high triglycerides in the body and creates other problems. The only people who need higher carbs in their bodies are athletes and children. Children are growing with high energy systems and athletes are working their bodies. Athletes that use too much protein and carbohydrates heal slowly and have poor tissue integrity coupled with acidosis.

Mother's milk is often used as a standard for these foods. It's high in carbohydrates, but the metabolic differences between an adult and an infant are not taken into consideration. Infants need carbs to put on weight. Adults need hormonal, immune, and tissue integrity and need a proper balance between foods.

Proponents of a low protein-high carbohydrate diet say protein is toxic and causes colon problems and even cancer. Authorities of a high protein diet with low carbohydrates say that high carbs create diabetes I and II, high cholesterol, and hyperinsulinism. We now have what we call syndrome X which is all the different diseases of the pancreas which can be resultant from a high carb diet.

The Protein Carbohydrate Solution

Vegetables

Both of these groups of thinkers are right. So what's the solution? The solution is high quality low stress protein, prepared properly, in the right amounts, combined properly with vegetables and eaten at the right time of day. The quality of protein is very seldom considered. If protein foods are cooked, digestive enzymes should be taken with meals. Poor quality protein results in digestive stress, poor digestion, and poor elimination of toxic wastes. It's all about how your body handles the foods you eat. Your body is made out of the food that is usable, not necessarily what you consume. People that eat a high protein diet are alarmed when they see protein deficiencies. It's because of one or more of the reasons given.

Thirty grams of usable protein is better than 100 grams of unusable protein which can cause the given problems. The RDA suggests for a 155 lb. male, 56 grams of protein daily, and a female at 120 lbs., 44 grams of protein daily. Excessive body fat can increase weight but that doesn't indicate more protein is needed. Not in my book. During pregnancy, a mother can increase high quality protein to 50 grams per 100 lbs. of body weight. But all of us should monitor saliva and urine pH to see how our bodies are handling the foods we eat. Please see the monitoring system in my book, ProMetabolics. Then you'll know for sure if you're digesting these foods or if they're causing problems. We're all different; monitoring is knowing for sure.

Sixty to 70% of the diet can be vegetables. Use a variety of vegetables with a variety of colors. The average person can consume 25-40 grams of protein a day. Two important points here. A clean detoxified body, all systems working well, will better utilize and need less food than someone who's toxic. Secondly, it's the quality not quantity that's more important coupled with preparation.

You can get enough quality carbs from your vegetables. You can use whole grains, especially spelt, if need be. The best way to use grains is sprouting them or buying sprouted bread. Steam them if need be. You need very little grains if you're not working out.

My next newsletter will cover proper foods to use. This article is long enough. Talk to you next month..

Stay well,

Dr. Smokey Santillo
SmokeySantillo.com

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Carcinogens in shampoo

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/12/AR2009031202940.html?hpid=moreheadlines

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

What lack of sleep can do to us

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE4A97CD20081110

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Health websites

www.mercola.com

www.feingold.org


Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Halloween treat ideas

For health-conscious parents, Halloween can be tricky. Do you set limits? Do you let kids decide how much to eat? There isn't just one right answer. Instead, use your best judgment given what you know about your child's personality and eating habits. LEAD WITH EDUCATION!!! But be sure to let your children know the impact of the ingredients in candy – die and artificial flavors cause damage to your healthy cells leading to an increased risk of cancer; artificial sugar is a chemical and chemicals damage your cells; too much sugar can cause hyperactivity, rises and dives in blood sugar, can be addictive, can lead to mood swings and negative behavior, and can increase their risk of Type 2 Diabetes. Can we enjoy a little candy as a treat? Sure, but too much leads to harmful changes in the body. This is the PERFECT time to teach your children to take care of their bodies and be aware that moderation is essential.

Before kids go trick-or-treating, serve a healthy meal so they're not hungry when the candy starts coming in.

SET LIMITS BEFORE you acquire the candy. A great idea is to pick a certain number of pieces of candy your child can keep. It will make them really think about what they want to consume the most and increase their decision making skills. Decide then what day any left over candy will be disposed of. That way, you won’t have lingering candy around for your child to get into the habit of eating. They can enjoy the candy and then be freed of the daily temptation and nagging that often times occurs!

Here are some more tips for handling the Halloween treats:

* Know how much candy your child has collected and store it somewhere other than the child's room. Having it so handy can be an irresistible temptation for many kids. Go ahead and have them pick what they want to keep and quickly dispose of the rest.
* Before you go Trick or Treating or your Fall Carnival, talk about how the candy will be handled. Candy and snacks shouldn't get in the way of kids eating healthy meals.
* If a child is overweight — or you'd just like to reduce the Halloween stash — consider buying back some or all of the remaining Halloween candy. This acknowledges the candy belongs to the child and provides a treat in the form of a little spending money.
* Be a role model by eating Halloween candy in moderation yourself. To help avoid temptation, buy your candy at the last minute and get rid of any leftovers.
* Encourage your child to be mindful of the amount of candy and snacks eaten — and to stop before feeling full or sick. If they have not eaten healthy that day, don’t allow the sweet treat to be a substitute. That will help show them the value of the healthy food for their body.

You also can offer some alternatives to candy to the trick-or-treaters who come to your door. Here are some treats to think about giving out:

* Non-food treats, like stickers, toys, temporary tattoos, false teeth, little bottles of bubbles and small games, like tiny decks of cards (party-supply stores can be great sources for these)
* Snacks such as small bags of pretzels, trail mix, small boxes of raisins, and popcorn
* Small boxes of cereal

Steer clear of any snacks or toys — like small plastic objects — that could pose choking hazards to very young children.

And remember that Halloween, like other holidays, is a single day on the calendar. If your family eats sensibly during the rest of the year, it will have a more lasting impact than a few days of overindulgence. IT IS NOT WHAT YOU DO ONE IN A WHILE THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE (positive or negative). IT IS WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO EVERY DAY THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR HEALTH!!

(source of article unknown)

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Just finished reading: Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar, and Survival

I just finished reading Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar, and Survival by T.S. Wiley. I cannot recommend it highly enough. This book is one of the most life-changing books I have ever read, and I urge everyone to read it as soon as possible. I will be reading it again for a second time soon.

Lights Out will totally change your worldview concerning health.

The premise, unfortunately, is given from an evolutionary perspective, but if you can look past that, then please pick up a copy of this book and read it. You'll never see life the same way again.

The author asserts that our bodies are connected to the planet, especially to the sun and the seasons, more than we realize, and that our bodies are trained by instinct to eat and sleep according to the seasons, meaning according to the light and food available in each season.

In other words, our brains are designed to say in the summer, "There's more light, and this is the season when crops grow. Stay up late and eat lots of sugar (carbs) since you need the energy and the crops are growing now. Eat your full, because winter (famine and darkness) is coming."

But that's the real world, and the world we live in isn't real. We have fake sunshine through our lights, and we stay up all hours of the night.

The message that sends to our bodies is that it's still summer, and we need to keep eating carbs, because winter (famine) is coming soon. So we eat and eat, because that's what you're suppose to do in summer, before the famine comes.

The lights mess up our sleep cycles and our hormones in ways that literally cause diseases. The author traces several of the major medical issues we face today, including cancer, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, directly to the lights, and gives some very convincing evidence.

If you read this book and agree with it, you will begin to see your lights as poison, just as much as you might already see fake sugar or your microwave or teflon as poison. But the lights are insidious, because we don't even think about it. Discussions on health never talk about turning out your lights (all of them, including the tv) when the sun goes down, but it's perhaps the single most important thing you could do to eliminate disease and keep yourself healthy.

If you do these things, it will affect your social life, but as the author points out, so will cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

The author also gives an extended discussion of eating according to the seasons, and why so many of the diets we see today are giving us the total opposite message than we need to hear. Those sections alone are worth the read.

Again, I highly recommend this book. Please pick up a copy and read it soon. Reading it may literally add years to your life.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Interesting video on flouride

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Links between food and the body

Friday, July 25, 2008

Healthy meals = healthy performance

http://www.charlotte.com/162/story/699875.html

Sunday, July 20, 2008

If bacteria won't touch it

In a presentation I saw tonight, someone brought out a plain McDonald's hamburger on a bun, and fries, which she had bought from McDonald's 8 months ago. They had not become rotten or turned green or anything like that. They looked exactly like when she bought them. Someone else in the room said he had done the same in 2004, and his hamburger and fries were still the same, even after years. The point? If bacteria won't touch it, neither should you.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Fake sugar is poison

http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-sweeteners.html

I'm selling Juice Plus

I'm now selling Juice Plus, a health and wellness product that provides whole-food-based nutrition.

Almost every diet plan, every guide to nutrition, every fitness book recommends we eat more fruits and vegetables. Even organizations such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the World Health Organization, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, and the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion agree.

But as much as it’s preached, most people still don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables every day. Juice Plus+ helps fill that gap.

Interested? Check it out at: https://www.juiceplus.com/nsa/pages/Home.soa?site=tm06051.


Saturday, April 5, 2008

Good health website

www.mercola.com

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Vaccines linked to autism

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

The next best thing to fruits and vegetables

www.juiceplus.com

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Healthiness

I've been learning a lot about nutrition and healthy eating recently, from what I'm reading on my own and from what I'm learning from my chiropractor. It's been neat to see myself making the difficult but important change in eating habits. I ate fairly well before, but I am becoming much more conscious of what I eat.

I went to the grocery store this morning after church and realized as I was checking out that almost all of the groceries were fruits, vegetables, nuts, or other healthy foods. No fake sugars, no processed foods, just natural food.

I've also been exercising a lot more since I've had more control of my schedule down here in Georgia, and it feels great to be getting in better shape.

It's also just good to see my own desire to truly be healthy, in every sense, with a stronger focus now on my bodily health. Speaking of which, I'll be off my sleep medicines next week, which is great. It's been a hard choice to make, but I know it's worth it.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Neurological chiropractor

I wanted to find a chiropractor soon after arriving in Georgia, because it's so important for healthiness. I've come to also see the strong value of a neurological chiropractor, where they focus not just on adjustments, but on the whole body, including the brain, chemical balances, and general healthiness.

I found a neurological chiropractor here, and told him about how I am trying to wean myself from sleep medicines entirely (and have almost done so), and he said I was doing very well and was in great shape, which is always good to hear, especially when you're going through something as difficult as getting off of insomnia medicines.

It's amazing, the ways they have to tell different things about what's going on inside the mind. If I weren't a writer, I think I'd be very strongly tempted to become a chiropractor. I also want to learn massage, and the chiropractor said he actually teaches massage therapy classes somewhere locally, so I might just join and get started on massage therapy, which I've wanted to learn for a while.