Life, Interrupted

An interesting post about "Manipulating the Microbiome" to regulate weight gain.

From the article:

In a study, published Aug. 26 in the journal Nature Immunology, a research team based at the University of Chicago was able to unravel some of the mechanisms that regulate this weight gain. They focused on the relationship between the immune system, gut bacteria, digestion and obesity. They showed how weight gain requires not just caloric overload but also a delicate, adjustable -- and transmissible -- interplay between intestinal microbes and the immune response.

"Diet-induced obesity depends not just on calories ingested but also on the host's microbiome," said the study's senior author Yang-Xin Fu, MD, PhD, professor of pathology at the University of Chicago Medicine. For most people, he said, "host digestion is not completely efficient, but changes in the gut flora can raise or lower digestive efficiency."

So the old adage "you are what you eat" needs to be modified, Fu suggested, to include, "as processed by the microbial community of the distal gut and as regulated by the immune system."

I'm taking this as a reminder that I was feeling better when I took a pro-biotic every day. Time to return to that.

It's only one study so far. But I must admit that when I was on Atkins, my triglycerides and cholesterol were the lowest on record. So...right now, thinking about keeping 100% butter, 100% clarified butter, 100% sour cream and 100% cream in the diet, in tiny doses.

But milk and alas, cheese, will be a rare occurrence.

Furry lobsters are still off the menu....

I saw this article last year at a Doctor's office, and now it's on-line. There's a Greek island called Ikaria where an extraordinary number of islanders live past 90. And we're talking live -- they work, live independently, have active sex lives without Viagra, etc.

That catch your attention? Here's the article -- if I can find my instructions for LJ hidden posts, I'll bullet point the high points, but for in situ, read on:

http://www.aarp.org/health/longevity/info-09-2009/more_good_years.2.html
( A baker's dozen of tricks for health )
These people believe in staying up late and sleeping in. They're optimistic and like to party with friends. So -- not such a hardship, eh? I know people addicted to sugar who won't make slight lifestyle changes because they don't want to give up the things they like most. My response is, "eat less of it and avoid twenty years of dying slowly of diabetes or heart disease." You have to think about this?

Many of you know that I went macrobiotic in an attempt to heal my battered body. (I didn't do the battering, by the way -- which is probably why I'm doing as well as I am.) Since I make most of my food from scratch, I don't see trans fats or high fructose corn syrup very much. Mostly I use maple syrup and agave nectar, the first having lots of wonderful trace vitamins, minerals, and flavors, the second a good sweetener that can be cooked with and does not spike blood sugar. I use real (fair trade organic) sugar and brown sugar, when I need a heavy gun. I have slowly added corn back into my diet -- but it arrives as fresh corn, or corn tortillas.

Here's an article referring to the first real study on high fructose corn syrup vs. sugar/glucose. All sugars are not the same, it appears:

http://www.alternet.org/food/144816/high_fructose_corn_syrup_proven_to_cause_human_obesity/

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article6954603.ece

Do I think that this is THE cause of the rapid increase in human obesity in so-called first world countries? No. Do I think that it contributes greatly to this phenomenon? Mais, oui.

And as an aside -- why do Chilean blueberries this year have no flavor? I'm ready to toss the rest of this box....

...or anyone else whom I know is struggling with being unable to drop below a certain weight. But I wrote it for myself, too -- after ten days without diet candies (I used them to try and moisten my mouth from RX side effect) food craving has mysteriously disappeared. Only for those who would like to meander behind the cut....

( I'm now convinced! )

From the article:

"Those kinds of things — intuitive bits we know about food but think we are either immune to or don’t think about — are the spine of “Mindless Eating.” In it he outlines an eating plan based on simple awareness. Employ a few tricks and you can take in 100 to 300 fewer calories a day. At the end of a year you could be 10 to 30 pounds lighter.

For example, sit next to the person you think will be the slowest eater when you go to a restaurant, and be the last one to start eating. Plate high-calorie foods in the kitchen but serve vegetables family style. Never eat directly from a package. Wrap tempting food in foil so you don’t see it. At a buffet put only two items on your plate at a time."

New York Times, so hurry --

Thanx to christymarx for this one