Dr. Barry Sears is the highly acclaimed author and creator of The Zone Diet. If you were at all tuned in to the world of health and nutrition in the mid-to-late 90′s you’ve almost certainly heard about and/or experimented with his unique dietary recommendations that calls for a specific ratio of carbohydrates, fat and protein. Since then, Dr. Sears has gone on to research and report on novel ways to address disease and obesity by countering “silent inflammation”. His bestselling books, The Anti-Aging Zone, The Omega Rx Zone and Toxic Fat, all reflect the latest medical findings and practical ways for the average person to modify health risks via natural means. Recently, Dr. Sears took some time out of his busy schedule to answer some of my questions. This is part one of my two-part interview with Dr. Barry Sears.
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Fall is now officially upon us and the days are becoming shorter with hours of light now replaced with greater stretches of darkness. For some, this change of seasons is a time to rejoice. Many find beauty in the coral, crimson and golden colors adorning trees and relief from the sweltering heat of summer. However, others experience the crisp temperatures and dimmer lighting in a profoundly unsettling way. A form of depression known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a very real phenomenon associated with a relative lack of sunshine. Other mental health conditions such as eating disorders can also be adversely affected by sparse bright light.
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It’s been an interesting week on Twitter. As always, I discovered a broad array of health information that expanded my knowledge base. Today’s blog highlights three of the numerous interesting tweets. The first item is inspired by Dr. William Yates. He takes on the important topic of stroke-related depression. Next, a visit with Dr. Jonny Bowden and one his colleagues, Colette Heimowitz, M.Sc, to review some timely advice about how to minimize nighttime snacking. Finally, Dr. Andrew Weil explains the differences and similarities between black and fresh garlic.
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Cream of asparagus soup is one of my favorite cool weather comfort foods. However, I make it in a slightly different way than most. You can’t tell by its appearance and maybe even the taste, but my version of this delicacy is completely dairy free. You might guess that I replace the cream or whole milk with soy milk. Wrong. Instead, I use the taste and texture of raw cashews to mimic the richness of cream while, at the same time, improving the overall nutritional composition of the end product.
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Whenever possible I like to combine nutritional strategies that address more than one objective at a time. Eating more vegetables is a common goal for many of my clients. Likewise, drinking more water and curtailing overeating rank highly on their “to do lists”. It just so happens that there’s a simple technique that can support all three of these objectives and more. My Healthy Monday tip of the week is to include more homemade soup in your winter time routine.
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One of the top news stories from this past week was the “voluntary” removal of the weight loss drug Meridia from the US market. Dr. John Jenkins, the director of the Food and Drug Administration’s drug evaluation branch, stated “Meridia’s continued availability is not justified when you compare the very modest weight loss that people achieve on this drug to their risk of heart attack or stroke”. Presently, there are an estimated 100,000 patients in the US using this previously sanctioned medication. But now, they’re being urged to discontinue using it and consult with their physicians about alternative means of losing those extra pounds. My Healthy Monday tip of the week is to strategically use safe dietary techniques to accomplish your weight loss goals instead of potentially dangerous drugs.
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We’re all exposed to a fair share of advice and information about how to best to care for ourselves. If we’re fortunate, we also have the benefit of good counsel via a physician. But, ultimately, it’s up to us to decide what exactly to do with respect to our own health care. Do we take a medication or not? Are major lifestyle changes worth the effort? Should we have genetic testing to help foretell our medical future? Most people will be faced with these decisions and many others during the course of a lifetime. Today I’m going to tell you about a major health care choice I’ve decided to make in my own life. It involves following a diet known as “alternate day fasting”. My Healthy Monday tip of the week is to discuss the viability of this pattern of eating with your doctor if you’re concerned about cardiovascular health.
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Nutrition is a field fraught with countless misconceptions that are purveyed by virtually every major segment of the dietary landscape. Do you think you can trust the advice given from the ivory towered medical institutions with easily recognizable names? If so, then why is the U.S. and the majority of the industrialized world suffering from so many preventable diseases that are largely influenced by diet? Think you can trust your friendly neighborhood health food store to steer you right? Just take a look at some of the labels on the cereals, protein bars and soft drinks they sell at their establishments. Some of the ingredients are organic, but the overall nutritional content is often similar to what you’ll find in conventional vending machines. In some instances, it may even be worse if they feature trendy ingredients such as agave nectar which is extremely high in fructose. The best way to avoid the many pitfalls that surround this topic is to be informed. Use science as a tool even when those giving you dietary advice fail to do so.
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This past year I’ve devoted a considerable amount of time establishing a presence on Twitter – the premiere social networking website on the Internet. I find that it’s a good way to stay in touch with like-minded people and it also allows me to supplement the more in depth columns I post here with a form of mini or micro blogging. All told, I’m able to reach a wider audience in a format that suits the time constraints that are common in modern life. Another benefit of immersing myself in Twitter is that I’ve learned a great deal from the messages or tweets posted by numerous health experts and non-professionals alike. Here are some of the latest examples that I found interesting.
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Today I’m pleased to present the finale of my interview with Dr. Richard Feinman, editor-in-chief of the medical journal Nutrition and Metabolism. Regular readers of this site know that it’s unprecedented for me to devote so much time to a solitary figure in the scientific community. Here’s the reason why. There are certain nutritional strategies that are considered illegitimate and/or politically incorrect. Carbohydrate restriction is sometimes lumped into this pejorative category. There are a whole host of misconceptions and prejudicial characterizations assigned to those who engage in such a lifestyle and the researchers who investigate the health effects of doing so. I believe that a large portion of the misgivings about such menu plans result from a lack of evidence-based data. If my theory is correct, then one of the most effective remedies for dispelling such myths is to confront them with the most articulate and reliable authorities in the field of carbohydrate restriction research. It’s hard to imagine a better advocate or representative than Dr. Feinman.
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There are certain trends that are very difficult to predict. Long term economic forecasts, technological prognostication and weather outlooks are notorious for making many analysts look the fool. However, select aspects of health care are considerably easier to estimate. An example is preventable disease. Far too many people are literally speeding up their own demise by the way they live their lives. Some of the hardest hit segments of this population are children and adults experiencing financial hardship. What is desperately needed is some meaningful form of intervention. Several recent messages on Twitter offer practical suggestions about how to reduce the economic burden and widespread damage associated with preventable health conditions.
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On board for this week’s edition of Twitter Thursday is Devon Schuyler of the Los Angeles Times, Dr. Michael Eades from ProteinPower.com and Martha Rose Shulman of the New York Times. At first glance, some of the issues addressed may seem more serious than others. An example is an examination of statin-induced side effects vs. a recipe for a creamy cucumber salad. But if you view food as medicine, then the comparison changes considerably. That’s one of the shifts I’d like to see more in modern medicine. This is my latest contribution toward that end.
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Foods and natural remedies are frequently classified according to their most prominent features. Echinacea flowers and roots are generally thought of as immune boosters. Ginkgo biloba leaves are widely regarded as memory enhancers. And saffron stigmas are associated with the deep red color they impart to countless Eurasian dishes. Of the three examples, saffron is probably the least familiar in terms of medicinal potential. However, that is likely to change thanks to recent studies that are beginning to reveal new talents for this ancient spice. Read more »

What is the one thing that attracts and repels people and situations into your life? To my mind, it’s how you view the world. It’s absolutely vital to understand how you really feel about the important issues of life. But from that point on, the decisions you make become even more interesting. Will you choose to surround yourself with people and places that wholeheartedly agree with your outlook? Or, will you invite in other points of view that challenge your philosophical notions? From my perspective, the latter and more difficult of the two options is probably the better way to go. Maybe that’s why I like Twitter so much. Read more »

There is an enormous gap between what we know and don’t know in the field of alternative and complementary medicine. Countless questions remain unanswered simply because there isn’t enough financing and resources to test in a scientific manner. That’s why it’s vitally important to put to use every last study that has been conducted. Because even the slightest of experiments can yield important clues that help bridge the knowledge gap. Read more »

Does snacking assist with weight loss or encourage weight gain? At first glance the answer may seem obvious. Many people come to the conclusion that adding a snack or two to your daily schedule surely increases caloric intake and, thereby, contributes to extra pounds. Well, that’s one theory. Another theory is that snacking between meals can help balance blood sugar and stave off overeating in subsequent meals. So which of these competing hypotheses is correct? I’ll give you my two cents on this debate in today’s Healthy Monday tip. * Read more »