Town Center Wellness

Depression Resolved with Diet Changes

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:16:23 +0000

If you or a loved one suffer with depression, please watch this video. A small change in diet is sometimes all that is necessary to overcome this problem. Remember, food can have drug like effects…sometimes these side effects make us very ill…

Want to learn more about gluten and its impact on human health and disease?

Visit www.glutenfreesociety.org

Gluten Free Meeting!

admin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:06:12 +0000

Learn All The Secret “Terms” Manufacturers Use That Contain Hidden Gluten

WHEN: SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2010

WHERE: FIRST COLONY LIBRARY

2121 AUSTIN PARKWAY

SUGAR LAND

(LARGE MEETING ROOM)

TIME: 11:00AM-1:00PM

Please bring a Gluten/Grain Free Dish to share, with recipe copies to pass out.

As usual we will be giving out a free Spectracell lab test and other door prizes!

RSVP to 281-240-2229

Weight Loss Myths

admin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 01:20:26 +0000

A wonderful thing happens every Summer. People commit to new fitness and weight loss programs as part of their attempt to get ready for the beach and poolside. Why is this so wonderful? It increases awareness about the importance of diet and exercise and improves the health of those involved. Unfortunately, most people fall off of the proverbial wagon after the first month or two.

The Problem with Traditional Weight Loss Programs

The problem with many weight loss systems is that they cater to the masses without considering individual need. They use a “one size fits all” approach. This approach works for some but leaves many to ponder why the weight will not come off the way it used to.

Most diet plans are based on Calorie consumption. Not enough thought is given to the quality of the Calories being consumed. For example, there are a number of companies that provide Calorie controlled meals. This concept works well for portion control; however, the quality of the food being used is poor and as the age old adage goes – “You are what you eat.” Chemicals, radiated foods, ultra pasteurization, processing, lack of nutrient density, genetically modified foods, cloned meats, unidentified food intolerances, etc. all taint many of these so called “healthy foods”. Many of these factors can cause internal inflammation when ingested leading to an increased risk for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain and more.

As if that were not bad enough, weight loss is not just about Calories. The concept of the Calorie is based on the amount of heat a food generates when it is burned in a sealed chamber. Although Calorie estimation can be useful, it does not take into consideration the affect that food can have on hormone levels. To make things even more confusing, different foods can affect people’s hormones differently. For example, some people do not tolerate carbohydrates very well. For these individuals, carbs cause excessive insulin production which in turn tells the body to store fat. This can happen even if the individual is not “over eating” on Calories.

Exercise Programs

Exercise is also a critical and key component for successful weight loss. The common perception is that performing cardiovascular exercise is enough to help a person with weight loss. This concept is not entirely true. Cardio is over rated as a form of exercise. Although it helps tone blood vessels, it does very little for muscle tone. The key to weight loss with exercise programs is achieving adequate lean muscle mass. I am not talking about working out with weights to become Herculean. Many fear that this will happen, but it is just not true. The fact of the matter is that muscle utilizes energy. The more tone your muscles, the more energy your body expends while at rest. Additionally, maintaining solid muscle tone as we age has been shown to increase the life span.

A common problem with exercise is time. People typically do not want to take an hour or more daily to go to a gym and exercise. I recommend The 10 minute rule. Everyone has at least 10 minutes to give to exercise. The key to this rule is that the exercise must be intense. Try the following exercises: push-ups, pull ups, lunges, and squats. Perform two sets of each exercise within a 10 minute time frame. Don’t worry if you can’t perform a lot of repetitions of these exercises when you first get started. The key will be consistency over time. If you do it daily your body will get stronger and build lean muscle mass. As this happens you will notice your clothes fitting better, your energy increasing, your sleep improving, etc. Do not weigh yourself on a scale. As you lose fat, you will gain muscle. Therefore, your weight may not fluctuate down as much as you want it to. Weight is not as important as body composition.

Once Again, Common Sense Applies –

People are different and unique. No one diet is right for everyone. The same can be said for exercise. No one program is right for everyone. If you are having problems with weight loss, know what your options are. You might not be responding for a number of different reasons. Specialized genetic and laboratory testing can help you identify what type of diet and exercise program will work better for you. Put the odds in your favor before you get frustrated with a lack of progress.

Packaged Food – High Risk for Cross Contamination of Gluten

admin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 01:07:15 +0000

A new pilot study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association finds a that high number of “gluten free” products are cross contaminated…

Twenty-two inherently gluten-free grains, seeds, and flours not labeled gluten-free were purchased in June 2009 and sent unopened to a company who specializes in gluten analysis. All samples were homogenized and tested in duplicate using the Ridascreen Gliadin sandwich R5 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with cocktail extraction… Nine of 22 (41%) samples contained more than the limit of quantification, with mean gluten levels ranging from 8.5 to 2,925.0 ppm. Seven of 22 samples (32%) contained mean gluten levels >/=20 ppm and would not be considered gluten-free under the proposed FDA rule for gluten-free labeling. Gluten contamination of inherently gluten-free grains, seeds, and flours not labeled gluten-free is a legitimate concern.

Source:

J Am Diet Assoc. 2010 Jun;110(6):937-940.

This pilot study demonstrates a major problem for those following a gluten free diet. A random test showed that as high as 41% of shelf based products had enough gluten cross contamination to create a health problem for those with gluten intolerance. Gluten Free Society has always recommended avoiding packaged processed foods for the following reasons:

You cannot control what manufacturers will put in their products.
Packaged processed foods are contradictory to good health. (Considering that going gluten free is a mandatory decision to restore health, processed gluten free products will not help you achieve this)
Cross contamination is a major issue.
The so called “gluten free” grain substitutes have not been adequately studied to be recommended as staple foods in the diet, and many studies show them to be detrimental for those with celiac disease.

Bottom line:

Don’t fall into the false mindset that eating processed foods labeled “gluten free” are actually gluten free. Don’t think that eating unhealthy processed food is going to help you re-establish or maintain your health.

Dr. Osborne Interview on Fox News – Gluten Intolerance

admin — Fri, 21 May 2010 19:22:48 +0000

Genetic testing for gluten intolerance is available here

Dr. Osborne’s Gluten Free Meeting May 2010

admin — Fri, 21 May 2010 02:18:50 +0000

Restoring your health after years of gluten exposure can be challenging. The video below is part 1 of this 5 part series on health restoration…

If you would like to join Gluten Free Society, click here…