Eliminating the Foods that are Bad for You

By James LaValle, R.Ph, ND, CCN

Did it ever occur to you that the reason you can't lose weight may be due to the fact that you are eating foods that you're allergic to? This is a revelation to many people who have struggled unsuccessfully for years to get rid of unwanted pounds.

The prevalence of food allergies is on the rise in both children and adults.^1-2 Allergies can be responsible for a number of health issues including irritable bowel type symptoms³ and migraines.⁴ Very few people are aware however, that immune responses to foods can go on to create a number of metabolic disruptions that can contribute to weight gain.

At LMI where we counsel people to lose weight using our Metabolic Code Diet (MCD) eating program, we see this all the time. We had one patient in our diet group who had tried a very low carb diet in the past, and lost no weight. The reason? She was sensitive to dairy and didn't know it. On her previous diet, she was eating a lot of cheese. On the MCD, which is a lower carb, low allergen eating plan, she cut out the cow's milk cheeses and dairy products, ate according to our meal recommendations, and the weight started coming off.

There are several ways common dietary allergens can keep weight on you. When the body is having an immune reactivity to food, it can cause increased stress hormone production. Increased cortisol in particular can contribute to insulin resistance — and that reduces your body's ability to process the glucose from foods high in carbs. And the increased insulin keeps you from being able to burn fat.

Increased cortisol can also go on to inhibit the body's ability to convert your primary thyroid hormone, T4, to the active form, T3. Without enough active T3, it is very difficult to lose weight. If you have developed an immune response (an allergy) to certain foods, it can also go on to cause autoimmune antibodies which can attack any tissue in the body, including thyroid tissue. Autoimmune attacks on the thyroid cause one of the most common forms of low thyroid, called Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

So, in a roundabout way, food sensitivities can slow metabolism and cause weight gain. By decreasing your consumption of any foods to which you might be sensitive, you may potentially improve insulin sensitivity, lower glucose, and promote better thyroid hormone production.

There are seven foods responsible for almost all food allergies — peanuts, other tree nuts like walnuts, fish/shellfish, soybeans, eggs, wheat and cow's milk. The only two foods we limit initially on the MCD eating program are wheat and cow's milk dairy. Why? Through years of clinical practice, we have found that wheat and dairy are usually the most problematic. So, we eliminate cow's milk products and wheat, and anything made from them.

This part of the MCD eating plan can be a challenge at first for many people. Western diets are so centered around wheat and dairy there is almost no red-blooded American who doesn't eat at least some wheat and dairy every day. But you would be surprised at the variety of breads, crackers, and chips that are available wheat-free. (You just need to be careful to eat them within your limited carbohydrate portions.) You can even find a wide array of goat and sheep's milk dairy products in most supermarkets and health food stores. What most people find is that they may miss a few of the eliminated foods at first, but their quality of life improves so much, that eventually they don't miss them at all.

We estimate that food allergies contribute to weight gain in at least 30% of our patients who come to us for weight loss. Of those, the vast majority doesn't have to go any further than eliminating wheat and dairy to jump start their weight loss.

The Metabolic Code Diet is a sensible eating plan that you can follow for the rest of your life and never feel deprived or hungry. But most importantly, since it addresses all the potential causes of metabolic disruption, it's an eating plan you can count on to get at the root causes of your weight gain, making it a better long-term solution for healthy weight loss and management.

References

1. http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/545808/
2. Kagan RS (February 2003). Environ. Health Perspect. 111; (2): 223–5.
3. Zar S, et al. (July 2005). Scand. J. Gastroenterol. 40 (7): 800–7.
4. Arroyave-Hernandez CM, et al. Rev Alerg Mex. 2007 Sept-Oct; 54(4):162-8.

[Ed. Note: James LaValle is the founding Director of the LaValle Metabolic Institute, one of the largest integrative medicine practices in the country. Dr. LaValle is the author of The Metabolic Code Diet: Unleashing the Power of Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss and Vitality and the Executive Editor of THB's The Healing Prescription.]

Nutrients & Health: The Herb Emporium: Raspberry Leaf By Candace Booth, ND, PhD, CNC

Raspberry — y-u-u-u-um! This delightful herb has been used in folk medicine for hundreds of years. It is easy to grow and fun to have in your garden because of its luscious fruit. Both raspberry leaves and fruit are credited with healing properties. Containing modest amounts of vitamins A, B, C and E along with calcium, phosphorus and iron, raspberries are as healthful as they are delicious.

One of the most common uses of raspberry is for women's issues because it is an excellent uterine tonic. In both Chinese and European herbal medicine, raspberry leaf tea is a classic herbal preparation for pregnant women. In the 1940s, British researchers found that raspberry relaxes muscle spasms in the uterus.

In Chinese medicine, a cup of raspberry leaf tea is recommended to be taken 1/2 hour before meals to prepare for childbirth and to help prevent miscarriage. Raspberry leaf tea is also known for its ability to help with heavy cramping during menstruation.¹ It has also been shown to relax tight uterine muscles and tighten relaxed uterine muscles.² (If you elect to use this herb during pregnancy, please do consult with a physician who is knowledgeable about herbal remedies.)

Dr. John Christopher, who is famous for herbal formulations teaches:³

“Both the leaves and fruit are high in citrate of iron, which is the active alterative , blood-making, astringent and contractile agent for the reproductive area. The tea is a valuable and effective agent for female menstrual area. The tea is a valuable and effective agent for female menstrual problems decreasing menstrual flow without stopping it. …Raspberry leaves stimulate, tone and regulate before and during childbearing, assisting in contractions and checking hemorrhage during labor, relieving after birth pains, then strengthening, cleansing and enriching the milk of mother in the post delivery period.”

But raspberry doesn't stop at women's health issues. The leaves tone the mucus membranes throughout the body, soothe the kidneys and urinary tract, and are useful for stopping diarrhea and hemorrhage. And because raspberry leaf has astringent properties and contains tannins, it has been used as a remedy to stop burns from oozing. The tannins cause proteins in healing skin to cross-link and form an impermeable barrier.² The astringent properties of raspberry also make it useful as a mouthwash and a gargle for throat inflammation .

Here is a simple way to make raspberry vinegar as an additive to cough mixtures and gargles: steep 55 grams of the fruit in 1 liter of wine vinegar for two weeks and then strain. The thick red liquid has a pleasant taste and can help disguise the flavor of other herbal expectorants.⁵

References

1. Weiss, Gaea and Sharndor, Growing and Using The Healing Herbs , Wings Books; New Jersey , 1985, p. 217.
2. Balch, P, Prescription for Herbal Healing, Avery Press, New York , 2002, p. 115.
3. Christopher, Dr. John R., School of Natural Healing , Utah , 1999 (11 th printing), p. 157.
4. McIntrye, A, The Complete Woman's Herbal Henry Holt Company; New York , 1995, p. 25.
5. Ody, P, The Complete Medicinal Herbal ; DK Publishing, New York , 1993, p. 93.

[ Ed. Note : Candace Booth has a natural health practice in Mt. Dora , Florida where she offers consultations in nutrition and overcoming disease symptoms with natural healing remedies. Her new book, How Much Fat Are You Carrying – The Ultimate Fat Loss Guide For People Who Are Sick of Diets is available on her website, www.Destinationhealthplus.com.]

Healthy Recipes: Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup By Kelley Herring

This nutrition-packed “set-it-and-forget it” soup is a real crowd pleaser. And it can help alleviate winter woes, as well. That's because capsaicin — the phytonutrient that makes chili peppers hot — dilates the capillaries in mucous membranes, helping to reduce congestion and clear the sinuses.¹

Serves : 6

Time to Table : 3.5 hours (active time: 30 minutes)

Benefits

Excellent source of protein, selenium, niacin
Good source of calcium, fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, vitamin C, folate
Preferences: Gluten-Free, Low Sugar, High Protein

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless organic chicken thighs
4 ounces hot green chilies, drained
2 cloves organic garlic, minced
1 organic yellow onion, diced
2 15-oz. cans organic diced tomatoes, including juice
1 cup organic chicken broth
1 tsp cumin
2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
Juice of 1 organic lime
4 organic corn tortillas, sliced into 1/4 inch strips
1/2 cup shredded organic Monterey Jack cheese
1 organic avocado, diced

Directions

Place chicken in slow cooker. Combine chilies, garlic, onion, tomatoes, chicken broth and cumin in a small bowl. Pour mixture over chicken. Cook on High for 3 hours. When chicken is tender, use the tines of 2 forks to shred the meat. Adjust seasonings adding additional water if necessary. Just before serving, add tortillas and cilantro to slow cooker. Stir to blend. Serve in soup bowls, topping each serving with cheese, avocado and a squeeze of lime juice.

Nutrition Information

241 Calories, 17 g Carbohydrate, 50 mg Cholesterol, 11 g Total Fat, 3 g Fiber, 18 g Protein, 386 mg Sodium, 3 g Sugars, 4 g Saturated fat, 0 trans Fat, 5 g Monounsaturated fats, 1 g Polyunsaturated fats

Reference

1. May 2007, Allergy Consumer Report .

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise’s Total Health Breakthroughs [Issue 12-26-08] which offers alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com/