Some food for thought…

“In mammals, not only is cholesterol to be found in every cell but also present in each cell are enzymes for the local production of the compound when needed. Obviously, cholesterol must be a vital material or these enzymes would disappear. 

In humans, at the time of birth, even the brain contains the enzymes for producing cholesterol and as a child develops much more cholesterol is added to the central nervous system.”

“If too much cholesterol accumulates in the blood, the liver normally breaks down some of the excess into bile salts which are excreted in the bile. Attempts to lower levels of cholesterol in the blood through fat-free diets or use of polyunsaturated fats may have only a temporary effect since enzymes of the body will synthesize more cholesterol as need arises.

Cholesterol can be formed from the simplest foods, whether they are carbohydrates, proteins, or fats … The rapid synthesis of cholesterol is, in fact, one of nature’s wonders. It appears that by making it possible to start synthesis with simple building blocks nature guarantees that cholesterol will always be available when needed, and a necessary material it is in many ways.”

“Cholesterol is the starting material for the synthesis of adrenal hormones needed for the maintenance of mineral and glucose metabolism and to ready the body for quick action in emergency situations.

“Although the brain and spinal cord account for only 2 percent of total body weight, they contain almost one-forth of the total cholesterol in the body … The skin is also rich in cholesterol, containing about 10 percent of total body stores. Sunlight converts this cholesterol to vitamin D…

Cholesterol is also to be found in the marrow within the bones where blood cells are formed. As it is for the adrenal gland hormones, it is also the starting point for sex hormones.

It is hardly surprising that, since cholesterol is so essential in the body, an attempt… to lower cholesterol levels in the blood by interfering with synthesis of the compound in the body led to blindness and death.”

“Cholesterol is not present in abnormal amounts at the beginning of degenerative processes, only after the processes are well along.”

“Scientists recently have scrutinized the animal feeding experiments done in the past in the light of important new knowledge. They have found that in none of the experiments where the animals fed the large amount of cholesterol in the form in which it occurs naturally in food but instead in the form of crystalline cholesterol or heat-dried egg yolk powder … That makes a vital difference. Once such crystalline or powdered cholesterol is exposed to air, it is changed chemically to form other compounds, some of which are injurious to the lining of arteries.

A significant discovery of modern research is that when an artery lining is normally healthy, cholesterol in the blood moves in and out of the lining, but when the lining is damaged, cholesterol can move in more readily than it can move out, and this happens even when blood cholesterol levels are extremely normal.”

My take…

Cholesterol is an essential nutrient to the livelihood of the human body. Yes, the body can produce it on its own and many argue that is a major reason why we do not need it from the diet, but then there’s the perspective that dietary cholesterol and the lack of it have a great effect on the body’s production of this anti-oxidant (yes, it has protective features!). Furthermore, the diet and lifestyle habits as a whole affect cholesterol production and because of its ability to protect - the shittier the diet, the higher the cholesterol (as one possible example). 

Cholesterol isn’t to blame, nor should it be feared and it DEFINITELY shouldn’t be avoided within the diet… unless you want a one-way ticket towards creating disease and self-destruction. Learn more about the body and its defense mechanisms before you go passing judgements based off of false claims and biased research just to sell a few extra statins and cash crops (soy, wheat, corn - what’s up the rise in heart attacks since the early-1900’s introduction of these foods into our diets and the simultaneous avoidance of “artery-blocking” saturated fats… such bullshit).

Quotes: Broda Barnes “Hypo-thyroidism: the unsuspected illness” pgs 169-171

If you’d like to discuss this perspective along with other health-related insights, please contact me for a FREE Conversation.

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So I plowed through Selye’s “The Stress of Life,” which was a pleasant read given its depth and some need for pre-requisite knowledge, and now I’m onto Broda Barnes’ “Hypo-thyroidism: The unsuspected illness.” Throughout the book Barnes’ discusses his personal experiences [as a doctor] with a vast majority of symptoms and how most [symptoms] really boil down to a lack of metabolic efficiency; generally-speak, producing a low amount of thyroid hormones, and, in effect, an inefficiency at maintaing body heat and a “normal” pulse/heart beat. Barnes’ definition is a little less too-cool-for-school wordy, “It is the thyroid which controls the metabolism - the process by which food is transformed into energy and many vital chemical changes take place.” Combine those and you’re on your way to a decent idea of the thyroid’s direct relationship with metabolism. Now, metabolism is a tricky thing because most believe, Broda’s definiton included, that it’s just about burning calories at a high rate and having the ability to eat whatever you want. While that is true and is what we’re basically taught from a young age by Dr. Aloysuis Snuffleupagus, the means towards establishing a high metabolic rate of an individual is a very important and intricate piece to the body puzzle.

There are two things that I’m really intrigued about in this book. 1) The vast majority of symptoms that can result from a thyroid deficiency, and 2) The approach to treat a low thyroid (hypothyroid) condition with the simple prescription of thyroid medication. Let’s begin at the first…

Barnes begins on page one with a bulleted series of patient symptoms

• A young housewife who feels run down, tires easily, is sleepy much of the time, and strangely oversensitive to cold weather.
• A middle-aged man who has managed to distinguish himself in his career by fighting all his life against his low energy reserve but now has become tired of fighting and convinced there must be some physical explanation for his problem even though none has ever been found and more than once he has been told to consult a psychiatrist and more than once has done so without benefit.
• A victim of severe recurrent headaches. 
• A barren couple. 
• A child or adult unusually prone to infections, particularly respiratory, but not limited to them. 
• A sufferer from severe rheumatic pain and potential heart attack victim.
• A woman whose skin is abnormally rough, scaly, almost fishlike and patients with other skin problems including eczema, psoriasis, and acne.
• At least one man or woman in a state of severe mental depression. 
• A woman with a menstrual flow problem - painful flow, or irregular flow, or sometimes excessive flow that suggests possible need for hysterectomy. 

All of this is some great stuff that can really get people thinking as to what could be more of an underlying cause to their symptoms. Try to look at it this way: The body is (yes, yes) a system of systems and when a very important [thyroid] gland is not working at full capacity, other activities, processes, and reactions will not work as they are designed. Out of the above mentioned, the ones that stick out to me the most are 1) the man with low fatigue that knows there’s something physically wrong with him but all of his lab work comes back negative and he’s slapped with the stereotype that “it’s all mental,” and 2) the ability to become severely depressed as a result of low thyroid activity. I picked these out from the list because they are examples of “mental disorders” or, so-called, “chemical imbalances” that actually have a true physical cause. I am a huge believer that the mind can control, affect, dictate, and sway the body, but the exact same is true for how the body affects the mind and it is quite possible that professionals or scientific tests can completely misdiagnosis this pattern as a purely mental state. In my opinion, there is never a purely mental disease or a purely physical disease because one doesn’t function without the other! 

Here are some other common symptoms of a low thyroid function: Weakness, Dry or coarse, Lethargy, Unmotivated, Laziness, Fatigue, Slow speech, Edema, Cold hands, Cold feet, Cold nose, Sensitivity to cold, Cold body despite warm environment, Rapid heart beat, Impaired memory, Brain fog, Forgetfulness, Decline in libido, Decreased sexual function, Decreased sexual desire, Shrinkage of the gonads/sex glands (testicles, ovaries), Erectile dysfunction, Irregular menstrual cycles (heavy, painful, non-existent flow), Overly emotional, Temper tantrums, Anxiety, Depression, Nervousness, Headaches, Weight loss, Weight gain, Loss of appetite, Hair loss, Easily prone to stress, Muscle weakness, Joint pain, Low activity endurance, Increased sleeping (even a good night’s sleep isn’t enough), Hard waking up in the morning, Poor vision, and the list can really go on and on. 

Now that I’ve given you a-whole-lot of examples to make your mind go, “Hm, maybe I have hypothyroidism and I can solve all of my problems with medication?!,” let’s take a moment to reflect and to put some things into perspective (and to also address the 2nd point in which I was intrigued). Barnes says that a dose of thyroid medication was the simple solution to a majority of his patients who had had at least one, if not more, of the previously mentioned symptoms. But he fails to mention any nutritional or lifestyle advice in order to “correct” the condition of hypothyroidism. He does state in a few examples that his patients changed absolutely nothing else about their daily lives, eating habits, or routine and with a simple dose of thyroid medication they were good as new within 2-6 months, yet once they stopped taking thyroid their symptoms came back almost immediately. Ok, so he found the cause to their problems, but is it the true cause or just the effect? What about the mechanisms that fuel, drive, and provide the thyroid gland with the energy to function properly?

Barnes patient experiences and learned understanding of how the thyroid basically affects the entire body is huge, but I also think it brings up the question of “how does the thyroid become inefficient?” I believe hydration, nutrition, and rest play some very big factors, but, again, they’re not the end-all-be-all when you throw in mentality, emotions, and relationships.

A simple home-test to check your thyroid includes a thermometer and your tongue. First thing in the morning - absolutely the very first thing that you do upon waking to negate any emotional or physical influence - reach for a thermometer and stick it under your tongue for 2 minutes. Any body temperature that is “below the normal range of 97.8 to 98.2 degrees F strongly suggests low thyroid function.” Why? Because when you’re body isn’t running “hot” then certain activities are paradoxically slowed down or increased; i.e. slow hormonal processes, slow digestion, slow movements, slow thought patterns, or increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, quick bursts of energy via the release of adrenaline followed by a long crash. 

Matt Stone of 180degreehealth.com wrote an article Broda Barnes and Ray Peat and its relation to thyroid and he summed it up rather nicely…

Body temperature is just one tool in the bag. It is not the only tool. Assessments of the warmth of your feet and hands, sleep quality, the number of hours you can comfortably go without eating, pulse rate, sex drive, energy levels, fatigue after eating, bowel frequency, water consumption (should be high), calorie consumption, reflex quickness, blood glucose levels – both fasting and postmeal, menstrual regularity – anything and everything should be used in making an overall assessment of your health and self-diagnosing what may be needed to rebalance your “body chemistry” as Melvin Page called it. With those in mind, you can use nutrition and lifestyle change to the fullest.

If you’d like to discuss these perspective along with other health-related insights, please contact me for a FREE Conversation.

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Throughout Selye’s book, “The Stress of Life,” he refers to a type of “energy reserve” with which each person is born. This so-called “Adaptive Energy” serves as a reservoir that can support and adapt to whatever life’s daily wear and tear from stress may bring - individually-speaking, of course. He places a theoretical limit on this reserve, “It is thought, at birth, each individual inherited a certain amount of adaptation energy, the magnitude of which is determined by his genetic background, his parents. He can draw upon this capital thriftily for a long but monotonously uneventful existence, or he can spend it lavishly in the course of a stressful, intense, but perhaps more colorful and exciting life. In any case, there is just so much of it, and he must budget accordingly.”

When I first came across this only 65 pages into his 306-page book, I had my eyebrow raised in intriguing fashion with this new, yet familiar perspective. As I read further about his General Adaptation Syndrome theory, his experiments with stress hormones, and the removal of organs or glands to “fix” a stress-related disease I began to question if his hypothesized limit for Adaptation Energy really held ground because, and I may be bold here, the scientific solutions of his lab-based experimental problems were merely fixing the symptoms, not the cause. He focused on the internal responses and symptoms of stress-induction. His mechanisms to support his theory were rather limited because he had to prove that stress was a real thing and that it had a physiological effect on the body via specific stressors. While he was successful in proving his theory, there are many grey areas that can be found between the fine lines. 

Now would be a good time to provide his definition of Adaptation Energy: “The energy necessary to acquire and maintain adaptation, apart from caloric requirements.” The ending is what has me pump the brakes on the limits of Adaptation Energy. If we were to run off of absolutely zero caloric energy, we would die. Yes, we can fast (go without food and live solely on water) for an extraordinary amount of days, but it is my understanding that this can only be done with a well-rounded reserve of nutrients, glycogen stores, muscle tissue, and fat stores; that is, a reserve of energy stored and then converted from calories. In a state of caloric deficiency (aka stress), the body will release stress hormones which can tap into stored “energy” to maintain life (adrenaline to use up stored sugar/glycogen in the liver and muscles, and cortisol to convert muscle tissue/proteins/amino acids into sugar). So what if we didn’t have those foundational stores? What if the caloric energy was comprised of non-nutritious foods that created more of a stress environment? What about external factors such as climate, relationships, personal happiness? How is energy created if there’s nothing to create it?

I do back the theory of Adaptation Energy as a form of reserve energy which the body can tap into in times of [great or average] need via stressful situations (dietary, exercise, emotional, mental, etc.). However, I do not full buy into the concept of a defined limit with which we are born and must “use wisely” throughout our lifetime because once it’s gone then sayonara life. The body is a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant machine, so-to-speak, in the sense that it has the power to rejuvenate and recover itself under the most wild circumstances because of its ability to, in the words of Gunny Highway, “improvise, adapt, and overcome.” But those very mechanisms it uses to adapt to such situations are ever-so precious and must be built upon a sturdy foundation to take on anything - that foundation, as I see it in my current understanding of health, is a combination of hydration, nutrition, rest, and mental strength. I wish it were as simple to say it’s just caloric energy, but that would overlook the incredible importance of sleep and mentality; how creating energy is parallel with expending energy (yin and yang) and the mind-body connection, respectively. 

Selye does come around at the end of the book to chalk one up to possibility, “Still, we have not fully excluded the possibility that adaptation energy could be regenerated to some extent, and perhaps even transmitted from one living being to another…” Given his theories were published in 1956 and new perspectives have since developed, it doesn’t write off the fact that Seyle was onto something universally important and has left a solid foundation for understanding the mechanisms of stress, wear and tear on the body, disease, and possible underlying causes. 

If you’d like to discuss this perspective along with other health-related insights, please contact me for a FREE Conversation.

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From what I gather thus far through reading Selye’s work, a specific reaction (a “disease”) is a resulted manifestation of non-specific reactions (a “syndrome”).

There is no pure disease. It is physically impossible to have a disease of the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, thyroid, or reproductive organs without having symptoms or signs of a dis-ease elsewhere in the body (physically and/or non-physically). 

Dis-ease can result from non-specific reactions. By non-specific, I mean a general effect due to a general cause. For instance, a cold, influenza, a virus, or bacterial infection all have common, non-specific symptoms that occur in each dis-ease - i.e., fever, coated tongue, fatigue, weight loss, appetite loss, varied elimination habits, etc. - and their cause usually pertains to non-specific adaptations - i.e., low immune function or a low metabolic rate (both lead to susceptibility and their cause cannot be defined from one single antagonist).

So…

To treat a disease, wouldn’t it be better to treat the body that has the disease rather than treating the disease that has the body? 

Could diseases be “cured” through general observations and approaches? Through connecting the dots and retracing steps to understand what general adaptation encouraged a specific disease? Through a specific knowledge of cause and effect rather than a specific knowledge of effect?

If you’d like to discuss this perspective along with other health-related insights, please contact me for a FREE Conversation.

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Miss any posts this week?

• Monday, May 28th - Dr. H.E. Sigerist on Health
• Tuesday, May 29th - Reduce stress and disease by removing morons
• Wednesday, May 30th - Understanding fat: Getting, gaining, storing, being, losing, burning
• Thursday, May 31st - Metabolism, Stress, Cold Hands & Feet
• Friday, June 1st - Why low carb diets *cough* work
• Saturday, June 2nd - Being provides advantage, nonbeing provides usefulness

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So I’m reading through an article on Epilepsy and I come across this excerpt in the article - had to blog it…

By manipulating the diet and environment, [humans] can be made more or less [disease]-prone, and it happens that the changes that affect the brain affect all other organs, in ways that are now fairly well understood. Examining the cellular events associated with a [disorder] is useful for therapy and prevention of [disorders]… It is now clearly established that stress can cause brain damage, as well as other diseases. Now that our public health establishment has eliminated smoking from public places, maybe they can find a way to reduce stress and disease by removing morons from positions of power.

-Ray Peat

Health is promoted by providing a decent standard of living, good labor conditions, education, physical culture, means of rest and recreation… health is not simply the absence of disease; it is something positive, a joyful attitude toward life and a cheerful acceptance of the responsibilities that life puts upon the individual.

Dr. Henry E. Sigerist, Medical Historian and Social Visionary

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(via)

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I bet you can guess that this post will tell you that some of your favorite foods/snacks are unhealthy. To an extent, yes… but my main point is to give you some perspective as to why these health foods aren’t so healthy after all…

Let’s start with Phytic Acid… one unhealthy property of Grains, Nuts, and Seeds. P.A. is a natural outer coating, which protects the nut and the germ/bran portion of a grain. This layer exists to ward off passer-by animals to avoid consumption because it will certainly cause digestive issues, thus allowing the plant to fully thrive/grow. What kind of digestive issues? Malabsorption (causing nutrient deficiency) and inflammation (food intolerance, food allergy, bloating, cramps, gas, fatigue, etc.). When consumed, the acid can actually bind to certain trace minerals such as Calcium, Iron, Potassium, or Magnesium and prevent the digest system from absorbing these (and other) nutrients. So, while you may be eating a healthy food, the digestive system actually cannot break down nor absorb any of the food’s healthy properties. Soaking (8-12 hours) or Sprouting (3-4 days)Grains, Nuts, and Seeds prior to consumption can help release most of the Phytic Acid, but trace amounts may still remain.

Gluten is another malabsorption and inflammatory property, and it is found only in Grains (with the exceptions of Corn and Rice). Gluten is a Wheat Protein. The body’s digestive organs are lined with a protective mucosa layer. This layer prevents bacteria, fungus, parasites, and you-name-it from entering the body and wreaking havoc. Gluten yields antibody properties that can break down this mucosa layer and penetrate the body’s immune system. Gluten can actually create holes in the intestines and undigested food can pass freely into the bloodstream (called Leaky Gut Syndrome) - holy immune system freak out, Batman! Gluten and its anti-digestive properties can be attributed to many health and mental diseases found all over this country (and world). It makes sense because the American diet is FULL of Gluten-based foods: Bread, Pizza, Flour, Beer, Oatmeal, Cereal, Snacks and the list goes on! Now, I believe that everyone has a Gluten Sensitivity, it just depends on how sensitive a person is and how long they can tolerate its intake before health problems become prominent (a person can even have issues and not even be aware of those issues because they don’t know any different).

Omega -6 Fats, also known as Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs), are also prevalent in American diet with their presence in Grains, Nuts, Seeds, Above Ground Vegetables, and Beans (we’ll stick to Grains, Nuts, and Seeds for now). According to most Doctors, Hospital Journals, and the U.S. Government, Omega -6’s are healthy and anti-inflammatory. I call Bullshit! Why? Because a Omega -6’s molecular structure is highly unstable and are rapidly oxidized (rancid/spoil) at moderate temperatures and at moderate pressures - not only in cooking, heating, or food processing, but also in the heat and pressure of a 98 degree human digestive system. Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids are called Poly-’s because they have more than one double bond (extra flimsy). Monounsaturated Fatty Acids have one double bond (flimsy) and Saturated Fatty Acids yield no bonds (strong like bull!). If these Omega -6 Fats aren’t damaged prior to consumption from food processing, packaging, and transportation, they can certainly be damaged, turn rancid, and cause inflammation when consumed. Now, different Grains have different amounts of Poly’s, as well as different Nuts and different Seeds so it’s a matter of choosing a less-inflammatory one over the other, but is it really worth it in the end if they still cause inflammation to some degree?

We covered how Grains contain THREE anti-digestive/inflammatory properties, while Nuts and Seeds contain TWO anti-digestive properties. These properties can encourage acne, eczema, rash, attention deficit disorder, chronic fatigue, brain fog, dehydration, constipation, weight gain, weight loss, erectile dysfunction, lack of libido, bipolar, mood swings, estrogen dominance (stress, emotional imbalance), dysbiosis, candida overgrowth, chronic infections, low immune system response, thyroid dysfunction, insulin-resistance, sugar sensitivity, dairy intolerance, food allergy, poor sleeping patterns, and you get the point. 

• Grains to avoid: Wheat, Rye, Barley, Spelt, Quinoa, Millet, Buckwheat, Sorghum, Corn (take note that most alcohol is derived from grains/contain gluten)
• Grains that are Ok: Rice, Gluten-free (still contains some gluten)
• Nuts to avoid: Cashew (toxic properties), Walnut
• Nuts that are Ok: [Soaked, Raw, Sprouted] Almond, Peanut, Brazil Nut, Macadamia Nut, Hazelnut, Chestnut, Pecan
• Seeds to avoid: Flaxseed [Oil], Linseed [Oil], Hempseed [Oil], Cottonseed [Oil], Chia Seed, Sesame Seed [Oil]
• Seeds that are Ok: [Soaked, Raw, Sprouted] Sunflower Seed, Pumpkin Seed

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