Plant-Based Paleo and BioHacking

One of my favorite things to do is to find life “hacks” or BioHacks that are simply life choices that make your body express vibrant health and energy.  And with my fondness for BioHacks, I’d like to share with you two things: the introduction of my new concept: Plant-based Paleo, and tips on how to BioHack your weight.  In the creation of Plant-based Paleo, Michael Pollan’s words were inspiring:  "Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much.”  Here’s a little description:

Plant-based Paleo could be described as Paleo (basically, no grains), but with a California Twist!  The core of what sets it apart from regular Paleo is: instead of using abundant animal fats, it uses vegetable fats freely. Recent research and clinical investigation have shown the profound effectiveness of Paleo principles in healing neurodegenerative disorders involving auto-immunity such as MS, Alzheimer’s and Gluten-mediated Ataxia. But it doesn’t have to be so heavy laden with animal fat. There is another way: in my own practice, I have found that a diet high in colorful veggies and fruits along with an adequate amount of clean, lean protein are the keys to producing that radiant California Glow. Once I went through menopause, my expanding waistline led me to the natural progression of designing Plant-based Paleo using vegetable fats over animal fats.  In my clinical observation, animal fats cause indirect insulin resistance by going inside cells and clogging insulin receptors from within. Using a few, simple plant-based Paleo principles, it’s easy to achieve and maintain vibrant health at home, in restaurants and while traveling.

I’m excited to expand this for you in the coming months in the form of recipes, blog posts, and a book! Perhaps an eBook but let’s see where it goes!

Next, I’d like to share with you how to BioHack Your Weight:

The observed fact that caloric restriction induces longevity by causing mitochondrial renewal has now found its rightful place in the blood sugar story.  Intermittent ‘fasting’ of 4-6 hours during the day and 12 hours at night also up-regulates brown fat: clusters of cellular factories that burn fat for fuel. Short term fasting balances Ghrelin and Leptin.  (More about these two hormones below).

Before I go further, I wish to clarify that all produce but not necessarily the oils mentioned herein are organic. All animal products listed below are pastured (chicken & eggs always) or grass fed (another way of saying pastured).  Take note that free range may just mean cageless but still overcrowded stressful conditions.

For years, I have seen the raw vegan whole food smoothie be the utmost healing and blood sugar balancing breakfast known to myself and the larger body of my client base.  This simple and DNA balancing breakfast takes 5 minutes to make and will keep you satisfied until lunch…usually 4 hours later.  Females: 25g vegan protein and Males: 30g vegan protein. Please see my video on Green and Purple Smoothies.

At lunch, the endlessly variable salad, the perfect Plant-based Paleo meal consists of a large pile of greens and clean lean protein such as pastured grilled chicken, wild caught salmon, free range pork loin, lean grass fed beef/bison prepared rare.  If you are athletic, you could do the dark meat chicken, clean bacon twice a month, clean-source ribs once a month.  Ah, but here you must be savvy about the dressing. Bringing your own dressing is crucial.  Extra virgin olive, macadamia or diluted toasted sesame oil for the base. No cream dressings. Then, the sour: lemon juice, red wine vinegar, no sugar added rice vinegar and rice wine vinegar. The oil and sour are power foods themselves.  Lemon has extra power to turn off sugar seeking centers in the digestive system.

Then the long slide to dinner…wisely aided with a snack…this can be a slow carb such as a small organic apple, a couple of organic carrots, 1-3 ribs celery, jicama slices, 3/4 cup sugar snap peas. Add lemon juice for more satiety. For most women, that will be enough. For more athletic people, or those with adrenal fatigue or those new to eating this way add some protein such as 1oz organic jerky or 2 hardcooked egg whites so long as you are not sensitive or 1oz raw unsalted nuts; again, non-allergic for you.

Dinner at home should be at 6:30 and is a great time to gain the DNA balancing meal of legumes. Stews, soups, chilis, salads are the realm of these plant-based-protein slow-carb power foods.  If you are FODMAP sensitive, then this meal will be: simply prepared squashes, root veggies, cooked greens and a small portion of protein. 2-3oz for women, 3-4oz for men. If dining out, a 6pm dinner res works well and has other benefits besides setting your Paleo clock.

Here is a delicious Paleo dinner recipe adapted from Paleo Recipes™
magazine:

Coconut Chicken Curry Stew with Cauliflower Rice

Did you know that not all olive oils are created equal? Hint: some are not olive oil at all! Read more here about my favorite olive oil, Lucini.

Setting your body’s clock to ‘Paleo’ is the best way to induce fat burning…think of our Cromagnon ancestors…they were relegated to sunlight and firelight…that meant they slept when it was dark and rose with the sun.  This long sleep/fast during the dark nighttime expertly reduces Ghrelin, the powerful fat building hormone.  When your Ghrelin goes down as a result of your good sleep hygiene, Leptin, the long term satiety hormone naturally increases when Ghrelin is low, thereby helping reduce cravings and binges.

Have your breakfast 12 hours later…ahh, the benefit of eating at 6:30pm means you automatically get in the longevity boosting 12 hour fast and can get the miracle-working-5-minute smoothie before you start your day. In addition to the plantioxidants you get in the smoothie, their fiber has been shown to be the perfect ingredient to balance the all important microbiome…literally the population of bacteria that live in you and on you and signal to your DNA to express healthy genes of vitality and well being.

Ensure a good nights sleep…for the desirable Ghrelin/Leptin balance, sleeping like an angel is key. If you are having difficulty sleeping, and you are a client, we are probably already working on this together.

Further Discussion About Indirect Insulin Resistance & Gluten-Mediated Ataxia

What is indirect insulin resistance?

Insulin is the blood sugar regulating and fat-storing hormone secreted by your pancreas.  Insulin opens the channels in cell membranes to allow glucose in, to be used as energy.  When cells are insulin resistant, they don't "listen" to insulin, and glucose cannot get into the cell.  You feel tired/low energy and usually eat or drink something sugary and/or caffeine containing.  This in turn worsens the situation, because more sugar and cortisol spiking caffeine only create more insulin resistance.  But where does the circulating glucose go? It gets turned into triglycerides, a form of fat.  In this article, I mention indirect insulin resistance.  Studies show that saturated animal fat gets into the cells and blocks the insulin receptors from the inside, creating indirect insulin resistance, but that unsaturated vegetable fats such as olive oil, avocado, nuts and seeds to do not. Coconut oil and cocoa butter do contain some saturated fat, but they are short-chain saturated fats and do not have the same insulin receptor clogging tendency that animal fats do.

What is gluten-mediated ataxia?  

Ataxia is uncoordinated movement such as walking and speaking. How can it be gluten mediated? In gluten sensitivity, the immune system makes antibodies against the proteins found in gluten, which can then trigger a cascade of immune events.  Through molecular mimicry, the similarity of certain amino acid sequences in gluten match or are very similar to the amino acid sequences in an enzyme called Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD) which exists within specialized (Purkinje) cells within the cerebellum. The cerebellum is in charge of coordination, balance, and calming the brain. GAD Autoantibodies will then cause the immune system to attack Purkinje cells. Over time, the gait (walking), fine hand movements, and the voice can become uncoordinated due to the loss of these important cerebellar functions. To summarize: if you’re sensitive to gluten, eating it can cause an auto immune attack on your cerebellum, leading to loss of coordination and anxiety.

Bio-Hacks to Combat Stress

Here are a few of my favorite “Bio-Hacks”* to combat stress that are simple and perhaps easy to do if you’ve got the right ‘tude…A Bio-Hack is a way of modulating your epigenome...why bother? These lifestyle choices largely influence how your DNA is expressed by turning on healthy genes and silencing unhealthy genes.

Never coffee on empty.  Not only is the histamine forming action of coffee rough on the delicate stomach lining (gastritis), but the adrenalin surge one gets from caffeine on top of a low blood sugar state (being on empty) causes a release of glycogen (stored sugar). If it’s a big release, blood sugar spikes, causing insulin to surge and when glucose can’t be absorbed quickly enough by the cells for energy (insulin resistance) the glucose is then stored as fat.  This is a simplified explanation. Secret empowering tip: this is the caffeinated American way that is pushing nearly all of us in the direction of pre-diabetes/diabesity...and by daily making this small switch, you literally dial the process back.

During the Autumn and Winter, go to bed one hour earlier.  There are myriad good things that sleeping in the hours before midnight do for your adrenal gland health, your circadian rhythm, leptin/ghrelin balance (and therefore endocrine system/waistline).  I know, I know...so difficult to do. However, for those who are willing to exercise a little self mastery to implement this highly beneficial habit, amazing clarity, double efficiency and productivity happen due to your properly restored vitality the next morning. Insider's tip: I put a timer on my modem and I cannot access internet after 10:30PM. This has been just the push I need to not do "just one more little thing."

Gluten and Mood: it just keeps getting worse! All kidding aside, emerging evidence about gluten mediated auto immunity against the cerebellum reveal the mechanism for gluten's contribution to anxiety, depression, and loss of coordination as we mature. More on this topic coming soon. The upshot, being 100% gluten and oat free is well worth it and easier than ever...for a calmer, happier mood during the festivities of the Season.  Why not take on the challenge of creating a GF Holiday that is still totally delicious?

Bone Broth and the Gut: one of the most universally healing substances to the gut: bone broth. It contains collagen and glycosaminoglycans that specifically heal the gut lining. Now that many of us will have the carcass of our organic roasted turkey leftover, relax the day after and make this bone broth. You can freeze it and use it in soup bases or as a nourishing consommé throughout the year...here's the Turkey Bone Broth Recipe I use, adapted from Cook's Illustrated.

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The Power of Pomegranate

Why are pomegranates good for you? They contain ellagic acid and anthocyanins, both powerful antioxidants.  Pomegranates also improve liver detoxification and increase glutathione.Studies show pomegranate has three times higher antioxidant activity than green tea or red wine! It is anti-diabetic, powerfully anti-inflammatory, and has also been shown to lower blood pressure and inhibit cancer cells. Aim for one to two ounces of fresh-pressed organic juice per day: add it to a smoothie or drink it by itself. In a season where there are so many foods to avoid, this is one fantastic fruit that is truly a boost to your wellbeing!

When It's Best to Buy Organic

A recent study by Stanford University purports that organic food isn't any healthier than non-organic food. With studies such as this coming from reputable organizations like Stanford, unfortunately it emphasizes the need that we must always be vigilant and can still not trust our general food supply. 

It's true, you don't have to spring for organic if the food has a thick skin that you will discard, such as bananas, avocados, melons and citrus.  If it's a leaf you will eat, if the fruit has skin you will eat, or if it was grown in the ground it's worth it to buy organic.  Countless studies have shown these foods absorb and retain pesticides & herbicides used on them, and that these chemicals act as carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and immune disruptors in the human body.  For more information about who is behind the study, see what Mike Adam's team of sleuths revealed.

Are They Renaming High Fructose Corn Syrup?

High fructose corn syrup is bad for you. Let’s unpack this controversial topic, so you can understand what high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is and why it is harmful.

Put in simple terms, HFCS is a combination of glucose (the sugar found in blood) and fructose (fruit sugar) that is sweeter than sucrose (table sugar) and also less expensive to manufacture.  (Read Marion Nestle’s guide for details on the chemical makeup of these sugars.) The increased use of HFCS in the Standard American Diet over the past few decades has correlated with the increase in diabetes and obesity.

Nutritional scientists such as Dr. Bruce Ames have proven that high fructose corn syrup is more readily absorbed into the blood stream than table sugar. The glucose causes insulin spikes—which in turn causes weight gain—and the fructose adversely affects the liver by prompting the production of triglycerides and cholesterol. In addition, HFCS makes glycated end products that are pro-inflammatory to brain neurons. This, in turn, leads to Alzheimer’s Disease.

If this isn’t enough to have you boycott it completely, other research suggests that HFCS contains traces of mercury and other contaminants, not to mention the fact that it comes from GMO corn, which carries bacteriotoxic genes, can cause dysbiosis of the gut because it imbalances healthy intestinal microbes.

The corn industry, backed by government subsidies that do little to support sustainable farming and the general health of the population, disputes HFCS’ negative effects in their alarmingly Orwellian, propagandist websites. They claim that high fructose corn syrup is the same as any other sugar, and your body can’t tell the difference. Obviously, this is absolutely untrue. The corn industry has even gone so far as to attempt to get high fructose corn syrup renamed “corn sugar” on food packaging. Though FDA struck this down, the Corn Refiners Association has threatened to call HFCS  “corn sugar” anyway. Their eagerness to rename it reinforces the idea they have something to hide.

How can you stay away from high fructose corn syrup? Read labels on food packaging, to begin. HFCS lurks in condiments, cereals, crackers, and other packaged foods. It’s important to remember that consuming sugar, no matter what type of sugar it is, negatively impacts your health. Soft drinks should be completely avoided, and sugary foods should not be a regular part of your diet. Preferred sweets include natural treats like fresh, whole, organic fruit.

How do you satisfy your sweet tooth without high fructose corn syrup? Share your favorite natural treats in the comments section below.

Pharmageddon: What You Should Know

Did you know that for 62% of men and 46% of women, the first sign of cardiovascular disease is a heart attack? I recently attended the International Symposium on Integrative Cardiology and was fascinated about new measures where one can evaluate cardiac risk more efficiently. A lab test called the LPP Profile, which is available through my office, tests new biomarkers that more accurately assess your risk. The more exciting news is there are several natural interventions that can greatly reduce these cardiac risks, such as adequate amounts of Omega 3s, specific forms of Vitamins E and K, ribose, magnesium, and carnitine, to name a few.

People think that having elevated cholesterol is the main way to get atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).  Dr. Mark Houston, a top integrative cardiologist, observes that antherosclerosis is a post prandial disease. This means if you eat unhealthy food (such as fast food), your body creates anthersclerotic plaques within the walls of the arteries immediately after eating. If you eat healthy foods such as veggies and clean lean protein, it directly counteracts this tendency to make plaques.

A recent study found unequivocally that taking statin medication commonly prescribed for high cholesterol dramatically increases the incidence of diabetes, more so in women. It is vital to manage your cholesterol naturally and not rely on statins. To paraphrase Dr. Mark Hyman, if we’re taking statins to prevent high cholesterol, but it causes diabetes, which causes cardiovascular disease, that’s ‘Pharmageddon!’               

I am available to create a protocol for you to help you manage cholesterol levels naturally and guard against diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Contact our office to set up an appointment.

Protect Your Brain from Cell Phone Radiation

As I've written here before, oncology and neurology experts warn that using a cell phone for ten years or more raises your risk for brain tumors 10-30%. The good news is that an innovative new cell phone case can actually protect you from the toxic EMR signal. A patient of mine brought in a Pong case and we tested her iPhone both with and without it. The case tremendously reduced the EMR signal going to her brain and entire body. See their website for information about the science behind this remarkable case. Is available for several smart phone models and is definitely a worthwhile purchase!

Toxic Cosmetics: Know What's in Your Medicine Cabinet

Many cosmetics contain levels of harmful chemicals that are dangerous to your health – and unregulated by the EPA and FDA. Are you poisoning yourself with the soap, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, and makeup you use? Take matters into your own hands and educate yourself about the toxic chemicals that are commonly found in personal care products.

In 2011, UC San Francisco researchers reported that out of 268 pregnant woman studied, 100% of them carried up to 163 chemicals that could be passed on to their fetuses. These included pesticides and flame-retardants with proven health risks, as well as other chemicals from everyday household products and cosmetics. It’s important to realize that while our bodies may be able to tolerate a single chemical in a small dose, over time we are each exposed to thousands of chemicals that our bodies can absorb and store. This is referred to as “body burden.” The rise of diseases such as breast cancer, autism, and Parkinson’s parallels the rise of synthetic chemicals in our daily lives.

Since government regulations may never catch up with the thousands of dangerous chemicals in our everyday products, there are a few key things you can do to protect yourself. You can research the products you currently use at EWG’s Cosmetics Safety Database or look up individual ingredients at Toxipedia.org. Examine labels closely.  Labels on cosmetic products that tout themselves as “all-natural,” “dermatologist-tested,” “hypoallergenic,” “fragrance-free,” and “non-comedogenic” are meaningless. Look for products with the USDA Organic seal, which means they contain at least 95% certified organic ingredients. They may still contain toxins, though it won’t be as likely. Also beware of products with the following toxic chemicals:

• Lead – We all know how dangerous lead paint is, but did you know that lead is still found in some lipsticks and hair coloring kits? This is a neurotoxicant (a toxin that can cause damage to the nervous system).
• Mercury – Another neurotoxicant, it’s sometimes listed as “thimerosol” and can be found in some cosmetics such as mascara, skin-lightening creams, and anti-aging products.
• Formaldehyde – A known carcinogen, formaldehyde is found in many nail polishes and bath products. The state of California recently discovered that some nail polish containing formaldehyde was falsely labeled as being toxin-free. Look for brands recommended by the Cosmetics Safety Database.
• Parabens – These are estrogen mimickers that can lead to cancer, and are found in shampoo.
• Triclosan – Found in antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizer, it contributes to antibiotic-resistant bacteria and has been linked to hormone disruption.
• Phthalates -- Another hormone disruptor, they are also linked to asthma, allergies, and liver and kidney lesions. They’re hidden in the fragrances of many products.
• Fragrance – Chemicals used to scent products can be listed as “fragrance” without any specifics to avoid revealing proprietary information. Stay away from products that use this designation.
• Nanoparticles – These are microscopic ingredients that can penetrate cell walls and have been largely untested. They’re found in lotions, makeup, and sunscreen. Check out the book Sunscreens: Biohazard for a detailed study on nanoparticles and their connection to obesity, diabetes, asthma, and ADHD.
• Petroleum -- Watch out for mineral oil, petrolatum, liquid paraffin, toluene, and xylene. These are often contaminated with the carcinogen 1,4 Dioxane.

The good news is that there are many cosmetics that have been verified to be nontoxic, such as Hemp Organics lipstick, Mineral Fusion makeup, Jane Iredale makeup, and Surya Liquid Henna Hair Color, which is available at Co-Op and Whole Foods. You can also browse through the Cosmetics Safety Database to find their best-rated products, or get really crafty and make your own.

Do you have a favorite nontoxic beauty product? If so, please share it here!

 

Arsenic in Brown Rice Syrup

Recently an organic toddler soy formula using organic brown rice syrup was found to be high in arsenic by Dartmouth College researchers. It has been known for years that rice tends to concentrate arsenic.  This is worse in rice from southern states and Bangladesh.  Unless you have the genetic polymorphism of being a "collector" of toxic metals, your body will detoxify the arsenic you may have been exposed to.  If brown rice syrup has been a staple in your child's diet, you can do a hair toxic metals test.  The test is $55 and is easily performed with a sample of hair.  The kits are available through my office. If needed, there are some simple steps you can take to detox arsenic. 

The Fight for GMO Labeling

Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs, are not labeled on our food packaging, yet they comprise up to 90% of common products such as corn, soybeans, and sugar beets (and their derivatives, which include corn syrup, soy lecithin, and corn starch). As I mentioned in a blog post last year, it is vital to our individual health and to the health of our environment to avoid consuming toxic and altered foods. Bacterio-toxic (BT) corn, for example, is engineered to kill pests that threaten the corn crop, but when we consume it, it affects the healthy bacteria in our intestines. A European study done over ten years ago showed that GM genes can spread to people and animals.  A group of organic farmers recently sued Monsanto to have its patents on GMOs invalidated because they were worried that GMO crops planted adjacent to their fields would contaminate their organic crops through cross-pollination. A federal judge struck down their case, accusing the organic farmers of “creating a controversy where none exists.”  While many countries in the European Union have banned GM crops, and Peru recently announced a 10-year GMO ban, in the United States it seems that big corporations like Monsanto call the shots.

How can we avoid GMOs if we don’t know where they are? Companies that manufacture GMOs are insistent that GMOs cause no harm to human beings, so why do they refuse to label them? Marion Nestle, a public policy expert who was a member of the FDA’s Food Advisory committee when the first GM products became available in 1994, emphasizes that “Intelligent people can argue about whether GM crops are good, bad or indifferent for agriculture, the environment and market economies, or whether the products are safe. But one point is clear. The absence of labeling cannot be good in the long run for business or American democracy.”

We need to demand GMO labeling on our food products. A legal petition has been filed with the FDA, asking them to require labeling of GMOs. Please sign it at JustLabelIt.org. Additionally, if you are a registered voter in the state of California, you can add your signature to a ballot initiative that would allow voters to vote on labeling GMOs. Eight hundred thousand signatures must be collected by April 22 for this to make it onto the ballot, and signatures must be collected in person. Stop by my office to sign or visit LabelGMOs.org for more information.

While we wait to see if legislation will be passed, what can you do?

• Educate yourself by watching documentaries about modern agriculture, such as King Corn, Food Inc, and the Future of Food.
•   Keep up-to-date on GMOs in the news by following The Non GMO Project’s blog, Facebook, and/or Twitter pages, and take action when you can.
• Avoid purchasing products that are likely to contain GMOs. The Center for Food Safety has a comprehensive shopping guide you can download from their site, and they also have apps for iPhone and Android.

 What are your thoughts on GMOs? Share them here.

 

Update on FDA Supplement Ban

Supplements are still under attack by the FDA, despite thousands of signatures on petitions and intervention by members of the US Senate. As I mentioned in a blog post last year, the FDA has drafted an approval process for New Dietary Ingredients (NDIs) that would virtually wipe out our access to all supplements currently on the market . Thanks in part to people who wrote to their senators and representatives (in my office, we printed and mailed over 50 letters from our concerned patients), Senators Orrin Hatch from Utah and Tom Harkin from Iowa arranged a meeting with the FDA in January. You can read their letter to the FDA commissioner here.

Senators Hatch and Harkin were the original authors of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), which was designed to ensure “access to safe, affordable, dietary supplement products.” During their meeting they recommended that the FDA go back to the drawing board on NDI approval and write new guidelines that do not “undermine the balance Congress struck with DSHEA.” The FDA’s response was a resounding “no.”

Fortunately others in Congress are acting to stop the FDA. Representative Jason Chaffetz of Utah is urging the FDA to draft new guidelines for NDI approval, and Representative Randy Hultgren of Illinois recently made a one-minute speech on the floor of the House that stated his opposition to the FDA’s supplement guidelines. You can ask your senator or representative to make a similar one-minute floor speech by sending this online letter via the Alliance for Natural Health. They also have a form you can fill out to ask your congresspeople to add their signatures to Rep. Chaffetz’s letter.

Please act now and let your voice be heard! Now that we have Congress listening, it’s time for all of us to work together to stop the FDA from barring our access to the supplements we depend on for our health.

Juice Fasting and SIBO

With celebrities jumping on the bandwagon, juice fasting seems to be a trend these days. It’s important to be aware of the risks a juice fast could pose to your health. For one thing, there is little to no protein intake, which means your body will start burning muscle mass. This can cause slowing of the metabolism and subsequent weight gain. And while juice concentrates the plant nutrients, which is great for your body, it also concentrates the sugar. Plant sugars – fructose in particular – have been implicated in causing Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). SIBO creates inflammatory imbalances in your body,  weakens the immune system, and is heavily associated with fibromyalgia. Studies show that 2/3 of the population has SIBO, so it’s a good idea to periodically go through a course of microbial-balancing herbs including oregano and berberine. Other things that help prevent SIBO include fermented foods like sauerkraut and coconut kefir.

If you are searching for a healthy cleanse, look for one that utilizes detoxifying foods and a meal replacement medical food. (Whole food smoothies are also a great addition to a cleanse. Watch my video to see why a smoothie is better than a juice.) Clinical studies have shown cleanses such as these to be effective at detoxifying without the detrimental effects a juice fast would have. In this way you’ll be able to increase detox pathways in the liver and kidneys and release toxins gently and naturally. 

Have you ever done a fast or a cleanse? What effects did you notice in your body? Share your experiences here.  

 

How Toxic is Your Mattress?

We spend 1/3 of our lives in bed, but how can we sleep safely when there are tons of toxic chemicals used in mattresses and bedding? Most mattress companies have their materials loaded with votatile organic compounds (VOCs). A very toxic flame retardant, PDBE, alters thyroid hormone metabolism and is linked to low birth weight in babies. Its use in mattresses was banned in 2005, but if your mattress is older than this, it likely contains it. Today's conventional mattresses are treated with other types of toxic organophosphate fire retardants. Water Bader, the author of Sleep Safe in a Toxic World, states that the average conventional mattress contains more toxic chemicals than a 50-gallon drum of oil, including formaldehyde, benzene, and toulene. A 2009 article in the New York Times pointed out that polyurethane foam, a primary component of traditional mattresses, is made from petroleum.

Mary Cordaro, a healthy building and interiors consultant for decades, recommends using only natural latex, organic cotton, and natural, chemical-free wool in mattresses. Walter Bader reminds us to avoid propaganda perpetuated by mattress retailers claiming to be “chemical free.” When shopping for an organic mattress, ignore the "green" or "eco" ratings.  They are unregulated and therefore likely false claims. Okeo-Tex is an independent third-party rating company whereby mattress companies can voluntarily have their product rated. The only rating that is meaningful in the world of mattresses is "organic."

Greater awareness of the importance of a non-toxic sleep environment has given rise to several companies committed to making organic mattresses. Mary Cordaro recommends Green for Bedroom and Baby. Walter Bader co-founded Lifekind, which makes organic bedding and pillows in addition to mattresses. Other online sources are Dremata and Green Mattress Factory. In the Los Angeles area, check out Living Green in Culver City.  Essentia in Santa Monica claims to be non-toxic, but some research suggests they are making false claims.  For a checklist on how to choose a healthy mattress, click here.

Do you sleep on an organic mattress? Share your feedback below.

The Facts About BPA

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a harmful chemical found in some plastics. Governor Brown recently signed legislation that will ban the use of BPA in baby bottles and child sippy cups as of July 2013. While this is great news, use of BPA is widespread, and I strongly recommend you avoid using products that contain it.  It is commonly found in plastic bottles (#7 in particular) and in the lining of canned goods. It is also used in thermal cash register receipts, so it's important to throw such receipts away rather than recycle them to help break the cycle of BPA in our environment.

BPA is xenobiotic, meaning it mimics life. Its structure is similar to that of estrogen, allowing it to get into the body and act like a toxic estrogen. This results in weight gain and loss of DNA integrity. Young women are experiencing periods earlier in life due to BPA, and for older women BPA makes menopause worse by blocking healthy estrogen. In men it contributes to breast development, lack of sex drive, and prostatitis. It's also linked to other conditions such as infertility, PCOS, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

The Environmental Working Group has a great guide on how to avoid bisphenol A.  [edited on March 27, 2012 to add:]  Real Age has also published an article on how to avoid BPA. Educate yourself and lower your chance of BPA's adverse health effects.

Vitamin Use and Longevity

A study published in the October 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine claims that multivitamin use is associated with an increased risk of mortality in women in their 60s. There is no cause for alarm: this study is flawed. It was poorly done, with a small population, and with wildly broad variables, including lifestyle factors and the person’s overall toxicity burden to begin with. Around 39,000 women were surveyed in 1986, 1997, and 2004. The results were based on questionnaires these women filled out. There was no control study group; the results were just measured against statistics from the general population. Essentially, 39,000 women were measured against another 39,000 women, but where did those other 39,000 women come from? What slice of the population were they in? A response by Thorne Research points out “it must be emphasized that… the study is a retrospective study of already collected data. It is not a prospective, controlled intervention study, i.e., it is not a ‘clinical trial,’ in which participants would be given a specific dietary supplement or a placebo and then followed closely over time to observe not only the specific outcomes but also the factors possibly contributing to those outcomes.”

We need to take into consideration who funds multimillion dollar studies such as the one published in Archives of Internal Medicine:  the pharmacological companies who want exclusive rights to patent these ingredients. They are not a source to be trusted.

Additionally, there is no mention of the quality of the brand of multivitamin used. Commonplace multivitamins like Centrum always show up as toxic when I test them on my patients. In this way, the findings of this study are accurate: they prove that taking a toxic supplement will shorten your life span.

The supplements I recommend for my patients are purity-certified with consistent third party testing to confirm that purity. They’re made under the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) seal, which means that they’re high quality, pure, and that their ingredients contain exactly what is listed on the label. Countless studies prove that quality micronutrients signal to your DNA to express health and promote efficient detoxification.

Avoiding toxic supplements is just as important as avoiding toxic household products and cosmetics. Check the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Safety Database to find out what’s in the cosmetic products you are exposing your body to every day.  I am happy to test you on all supplements, medications, and cosmetics you use to ensure that you are not putting toxins into your body. Together we will put you on the path to well-being and longevity.

Vaccination: The Other Side

The recent LA Times articles on vaccination does not give voice to the other side: parents of vaccine-injured children. Nor does it explain the risks associated with vaccines.  For more facts, visit the National Vaccine Information Center website.  Good journalism always shows both sides of an issue and the LA Times has failed in these articles.

My Take on MyPlate

Last month, the USDA announced it had discarded its hard-to-interpret Food Pyramid  and replaced it with “MyPlate,” a simple, colorful, icon designed to teach Americans how to eat more healthily. The pyramid was terribly flawed (it suggested 6-11 daily servings of “bread, cereal, rice, and pasta,” for example) and MyPlate is an improvement on that. The USDA’s website encourages us to “enjoy your food, but eat less,” and “avoid oversized portions,” which are great ways to avoid adrenal burnout and maintain a healthy metabolism and weight. 

Though I disagree with some of its recommendations, the good news is that MyPlate emphasizes vegetables and fruits. If I were to create my own version of MyPlate, I would use half the plate for vegetables, eliminate the dairy category, and move fruits over to where dairy is now: eat fruit for dessert. All the meats would be grass fed, and the produce would be organic. Looking at MyPlate’s grains serving, if you are under 22, it’s okay to include whole, unprocessed, gluten-free grains as 25% of every meal. Most adults, however, should be eating far less.

MyPlate also doesn’t take food allergies and sensitivities into consideration. Many people suffer from allergies and sensitivities that have not been diagnosed. Making a blanket statement that everyone should eat grains and dairy is unwise.

On an interesting side note, the federal subsidies that support farming are not in line with MyPlate at all. MyPlate shows us that each meal should be comprised of about 50% fruits and vegetables, yet fruit and vegetable farmers receive less than 1% of subsidies. Please contact your congresspeople to let them know that while MyPlate is a step in the right direction, the government needs to alter its agricultural policies in order to truly promote healthy eating.

Meat Eaters Guide

The Environmental Working Group has done a great study on the different protein options we have and their impact on our health and on the environment. When eating beef or pork, it is important to eat grass-fed, organic meat free of hormones and antibiotics. Poultry, as long as it’s free-range and organic, is a better option for everyday consumption because it’s less expensive and has a smaller carbon footprint. For years I’ve been saying we need to eat beef less frequently and eat only premium-grade grass-fed beef. It’s nice to have the EWG back this up with all the facts!  

If you choose not to eat meat it's vital to get enough protein from beans, legumes, and/or clean protein powder.