Getting your figure ready for the beach? When combined with exercise and a healthy diet, Maitake supplements support targeted weight loss in the stubborn mid-section.
This week, we’re giving away a free 30-day supply of Perricone MD Maitake Supplements! Just post a comment and we’ll enter you in the drawing. As usual, we will also add your email to our mailing list.
Contest ends July 20th. Good luck!
For many years, researchers in the field of aging believed that the only way you could increase lifespan was by caloric restriction (CR). This is because low caloric intake will improve blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity, thereby helping to prevent one of the most dangers pitfalls of aging, obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Recommend calorie deficits are approximately 250 – 500 calories, about 30% less food than we would normally eat. While this is an effective strategy, you won’t be incorrect when I state that is not overwhelmingly popular.
However, there is good news on the horizon. The nutritional supplement, niacin bound chromium (NBC) appears to produce similar effects when compared to caloric restriction.
Niacin Bound Chromium (NBC) for Life Extension
My colleague at Georgetown University’s School of Medicine, Dr. Harry Preuss, recently alerted me to very new and exciting findings. Animal studies found that chromium polynicotinate, also known as niacin-bound chromium (NBC) increased the average lifespan by twenty percent compared to animals taking a placebo. The NBC helps to lower the levels of circulating glucose (sugar) in the body. One of the reasons I advocate eliminating (as much as possible) sugar and simple starches from your diet is because high levels of circulating glucose in the body increase the presence of free radicals, which are the primary cause of metabolic disorders which can lead to diabetes. Scientists have repeatedly demonstrated that diabetes represents a premature form of aging, because of the damage caused by the excessively perturbed glucose-insulin system. This is really exciting news and one of the first strategies (other than caloric deprivation) shown to positively impact life-span
Chromium is a very important trace mineral that promotes normal insulin function and is essential for proper protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism. As any anti-aging scientist well knows, elevated levels of insulin and blood sugar significantly accelerate cellular aging. Research now shows that the type of chromium known as NBC has a superior anti-aging and safety profile.
Extensive clinical and basic research utilizing a unique form of oxygen-coordinated niacin-bound chromium—generally known as chromium nicotinate or polynicotinate (trade name ChromeMate®) has shown that the niacin-bound form of chromium is the superior form (some forms have a worrisome profile, therefore I recommend utilizing the ChromeMate® brand for both safety and efficacy).
This form of NBC provides significant health benefits to those with diabetes and with metabolic syndrome and is, indeed, the most optimal form of chromium available as a dietary supplement.
The main benefits of NBC include:
• Promotion of proper insulin function and normal blood sugar levels
• Promotion of healthy blood cholesterol levels, normal blood pressure, and cardiovascular health
• Promotion of healthy body weight and lean body mass
Preserving Lean Muscle Mass
As we age we gain body fat and lose muscle mass. Fortunately there are several key nutrients that help us preserve lean muscle mass, such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and chromium.
Experts in the field of nutrition report that the general population of the United States is deficient in chromium–and it should come as no surprise that low levels of chromium are associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease—both of which are endemic in developed countries.
In a placebo-controlled, cross-over study, Dr. Preuss and a team of researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center showed that overweight African-American women consuming 600 mcg of chromium as niacin-bound chromium trade name ChromeMate® for 8 weeks had a significant loss of body fat and sparing of muscle (lean body mass) compared with a prior placebo period of the same duration. Increased fat loss was also observed among women who were randomized to consume chromium first, followed by placebo, suggesting a carry-over effect of the supplementation on fat loss. No adverse effects were observed.
Studies have also been published noting that increased consumption of sugar (and related sweeteners) depletes our body stores of chromium, placing us at further risk for hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia (too much blood sugar, too much insulin).
In a perfect world, we would avoid refined sweeteners. Realistically we know that we all succumb to sugar’s siren song on occasion, therefore remember to make sure that you take a chromium supplement to prevent depleting your body’s stores of this important nutrient.
As always I welcome your comments and suggestions,
Nicholas Perricone, MD, FACN, CNS
Every woman’s body goes on a unique journey as it experiences the numerous changes associated with menopause. Whether you’re symptomatic or not, quality nutritional support throughout menopause is imperative.
According to the Thyroid Foundation of America, over 11 million women have a malfunctioning thyroid. It is believed tens of millions more women may live with “borderline” underactive thyroid function, or hypothyroidism. Decreased thyroid function appears to strike women between the ages of 35 and 55 in perimenopause and menopause harder than any other group.
The symptoms of menopause like weight gain, fatigue, hot flashes, insomnia, irritability, palpitations, and “fuzzy” thinking have been shown to be thyroid-related in many women.
Thyroid hormones are the main regulators of the body’s metabolism. They have a profound impact on weight because they control how the body burns carbohydrates and fats. Thyroid imbalances also affect appetite control. Studies suggest that thyroid hormones may modulate levels of leptin, a hormone produced from fat cells that controls hunger. In other words, the more tired you are, the more you’ll want to eat.
In light of the role thyroid function plays making or breaking your journey through menopause, let’s address some strategic goals to manage your hormones:
Eat clean.
The fastest way to halt menopause in its tracks is to eliminate refined carbohydrates for one month. Load up on lean proteins, green vegetables, raw nuts and seeds, avocados, and fresh fruit. After one month, add in ½ cup cooked grains per day. Slow-cooked oats, lentils and beans, quinoa, barley, buckwheat, and sweet potatoes are all great choices. This floods your body with nutrient-dense foods while stabilizing your blood sugar and insulin levels, a crucial step when trying to lose weight.
Sleep deep.
Going to bed by 10pm and getting good quality sleep is crucial to balancing your hormones. Your adrenals recover best from 10pm-12am; if you are awake during this time, you will not receive the same anti-aging and weight loss benefits. Put on a sleep mask, spritz some lavender on your pillow, and use a fan to circulate the air and keep the room cool and comfortable.
Take your supplements.
No menopausal prescription would be complete without a supplement regime. Put simply, it provides the extra support your body needs to balance out your hormones. These three are menopausal must-haves:
Whatever the state of your menopause journey, remember that you will get through it. Incorporating clean eating, exercise, and a quality supplement regime will help give you the tools you need to support your body naturally.
Esther Blum, MS, RD, CDN, CNS
Registered Dietitian
NV Perricone, MD Flagship
791 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10065
212.734.2537
The approach to menopause can be a daunting time. Symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats loom on the horizon, and you may not feel like there’s much you can do. However, if you understand the causes of the symptoms of menopause, you can be proactive and halt them before they begin.
Menopause symptoms are due in large part to adrenal issues. The adrenal glands control the output of DHEA, cortisol, epinephrine (also called adrenaline), and norepinephrine, all of which are hormones related to our stress response. When the adrenal gland is stressed, cortisol levels go up, and the level of hormones like estrogen go down.
Diminished amounts of estrogen have a direct effect on the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for controlling appetite, sex hormones, sleep, and body temperature. Thus changing levels of estrogen causes symptoms like hot flashes.
Additionally, when adrenal function is impaired or weak, a person may suffer from low blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature as well as a total feeling of exhaustion. Prolonged stress begins to weaken the organs, and other health related problems such as hypoglycemia can result.
Some factors that contribute to adrenal exhaustion are continued stress, poor diet, excessive consumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates, too much caffeine, alcohol, drugs, nicotine, and vitamin B and C deficiencies. To compound the issue, when the adrenals are weak, the thyroid gland tries to pick up slack. So when I treat my patients approaching menopause, it is imperative to treat both the adrenals and the thyroid simultaneously.
To strengthen your adrenal and thyroid function and head off menopausal symptoms, try taking these steps:
Eat a whole-foods based diet.
The body’s ability to metabolize refined sugars decreases with age. The inner aisles of the grocery store are filled with foods high in sugar and salt. Get ahead of the curve by shopping in the outer aisles of the grocery store, where all the fresh produce is located, and cut out the processed foods that ultimately make you gain weight.
Waist away.
Many women notice a huge shift in their weight distribution to the abdomen as they head into menopause. To combat this, try incorporating yoga into your fitness regime. Research has shown that women who do yoga once per week don’t gain any weight as they go through menopause.
Burn, baby, burn.
It is imperative to incorporate heavy weight lifting into your fitness regime three times per week. This not only boosts bone density but also does wonders for your figure and your hormones. The key is proper technique: you must lift the heaviest weights you can and complete three sets of twelve repetitions. Twenty minutes of intense weight lifting can be just as effective as an hour of cardio if done correctly.
As you begin taking these steps, give yourself four weeks for the behaviors to become habits. In time, it will become a lifestyle that changes both how you look and feel about your magnificent body!
Esther Blum, MS, RD, CDN, CNS
Registered Dietitian
NV Perricone, MD Flagship
791 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10065
212.734.2537
The Perricone Anti-Inflammatory Weight Loss Diet nutrients work in a special way to enhance loss of body fat, preserve muscle mass and regulate levels of blood sugar and insulin. They will also promote beautiful, healthy, youthful-looking skin.
Of course, we know there are more than just 10 “super foods.” In fact, just about every brightly colored fruit and vegetable fits the category of a super food, as does cold water fish, nuts, beans and seeds and aromatic and brightly colored herbs and spices. The ten categories listed here are a great place to start!
Concern over the threat posed by the H1N1 swine flu is returning to reasonable levels, but there’s a useful lesson to take away from all the coverage. Though we haven’t figured out how to cure viruses, there are a number of easy and efficacious steps you can take to reduce your chance of getting colds and flu in the first place. Indeed, most of what you can do to avoid getting viruses are the kind of good health practices you should be engaging in anyway.
The first thing your doctor, your mother, and recently, even President Obama tell you to do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands frequently, and they’re all totally right. Every time you shake someone’s hand, touch a doorknob, or pick up the coffee pot at work, you may be exposing yourself to a bevy of germs. Thankfully, it’s not necessary to permanently don gloves to keep your hands clean. You don’t even need antibacterial soap. Copious amounts of running water and vigorous rubbing with regular soap for 20 seconds will do the trick.
Though soap and water are always the best option, keeping a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer around can give you extra protection. Also, even if you’re vigilant about keeping your hands clean, try to avoid touching your eyes and nose. These are the primary routes by which viruses can enter your body.
Hand washing is great at keeping bugs out, but a strong immune is still your primary line of defense. An often-overlooked way to strengthen your immune system and keep from getting sick is to get plenty of sleep. A recent study at Carnegie Mellon showed that people who slept less than seven hours a night were three times more likely to catch a cold than people who slept eight hours or more. Obviously, a well-rested immune system is one that’s best equipped to keep you flu-free.
Other than getting enough sleep, the best boost you can give your immune system comes from the same big three that benefit your body in general: eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, get moderate exercise, and work to reduce stress. Just as balanced nutrition that’s heavy on good fats and antioxidants and regular exercise pump up your immune response, stress can impede your body’s ability to stay well.
Thus, the good news is, most of what helps you avoid both seasonal colds and flu and new bugs like H1N1 are things that work you keep you healthy all time. And even if you do get sick, you can rest assured that a your robust immune system will help your body heal itself and get you back on your feet as quickly as possible.
We all know that olive oil is liquid gold for your cardiovascular health, cholesterol level, and skin. It’s beneficial fatty acid profile and antioxidant polyphenols make consuming it one of the easiest and tastiest ways to make your diet work for you. An advanced understanding of what makes olive oil work may someday make it possible to harness this almost magic ingredient for even greater rewards.
A study of olive oil’s major antioxidants published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research has identified the source of its cardiovascular benefits. When free radicals act on LDL, a.k.a. “bad,” cholesterol in the blood the oxidization that results contributes to heart diease. The study compared the effect of affects of four polyphenolic compounds from olive oil on red blood cells that had been exposed to a free radical generating chemical.
A compound called DHPEA-EDA was shown to have the strongest protective action on the blood cells, even in low concentrations. As it turns out, DHPEA-EDA makes up as much as half the antioxidants in olive oil, a very high level when compared to other oils.
The hope is that this research could lead to so-called “functional” olive oils produced to maximize the amount of this powerful antioxidant. Considering what a cardiovascular boon olive oil already, the idea of supercharged oils on the horizon is great news for everyone’s heart.
Think beautiful skin starts in a bottle? Think again. Beautiful, clear skin starts in your kitchen and has everything to do with what you put into your body.
Your skin is a direct reflection of what’s happening digestively; I like to tell our clients to think of their skin as their intestines turned inside out. So when my clients come to me wanting clear skin yet are washing down their Doritos with Diet Coke, well…there’s work to be done in the education process.
A large part of our nutritional practice at the Flagship involves treating people with acne. And guess what? 90-95% of our clients with acne have either been on the Pill, on antibiotics, or some combination of both. This causes an overgrowth of unhealthy bacteria, and depletes the good bacteria present. And acne is the residual after-effect of this imbalance. The work we do to correct the imbalance is with a yeast-free, sugar-free diet rich in essential fatty acids and protein. This in effect will rebuild the digestive system and restore luminous, clear skin.
PRIMO PROTEINS
Protein helps repair the skin and supports liver detoxification and hormonal balance (another culprit of acne). The best choices include: wild Alaskan salmon and other cold-water fatty fish, chicken, turkey, eggs, Greek yogurt, whey protein, and grass-fed meats. Choose 2-4 ounces per meal.
SUITABLE STARCHES
Since carbohydrates have the greatest impact on blood sugar and inflammation, choose them wisely. Fruits and vegetables should be the base of your diet; you can incorporate ½ cup cooked of the following per day: barley, beans and legumes, brown rice, rolled or steel-cut oats, winter squash, sweet potato, buckwheat, quinoa, amaranth, and millet.
FABULOUS FATS
The right fats can literally make or break your health, and we all need them to survive. Go for avocados, raw nuts and seeds, nut butters and tahini, olives and olive oil, ground flaxseeds, raw coconut and coconut oil, and grape seed oil. They’ll correct dry chicken skin and regulate sebum production. Incorporate at least 2 tsp of fat per meal.
STEER CLEAR…
When you’re working hard to eat healthfully, the following can quickly undo all your efforts: white flour and sugar (pasta, bread, muffins, cake, and cookies—and no, whole wheat is not any better), fruit juices and dried fruits, aged cheeses, milk, soy, vinegar, alcohol, and mushrooms.
Cleaning up your act in the kitchen will ultimately help clear up your skin. Give your body 3-6 months for all the changes to take place. You’ll be glad you did!
Esther Blum,MS,RD,CDN,CNS
Registered Dietitian
NV Perricone, MD Flagship
791 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10065
212.734.2537
Michelle Obama hopes the new 1,100 square foot organic White House garden will inspire everyone to talk about nutrition, think about their health, and get excited about eating fresh food. From spinach and chard to onions and herbs, the 55 varieties of vegetables include something to tempt nearly every taste bud and to provide the first family with a true bounty of antioxidants.
Considering the levels of vitamins, minerals, Omega 3, and antioxidant cartenoids dark greens contain, it’s no surprise they make up such a big portion of the Obama garden. Leafy wonders including collards, kale, and a variety of lettuces and herbs are the real stars of the White House veggie plot.
Also prominently planted are onions, shallots, and chives. These are members of the allium family and are featured on Dr. Perricone’s list of Top 10 Superfoods. But greens and onions aren’t the only nutritional powerhouses being grown on the south lawn. Planted alongside are beans, peas, berries, and hot peppers. In addition to fiber and, you guessed it, antioxidants, these foods would fit right in on the anti-inflammation diet.
If you’re not already feeling inspired to grow your own organic produce, consider this: on top of being super nutritious and undeniably delicious, these vegetables are notable for being cheap and largely easy to grow. The leafy greens, lettuces, and herbs in particular require virtually no natural gardening talent. They’ll even thrive in pots on the patio. And amazingly, the total cost for seeds and supplies for all 1,100 square feet at the White House came in at around $200.
With so much potential benefit for your body and mind, it’s hard not to feel enthusiastic about making fresh produce a bigger part of your diet. It might even be enough to make you look at a patch on your own lawn in a whole new way.
To learn more about healthy foods they’re planting at the White House, check out this article at The Huffington Post.