Dr. Greenbean

I got this article from the website Woman in Balance…..enjoy.

It’s become apparent in recent years that Americans consume far too much sugar on a daily basis. Sugar (also known as sucrose) has been targeted as having major detrimental health effects such as obesity and diabetes, increase cancer risk, as well as simple tooth decay. These factors have been catalysts for the surge of artificial and natural sweeteners hitting the market, creating a whirlwind of information and confusion for consumers to sort through.

So you’ve probably noticed that the sweetener aisle at your grocery store has grown into an extravagant world of “all natural” and “low calorie” solutions for your sweet tooth? If you are just entering this mystical world of sugar substitutes and natural alternatives to sugar, it can be a bit overwhelming. But there’s no need to run away screaming. We are here to give a helping hand and guide you through the aisle.

Artificial Sweeteners

In the United States, six sugar substitutes (both natural and artificial) have been approved for use by the FDA. They are saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, neotame, acesulfame potassium, and stevia. Artificial sweeteners are synthetic or natural chemicals or compounds that offer the sweetness of sugar without as many calories. Aspartame (NutraSweet) is the most widely used artificial sweetener these days, while sucralose (Splenda) is also growing in popularity.

Beware! Most of these artificial sweeteners are not appreciated by your body. Research is showing that aspartame and sucralose (among many others) are linked to intestinal damage, weight gain, liver damage, damage to the brain and nervous system, lowering of immune system function, and other serious side effects.

There is ongoing controversy over the health risks of artificial sweeteners, as the food industry continues to argue for its safety (much like the tobacco companies). Remember though, artificial sweeteners cost the food industry only a fraction of the cost of natural sweeteners which leaves extremely high profit margins for manufacturers. So in the end you can only guess who may win this battle between profit and health. It’s almost always about the profit.

Here are some artificial sweeteners to avoid:

1. Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet) – please see our list of aspartame side effects!
2. Sucralose (Splenda)
3. Saccharin (Sweet ‘N Low, Sugar Twin)
4. Acesulfame-K (Sunette or Sweet One)

Sugar Alcohols
Sugar alcohols are approved by the FDA for use as sugar substitutes. Mostly found in foods and beverages, they are not as sweet as sucrose and contain fewer calories. Their flavor is like sucrose, and they can be used to mask the unpleasant aftertastes of some high intensity sweeteners.

Sugar alcohols are usually incompletely absorbed into the blood stream from the small intestines which generally results in a smaller change in blood glucose than “regular” sugar (sucrose). This makes them popular sweeteners among diabetics and people on low-carbohydrate diets.

Some common sugar alcohols include: Sorbitol, Mannitol, Erythritol, Lactitol, Maltitol, and Xylitol.

Natural Sweeteners
While natural sweeteners aren’t miracle health foods by any means, they are generally considered to produce less of a shock to the body’s blood sugar level because they contain necessary minerals that help with sugar metabolism. Unlike artificial sweeteners, they have not been stripped of fiber, vitamins, or minerals.

Natural sweeteners are showing to be a huge help for diabetics as well. It’s helpful to understand how sugars are classified using the glycemic index. The glycemic index ranks foods on how they affect our blood glucose levels. This index measures how much your blood glucose increases in the two or three hours after eating. While not all natural sweeteners have a glycemic index of zero, they are largely lower than table sugar (sucrose), which has a glycemic index of approximately 68.

So, which natural sweetener should end up in your cart? Well, let’s take a look at some of most common natural sweeteners:

Honey – has been eaten for thousands of years and is believed to have a number of health benefits, particularly antioxidants and wound healing qualities. However, take note that honey contains approximately 30 percent more calories than sugar (1 teaspoon = 64 calories). Raw honey is approximately 30 on the glycemic index, while pasteurized honey is high at 75.

Stevia – is derived from a small shrub found primarily in China and South America and is 200-300 times sweeter than sugar. There are elements extracted from the leaf creating the safest, natural, calorie-free sweetener on the market today. This sweetener has also been used in Japan for over 30 years. Stevia is zero on the glycemic index, which is critical for diabetics.

Maple Syrup – is probably thought of as a breakfast accessory, but it’s also a natural sweetener that is a good source of magnesium and zinc. Maple syrup is about 60 percent as sweet as sugar and has a glycemic index averaging 54 (low).

Agave Nectar – is extracted from the agave cactus plant and tastes like honey. One major advantage: Because it is so much sweeter than sugar, you don’t need as much of it to sweeten your food or beverage. This means a lot less calories and benefits for diabetics as well with a glycemic index of about 15.

Blackstrap Molasses – is an excellent source of manganese and copper, and also contains iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin B6. Blackstrap Molasses is also approximately 65 percent as sweet as sugar and can be used in both cooking and baking. Ranked moderately on the glycemic index at 40-59.

Brown Rice Syrup – is a liquid sweetener with the consistency of honey. It has a unique caramel-like flavor that can be used to enhance a recipe. Brown rice syrup metabolizes slowly but does have calories and carbohydrates. It is produced commercially by cooking brown rice flour or brown rice starch with enzymes. Brown rice syrup has a glycemic index of 25.

Lo Han Guo – also known as Lo Han Fruit, comes from a plant native to southern China and northern Thailand. It is most prized for its sweet fruits, which are used for medicinal purposes, and as a sweetener. The fruits are generally sold in dried form, and traditionally used in herbal tea or soup. They are used for respiratory ailments, sore throats and reputed to aid longevity. Though it is not a zero on the glycemic index, it is very low (55 or less).

Zero – is produced from organic sugar cane juice, which is naturally fermented and crystallized to create organic erythritol. Erythritol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol that is found in our bodies, as well as in many fruits, vegetables and even certain fermented foods. Zero is 70% as sweet as table sugar. But with zero calories and zero on the glycemic index.

PureVia – is a pure extract from the sweet stevia plant. Reb A (stevia extract) from the stevia plant starts with stevia leaves, which are first milled and then steeped in water using a brewing method that is similar to brewing tea. The resulting stevia extract is then further purified to separate the Reb A using ethanol, made naturally from sugar cane. Reb A is more than 200 times sweeter than sugar. PureVia is also zero on the glycemic index.

Truvia - is a natural, zero calorie sweetener which is made with rebiana. Rebiana is derived from the stevia leaf. Truvia contains zero calories, zero carbohydrates, and is zero on the glycemic index. Truvia ingredients include erythritol, rebiana, and natural flavors. So there you have it! A basic guide and some healthy alternatives to “a spoonful of sugar.” Now you are fully equipped to tackle that aisle in your grocery or health food store and walk out with the healthiest choice in your bag. If you need to, print out this article and take it with you to the store. Be sure to read the ingredients on every label. And feel great about your new knowledge and empowered self! Your body will thank you later.

References:

1. “Splenda: Zero calorie doesn’t mean zero risk!” Nutrition & Healing. August 2009.
2. www.virginiahopkinshealthwatch.com
3. “Aspartame: The shocking story of the world’s bestselling sweetener” The Ecologist. September 2005.
4. http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/dailys/03/Jan03/012203/02P-0317_emc-000199.txt

Hey everyone…sorry I have been so bad about blogging but I decided to just take a break over the holidays. So, of course, everyone resolves to make the next year their GOOD one, but who really accomplishes that? I think that we should always strive to be better…happier, healthier, more positive,  helping, caring,  (or as I think of it–non bitchy, non-irritable, pessimistic, less of an asshole, …you get the idea).   So let’s all make 2010 a good one!

My personal resolution is to take more time for friends and to just LOVE people for who they are and where they are at. No judgements, no complaining, just good ole loving the unconditional way. My 7 year olds son’s resolution is to lift the toilet seat EVERY time….Whatever YOUR resolution is, make it attainable and easy for you to do slowly over time.

As a physician, many people resolve to lose weight and get healthier in the new year. I love this but some are too impatient and hasty when trying to accomplish this. Start slow…ie. go to the gym 3 times per week is an attainable goal you are likely to stick with. Once that part is easy, add something else like lowering your carbs, counting calories, just eating less, or taking your supplements. Add things as you already perfect others.

I would love to help any of you get healthier. Check out my supplements in the store and get started. I would recommend 4 things to start any program.

1.Greens First drink powder (tastes great and is a super power amongst supplements)

2.Vitamin D3–5000iu/day for women and men  (less for kids)

3.Omega 3 fatty acids–2000mg/day for adults

4. Magnesium –500-1000mg per day (citrate or glycinate form) Diarrhea means TOO much, just back dose off.

So here is to YOUR new year. Hey, we all have to start somewhere…might as well start in January. If you have other health goals, drgreenbean or myself can help you too!  Let us know what you need and we will be there for you!

You can now purchase supplements in our online store. Check out the products and get going on the path to wellness in 2010!  Keep your self healthy this year and reep the benefits of energy, happiness, self esteem, and prevention.

We have some excellent cleanses and kits to help you start the new year out right! If you want to lose weight, check out our new HCG lozenges (the real drug…not a scam) and get started today!

If you have any problems with our online store, please email us or give us a call to help us FIX it.

Thanks,

Dr.GB

Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) — Two Pfizer Inc. units’ hormone- replacement therapy drugs caused an Illinois woman’s breast cancer, making them liable for at least $6.3 million in damages, a Philadelphia jury ruled today.

Jurors deliberated about five hours before finding that the combination of Wyeth’s Prempro and Pharmacia & Upjohn’s Provera menopause drugs was a substantial contributing factor in Donna Kendall’s breast cancer. Kendall, 66, had a double mastectomy in 2002 after taking the hormone-replacement drugs for 11 years.

The panel will hear evidence Nov. 23 on whether Wyeth and Upjohn should pay punitive damages over their handling of the drugs. Wyeth has lost six of nine jury verdicts, including the last four in a row, over the drugs since 2006. This is Upjohn’s third loss at the jury stage. A trial judge threw out one verdict and another is on appeal.

“We’ve very pleased with the compensatory verdict and we look forward to the jury hearing the rest of the case,” Tobi Millrood, an attorney for Kendall, said after the verdict was read.

“We are obviously disappointed with the verdict and will evaluate all of our legal options once the court completes its work in this case,” Pfizer spokesman Chris Loder said in an e- mailed statement.

Menopause Symptoms

More than 6 million women have taken hormone-replacement medicines to treat menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings. Until 1995, many patients combined Premarin, Wyeth’s estrogen-based drug, with progestin-laden Provera, made by Upjohn.

Wyeth, which hasn’t reserved funds to cover losses in the litigation, later combined the two hormones in Prempro. The drugs are still on the market. New York-based Pfizer completed its $68 billion purchase of Wyeth Oct. 15.

Annual sales of Wyeth’s hormone-replacement drugs topped $2 billion before the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study, sponsored by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, suggested women using the medicines had a higher breast-cancer risk.

Today’s verdict is the largest compensatory damage award handed down in cases tried in Philadelphia so far, Millrood said. It follows a $3.7 million award last month to another Illinois woman who blamed her breast cancer on Prempro.

While jurors also awarded Connie Barton punitive damages in her case, that award was sealed while the Kendall case was being tried in the same courthouse. People familiar with the verdict told Bloomberg News Nov. 5 the award was about $75 million.

‘Squeal Point’

Pfizer’s losses in Prempro cases may have company officials considering a global settlement proposal to resolve them, said David Logan, dean of the Roger Williams University Law School.

“There is definitely a squeal point for companies in these kinds of product-liability cases where they start thinking about settling,” Logan, who teaches classes on mass-tort law, said in an interview.

“When the trend starts running clearly against companies in these cases, and they keep getting pounded by juries, the issue of settlement become a popular topic in the boardroom,” he added.

In Kendall’s case, jurors concluded Wyeth and Upjohn officials failed to adequately warn Kendall’s doctors about the drugs’ cancer risks and that failure played a role in the physicians’ decision to prescribe the drugs.

The panel also found Wyeth’s and Upjohn’s conduct in marketing and selling the drugs was hiding health risks was “wanton and reckless.” That makes the companies open to a punitive-damage award under Pennsylvania law.

‘Reckless Indifference’

“An adequate warning would have made a difference,” Millrood said during his closing statements yesterday. The companies “had a reckless indifference to women in this country and a reckless indifference to Donna Kendall.”

At least 34 Prempro cases have been set for trial so far, and 19 have been thrown out by judges or withdrawn by plaintiffs, according to Pfizer officials. Wyeth also has settled at least five cases over the drugs.

The case is Kendall v. Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc., 040600965, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

An association between vitamin D deficiency and many mood disorders has been suggested in several studies. These associations include major depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), premenstrual syndrome and other depressive disorders.

Peer-reviewed research studies were located in various data-bases searching for studies investigating vitamin D and depression, seasonal affective disorder, PMS, postpartum depression, perinatal depression, depressive disorder or mood disorder in women. Eleven studies were initially identified, but five were eliminated because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. Of these six studies, four reported significant results showing an association between low serum 25 (OH) D levels and symptoms of a mood disorder, SAD, major depressive disorder, or PMS. One study of major depression and one on SAD did not report an association. Only one of the four positive studies was a randomized controlled trial.

Vitamin D receptors are involved in the regulation of glucocorticoid signaling and dysfunctional glucocorticoid signaling and increased glucocorticoids have been implicated in major depressive disorder. Other biochemical mechanisms may also exist, associating vitamin D with mood disorders.

I look forward to more research on specific mood disorders in women and vitamin D levels.

References:

Murphy P, Wagner C. Vitamin D and mood disorders among women: an integrative review. J Midwifery Women’s Health 2008;53:440-446

I recently had this question posed to me….this is the best article I found on the subject with links to further research.